The Plug’n Play: March & April (‘26)
April 30, 2026
Illustration by Malaaya Adams
You can listen to the full playlist on Apple Music or Spotify
On the cover: Nazir Ebo is a 26-year old drummer and bassist from Philadelphia. Long held as a musical prodigy, Ebo has been on the Philadelphia jazz scene for more than half his life. Earlier this year Ebo released his debut album, Beyond, a 10-song body of work that operates from the core of improvisational music. At once, the album is as delicate and tender as it is charged, exploring sonic possibilities at nearly every turn.
The Playlist
We’re doing things a little differently this year. Rather than releasing a playlist every month, we’ll be posting them bimonthly. This new schedule is mostly because, well, sometimes things get a little hectic and having a longer on-ramp can help with preparing the playlist. We both enjoy sharing music, and want to make sure the playlists are representative of us.
The Plug’n Play is a monthly playlist highlighting new music. My friend, Kevin — he’s on Instagram again, for now. Catch him before he floats away! — and I select some of our favorite songs from the past two months, compiling them into one playlist. While our tastes overlap in a lot of ways, they also diverge. These songs represent what has drawn us in, made us curious, or feel something. We hope these songs serve as an entry point for you, and that you feel something, too!
Songs 1 - 22 were selected by Kevin. Songs 23 - 45 were selected by me, Stanley. We hope you find a song you like and check out the larger body of work, whether it’s an EP or an album. Below are a few words on some of my favorite songs from the month:
A Year Later — Nazir Ebo
We, the listener, do not know what’s transpired, but are placed in the aftermath of an event. A Year Later, the 3rd track from drummer Nazir Ebo’s debut album, opens with an electric guitar; that sounds more like a (keyboard) synthesizer at times; fluttering from side-to-side. Ebo’s enlisted guitarists, Simon Martinez (Flanafi) and Tim Watson — two of the most inventive and exciting guitarists working today — whose playing sets tone for the track. The melody is subdued and patient as Ebo’s drums colorfully paint the rhythm. The songs form, at least its first movement, comes into focus around the 2:30 mark, as pianist Sanche Ramirez’s keyboard colors the soundscape. The composition’s second movement, kicks into gear around the 4:30 mark as Ebo’s drums set a Dilla-esque backbeat, and veteran bassist Tone Whitfield’s (longtime bass player for Bilal) octave-distorted bass locks in a groove.
The song moves in waves. One might ask the question, “a year later” from what exactly? I contend that an answer here is not important. Indeed, time has passed for all of us and we, by choice or force, have moved from one point to another. There is a beautiful temporality to Ebo’s tune, in its title and execution.
