Multi-instrumentalist Yussef Dayes will release his highly anticipated debut solo studio album, Black Classical Music, September 8.Dayes’ drum licks and Rocco Palladino’s bass are the anchors to this nineteen-track debut solo studio album, with Charlie Stacey (keys/synths), Venna (saxophone), Alexander Bourt (percussion), and a host of features including: Chronixx, Masego, Jamilah Barry, Tom Misch, Elijah Fox, Shabaka Hutchings, Miles James, Sheila Maurice Grey, Nathaniel Cross, Theon Cross, and the Chineke! Orchestra—the first professional orchestra in Europe to be made up of majority Black and ethnically diverse musicians. You can watch the video for the title track, featuring Venna & Charlie Stacey, here.

To commemorate Earth Day, Hurray for the Riff Raff has released a digital deluxe version of their acclaimed 2022 Nonesuch debut. Along with the album's original eleven songs, the deluxe edition has seven additional tracks, three of which are previously unreleased: an acoustic version of "POINTED AT THE SUN" and two originals from the Life on Earth sessions, "LET HER IN THE SKY" and "RESISTANCE ROCKERS," the Kelly Gallagher–directed video for which can be seen here.

Natalie Merchant has released the video for "Big Girls," a song from her new album, Keep Your Courage. The song is one of two duets on the album sung with vocalist Abena Koomson-Davis of Resistance Revival Chorus, along with "Come on, Aphrodite." That video and the new video for "Big Girls," which you can watch here, were directed by Matthew Shattuck. Merchant's tour continues with shows in Pennsylvania and Virginia this week. 

Natalie Merchant has released "Tower of Babel," a new song from her upcoming album, Keep Your Courage, due April 14 on Nonesuch. You can watch a video for the song, the second from the album to be directed by Matthew Shattuck, here. Nonesuch Store Keep Your Courage pre-orders before Monday, April 3, include access to an exclusive virtual pre-release listening event next Thursday, April 6, via FlyMachine featuring songs from the new album and a conversation between Natalie Merchant and Carmel Holt.

Tigran Hamasyan performed for ARTE’s Piano Day Concert in celebration of the international day honoring the instrument. For this solo recital, filmed in Opéra Comique’s Salle Bizet in Paris on March 8, Hamasyan performs songs from throughout his repertoire, including his 2017 album, An Ancient Observer, and his 2018 EP, For Gyumri. You can watch it here.

“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.

Natalie Merchant has released the video for “Come On, Aphrodite,” the new single, featuring singer Abena Koomson-Davis of Resistance Revival Chorus, from Merchant's upcoming album, Keep Your Courage, due April 14. You can watch the video, directed by Matthew Shattuck in Brooklyn, here. Merchant will tour the US this spring and autumn and has just announced a November tour of Europe, with shows in London, Glasgow, Manchester, Dublin, Bath, Amsterdam, and Brussels.

Rachael & Vilray have released a live performance video of "Even in the Evenin'," a song from their new album, I Love a Love Song!. You can watch it here.

Hurray for the Riff Raff—aka Alynda Segarra—is featured singing harmonies on fellow New Orleans–based musician Esther Rose’s just-released song, “Safe to Run,” the title track to Rose’s forthcoming album, due April 21 on New West Records. You can watch the video for the track, directed by Rett Rogers, here.

David Byrne performed “This Is a Life,” the Oscar-nominated song from the Oscar-winning film Everything Everywhere All at Once, at the 95th Academy Awards ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles last night with Stephanie Hsu, who herself was nominated for an Oscar for her performance in the film, and the band Son Lux, which was up for an Oscar for Original Score. You can watch their performance of “This Is a Life,” for which Byrne, Mitski, and Son Lux’s Ryan Lott were nominated for the Oscar for Original Song, here.

Tigran Hamasyan, who is currently touring Europe with music from StandArt, his new album of American standards, has shared a full concert performance of songs from the album. Hamasyan and the trio featured on StandArt—bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Justin Brown—filmed the performance at Pôle PIXEL in Villeurbanne, France. You can watch it here.

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.