More new and upcoming releases ahoy! And this time with a special focus on previously unissued gems by the likes of Joe Harriott, Roy Brooks, Roy Hargrove and Mulgrew Miller and Bill Evans who came back to the future... The playlist features Huntertones, Cory Wong; Nicole Johänntgen; Roy Hargrove, Mulgrew Miller; Bill Evans; Joe Harriott; Roy Brooks; Big Monitors; Fabien Mary; Madre Vaca. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13806677/Mondo-Jazz Happy listening! Photo credit: Hank O'...
Aug 13, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 165
We're back to our periodic perusal of the best new releases, from the groove of the Band of Other Brothers and the Bogie Band to the show-stopping electric blues of Elliot Sharp's Terraplane and the sheer beauty of the latest albums by Sarah Wilson and Hank Roberts. The playlist features Band of Other Brothers; The Bogie Band; Malox; Elliot Sharp's Terraplane; Hank Roberts; Enzo Carniel, Filippo Vignato; Jalen Baker; Sarah Wilson; James Brandon Lewis; Giovanni Guidi; Dino Piana. Detailed playlis...
Aug 09, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 165
In the early days of jazz, bands larger than a septet were called an orchestra. Nowadays jazz orchestras and big bands are much larger than that, like those we feature in our final instalment of our mini-series dedicated to (mostly new and upcoming) releases by big bands and orchestras which can be found at the intersection of beauty, fun and mischief. The playlist features: The Louis Cole Big Band [pictured]; Jazzrausch Bigband; Brussels Jazz Orchestra; Chris Potter Underground Orchestra; Djang...
Aug 06, 2021•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 164
Big bands and orchestras have something that smaller ensembles cannot offer, sheer power and energy, which very often equals tons of fun, like that you will find in our ongoing deep-dive in the world of forward looking big bands and orchestras continues. The show features mostly new and upcoming albums from some of the best large ensembles from around the globe. Sometimes bigger is actually better! The playlist features: Fabia Mantwill Orchestra [pictured]; Electric Lady Big Band; Colin Towns, N...
Aug 02, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 164
As we continue our journey in the recent work of some of the most compelling Jazz Orchestras and Big Bands of today, and a few from the past that were so ahead of their time that their albums sound still very modern. The playlist features Orchestre National de Jazz; Michael Leonhart Orchestra; Enrico Terragnoli Orchestra Vertical; Fred Pallem et le Sacre du Tympan; The Don Ellis Orchestra; Miho Hazama [pictured] and the Danish Radio Big Band; Tower Jazz Composers Orchestra; Go: Organic Orchestra...
Jul 30, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 163
More is not always necessarily better, especially in music. However, the proliferation of remarkable Jazz Big Bands and Orchestras of the last decade or so is providing plenty of ground to prove that quality and quantity can go hand-in-hand. This week we focus on recent releases by some of the most compelling large ensembles around, with a few exceptions of older albums that fit with the forward-looking tenor of this music. The playlist features the Vienna Art Orchestra; Sun Ra; Rob Mazurek Expl...
Jul 26, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 163
Welcome to the second half of the England-Italy jazz rematch. England and Italy have both championed jazz very early on, and they have been among the first European jazz scenes to develop a recognizable accent in how they speak the jazz language, light-heartedness and sense of humour being integral aspects of that accent. Even though Italian and English sound quite different as languages, their two jazz accents are surprisingly similar in how they both seem to be characterized by a certain atten...
Jul 23, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 162
Last week, England and Italy faced each other in the finals of the European Soccer Cup. It was a compelling match with a nail-biting end between two teams that exceeded expectations and that promise to have a brilliant future. Italy won in a penalty shootout because in sports--especially in the finals of a tournament--there has to be a winner and a loser. That's why we much prefer arts--and music in particular--where usually everyone wins (or everyone loses… if the music is terrible, but then ag...
Jul 19, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 162
In this installment of Mondo Jazz we check out the latest releases by the prolific French pianist Benoit Delbecq, the expanded version of Charles Mingus' 1974 legendary concert at Carnegie Hall, the textural work of Waxwing and the trio of Thomas Stronen, Ayumi Tanaka, Marthe Lea, and a couple of albums that may end up very high on the best of 2021 lists: the latest releases by Danilo Gallo and Tom Rainey. The playlist also features: Simon Moullier; Joel Frahm; Philippe Mouratoglou; Steve Argüel...
Jul 16, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 161
This week we return to our periodic perusal of new releases, including re-releases from the vault of Black Fire Records (courtesy of the ever vigilant Strut Records), a newly released 1991 live-recording by Miles Davis and the upcoming project by his saxophonist from that band, Kenny Garrett. Speaking of saxophonists, don't miss the gems by electro-saxophonists Cochemea and Sam Gendel. The playlist also features Southern Energy Ensemble; Oneness of Juju; Kamasi Washington; Daniel Freedman; Sam W...
