Few jazz musicians have garnered as much critical acclaim in recent years as pianist Vijay Iyer. more ›

Esperanza Spalding is clearly enjoying life. Why shouldn't she? At just 25 years-old, she already has two White House East Room performances to her credit, and will be performing at this month's Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. This, in addition to being the youngest musician given a professorship at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, two albums as a bandleader, a touring schedule that takes her to first class venues around the world, and being anointed the jazz world's Next Big Thing. more ›

Anoushka Shankar's musical explorations reflect her own personal journey, which includes an intercontinental upbringing that stretched from New Delhi, to London, to Southern California. The talented 28-year-old sitarist/composer has carved out a niche in impressively diverse musical settings. Her playing can be heard in the international electronica circuit, the orchestral world of Carnegie Hall, and, of all places, the twisted universe of prog-rockers Jethro Tull, with whom she toured India in late 2008. more ›

It was the misfortune of the young Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti to have had her recital scheduled the evening before that of Joshua Bell, hosted by Washington Performing Arts Society at Strathmore on Wednesday night. The comparison was damning, as Bell's technique is practically unassailable and he was playing a program of late 19th- and early 20th-century music, in which he excels as an interpreter. If it is Romantic, ardent, passionate, sweet, Bell at his best will draw the perfect soaring or sotto voce line from his Gibson ex-Huberman, a 1713 Stradivarius instrument that is matched beautifully to his strengths. Of all of his recent appearances in the area — his 2008 recital at the Kennedy Center, his unannounced stint in the L'Enfant Plaza Metro station in 2007, and his 2006 concerts with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra — this was the best program and the strongest performance. more ›