This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music a couple cuts from a fascinating new album from Kronos Quartet and Mahalia Jackson, featuring her amazing singing and in conversation with Studs Terkel in 1963.

Also, new Detroit tunes from Dames Brown, The Legal Matters, another Nick Piunti preview, the duo Rosetta Pebble and more!

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for January 31, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “Against The Dying Of The Light” – Jose Gonzalez
• “(It Takes All Kinds) To Make A World” – Gail Ann Dorsey
• “The Stars Are Out Tonight” – David Bowie
• “Opening Night” – Arctic Monkeys
• “Hold On” – Mahalia Jackson & The Kronos Quartet
  
• “What Would You Do” – Dames Brown
• “Rendevouz” – Will Sessions + Dames Brown, Amp Fiddler
  
• “I Got You” – Tedeschi Trucks Band
  
• “I Wish You Love” – Frank Sinatra
• “Stay Away” – Charles Bradley
• “Can’t Hold Us” – Sampa The Great
  
• “Handshake Deal” – Nick Piunti
  
• “Get On The Right Thing” – Wings
  

• “Music Always” – AV & The Inner City
• “Perfect Day” – Al Green w/Raye
• “2Sided” – Arlo Parks
• “Sweet Love” – Stephen Sanchez
• “The Message” – The Legal Matters
• “Chicago” – Mavis Staples
  
• “In The Saddle” – Whitney
• “Practice” – Jamila Woods w/Saba
• “Your Old Stand By” – Mary Wells
• “Disco Life” – Say She She
• “Bend In The River” – Rosetta Pebble
• “Hair Down” – Samm Henshaw
• “Shapes & Sizes” – Joan Armatrading & The Kronos Quartet
• “This World Will Make You Think” – Mahalia Jackson & The Kronos Quartet

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org

This week on Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music looking ahead to new releases coming in the first few months of 2026, including Robyn’s first new album in 7 years, upcoming albums from Iron & Wine and Lucinda Williams, and brand new music this week from Mon Rovia, Father John Misty, Madison McFerrin and Common.

Also tunes from Ledisi with Gregory Porter, Prince, Joe Jackson and more.

See the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the media player above.

Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music Playlist for January 10, 2026

HOUR ONE:

• “Field Song” – Mon Rovia
• “The Old Law” – Father John Misty
• “Talk To Me” – Robyn
• “Dangerous Blues” – Luke Winslow-King
• “Everybody Knows” – The Legal Matters
  
• “Sweet Love” – Stephen Sanchez
  
• “This Time For Real” – Chet Faker
  
• “Hair Down” – Samm Henshaw
  
• “Welcome To Burning-By-Sea” – Joe Jackson
• “Memphis” – Joe Jackson
• “Ready To Let You Down” – Joseph
  
• “I Still Need Love 2” – The Twilite Tone (w/Madison McFerrin, Common)
  

• “Sister Golden Hair” – The Dandy Warhols
• “In Your Ocean” – Iron & Wine
• “Hoodoo Woman” – Tinsley
  
• “They Keep Trying To Find You” – Bonnie Prince Billy
• “Plastic Cigarette” – Zach Bryan
  
• “Take Me To Graceland” – Jack Spivey
  
• “Boy In The Bubble” – Paul Simon
• “Peace Of Mind” – Wesley Joseph ft. Danny Brown
• “drivers license” – David Byrne
  
• “The 6th Of January (Yasgur’s Farm)” – Amy Grant
• “The World’s Gone Wrong” – Lucinda Williams ft. Brittney Spencer
• “Dead Man Walking” – The Infamous Stringdusters

Listen to Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music every Saturday from 2-4 p.m. ET on Detroit Public Radio 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand at wdet.org