Nate Chinen

WRTI's Nate Chinen and NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce get all wrapped up in the amniotic embrace of a new album by a guru of the L.A. ambient-jazz scene; the new album by Carlos Niño & Friends is called Placenta. Also: The fourth album by DIIV sees the indie rock group leaning into shoegaze-inspired sounds, and Andrew Bird creates an album in tribute to the "Golden Era" jazz tunes of the 1930s and '40s.

The adult contemporary star, who became a reluctant giant of smooth jazz in the 1980s, died on Sunday after a six-year battle with prostate cancer.

The composer and percussionist was "shocked beyond belief" after hearing the news on Monday afternoon.

"The rhythm is really what makes it magical," says pianist Marcus Roberts of Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue,' first heard a century ago. Before he performed the piece with The Philadelphia Orchestra, Roberts stopped by WRTI to talk about its legacy with Nate Chinen.

Two of the new Grammy categories reflect trends that are booming among musicians and the industry.

An impromptu jam of "Compared to What" gave McCann a career-defining moment at the 1969 Montreux Jazz Festival.

The best jazz albums of the year feel supercharged with the spirit of discovery, but also offer revelations — both comforting and challenging — the deeper you dig.

Five young pianists compete for the American Pianists Association Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz.

Recorded in 2018 but only now seeing daylight, it's the prolific drummer's first release in years at the head of his expressive and enduring Fellowship Band.

A concert pianist who bridged classical music, jazz and pop for more than 65 years, notably in his legendary tenure as conductor of the Philly Pops, Peter Nero died on Thursday in Eustis, Fla. He was 89.