Allen Toussaint's The Bright Mississippi was released to great critical acclaim, followed by an equally lauded residency at New York's Village Vanguard, and a string of performances in Japan. The Wall Street Journal writes that, with the album, Toussaint keeps alive "the tradition of distinctive New Orleans pianists, within which he clearly belongs; and of jazz, which was never far from the surface of his music ...  He simply possesses each tune fully, courtesy of rolling chords, well-placed tremolos, notable restraint and the defining force of his musical presence." Blurt talks to Toussaint about the project and trusting producer Joe Henry's choice of what he calls "these wonderful songs."

Rokia Traoré, whose most recent album, Tchamantché, was released on Nonesuch earlier this year, is the subject of a feature profile in the Sunday Times (UK), in anticipation of her sold-out concert at London’s celebrated Barbican this Friday. The article highlights both her “flourishing reputation” and the launch of her Fondation Passarelle, an organization she founded to help young people develop the skills needed to enter the music business. In August, she performs two free shows in New York that Time Out includes in its preview of the summer's best outdoor concerts. "With her latest disc," says the magazine, "Traoré wraps her beautiful, velvety voice around moody blues and joyous Afrobeats alike. Be prepared to gape at her lovely vocals, and also to get up and shimmy."

Fernando Otero will perform songs from his 2008 Nonesuch release, Pagina de Buenos Aires, live on Soundcheck, a program of WNYC, New York Public Radio, 93.9 FM, today at 2 PM ET. He'll talk with the show's host, John Schaefer, and will perform at the piano along with Nick Danielson on violin and Hector del Curto on bandoneon, both of whom performed on the album.

Kronos Quartet's Floodplain is out now, and the reviews from the UK prove that Kronos's latest global exploration is as expansive as its repertoire. The Sunday Times gives the album four stars, calling it both "one of their most inspired so far" and "one of the albums of the year." The Guardian gives it four stars, too, calling the music "engaging, challenging, complex and rewarding." The Observer Music Monthly, in its four-star review, sees the Quartet "as intellectually engaging as ever." The Evening Standard gives Floodplain a perfect five stars, calling its repertoire "vivid and powerful ... music that grabs by the throat and doesn't let go." Scotland's Herald also gives it a perfect five stars, dubbing it "an entrancing journey."

Sara Watkins is taking a couple days off from her extensive US tour behind her recently released, self-titled Nonesuch debut. But while you wait to see her back in action in her live show, you can hear her perform songs from the new album on NPR's World Café this afternoon. Listen live online at xpn.org at 2 PM EST or check back in with npr.org later in the day to listen to today's episode streaming.

Wilco begins its 10-day tour of Spain and Portugal ... Amadou & Mariam play a benefit "Hidden Gig" with Pink Floyd's David Gilmour in London ... Dan Auerbach plays throughout Benelux ... Christina Courtin, Dawn Upshaw perform at Dublin's National Gallery of Ireland ... Bill Frisell's 858 Quartet plays MA, NY, and FL all in one weekend ... Allen Toussaint's residency at the Village Vanguard with The Bright Mississippi band continues through Sunday ... and more on this Memorial Day weekend ...

Allen Toussaint's residency at the Village Vanguard with The Bright Mississippi band continues through Sunday. The New York Times, in its review of Tuesday's opener, writes: "New Orleans was in every phrase, with hints of swing, of humor, of sly sensuality ... It wasn’t a re-creation of old New Orleans music but a reverie on a New Orleans heritage: a lifetime of memories refined by a genteel sensibility that finds the elegance in the blues." Last night's set is now streaming at npr.org. Bob Boilen, host of NPR's All Songs Considered, previewed the show, saying, "If you listen to one jazz concert this year, tonight is your night." His NPR colleagues called it "an intimate, graceful and eminently enjoyable jazz show." New Orleans' Times-Picayune exclaims: "The Bright Mississippi is a highlight of an already remarkable career."

Congratulations to Jonny Greenwood, whose score for Paul Thomas Anderson's film There Will Be Blood has won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Original Film Score. The Ivors are awarded for outstanding achievement to British songwriters and composers. The awards, now in their 54th year, are presented annually by BASCA, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors, at Grosvenor House in London.

Kronos Quartet's latest album, Floodplain, is out today. On the album, the Quartet explores vintage pop from Egypt, folk from Azerbaijan, electronica from a Palestinian music collective, and an ambitious piece from Serbian composer Aleksandra Vrebalov. The Independent (UK) gives it four stars, calling it "a one-world project handled with suitably welcoming passion and respect." The Oregonian says the evocative metaphor of the album's title is apt for this adventurous group. "Think of Floodplain as creative fertility, as only Kronos can do ... It feels unusually current, even politically current, with music from parts of the world we often only read about. That's what we love about this string quartet: playing that is exploratory, fearless and full of intent."

Allen Toussaint and his Bright Mississippi Band, featuring most of the players from his recently released Nonesuch album, begin a week's residency at New York's Village Vanguard tonight. NPR member station WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM will broadcast Wednesday night's early set live from the Vanguard on air and online at npr.org, where there will be a live video feed as well. "On The Bright Mississippi," says the New York Times, "his sharp and spirited new album, Mr. Toussaint—an eminent New Orleans pianist and songwriter, but not, strictly speaking, a jazz man—takes a crack at some old-time jazz standards, with refreshing results."

John Adams led the Los Angeles Philharmonic in two performances, the orchestra's first, of his most recent opera, 2006's A Flowering Tree, at LA's Walt Disney Hall this past weekend. The Los Angeles Times says A Flowering Tree "is a miracle opera based upon an ancient folk tale from India. Magic pervades the work’s atmosphere, and a blissfully beautiful two-hour score enchants from first bar to last ... The sounds are magical." In the LA performances, "the singing was exceptional" and the Los Angeles Master Chorale "nailed everything."

Adams conducts Adams in LA Phil performances of A Flowering Tree ... Carolina Chocolate Drops do Seattle's Giant Magnet festival ... Bill Frisell Trio concludes Village Vanguard residency ... Glass goes solo at Manchester's Futuresonic Festival ... Brad Mehldau does duo and solo sets at SFJAZZ ... The Low Anthem bring the music to Brighton's Great Escape Festival ... Mandy Patinkin, Patti LuPone conclude two-week run in Cleveland ... Dawn Upshaw performs Golijov in Glasgow ... Sara Watkins winds her way up the Western states ... and more ...