The paradox of the blues is that they come from sadness but that’s rarely how it feels to listen them. If anything, the effect is closer to liberation—a reminder that art doesn’t express feelings, it transforms them. Blending classic artists with more contemporary ones, here’s a playlist that focuses explicitly on the sunny side of the blues: the strutting, the peacocking, the celebration. Our editors update picks here regularly, so if you hear something you like, remember to add it to your library.