Our exploration of new and upcoming releases, and reissues, continues with the compelling homage to Charles Mingus by Stephanie Nilles, followed by the stunning Bremen live recordings recently released by Sunnyside Records. Sandwhiched between two beautiful Blue Note albums (the upcoming project by the Julian Lage Trio and an instant classic by Charles Lloyd) and two projects by the beacons of the London scene, Shabaka Hutchings and Nubya Garcia, the usual mix of European projects (Bad Uok, Flor...
Apr 09, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 150
We take off with another upcoming gem from Georgia Anne Muldrow and land with John Zorn and the first (of what will certainly be many) box set dedicated to his delightful Bagatelles. In the middle a mini-section on the Palladino bass-dinasty which acts as a bridge between two of the hot scenes of today, London's and LA's. From there we dive in the latter with a special focus on the fascinating new releases by Sam Gendel, Carlos Niño, Zane Carney, Henry Solomon and Logan Kane. The playlist featur...
Apr 05, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 150
Every age its defining musicians, who stand-out for their innovations and distinctive voices. For us growing up musically in the 1980s and 1990s and interested in forward looking music Bill Frisell is one of these foundational figures. His instrumental style is certainly unique and has shaped the way the following generations have approached the guitar, and--more and more so--his compositions are being embraced by his peers. His tunes integrate sources as diverse as country music, rock, pop, sur...
Apr 04, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 149
Bill Frisell's instrumental voice is instantly recognizable, no matter whether he displays its skronky side in John Zorn's Naked City or his sublime and delicate voicings infused of high-end Americana. Equally distinctive are his compositions which more and more of his peers have been incorporating in their repertoires, in a process of metabolization that goes back to the 1990s but--as it always happens for musicians whose style is so distinctive--started to really take off later in Frisell's ca...
Apr 01, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 149
Me might be living in difficult times but the music scene, key to our mental well-being in this challenging phaes, is on fire. Literally every day it brings us new voices or new projects. This week we feature a few, with a special focus on vocalists, from the powerful debut of Ve.Nika to Dominique Fils-Aimé's remarkable third, and final, chapter of her African-American Trilogy; from Kirk Knuffke's projects with two Danish singers (Lilly's exquisite modern takes on the Great American Songbook and...
Mar 12, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 148
This week we put together an energy-packed playlist to boost us towards the finishing line of the winter season. At the heart of the show is electric jazz, from a rather guitar-centric set of bands. They oscillate between the shredding power of Hedvig Mollestad or Marbin, and the legacy of the New York Downtown scene that has started emerging from the vaults of Wayne Horvitz and has echoes coming back to us from across the world: exhibit A the Belgian band Echoes of Zoo; exhibit B: French drumme...
Mar 09, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 148
Every age has a number of defining musicians, who stand-out for their innovations and distinctive voices. For us growing up musically in the 1980s and 1990s and interested in forward looking music Bill Frisell is one of these foundational figures. His instrumental style is certainly unique and has shaped the way the following generations have approached the guitar, and--more and more so--his compositions are being embraced by his peers. His tunes integrate sources as diverse as country music, ro...
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 149
Bill Frisell's instrumental voice is instantly recognizable, no matter whether he displays its skronky side in John Zorn's Naked City or his sublime and delicate voicings infused of high-end Americana. Equally distinctive are his compositions which more and more of his peers have been incorporating in their repertoires, in a process of metabolization that goes back to the 1990s but--as it always happens for musicians whose style is so distinctive--started to really take off later in Frisell's ca...
Mar 08, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 149
This week we feature plenty of jazz for social justice, exciting piano players and young ensembles, unearthed live gems that are coming out during these COVID times both to remind us of the power of live music and to remedy the lack of new live recordings, and the album that confirms Gretchen Parlato's role in the pantheon of today's best jazz vocalists. The playlist features Gretchen Parlato; Michael Wolff; Daniele Sepe; Christopher Parker, Kelley Hurt; Damon Locks; Alonzo Demetrius; Matty Stec...
Mar 05, 2021•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 147
The return of Garage a Trois to its original line-up (Charlie Hunter, Skerik, Stanton Moore) kicks off a show featuring plenty of new and upcoming releases delivering good energy, adventure, sophistication and dreams of wide open spaces. A special mention for the upcoming album by Argentinean singer Roxana Amed which confirms her as unique voice on today's jazz scene. The playlist features Garage a Trois; Pierrick Pédron; Dr. Lonnie Smith; Fabio Accardi; Roxana Amed; Giovanni Di Carlo; Frank Mar...
Mar 02, 2021•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 147
We continue our journey in the Chick Corea Songbook. For decades he has been one of the contemporary ambassadors of American jazz, inspiring fans and other musicians all over the world. In this part of the programme we'll feature renditions of his work by musicians from abroad and from the USA, and from across musical genres through some hip-hop bands that mined the Chick Corea catalogue. The playlist features Masabumi Kikuchi; Luca Mannutza; Bob Berg; Jonathan Kreisberg, Nelson Veras; Lizz Wrig...
