Active Listening

Minnie Riperton’s Secret Symphony

Before “Lovin’ You,” the singer crafted a lush, genre-defying meditation on intimacy and Black imagination.

May 11 • Marcus J. Moore

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April 2026

Herbie Hancock's Quiet Revolution

Long misunderstood, "Sunlight" stands as a pivotal work in the conversation between human expression and machine sound.

Apr 24 • Marcus J. Moore

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Gravity and Grace: The Spiritual Sound of Buster Williams

The bassist turned the instrument into a vessel for clarity on 'Pinnacle' and beyond.

Apr 10 • Marcus J. Moore

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The Force of Nature Named Busta Rhymes

Fueled by early buzz and undeniable presence, Busta’s 1990s run helped define what it meant to show up — and show out — in hip-hop.

Apr 1 • Marcus J. Moore

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March 2026

Roy Brooks and the Sound of Unpolished Truth

The Detroit drummer forged a gritty blend of swing and funk he called Creative Heritage Music.

Mar 2 • Marcus J. Moore

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February 2026

Woody Shaw: A Life in Sound and Struggle

Tracing the trumpeter's journey from prodigy to post-bop architect, and the music that carried his spirit forward.

Feb 3 • Marcus J. Moore

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January 2026

Austin Peralta Was Listening to the Future

His lone album, "Endless Planets," feels like a dispatch from a jazz world that hadn’t arrived yet.

Jan 20 • Marcus J. Moore

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The Dizzy Reece Album That Won’t Sit Still

Neither free nor fixed, 'From In To Out' documents a musician who learned to thrive beyond the traditional jazz narrative.

Jan 13 • Marcus J. Moore

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Masayuki Takayanagi and the Refusal of Jazz Comfort

The Japanese guitarist rejected tradition, turning jazz into a raw confrontation with sound itself.

Jan 5 • Marcus J. Moore

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December 2025

Julia Holter’s Sonic Aviary: A Journey Through Noise and Light

The L.A. singer-songwriter helped me deal with some heavy grief.

Dec 12, 2025 • Marcus J. Moore

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November 2025

‘Mama’s Gun’ at 25: Erykah Badu’s Revolution of Self

An honest chronicle of heartbreak and becoming, the singer's second LP was a masterwork of creative intent.

Nov 23, 2025 • Marcus J. Moore

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Demae Is Building a World of Her Own

As her music grows more intricate and assured, an artist shaping new terrain emerges.

Nov 18, 2025 • Marcus J. Moore

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