“She knows so many films and the lyrics to all the songs, so it was her idea to select these tunes,” Javon Jackson said of his muse, poet Nikki Giovanni.

“They are a huge part of our label’s recent success with streaming,” Kevin Sun said of partnering with La Reserve for Endectomorph’s digital efforts.

“I really want to provide a positive example for other women coming up in music,” says saxophonist Nubya Garcia.

A classic shot of Bob Karcy, left, with veteran saxophonist Benny Golson.

“I truly do love learning the history and what came before, and that’s what I practice,” says Meg Okura, pictured here with Kevin Hays. “But that’s not necessarily what I do as a composer.”

“Being a musician, you’ve got to wear a whole bunch of different hats,” says indie artist Curtis Taylor. “You’re doing advertising, and you’re doing flyers for your own shows.”

​Bill Charlap with trio mates Kenny Washington, left, and Peter Washington, right.

“You want people to feel, no matter where they are, that they’re important to the music,” said Marcus Shelby about bandleading.

“With this record, I’m not trying to punish you,” Ndegeocello says of No More Water. “I’m trying to help you heal.”

“The musical mission remains the same as it did 25 years ago: to make the best music possible in the given moment,” says drummer Jim Black of working again with trumpeter Natsuki Tamura.