Sunday, 6 September 2026

Cassandra Wilson, who died on 2 September, was remembered for her distinctive smoky contralto, 19 albums and influential blend of jazz, blues, folk, gospel and pop.

Miriam Altman described The Butterfly as a record about divorce, loss, fear, renewal and transformation, marking her return to performance after abandoning opera at 21.

Altman said a new self-directed marketing strategy took her music from about five Spotify listens a day to more than 1.2 million streams since January.

Listeners chose Natalie Cole over Gregory Porter in the show’s Mona Lisa tribute vote, with messages describing both versions as emotionally significant homages to Nat King Cole.

Altman’s song The Train connects frustration over South Africa’s delayed hopes with transport policy and musical references to Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Hugh Masekela and John Coltrane.