“I love compositions by jazz musicians,” says vocalist Samara Joy. “There’s a different touch, a different foundation.” She put lyrics to a song each from Brian Lynch (right) and Charles McPherson for Torch Bearers.

“Cerebral and academic thought is a different way to approach music,” Flea says of his continuing dive into jazz. “I’ve always relied on emotion and intuition and physicality.”

Bollani demonstrates at the piano during a live Blindfold Test in Umbria, Italy, while writer Ashley Kahn, right, and translator Greg Burk look on.

“This is the most explicit and boldest expression of what I believe,” Joel Ross said of his latest album, Gospel Music.

“These days, with curated news, where people only get half the story, people can’t even speak to family members anymore,” Schneider laments.

“We’re going to do what we want to do; that’s how we got a fanbase in the first place,” says Snarky Puppy leader Michael League.

Blindfold Test proctor Ted Panken, left, with the Grammy-winning Nicole Zuraitis.

Lettuce, from left: Eric Coomes, Adam Deitch, Ryan Zoidis, Eric Bloom, Adam Smirnoff and Nigel Hall

“I was afraid of not being able to catch up so I began practicing eight hours a day for years,” says Emma Rawicz of starting on the saxophone as a teenager. “It was unhinged, but it fulfilled a purpose.”

​“I play what I want and what I like,” said Andrew Cyrille. “I use my knowledge artistically and professionally.”