Wynton Marsalis

Wynton Marsalis' provocative protest-jazz set connects the dots between American history and today's headlines. On "Where Y'All At," Marsalis tartly sermonizes like a country preacher, laying the blame for our various problems at all of our feet. The title track has perceptive lyrics, but Marsalis' melody lets vocalist Jennifer Sanon down. He gives Sanon plenty of room to shine elsewhere (including the lovely "These Are the Soulful Days") and puts his money where his mouth is by recording the album with a supremely talented group of young adults and teenagers.