The original cast recording for Dave Malloy's musical Octet—recorded live during Signature Theatre's world premiere production—is now available on CD, following its digital release late last year. Featuring a score for an a cappella chamber choir and an original libretto inspired by internet comment boards, scientific debates, religious texts, and Sufi poetry, Octet explores addiction and nihilism within the messy context of twenty-first century technology. "The most original and topical musical of the year," says the New York Times; "the sublime a cappella chamber opera is a portrait in song of perhaps the greatest David and Goliath struggle of our time."

Yola stopped by NPR to perform a Tiny Desk Concert of songs from her debut album, Walk Through Fire—"Faraway Look" and "It Ain't Easier"—as well as "I Don't Wanna Lie," from the deluxe digital edition of the album released in December. "Yola's presence behind the Tiny Desk was commanding, her energy captivating and, oh, that voice!" exclaims host Bob Boilen. She "is front-and-center and up for four Grammy awards in 2020, including Best New Artist. At this Tiny Desk Concert, you'll hear why." You can do so here.

Jeff Parker has released a new track, "Gnarciss," from his forthcoming album, Suite for Max Brown, out next Friday, January 24, on International Anthem and Nonesuch Records. The song is an interpretation of Joe Henderson's "Black Narcissus" and follows the recent release of another track, "Go Away," one of nine Parker originals on the album. You can hear "Gnarciss" here.

Joshua Rifkin's 1970 Nonesuch recording of Scott Joplin piano rags—which ignited a national passion for ragtime jazz and, wrote New York magazine, "created, almost alone, the Scott Joplin revival" of the early '70s—has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Recordings in the Hall of Fame are at least twenty-five years old and exhibit qualitative or historical significance, determined by a committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of the recording arts, with final approval by the Recording Academy's National Board of Trustees.

Sam Gendel’s Nonesuch Records debut, Satin Doll, will be released March 13. Recorded in Gendel’s native California, Satin Doll is a futuristic homage to historical jazz. The album features three musicians—Gendel on saxophone, Gabe Noel on electric bass, and Philippe Melanson on electronic percussion—engaging in simultaneous synchronized sonic construction/deconstruction of jazz standards, including songs by Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, and Duke Ellington. A Gendel-produced video for the album track “Afro Blue” by Mongo Santamaria may be seen here.

Composer Caroline Shaw’s Orange, performed by Attacca Quartet, has been shortlisted for a BBC Music Magazine Award for Chamber. A jury of experts selected the nominees from the best of the classical recordings reviewed in the magazine in 2019. Winners will be chosen by public vote, which has begun, and announced at a ceremony in London on April 22. "Unlike much contemporary music, Shaw's compositions exemplify what Simon Rattle long ago said about John Adams's essence—that there's always the sense of 'moving in space,'" said the five-star BBC Music Magazine album review. "The sophistication and dynamic refinement of the Attacca Quartet is reflected in a full, truthful recording."

Pat Metheny has released “You Are,” a new track from his forthcoming album, From This Place, due February 21 on Nonesuch; it can be heard here. This follows the release of the album tracks “America Undefined” and "You Are." All three songs can be downloaded now with pre-orders of From This Place on vinyl and CD in the Pat Metheny Store and Nonesuch Store, and are available to stream.

k.d. lang will perform in the Fire Fight Australia concert at ANZ Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday, February 16, to benefit Australian bushfire relief. She will perform two songs, including Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Also performing in the nine-plus-hour event hosted by Celeste Barber are Queen + Adam Lambert, Alice Cooper, and a score of Australian musicians, including Olivia Newton-John, with more to be announced.

Yola performed a Billboard Live session of songs from her multiple Grammy-nominated album Walk Through Fire, answers fan questions, and shares a secret to overcoming adversity: Use what she calls "life scissors" to cut out the toxic so-and-sos "and funnel all that energy, much like pruning a rose, to the bud, which is your inspiration, your personal growth, your happiness, all the things that we're living for." You can watch the performance and interview here.

Gabriel Kahane's 2018 Nonesuch Records debut album, Book of Travelers, is out now available on limited-edition, translucent orange vinyl. "Exquisitely crafted songs," says Uncut. "Musically fascinating and hauntingly empathetic." "Extraordinary," says the San Francisco Chronicle; "vivid and wholly original." Rolling Stone calls it a "stunning portrait of a singular moment in America." Gabriel Kahane is on tour with the Louisville Orchestra now and heads to Europe in February.

"Ladies and gentlemen: Turn. It. Up," exclaims Meghna Chakrabarti, host of NPR's On Point, ahead of her interview with Yola. "You're gonna wanna hear this music and this woman. And you're going to wish you've had a twelve-month streak like Yola has had ... We needed music like this right now." The two discuss Yola's multiple Grammy-nominated debut album, Walk Through Fire, and that year-long streak following its release—or, as Yola puts it, "a weekly update of life-changing news." You can hear their conversation here.

David Byrne was on Late Night with Seth Meyers to discuss the joys and surprises of performing his American Utopia on Broadway. Meyers says the show "put us in the best mood, which is a very nice gift to give to an audience right now." Byrne also shares some humor advice he received from Jerry Seinfeld. You can watch their conversation here.