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Spoken or sung, the Portuguese language often sounds like music. NPR's Felix Contreras profiles Brazilian bossa nova singer Rosa Passos. Her new album, Amorosa, preserves the traditional style of Brazilian jazz and pays tribute to a bossa nova great: Joao Gilberto.

The first person to record a solo on the vibraphone, Lionel Hampton was a master balladeer. Among its many gems, Essential Masters of Jazz has Hampton's classic "Midnight Sun," which Hampton described as capturing a "love feeling."

Three months before his death, tenor saxophonist Stan Getz teamed with pianist Kenny Barron at the Cafe Montmartre in Copenhagen to record a series of duets. The brilliant collaboration was recorded for the 1991 album, People Time.

Machito emigrated to the United States in 1937, after years of being a professional musician in Cuba. The timing was perfect, as Afro-Cuban jazz (a variety of Latin jazz) was on the verge of becoming popular. Machito and his band became a master of the genre, as displayed on this energetic album.

The Mills Brothers were so proficient at imitating instruments with their voices, that many of their CDs contained a clarifying note: "No musical instruments used on this recording other than one guitar." This two-disc set has all of the brother's biggest hits, including "Paper Doll" and "Glow Worm."

Cannonball Adderley invented "soul jazz," a distinctive style that brought the group great popularity. On this 1961 album, a young vocalist named Nancy Wilson (who later became host of NPR's Jazz Profiles) joined the quintet on vocals to bring listeners gems of musical collaboration.

In honor of poetry month, Day to Day features a reading by poet Sonia Sanchez of her work "Song No. 2." The poem features original music by Jamaaladeen Tacuma, bass player for Ornette Coleman's Prime Time.

Milt Gabler influenced Billy Crystal's entry into show business. The comedian's uncle also brought America a generation of legendary jazz music. A new CD compiled by Crystal celebrates Gabler's musical legacy.

The songs we love from the first half of the year span a wide emotional and musical range, from wild percussive romps to raw pleas for empathy to Beyoncé's command to leave it all on the dance floor.

The best albums from the first half of the year include sprawling offerings from Big Thief and Bad Bunny, works of fiery introspection from Kendrick Lamar and S.G. Goodman and an abundance in between.