Feb 28, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 146
To celebrate the legacy of the late Chick Corea, today we'll focus on what he leaves behind, in addition to countless recordings as a leader or sideman, a body of compositions that have already expanded the jazz canon and will continue to do so in the coming years. In this first part of the programme we'll focus in particular on his "Spanish heart" and his "Children's Songs" cycle. The playlist features Iiro Rantala, Michael Wollny, Leszek Mozdzer; Don Grolnick; Willie Bobo; Michel Camilo; Santa...
Feb 26, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 146
Two tenor titans, Dave Liebman and Joe Lovano are at the heart of this week's show, with a multitude of projects as leaders or co-leaders. Two emerging pianists, Kari Ikonen and Francesco Orio share interesting perspectives on the use of their instrument. For the rest we'll go from the shreddin' energy of Marbin to Madre Vaca's jazz take on a classical music composition by Franz Schubert. The playlist also features Cortex; Benjamin Koppel; Alder Ego; The Generations Quartet; and The Kaleidoscope...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 145
The irresistible grooves of Delvon Lamarr and The Meters open another celebration of great new releases and reissues, through which we look into the relationship between jazz and hip-hop, art songs, and some good old fusion. The playlist also features Binker and Moses; Butcher Brown; Chicago Yestet; Giovanni Cigui; Marcos Resende; Matt Mayhall; Nels Cline; Cristina Zavalloni; and Tori Handsley. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12593654/Mondo-Jazz (Up to Tori Handsley) Happy list...
Feb 22, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 145
This week we focus our attention on two fundamental box-sets and a slew of live recordings the synchronicity of whose releases or reissues draws the spotlight on musicians that were at the center of the legendary Loft Scene (from Julius Hemphill to Sam Rivers, Michael Gregory Jackson and JuJU), as well as on some of those musicians that have been keeping the loft scene's spirit alive (William Parker, Tim Berne and the Italian-Danish band like On Dog). The latest albums by Charles Lloyd and the M...
Feb 19, 2021•1 hr 47 min
Never one to rest on his laurels, Franco-Moroccan comedian Gad Elmaleh dives into a new adventure with his remarkable and alluring Blue Note debut album which opens an equally adventurous set of new and upcoming albums from all around the world. The playlist features also Johan Lindström; Gabriel Alegria; Manteca; Yoko Miwa; Tino Tracanna; Elephant9; Ill Considered; Ok Nok... Kongo; Cyrus Nabipoor; Martin Wind, Ack van Rooyen, Philip Catherine; Franco Ambrosetti. Detailed playlist at https://spi...
Feb 16, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 144
Navasha Daya's tribute to Gil Scott Heron, several projecfts that explored the trail that Coltrane blazed, artists for whom rhythm is melody and melody is rhythm, musicians that plunge themselves in the inner space and in the outer space, debut CDs, reissues, label showcase albums... There's something for everyone in this hour of new and umpcoming jazz. The playlist features Navasha Dava; The Auanders; Chris Speed; Steve Reid; Elin Forkelid; Anna Högberg; Muriel Grossmann; Benoît Delbecq; Susie ...
Feb 12, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 143
The future of the music we love is in good hands as you'll hear through the projects of the emerging artists featured in this show, ranging in style from the a stunning modern take on Mary Lou Williams' "Zodiac Suite" for Chris Pattishall's debut album to the eclectic first release by Slovenian singer Mirna Bogdanović. Bass veteran Pino Palladino has a different 'first': his first album for Impulse! in the company of Blake Mills, Larry Goldings, Sam Gendel, Marcus Strickland, Jacques Schwartz-Ba...
Feb 09, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 143
This week's perusal through recent and upcoming jazz releases brings us British jazz from today (Alfa Mist) and yesterday (Don Rendell and Ian Carr), a stunning debut from Italy (Francesca Remigi), cutting edge music from the East Coast (Dave Douglas, Ben Wendel and Taka Nawashiro) and the West Coast (Dan Rosenboom), and two live unreleased gems by Hal Galper with the The Brecker Brothers and the Breckers's own. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12450353/Mondo-Jazz (from Don Rend...
Feb 05, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 142
Our stash of exciting recent and upcoming releases was replete with great new music from France that we had to devote to it a whole section of this week's show. Here large and small ensembles of unbounded creativity and multiple influences. The playlist features Mina Agossi; The Volunteered Slaves; Valentin Ceccaldi, Théo Ceccaldi & le Grand Orchestre du Tricot; Roberto Negro; Surnatural Orchestra; Orchestre National de Jazz; Orchestra Nazionale della Luna; Collectif la boutique; Vincent Pei...
