"She is, without a doubt, her generation’s most accomplished jazz vocalist, and easily could have continued along the trajectory of performing and recording standards, punctuated by her own and other compositions both within and outside the borders of the genre," Angela Y. Davis writes in this appreciation of Cécile McLorin Salvant. "But given the immensity—the breadth and depth—of her artistic vision, that would have been equivalent to aesthetic perjury. Mélusine, Salvant’s most recent album, is a bold declaration that she is willing to answer the call of her expansive imagination, especially when it urges her to transgress borders based on language, genre, cultural tradition, and historical time." You can read Davis's essay here.

Congratulations to Cécile McLorin Salvant, Makaya McCraven, and Jeff Parker, each of whom has won the Deutscher Jazzpreis in Germany. Salvant won for International Vocal Album for her Nonesuch debut album, Ghost Song; McCraven for International Drums/Percussion; and Parker for International String Instrument. Winners were announced at an awards ceremony in Bremen today.

Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley, has announced its 2023–24 concert season, including performances by Brad Mehldau (both solo and with his Trio), Cécile McLorin Salvant, Kronos Quartet, Rhiannon Giddens with Silkroad Ensemble, and Attacca Quartet.

“One of the most majestic and stunning singers on the current scene,” TSF Jazz host Jean-Charles Doukhan says of Cécile McLorin Salvant, his guest on Deli Express, in translation from the French. “Each of her albums is a masterstroke. And each of her concerts is a powerful and unforgettable experience.” Of her new album, Mélusine, he exclaims: “As always, brilliant!” You can watch Salvant’s performance of the album track “Le temps est assassin” in the TSF Jazz studio with Glenn Zaleski on piano and Keita Ogawa on percussion here.

Cécile McLorin Salvant's album Mélusine is a mix of originals and interpretations of songs dating as far back as the 12th century, mostly sung in French along with Occitan, English, and Haitian Kreyòl. They tell the folk tale of Mélusine, a woman who turns into a half-snake each Saturday after a childhood curse by her mother. She has shared a new live performance video of the album track "Doudou," which you can watch here. "Anyone who thinks they already know the full extent of Cécile McLorin Salvant's artistry should listen to Mélusine without further delay," exclaims Jazzwise. "It's a remarkable recording in several respects. Beautifully recorded, Salvant continues to confound and delight at every turn."

Cécile McLorin Salvant performed in concert at Cabaret Sauvage in Paris broadcast live for the ARTE series Les Concerts Volants. She was joined by pianist Aaron Diehl for the show to perform songs from her new album, Mélusine, due March 24, and more. You can watch the set here.

Cécile McLorin Salvant has released the title track to Mélusine, her new album, due March 24, along with a video she created for it. You can watch it here. The album features a mix of originals and interpretations of songs dating as far back as the twelfth century, mostly sung in French along with Occitan, English, and Haitian Kreyòl. The title track was written by Salvant.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic has announced its 2023–24 concert season, and featured among the performers taking the Walt Disney Concert Hall stage in its 20th anniversary season are John Adams, Thomas Adès, Timo Andres, Brad Mehldau, Natalie Merchant, and Cécile McLorin Salvant.

Congratulations to Cécile McLorin Salvant, Sam Gendel, Jeff Parker, and Makaya McCraven, who have all been nominated for Deutscher Jazzpreis in Germany: Salvant for International Vocal Album for her Ghost Song; Gendel and Parker for International String Instruments; and McCraven for International Drums/Percussion. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in Bremen on April 27.

Cécile McLorin Salvant’s new album, Mélusine, is due March 24 on Nonesuch; vinyl is due May 19. Mélusine is a mix of five originals and interpretations of nine songs, dating as far back as the 12th century, mostly sung in French along with Occitan, English, and Haitian Kreyòl. They tell the folk tale of Mélusine, a woman who turns into a half-snake each Saturday after a childhood curse by her mother. The track “D’un feu secret,” Michel Lambert’s 1660 air de cour, is available today, along with an animated video by Amanda Bonaiuto that may be seen here.

To celebrate today's forty-fifth anniversary of the release of Kate Bush's single "Wuthering Heights," Nonesuch releases a Kassa Overall remix of Cécile McLorin Salvant’s interpretation of the classic song, from her 2022 Grammy-nominated album, Ghost Song. The Guardian called the album track "a stunning, ethereal cover," the New York Times called it "blazing," and Vanity Fair called it "addictive." Overall is a Grammy-nominated musician, emcee, singer, producer, and drummer who melds avant-garde experimentation with hip-hop production techniques to tilt the nexus of jazz and rap in unmapped directions. 

Cécile McLorin Salvant performs Harold Arlen & Yip Harburg’s "Over the Rainbow" in a new video recorded at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center last spring. The video features Salvant with pianist Sullivan Fortner, percussionist Keita Ogawa, guitarist Marvin Sewell, flutist Alexa Tarantino, and bassist Yasushi Nakamura. You can watch it here. She performs Arlen/Harburg's "Optimistic Voices" along with Gregory Porter's "No Love Dying" in a Grammy-nominated arrangement on her Grammy-nominated Nonesuch debut album, Ghost Song.