WRTI Picks from NPR Music

Isolated by pandemic last year, violinist Jennifer Koh asked prominent composers to donate tiny pieces, and to nominate fellow up-and-coming composers to receive paid commissions.

The trailblazing singer, who broke the color barrier at the Metropolitan Opera in 1955, is remembered in a deluxe new release of albums and images.

John Coltrane rarely performed the music from A Love Supreme after its release at the end of 1964 – meaning even the most ardent Coltrane-ologists have been unaware of the existence of these tapes.

Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who died on Tuesday, played with a deceptively simple style that took some fans time to appreciate.

Watts, famous for his potent beat and unflappable style, featured on all 26 Rolling Stones studio albums and numerous live albums.

The Afghanistan National Institute of Music was a thriving school in Kabul. But the last time the Taliban was in control of the country, all music related activities were strictly forbidden.

Jazz Night visits Portland to ride along with the non-profit Montavilla Jazz and its door-to-door music festival, including a lovely set by trumpeter Charlie Porter.

After a silent year in which artists were sent grants instead of invitations to perform, the beloved festival was determined to go on this year, as carefully as possible. And how possible is that?

We take you to the Exit Zero Jazz Festival with three sets from: piano prodigy Matthew Whitaker; New Orleans vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa, and master conguero Pedrito Martinez.

Watch Shemekia Copeland play the 2021 Exit Zero Jazz Festival and, on our radio episode, get inside her eclectic sound and topical lyrics, connecting her to blues icons from Ruth Brown to Ma Rainey.