Feb 02, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 142
We continue our exploration of the musical world of Frank Kimbrough, through his works as leader, co-leader, sideman in groups of long-time collaborators and in live never-heard-before recordings. The playlist features Frank Kimbrough, Lucas Pino; Rich Perry; Ben Allison; Ted Nash; The Herbie Nichols Project; Ron Horton; Jazz Composers Collective Trio; Jon Gordon. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12403391/Mondo-Jazz (from "The Spins" onward). Happy listening!
Jan 29, 2021•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 141
Frank Kimbrough had carved a unique place on the jazz scene, admired and respected by his peers for his capacity of inhabiting the moment and this way really embodying the essence of a music like jazz. This week we will go through some of the highlights of his discography as a leader, sideman, composer, producer and mentor of a new generation of musicians; including through never heard before recordings. The playlist features Frank Kimbrough; Michael Blake; Ron Horton; Ben Allison; Andrew Wangem...
Jan 25, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 141
You feel like you need a shot of energy because you've been at home too long, or you dream about traveling around the world but you're stuck in lock-down mode. Or maybe you feel curious about the ways in which jazz can advocate environmental or social causes. Or you're simply curious about new and exciting jazz releases. Then just click on the player, because you've just hit the mother lode of albums which check all the above boxes, and more. The playist features Ernesto Cervini; Kungen Jazz; Da...
Jan 22, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 140
This week we go from Wynton Marsalis's ruminations on the status of our society to Teodross Avery's and the Analog Players Society's reflections on Monk. In between. a world tour with stops in South Africa, Guatemala, Norway and Canada, and on two sides of the country, LA and NYC, for another great tasting menu of the best that today's jazz scene has to offer. The playlist features the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet with Wynton Marsalis; Bokani Dyer; Eyolf Dale; Dina Ramirez; James Bran...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 140
Gregory Porter kicks off the party with his uplifting "Revival Song", electro-acoustic projects keep the momentum going during the first half and jazz-meets-contemporary music albums take over the second half, including the latest by Pat Metheny with a new label, and the celebrated Kronos Quartet in two quite different contexts. The playlist features Gregory Porter; Francesco Bearzatti; Soul Church Music; Henry Solomon, Logan Kane (feat. Louis Cole & Dennis Hamm); Mortality; Matt Moran; Los ...
Jan 15, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 139
The year ended as it started, and as if COVID-19 never were, with a heart-warming slew of great new releases. Here's the last installment for 2020 acting as a great omen for an equally rewarding 2021 jazz year. The playlist features Dr. John; Claire Daly; Jason Moran; Dave Douglas; Maria Pia de Vito [pictured]; Daniel Casimir, Tess Hirst; Ramon Moro; Joel Ross; Billy Childs; Becca Stevens, Elan Mehler; Lucia Cadotsch; Giovanni Francesca. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12324136...
Jan 12, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 139
We continue our celebration of the Jazz Standard's legacy, following the announcement of its untimely closure. The capacity to appeal to both the beginner and the long-time jazz fan, and to combine the familiar with the unfamiliar, were some of the many strengths of Seth Abramson's artistic direction. Through a number of concerts recorded live at the NoMad venue, we want to remember a jazz club that distinguished itself, in a city with countless jazz clubs, not only for the excellent programming...
Jan 08, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 138
A jazz club is not just a commercial enterprise, or an entertainment spot, it's a cultural hub. When a venue like the Jazz Standard closes the loss should not be seen only in terms of a measurable disappearance of revenues but especially in terms of an unmeasurable loss of artistic opportunities. This week we focus on the artistic opportunities that the Jazz Standard made possible over the years, through some of the best concerts that were recorded live at its celebrated location on East 27th St...
Jan 04, 2021•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 138
Duos galore, grrrl power, trans-European and trans-Atlantic collaborations and plenty of pianos in this wave of new and upcoming releases. The playlist includes KerenDun; Lara Driscoll; Chris White; Artemis; Sarah Elizabeth Charles, Jarrett Cherner; Archie Shepp, Jason Moran; Martin Wind, Ack Van Rooyen, Philip Catherine; WHO Trio; Sylvie Courvoisier; Angelica Sanchez, Marilyn Crispell. Detailed playlist available at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12131126/Mondo-Jazz (from KerenDun onwards). Happy...
Dec 17, 2020•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 137
Ibrahim Maalouf celebrates his fortieth birthday with 40 melodies, then we dive into a rather guitar-centric collection of new and upcoming releases, which then takes a left turn with the latest from Common feat. Lenny Kravitz & Chuck D, Madlib & Karriem Riggins a.k.a. Jahari Massamba Unit and Vulfpeck. The playlist also features Maurizio Giammarco, Matteo Bortone, Manlio Maresca, Reinier Baas, Lionel Loueke, Andrew Renfroe, Luke Sellick, Nels Cline, Yves Rousseau, and Raoul Björkenheim ...
Dec 14, 2020•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 137
