On River Run Thee, Roberts immerses herself and the listener in a history of anguish, and channels it all into a magnetic unity, a postmodern opus.

Hear the jazz singer demonstrate her soulful technique in this 2008 episode hosted by Marian McPartland.

Inspired by the death of Eric Garner, the jazz singer asks an essential question in the spacious track, featuring trumpeter Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah: “What is needed for the change to come?”