Yaya Bey: Remember Your North Star review – R&B singer with a sparkling gift for tragicomedy

The Washington DC artist traverses a variety of genres on an album that tells funny, starkly wise stories of a half-together life

Mavis Staples & Levon Helm: Carry Me Home review – a final blaze of glory for the late Band musician

On poignant yet defiant recordings made in 2011 shortly before Helm’s death, Staples’ commanding vocals give enormous vibrancy to blues, folk and soul standards

Sault: Air review – a daring act of creative rebirth pays off

Taking bold risks with a mostly wordless sixth album, Dean Josiah Cover ascends to spiritual new heights

Samm Henshaw: Untidy Soul review – a wry, low-key take on the modern self

The 26-year-old singer-songwriter’s debut blends rootsy soul, 90s hip-hop and gospel with self-effacing, intimate lyrics

Lady Blackbird: Black Acid Soul review – understated and utterly haunting

Marley Munroe finds her calling with an extraordinary collection of songs and performances that burn deep into you

Alicia Keys: Keys review – bold experiment lacks stone-cold hits

The 65m-selling singer-songwriter is back with a uniquely conceived double album, but both its laidback and upbeat sides fall far short of extraordinary

Adele: 30 review – the defining voice of heartbreak returns

While the topic of her divorce is all-consuming, the singer seems to be pushing gently at the boundaries of what people expect of her

Nao: And Then Life Was Beautiful review – joy and hope amid the pandemic

Plenty of new albums are considering life with Covid, but few of them are as sensual and gorgeous as this

Ngaiire: 3 review – radiant and rich third album meets the artist on her own terms

Tying electronic pop with older traditions, Ngaiire’s new release is bright, alive and soulful, reaching back to her roots as it looks to the future

Cleo Sol: Mother review – intimate, spacious soul-jazz

This delicate follow-up to Rose in the Dark finds the Sault singer in reflective mother-daughter mode

Durand Jones & the Indications: Private Space review – post-pandemic catharsis

The US retro-soul outfit expand into funk and disco, facing society’s hurt head on with songs of love and hope

Latitude festival review: a hyper-real return to glitter, beer and British musical brilliance

The first full-capacity festival since the pandemic began hosted a series of artists – Sons of Kemet and Self Esteem among them – that show how vibrant the UK’s scene still is

Celeste review – a spellbinding return to the spotlight

While a certain football match unfolded elsewhere, the rising soul star’s second gig in 18 months proved just as gripping

Arlo Parks review – impassioned live show creates heady sense of joy

Playing to a masked, distanced audience may not be every singer’s dream but this was a performance of dazzling intimacy

Celeste review – audience transfixed by singer’s stillness and poise

The soul-jazz star’s sold-out performance is unabashedly mainstream, but has real emotional heft