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Brian Blade, a reed of a man, sits up straight at his drums, lifting a shoulder. Born in 1970 in Shreveport, La., his father has been the pastor of the Zion Baptist Church there for almost 50 years. The dedication that started in church has expanded in the Fellowship Band, which plays a second set from the Village Vanguard.

After nearly 20 years without recording for a major U.S. label, jazz singer Abbey Lincoln has a new album, World is Falling Down.

Walker's sweet tenor carries an edge of pain, as well as affection for blue notes. His blues music isn't just about guitars and drums, just as it isn't about the torn jeans and unshaven face he presents on his Web site. Topping off that hobo look is a fedora with a sharp crease — a cool, nostalgic hat that's the sartorial equivalent of "I Got a Song."

Rudresh Mahanthappa's Kinsmen blends South Asian music with American jazz. The jazz saxophonist says his inspiration to explore Indian music on the saxophone came from a CD his brother gave him as a joke called Saxophone Indian Style.

The Houston-born pianist studied classical piano and was accepted into a select group at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance. To preview her concert on JazzSet, here's a performance of "Shall We Tango," recorded live.

Duke has put out more than 30 albums, which have incorporated jazz, pop, Latin and R&B to critical and commercial success. On his latest album, Dukey Treats, he pays tribute to funk, soul and Sly Stone.

Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval and his Afro-Cuban band show some Miami style while pianist Cyrus Chestnut sets the direction for his show with the title "Spirituals to Swing." JazzSet mixes these two concerts from January 2008, recorded at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Norah Jones is one of the most popular musicians in the world today, and her soulful vocals were on display when she joined Marian McPartland at the 2003 Tanglewood Jazz Festival. The sold-out crowd watch the duo perform duets and standards.

For Speak Low, blue-eyed-soul legend Boz Scaggs had a sound in mind long before recording his interpretation of jazz standards. But the concept was blurry until he pinpointed the instrumentation: a combination of strings, horns and vibes.

It's been a remarkable year for jazz, and narrowing down a Top 10 list for 2008 takes a bit of work. Once again, there's room for enthusiasm and optimism about the state of jazz and its ability to inspire musicians and listeners alike. Here's a look (and a listen) back at some of the year's highlights.