The sandy shores of Asbury Park, New Jersey are hallowed ground in the northeast; the rolling waves have ushered generations of venerated musicians to worldwide acclaim. Dogs in a Pile, an eclectic quintet, has emerged as the heir apparent to the town's rich musical legacy. Merging funk, jazz, and rock...

Centering the 11-string long-necked tar, MVF Band draws on polyphonic roots, global rhythms, funk, and jazz's tight grooves and improvisational play. Add to this Miqayel Voskanyan's expressive singing voice and you'll find this dynamic, and ultimately uncategorizable work, at home in clubs, concert halls, and folk festivals.

The sun sets over the ranch, a can of beer cracks, and an acoustic guitar wrangles the day's thoughts and memories into a semblance of order. During moments like these, California-born and Nashville-based singer and songwriter Emily Nenni chronicles her life through delicate songcraft rife with honky-tonk spirit and spiked...