Rick James called her indispensable. Lady T was indeed the antithesis of a pop princess.

In groups big and small, AACM reedist Ed Wilkerson has combined the joyous immediacy of early jazz with the daring collisions of the avant-garde.

She’s one of pop’s most fiercely honest songwriters, transmitting messy truths with a powerhouse voice. Now, after a public setback and recovery, she has a lot more to give ...