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"Return of the Prodigal Son," like the parable from which it draws its name, is a homecoming story. Eight years have passed since Brian Blade Fellowship's last release, and during that time, Blade himself has been more prodigious than prodigal.

The epic "Little Bird" demonstrates Jazzanova's artistic maturation as it envelops the phenomenal Brooklyn-based jazz singer Jose James in an orchestral wash of strings, acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, piano, glockenspiel and inconspicuous drum programming.

Fifty-five years ago, a young jazz presenter named George Wein discovered that the people sailing yachts around Narragansett Bay loved jazz. With their support, Wein founded the Newport Jazz Festival, the first of its kind, and it's still going strong. Here's a highlight of this year's festival, from Herbie Hancock and Dave Holland.

Gershwin placed his song "Summertime" at the beginning of his opera Porgy and Bess, and for good reason. Pianist and composer Rob Kapilow demonstrates how, in just a few measures, Gershwin transports the listener into the languid world of Catfish Row.

Since it opened in 1989 overlooking the Boston skyline and the Charles River, Sculler's Jazz Club has been home to top-rated and up-and-coming artists. JazzSet reprises sets from two remarkable women who are bright sparks for the future of jazz: Kate McGarry and Esperanza Spalding.

In careers spanning many decades, Hugh Masekela and Ladysmith Black Mambazo have carried the music of South Africa around the world, and played critical roles in the international movement to end apartheid. Fifteen years after the climax of that historic struggle, both still tour.

In the grand scheme of Tyner's discography (one of postwar jazz's most consistently invigorating), the duets collection Guitars feels like more of a curious one-off than a significant late-career addendum. In his new reinvention of "Greensleeves," the jazz-piano legend collaborates with blues guitarist Derek Trucks.

Only a few days after the release of the album Smokin' Sax, and before a date to promote it, saxophonist Johnny Griffin died at age 80 at his chateau in Availles-Limouzine, France. Hear his final U.S. homecoming at the Village Vanguard, recorded live by JazzSet

Taj Mahal's new album, Maestro, celebrates an illustrious career, mingling original work with genre classics and songs written by some of the many artists he's influenced, including Ben Harper, Ziggy Marley and Los Lobos. Hear a session from WXPN.

Detroit-born pianist, composer and university professor Geri Allen is a musician of great depth and creativity. Allen's compositional skills are on display as she plays her own tune "Avatar," and she gets together with host Marian McPartland for Charlie Parker's "Another Hairdo."