Occasionally, when a piece of music pervades or impacts the culture it arose from so profoundly that it gains universal acclaim, it is afforded the descriptor of “timeless”—as clear a sign as any that the piece will be covered by new musicians well into the future. Onyx Collective, the New York-based experimental jazz group that have taken on a somewhat mythical quality in the city for their high-energy and technically impressive live shows, have taken it upon themselves to reimagine a bevy of classics that emerged from the mind of Richard Rodgers—one half of the iconic duos of Rodgers & Hammerstein and Rodgers & Hart on their new album Manhattan Special. The single and album closer “Blue Moon” features frequent Blood Orange collaborator and R&B powerhouse Ian Isiah, whose strong soprano is perfectly suited to tackle the melody that forms the emotional center of the track. The instrumental backing is unusually subdued when compared to Onyx Collective’s other work, but that in-and-of-itself is the mark of talented artists. Great covers don’t necessarily have to be flashy or purposefully different; sometimes, it’s just about paying homage and lending your talents in order to keep the song alive in the collective conscious. The sheer technical ability possessed by both the band and singer result in a delightfully refined rendition of a ballad that has stood the test of time for 85 years—and with the Onyx Collective’s help, it will surely continue to do so.

Henry Jamison is a storyteller at heart. It may be in his blood — his father, a classical composer, and his mother, an English professor — but Jamison is a writer and artist in his own right, evidenced by his debut album The Wilds (released October 27th). Beyond writing, recording and arranging the album all on his own, Jamison has a special ability to bring each track to life. Take his song, “The Wilds”: it’s instrumentally rich without being overbearing, letting Jamison’s narrative whisk you away. “The Wilds” sounds like an old-time American love story - unassuming and familiar, but nevertheless, still surprising.

Los Angeles genre-bending artist Moses Sumney released his gorgeous and ethereal debut album Aromanticism into the world this September. Sumney has made a big impression on artists like Solange and Sufjan Stevens for good reason. His infusion of soul and folk come together on this album in a way that leaves us begging for more. A prime example of this heavenly blend is found on the third song of the album, “Plastic.” A previous version of the song can be heard on the first season of Issa Rae’s HBO series, Insecure. This new version serves as one of the more simplistic songs on the album, featuring just a fingerpicked electric guitar, a synth and Sumney’s captivating voice. The hook of the song repeats the line “my wings are made of plastic,” each time sung in a slightly different way than it was before, continuing to imbue the phrase with new meaning. This song of vulnerability, self-awareness and secret-spilling is the kind that you can leave on repeat and get lost in for hours.