Cécile McLorin Salvant sat down for a Nonesuch Q&A about her new album, With Every Breath I Take, her first orchestral record. She talks about what she looks for in a song, Sondheim's "Being Alive," the benefits of creative constraints, the power of intuition, working with the Metropole Orkest and conductor Jules Buckley, Darcy James Argue's arrangements, and the twists and turns on the album. You can see what she had to say—including two questions with pianist Sullivan Fortner—filmed by Matthew Edginton here.

"Amid a remarkable series of recordings and live shows, she's created a unique vocal style and curatorial skills that make each new recording an event," NPR's Fresh Air host Terry Gross says of Cécile McLorin Salvant. "Her latest recording, With Every Breath I Take, is her most daring yet." "[A] spirit of inquiry is what makes McLorin Salvant special and without peer," says Fresh Air reviewer Martin Johnson. "[She] has amazing range and astonishing technique, but she employs them purely in the investigation of a song ... It's music with an extraordinary past and an amazing present." You can hear the review here.

Cécile McLorin Salvant, who was recently named Female Vocalist of the Year in DownBeat's Critics Poll once again, has released the video for her performance of Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns," from her new album, With Every Breath I Take. The video was made by and stars drag artist X. You can watch it here. The album, Salvant's first with orchestra, features The Netherlands’ Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley performing timeless songs newly arranged by Darcy James Argue.

The 74th DownBeat Critics Poll results are in, and among the winners are cover subject Mary Halvorson for Artist, Guitar, and Group (Amaryllis) of the Year; Ambrose Akinmusire, Trumpet; Cécile McLorin Salvant, Female Vocalist; Darcy James Argue, Arranger; and Rhiannon Giddens, Beyond Artist.

Cécile McLorin Salvant’s album With Every Breath I Take, her first with orchestra, featuring The Netherlands’ Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley, is out now. Salvant and the ensemble perform timeless songs—by Coleman, Coward, Ellington, Sondheim, Strayhorn, and Salvant—newly arranged by composer and bandleader Darcy James Argue. “It is a rare opportunity to be able to make an album at this scale, which has been a dream of mine for many years,” she says. “Darcy James Argue wrote stunning arrangements and the Metropole Orkest, conducted by the extraordinary Jules Buckley, gave these stories a cinematic dimension ... I am so incredibly proud to share it."

Cécile McLorin Salvant has shared "Left Over," a new track, written by Salvant, from her upcoming album With Every Breath I Take, due June 26 on Nonesuch. On the album, her first with orchestra, Salvant and Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley perform timeless songs newly arranged by composer and bandleader Darcy James Argue. You can watch a video for “Left Over,” filmed during the recording session, here.

Congratulations to Cécile McLorin Salvant, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Mary Halvorson, all of whom have won JJA Jazz Awards. Salvant has won Female Vocalist of the Year and, with pianist Sullivan Fortner, Duo of the Year; Akinmusire Trumpeter of the Year; and Halvorson Guitarist of the Year. All three have new albums out this month: Salvant's orchestral album With Every Breath I Take on June 26 and Akinmusire and Halvorson's duo album Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings on June 12.

Cécile McLorin Salvant has released the video for the title track to her upcoming debut orchestral album, With Every Breath I Take. The video captures the recording of the song, written by Cy Coleman and David Zippel and arranged by Darcy James Argue, with The Netherlands’ Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley in December 2025, filmed by Ward Brandsma, plus footage of Salvant by Ebru Yildiz. You can watch it here.

Cécile McLorin Salvant’s album With Every Breath I Take, her first with orchestra, featuring The Netherlands’ Metropole Orkest conducted by Jules Buckley, is due June 26. Salvant and the ensemble perform timeless songs—by Cy Coleman, Noël Coward, Duke Ellington, Stephen Sondheim, Billy Strayhorn, and Salvant—newly arranged by composer and bandleader Darcy James Argue. “It is a rare opportunity to be able to make an album at this scale, which has been a dream of mine for many years,” she says. “Darcy James Argue wrote stunning arrangements and the Metropole Orkest, conducted by the extraordinary Jules Buckley, gave these stories a cinematic dimension ... I am so incredibly proud to share it."

Congratulations to Mary Halvorson, Ambrose Akinmusire, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Darcy James Argue on their JJA Jazz Association's 2026 JJA Jazz Awards nominations: Halvorson for Jazz Musician of the Year, Composer of the Year, Guitarist of the Year, Midsize Ensemble of the Year (Amaryllis), and Duo of the Year (with Sylvie Courvoisier); Akinmusire for Record of the Year (honey from a winter stone) and Trumpeter of the Year; Salvant for Female Vocalist of the Year and Duo of the Year (with Sullivan Fortner); and Argue for Arranger of the Year.

Congratulations to Ambrose Akinmusire and Cécile McLorin Salvant, who have both been nominated for Jazz FM Awards for Album of the Year for their latest releases, honey from a winter stone and Oh Snap, respectively. This is a public vote category, so head to jazzfmawards.com now to have your say. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at Koko in London on April 16.

The 20th Annual Francis Davis Jazz Poll results have arrived. Mary Halvorson's About Ghosts tops the list of New Jazz Albums, which also includes Ambrose Akinmusire's honey from a winter stone and Cecile McLorin Salvant's Oh Snap, which is also No. 1 on the list of Vocal Jazz Albums. Congratulations, all!