Jul 12, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 161
The much-awaited return of queen Marisa Monte, and the faux-Nippo-jazz of Julien Daïan open a show which centers around the outstanding new album by Ches Smith and dives deep into the diversity of today's international jazz scene. The playlist features also Evgeny Ponomarev; Le Tigre (des platanes); Colin Stetson; Ches Smith; Attilio Sepe; Florian Pellissier; Tino Tracanna; Mário Laginha, Julian Arguelles, Helge Norbakken; Paul Bedal; and Yaniv Taubenhouse. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron...
Jun 28, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 160
In the two weeks since our last new releases special, so much great new music came to our attention, that today we have one of those shows that some like to define all killer, no filler, except that I don't like to think of music as killing, but you get the drift. A special focus on Charlie Hunter numerous recent projects as leader or sideman, and on great bass players like Petter Eldh, Christian McBride, Michael Formanek and Clovis Nicolas. The playlist also features Nicole Johänntgen; Sébastie...
Jun 21, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 160
Welcome to the second part of this week's edition of Mondo Jazz dedicated to the one and only Geri Allen, the monumental pianist that would have turned 65 this year, but has left a body of work that will continue to play a fundamental influence on generations of musicians. Her unique synthesis of influences comes across a beautiful Songbook which we'll explore through her original interpretations and those of her peers. The playlist features Geri Allen, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette; Vijay Iyer;...
Jun 18, 2021•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 159
This week we celebrate the legacy of a musician whose contribution to the jazz world was cut short too early, pianist Geri Allen. The fruits of her legacy, however, have already been evident for some time. There are so many among today's pianists who are in their late 40s, from Jason Moran to Ethan Iverson, from Vijay Iyer to Aruan Ortiz, in whose piano playing one can feel the influence of the Pontiac native. And when you hear today's trailblazers look up to a musician that was just 15-20 years...
Jun 14, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 159
If you belong to the CD generation you must be familiar with the feeling of surprise and elation that comes when you let the CD player spinning even when the music is over, just to realize suddenly that there was a hidden track not mentioned on the booklet or the liner notes… Today we're focusing on great tunes that - for a reason or another - were concealed to great effect but may have also not received the attention they deserve. We'll try to remedy just that focusing on ghost-tracks, and othe...
Jun 11, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 158
You are all very familiar with the sense of surprise and joy that comes when you've finished playing an album, and as you thought it was over and you are about to turn off the player or start playing the next album... the music fills the air again when you no longer expected it. This week we focus on great jazz tunes hidden in plain sight, or plain hearing, the so-called ghost tracks, and other ghost-related jazz. The playlist features Bobby Previte; Erik Truffaz; Paolo Fresu; Thomas de Pourquer...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 158
Leo Sidran and Kat Edmonson's latest single introduce the Art of Conversation in jazz. Irène Schweizer and Hamid Drake, and Javier Santiago and Melanie Charles continue it as a dialogue; Keith Brown and Garage a Trois as a trialougue; Dina Ramirez, Roberto Negro, Erik Fratzke as a quadralogue; Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Makram Aboul Hosn, Ofentse Moses Sebula and Little Rosies Kindergarten as much larger conversation. But in all cases, it's the result of deep listening and opennes that gives rise to ...
May 31, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 157
This week we pay tribute to the late Mario Pavone, with an epic live set in which his majestic bass sound propelled the Thomas Chapin Trio into the stratosphere at the 1995 Newport Jazz Festival. The rest of the playlist revolves around modern jazz guitar, with two different way to pay tribute to Bill Frisell by the Unscientific Italians and Skuli Sverrison, the revelatory new albums by Hungarian guitarist Csaba Palotai (with Steve Arguelles) and French guitarist Paul Jarret, the guitar talk of ...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 157
Tributes, pianists, and tributes to pianists at the core of this show, from the hommages to Paul Jackson by John Patitucci, Ennio Morricone by Stefano Di Battista, Alice Coltrane by Il Sogno and Hasan Ibn Ali by Brian Marsella to available-at-last music by Ali himself and British pianist Mike Taylor both as leader and composer for Cream. To top things up the remarkable debut album by New York based Japanese pianist Erika Dohi [pictured] with a track featuring special guests Ambrose Akinmusire an...
May 21, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 156
A playlist replete music that hits you hard and deep regardless the volume at which it was recorded, ranging from the compelling album marking the 85th birthday of Michel Portal to the new concept album by Maria Grand, and a whole bunch of genre-defying projects to keep your spirits high! The playlist features The Gangsters; Michel Portal; Anthony Joseph; Maria Grand; The J. & F. Band; Steven Bernstein; Daniele Sepe; Mark Feldman; Paul Berner, Michael Moore; Hjortron; and Michael Rodriguez. ...
