Music Features

John and Sachi Patitucci Jazz Night in America hide caption

In 2021, Lil Nas X, whose single "Old Town Road" holds the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, delivered his debut album Montero and cemented his ability to bend media platforms to his will. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR/Getty Images hide caption

The Beatles on Mount Doom (or a still from Peter Jackson's Get Back, a documentary constructed from footage shot during the making of the band's last studio albums and final performance). Linda McCartney/Apple Corps Ltd. hide caption

Common and keyboardist Robert Glasper Noam Galai/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Fe hide caption

Terence Blanchard's Fire Shut Up in My Bones is the first presentation of a work by a Black composer in the Met Opera's 138-year history. Ken Howard/Met Opera hide caption

Pianist and producer Jamael Dean. Samantha Lee/Stones Throw hide caption

The Complete Live at the Lighthouse collects all 12 sets from Lee Morgan's 1970 residency on Hermosa Beach. Joel Franklin/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Drummer Nasheet Waits stretches out in real time on The Jazz Gallery stage. Hank O'Neal/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Pharoah Sanders, photographed working with Sam Shepherd on Promises. Eric Welles-Nyström/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

With her humor and wit, Julz Sale (center) helped Delta 5 craft a high-voltage sound that, to this day, still rings true. Courtesy of Kill Rock Stars hide caption

Mickey Guyton, Adia Victoria and Chapel Hart's Devynn Hart have made the industry a more welcoming place for others who look like them. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images hide caption

Will Liverman, an up-and-coming baritone, feared the COVID-era shutdown of live music would end his career. Instead, he's one of a number of opera singers for whom pandemic stress transformed into creative freedom. Jaclyn Simpson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption