Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology

An overhauled primer on the history of jazz in an expansive six-disc compilation

Seven years in the making, Smithsonian Folkways‘ new edition, Jazz: The Smithsonian Anthology represents the new standard, a long-overdue update to Martin Williams’ out-of-print compilation The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz. While some of the 111 selections on the six-disc set remain the same as the original, Jazz broadens its scope to include Latin jazz and fusion, as well as South African and Vietnamese musicians. …

Insight Lights

Rapha rides for Japan, Maeda on craft, dry-transfer Field Notes and more in this week's online snapshot

Belarus design firm Solovyodesign recently produced a very thoughtful lightbulb. Shaping the twisted contours of a normal compact fluorescent bulb into the shape of a human brain, the industrious design couple offer a beautiful rethinking of the CF bulb while making a humorous play on the classic “good idea” lightbulb bit from Saturday morning cartoons.

Doug Aitken’s Patterns & Repetitions: James Murphy

Rapha rides for Japan, Maeda on craft, dry-transfer Field Notes and more in this week's online snapshot

In a recent installment of artist Doug Aitken’s video series (bringing conversations on “nothing less than the future of art itself” to the NYT), LCD Soundsystem James Murphy keeps it down-to-earth, opening up about the mundane sounds like refrigerator hums and snowbanks that inspire his music.