Tom Moon
Tom Moon has been writing about pop, rock, jazz, blues, hip-hop and the music of the world since 1983.
He is the author of the New York Times bestseller 1000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die (Workman Publishing), and a contributor to other books including The Final Four of Everything.
A saxophonist whose professional credits include stints on cruise ships and several tours with the Maynard Ferguson orchestra, Moon served as music critic at the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1988 until 2004. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GQ, Blender, Spin, Vibe, Harp and other publications, and has won several awards, including two ASCAP-Deems Taylor Music Journalism awards. He has contributed to NPR's All Things Considered since 1996.
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The legendary Brazilian inverted the cacophony of samba, creating a worldwide sensation, forever influencing the sound of an entire country.
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The 50th anniversary Jazz Fest: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival box set, out now, focuses on jazz legends and rising stars from the region.
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The 20-year-old guitar phenom understands the blues as a lifeline, a malleable language, a way of being in the world.
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It's been six years since Dido released an album. Her latest, Still on My Mind, is at its best when it does more with less.
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Sean Lennon and Primus' Les Claypool explore a surreal intersection on South of Reality, where the fitful upheavals of progressive rock collide with soaring, blissed-out refrains.
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Georgia Anne Muldrow's newest album Overload, sees the hip-hop artist moving from the L.A. underground into the mainstream spotlight.
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'Piano & a Microphone 1983 ', a new release from Prince's vault, gives fans a look at his creative process.
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Kadhja Bonet grew up in a family surrounded by music — she learned to play the violin and the viola, studied music theory, but then pursued a degree in film. After graduating, she dove back into music. Her sophomore album, Childqueen shows Bonet's idiosyncratic talent.
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It's been 50 years since Morrison released his classic album Astral Weeks. In April he released his 39th studio LP, You're Driving Me Crazy, and it is feisty from start to finish.
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Both Sides Of The Sky culls music from sessions recorded after 1968's Electric Ladyland.
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For the past 18 years, the Bad Plus, has been playing catchy, high energy music and redefining what a jazz trio can be. This year pianist Ethan Iverson announced he is leaving the trio. But contrary to popular belief, Bad Plus found a new pianist and released a new album.
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It was a good year for previously unheard songs from classic albums and discoveries of studio works and live performances that never saw the light of day.