Trombone Shorty’s tenure as one of New Orleans’ main music ambassadors began 10 years ago today with the release of ‘Backatown.’

Eric Johnson, David Sancious and Jeff Beam are part of Five for the Road, an occasional look at music that’s been in my car lately.

Mavis Staples completed an emotional, years-long journey when she finally issued leftover sessions with her dad Pops Staples five years ago today.

Preston Frazier’s Best of 2019 Rock and R&B includes Black Pumas, Alexis Evans, Ben Levin, Grupo Fantasma, Monkey House, Isaiah Sharkey, Frederico7 and others.

Ruby Turner’s voice has the ability to lift, charge emotionally and occasionally drop the listener into a void, longing for more.

This Best of 2019 list includes both Yes and their former drummer Bill Bruford, and Toto and their former drummer Simon Phillips, among others.

Preston Frazier’s Best Songs of 2019 list includes rock, jazz and R&B, with a shout out to the continuing resonance of an old favorite from Walter Becker.

Billy Sherwood, Fernando Perdomo and others are featured on Five for the Road, an occasional look at music that’s been in my car lately.

Neal Francis is making the most of his second chance to make a first impression, creating quality soul music earnestly by hand.

Released 50 years ago this week, the Temptations’ ‘Puzzle People’ is a blast of hard-edged soul, blistering funk fumes and acid-baked artiness.