Two time GRAMMY winner, vocalist and MacArthur Fellow Cécile McLorin Salvant joins critic Natalie Weiner to unpack what it means to be called a jazz singer. Salvant reflects on her musical upbringing in both classical and jazz traditions, contrasting the discipline of one with the freedom of the other. She also shares her excitement about moving beyond "jazz," previewing her brand new Nonesuch Records album Oh, Snap , on which she layers dance grooves into daring audio collages. The conversation touches on her interpretation of the John Henry legend, and her blossoming practice in the visual arts, partly inspired by her mother and grandmother. It’s a revelatory portrait of an artist who remains rooted in song, while constantly expanding her palette as a multimedia post-genre artist. Here’s their conversation.