Duke Ellington

A portrait photograph of composer Anthony Davis.

How Anthony Davis Put Malcolm X—and Black Power—Center Stage

Pulitzer-winning composer Anthony Davis on Malcolm X at the Met, challenging racism in opera, championing Black power in his work—and why artists must “step up” against bigotry.

Tim Teeman

LISTEN UP

Thelonious Monk’s Lost Masterpiece

To mark his centennial, the jazz legend’s lost album, ‘Les liaisons dangereuses 160,’ has finally been made available. And boy, is it special.

Colin Fleming

articles/2016/04/16/can-t-we-honor-james-brown-s-last-wish/160415-belth-james-brown-tease_bh4bb8

MR. DYNAMITE

Who’s Messing With James Brown’s Will?

The Godfather of Soul wanted the bulk of his estate to be used to educate the children of South Carolina. That hasn’t happened. Author James McBride explains why not.

Alex Belth

PEERLESS

The Funky Genius of Duke Ellington

He became so successful as a nightclub performer, as a songwriter, as a personality, that his serious musical efforts never got the attention they deserved.

AD BY THE DAILY BEAST

Slow Fade

How Verve Records Got Gutted

The record label of Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald just got swallowed by a hip-hop business… and no one even noticed!

Ted Gioia

Commencement

A College Degree Worth the Wait

Looking out at the sea of students in cap and gown at Hunter College, I saw the 21st-century version of myself, sons and daughters of immigrants and newcomers to America from every corner of the world.

Eleanor Clift