NPR Music

The saxophonist and composer resisted his Japanese American heritage for decades. He now funnels that painful and triumphant personal history into a string of vital records.

Jazz artist Jason Moran revisits the deep influence of Black composer and bandleader James Reese Europe, best known for serving with the Harlem Hellfighters in World War I.

Common ground is the main theme of Maalouf's new album, which features a wide array of vocalists from across the pop music spectrum. Maalouf also recently revived an international trumpet competition.

Marcus J. Moore reflects on the studio debut of pianist Julius Rodriguez, an artist seamlessly commingling jazz with more pop forms.

WRTI editorial director Nate Chinen returned to live music with fervor this year — and one artist in particular, the young saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, emerged as a constant presence.

Nate Chinen, editorial director for WRTI, shares some of his favorite music of the year.

Philadelphia's jazz culture nurtures new artists through educational programs that work hard to ensure the genre's future.

Philadelphia lost seven great musicians in the first four months of 2020. These artists, like the music, have a special relationship with impermanence. Let us remember them.

Since 2017, Slingshot—a collaboration between NPR Music and the digital music service VuHaus—has provided a platform where 'taste-making' music stations…

Here is the second of three stories highlighting a cross-section of some of the incredible bass players to have come out of Philly.