As a composer of instrumental guitar-based music, I’m continually challenged with trying to write single-note melodic themes that tell a musical story and develop it in a conversational way ...

This wasn’t instrumental music to show off the players’ virtuosity ... would reinforce that vocal-like line with a single-note, lead-guitar line drenched in reverb. With Mel Taylor on drums ...

Before touching her lips to her trumpet mouthpiece and leaning into the opening notes of “Billie’s ... with choosing the Artist of the Year for Instrumental Music. They dug her.