The New York Times - Louder: Best Albums of 2021

Best Jazz Albums of 2021

In a year of continued uncertainty, musicians held their colleagues, and listeners, close.

By Giovanni Russonello

The Playlist

Mary J. Blige’s Daily Affirmation, and 12 More New Songs

Hear tracks by Grimes, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Kim Petras and others.

By Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica, Isabelia Herrera and Giovanni Russonello

Adele Returns, From Beyond Space and Time

Will we ever see a star who unites audiences like this British musician again?

Critic’s Pick

‘Listening to Kenny G’ Review: Good Sax?

Penny Lane’s documentary about the superstar sax player Kenny G shows an artist who can be defensive and self-satisfied almost simultaneously.

By Glenn Kenny

Looking Again at Amy Winehouse, 10 Years After Her Death

In “Amy: Beyond the Stage,” the Design Museum in London explores — and tries to somewhat reframe — the “Back to Black” singer’s life and legacy.

By Desiree Ibekwe

Kiki and Herb Will Be Back Where They Belong for Christmas

Justin Vivian Bond and Kenny Mellman have resurrected their Christmas act for “a big, old chosen family reunion.”

By Alexis Soloski

Exit Interview

Jennifer Nettles Had Sung ‘She Used to Be Mine.’ But Not While Crying.

The country singer and musical-theater fan was grateful to play the intense title role in “Waitress” not long after her Broadway-themed album came out.

By Elisabeth Vincentelli

The Charts

Adele Is No. 1 With a Huge Week, but Without a Million in Sales

“30” tops the Billboard album chart with the equivalent of 839,000 sales in the United States, leaving Taylor Swift’s “Reputation” as the last LP to cross the million mark.

By Ben Sisario

Snowstorm Leaves Dozens Stranded for Days in a Remote U.K. Pub

A crowd had gathered on Friday night to listen to Noasis, an Oasis tribute band. On Monday, most of them were finally able to go home.

By Alyssa Lukpat

N.Y.C. Clubs Are Packed, but Many Are Still in Debt

Will the crowds be enough to recoup months of lost revenue?

By Anna P. Kambhampaty

Police Arrest Suspect in Fatal Shooting of Beverly Hills Philanthropist

About an hour after Jacqueline Avant was killed, the police arrested a man after he accidentally shot himself in the foot while burglarizing a home in Hollywood.

By Michael Levenson

Square Feet

Investors Snap Up Metaverse Real Estate in a Virtual Land Boom

Transactions for properties in digital realms are jumping, guided by the same principle in the physical world: location, location, location.

By Debra Kamin

6 Big Beatles Moments

The best way to watch “The Beatles: Get Back” is to take in as much in one go as possible, but if you don’t have seven-plus hours, here’s a guide to its eye-opening scenes.

histories and happenings

The Canonization of Saint John Coltrane

The intensity of the jazz legend’s music has always inspired passion, but in the 1960s, one group of devotees was so stirred they founded a church in his name.

By M.H. Miller