Guardian Music — Alexis and Kieran are joined this week by Charlotte Richardson Andrews – and no time is wasted before a heated debate around Rihanna's latest release. There's also a touch of the French Elvis, Johnny Hallyday, who is Alexis's new favourite thing.Ri... more info

Guardian Music — His cool, luminous sound redefined jazz. Then he threw it all in for Jimi Hendrix. Richard Williams on the brilliant and mercurial Gil EvansIt came as a shock to hear, over dinner with Gil Evans in 1978, that in the preceding year he had made only on... more info

Guardian Music — To mark the London jazz festival, here is an NME encounter with the great trumpeter in 1985 courtesy of Rock's Backpages, the world's leading archive of vintage music journalism"Man," says Miles Davis, "I haven't been sketching in so long. Maybe two,... more info

Guardian Music — As the world waits to discover the results of the 2012 US election, what should Barack Obama supporters be listening to?As America goes the polls to decide who will be its next president, one vital question dominates debate: what's the best music to ... more info

Guardian Music — Birmingham Town HallOne certainly couldn't accuse Wayne Shorter, even in his 80th year, of pandering to the masses. Playing the only UK date in his brief European tour, there was no "Hello Birmingham!", no preamble, no band introductions, no whimsica... more info

Guardian Music — (Whirlwind)London-based US bassist Michael Janisch co-led this sharp group with his Cuban pianist friend Aruan Ortiz at at the London jazz festival last year, and this is the resulting live recording, with saxophonist Greg Osby, trumpeter Raynald Col... more info

Guardian Music — The Walkmen, on tourThe Walkmen have always seemed older than their years. In part this has been down to what we know of their backgrounds in Jonathan Fire*Eater, a mid-90s group whose brilliance was hobbled by narcotic baggage. From the off, though,... more info

Topix — There were French horns at the James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival last night. more info

Guardian Music — American jazz trombonist and big-band sideman who played with Stan Kenton and Benny GoodmanThe American jazz trombonist Eddie Bert has died aged 90. A big-band sideman, Broadway show musician and studio player, Bert also excelled as a small-group jaz... more info

Guardian Music — From the 50-minute epic guitar workout Billy to the minimalist electro funk of Love, Matt Thorne, author of a new biography of the purple one, chooses 20 little-known Prince gemsWhen Prince plays a big show, the setlist is familiar. He knows people w... more info