May 17, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 156
In the second part of this week's show we continue exploring the compositional genius of Keith Jarrett on the occasion of his 76th birthday, focusing on renditions of his tunes by other musicians. It is one of the ways we can celebrate the lasting contribution of Keith Jarrett to the music world at a time where unfortunately his health does not allow him to play live or record new material. The playlist features Bruce Hornsby; Angel Sucheras; Steve Cardenas; Jay Anderson; Branford Marsalis; Geor...
May 14, 2021•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 155
For over four and a half decades, Keith Jarrett has penned countless memorable compositions many of which have become integral part of the repertoires of many of today's musicians. As his years at ECM have become increasingly focused on improvisational tour de forces or the exploration of the Great American Songbook, the compositions of Keith Jarrett that other musicians have been covering are mostly the tunes from his years with Atlantic Records and Impulse! Records albums, which perhaps better...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 155
Jazz from Sweden, Republic of Korea, Australia, Switzerland and the USA in this set which blends tradition, innovation, and social engagement. The playlist features Jazzagenturen Qt.; Butcher Brown; Susanna Risberg; Andrea Keller; Johan Lindström; Focusyear Band; Pat Donaher; Soojin Suh; Jordan Vanhemert; Peter DiCarlo; Felipe Salles. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13116160/Mondo-Jazz (from Susanna Risberg onward). Happy listening! Photo credit: Rene Jakobson
May 07, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 154
A Hammond Organ spotlight opens the show, courtesy of the WRD Trio, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio and the James Taylor Quartet. Its groove then gives way to the contemporary sounds of Mark Lettieri and Taylor Eigsti's latest collaboration with Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens, the spledid new albums of Israeli pianist Maya Dunietz and bassist Almog Sharvit; the jazz forays of the Stooges' Iggy Pop (with Dr. Lonnie Smith) and Mike Watt (with Three Layer Cake; the return of trumpet maverick Jaimi...
May 03, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 154
We continue our focus on the compositions of Charles Mingus, on the eve of what would have been his 99th birthday. Today's jazz would sound very different if Mingus had not been around and for this show we're focusing on some of the best renditions of some of his most beautiful compositions. The playlist features Quincy Jones; Gavino Murgia; Andy Summers; RZA; Jyoti; Soil & Pimp Sessions; Ravi Coltrane; Bobby Previte, Hal Willner; Stephanie Nilles; Ron Miles; Mark Murphy; Honi Gordon; and Do...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 14 min
This week Charles Mingus would have turned 99 years old, so to be a whole year ahead of the celebration of his centennial we've decided to focus this edition of Mondo Jazz on his figure as a composer, featuring some of the best renditions of some of his most memorable compositions. The playlist features Maceo Parker; Osmiza; Vienna Art Orchestra; Jane Bunnett, Dewey Redman, Stanley Cowell, Dean Bowman; Joni Mitchell; Gil Evans; Steve Lacy; Hal Willner; The Uptown Horns; Greg Cohen; Elvis Costell...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 153
The extrovert pianism of Stefano Bollani and Benito Gonzalez opens this show, which then dives into recent Nordic and Eastern European jazz (Fredrik Nordström, Julia Karosi, JAF Trio), embraces the compelling melodicism of Roberto Spadoni, Chris Pattishall, Stefano Coppari, Wayne Horvitz and Sara Schoenbeck, explores the music of two adventurous Canadians (Lina Allemano and Francois Houle), before landing in Ornette-land courtesy of Miguel Zenon. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl...
Apr 23, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 152
This week we focus on music about fake news (Veronica Swift - pictured) and black lives (Daniel Casimir, Spaza), historic British jazz reissues (Neil Ardley) and young compelling reeds players Rahsaan Barber, Pauli Lyytinen, Tobias Meinhart, Michael Thomas, Leonhard Skorupa of the Austrian angular trio Znap!, and Nathan Daems of the Belgian power-outfit Echoes of Zoo) Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13026978/Mondo-Jazz (up to Neil Ardley). Happy listening! Photo credit: Matt Ba...
Apr 19, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 152
A show focusing directly or indirectly on current and past masters of the creative scene, from Don Cherry to John Coltrane, from William Parker to Tony Allen. Big Monitors; Tony Allen; Emanuele Passerini; Elin Forkelid; John Coltrane; Don Cherry. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12965801/Mondo-Jazz (from Big Monitors onward). Happy listening!
Apr 16, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 151
Hypnotic tunes, Orchestras, South African piano masters and James Brandon Lewis' prolific vein are the main theme of this show focusing on new and upcoming releases. The playlist features Omar Sosa; Sam Fribush; De Beren Gieren; Dave Holland; Lee Pardini; Ghost Funk Orchestra; Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra; Jihye Lee Orchestra; Nortonk; Bheki Mseleku; The Ibrahim Khalil Shihab Quintet; James Brandon Lewis. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12965801/Mondo-Jazz (up to James Brandon ...
Apr 12, 2021•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 151
