Guardian Music — For nearly 50 years, Radio 3's Jazz Record Requests has been broadcasting the best of the genre. Now a new chapter in its history begins with a show from the London jazz festivalJohn Taylor runs England's most northerly jazz club at Ashington, near N... more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — A letter John Lennon wrote urging Eric Clapton to start a new band with him shortly after the Beatles broke up will go up for auction next month. The letter is one of several pieces of correspondence from some of the world’s greatest musicians, inc... 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

USA Today Music — The 'American Idol' alum has the song of the week with new single 'You Are.' more info

Guardian Music — RR contributor Chris Bishop gives us the best answers to last week's gnawing question: what are the best rodent songs?This week's playlist has been selected by Chris Bishop.Given that they account for 40% of all animal species and inhabit every conti... more info

Guardian Music — Voyager has left our solar system along with its record of life on Earth. Tell us the sounds and scenes you'd send into spaceIt's (almost) official: the Voyager 1 spacecraft has left the solar system for good. It is now navigating through unknown ter... more info

L.A. Times - Pop & Hiss — The Louis Armstrong House and Museum took a step toward further raising its profile by hiring its first curator in David L. Reese. more info

Guardian Music — The Guardian reader commonly known as llamalpaca gives us his choices from last week's threadThis week's playlist has been selected by llamalpaca.Biblical, spiritual, mysterious and sometimes downright unbelievable: miracles have been two a penny thi... more info

Popdose — Louis Armstrong is one of the most important figures in the history of music. Critic Gary Giddins says he “invented modern time.”  Kenny G is one of the most polarizing figures in jazz. Although he sells records by the zillions, critics and seri... more info

Guardian Music — The Digital Music Index shows just how popular illegal downloading – particularly of Ed Sheeran – has becomeIf you're like me and the vast majority of people in the UK, on Monday morning you discovered many people in your area risked legal action... more info