Kevin Whitehead

In April, the singer, songwriter and pianist will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In anticipation, two compilations of Simone's early singles have been released.

Wilson became famous in the 1930s, playing in Benny Goodman's small groups and recording his own combo sides with a young Billie Holiday. A new collection reveals what else Wilson was up to back then.

A new reissue catches Montgomery's quartet on their 1965 European tour. Critic Kevin Whitehead says the compilations are elegant and complicated, and you can hear Coltrane's influence throughout.