Around the world in a playlist, which features Latin and Caribbean influeces, touches of Indian music, spiritual jazz, Brazilian aromas, microtonal atmospheres, and visceral electro-acoustic outbursts. The playlist features Kevin Fingier; Samuel Blaser [pictured]; João Selva; Michael Blake; Clément Janinet; Aka Moon, The Orchestral Constellation; La Marmite Infernale. Detailed playlist available at https://spinitron.com/m/playlist/view/16955232 (up to "Viscères électriques"). Happy listening! Ph...
May 06, 2023•59 min•Ep. 229
A special focus on the deep, eclectic and exciting LA scene in this hour of Mondo Jazz, which then concludes with an unearthed gem by Chet Baker from the late 70s. The playlist features Mark Guiliana [pictured]; Jeff Babko, Tim Lefebvre; Rachel Eckroth; Larry Goldings, Kaveh Rastegar, Abe Rounds; Dorian Holley, Nayanna Holley; Billy Valentine; and Chet Baker. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17298446/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Guinea"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Dave Stapleton
May 04, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 240
This week we focus on three fascinating releases which celebrate the genius and legacy of Don Cherry, after starting with a tribute to Led Zeppelin, Emma Rawicz's new project, one of the best piano trios I've heard in a long time, lead by a drummer, and new music by Michael Formanek. The playlist features Francesco Bearzatti; Emma Rawicz; Vinnie Sperrazza, Ethan Iverson, Michael Formanek; Peter Broetzmann, Majid Bekkas, Hamid Drake [pictured]; Kahil El'Zabar, Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Dwight Tri...
May 01, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 240
Welcome to an edition of Mondo Jazz under the sign of groove and high energy feelgood releases. The playlist featured Jakob Manz; Leon Lee Dorsey; Izo FitzRoy; Joel Harrison; Wayne Tucker; Robin Mansanti; Miku Yonezawa [pictured]; The Jazz Avengers; Diego Rivera; Filthy Six; Genevieve Artadi; Yumi Ito; Sarah Elizabeth Charles. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17269003/Mondo-Jazz (from "Soul Tiger" onward). Happy listening!
Apr 28, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 239
Here is our weekly merry-go-round of recent and upcoming albums, which this time will feature great saxophonists, up and coming composers, and various projects showing that jazz is the most inclusive genre out there, welcoming any source of inspiration from Baroque to Brazilian to Flamenco. The playlist features Walter Smith III; Riccardo Gola; Felipe Salles, Melissa Aldana; Ben Rosenblum; Cyro Baptista [pictured]; Gianluigi Trovesi, Stefano Montanari; Jean-Marie Machado; Yvonnick Prené; Shirley...
Apr 24, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 239
Cécile McLorin Salvant, Ben Wendel and Kurt Rosenwinkel [pictured] are the threads bridging the various parts of this week's show which, in turn, is like a bridge between Europe and the US. The playlist also features Jacques Schwarz-Bart; Kerkko Koskinen, Linda Fredriksson. UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra; Angel Bat Dawid; Aki Takase; Next.Ape; Jim Snidero; and Tobias Meinhart Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17239727/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Berlin People"). Happy listening! Photo credit...
Apr 17, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 238
Strings, strings and more strings in this episode... from those of Brandee Younger's and Dorothy Ashby's harps, to those of the Ulysses String Quartet; from those of the guitars of Marc Ribot, Mariusz Sobanski and Guillaume Vierset, to those of the basses of Meshell Ndegeocello and Clovis Nicolas. The playlist features Hot Mustard, Alanna Royale; Brandee Younger; Meshell Ndegeocello, Julius Rodriguez; Dorothy Ashby; Clovis Nicolas; Ulysses String Quartet; Ikiru; Guillaume Vierset; Sobasnki Music...
Apr 17, 2023•58 min•Ep. 238
Experiments, from Chicago and elsewhere, technical mastery offset by sense of humor, jazz as sonic story-telling, and transfiguration of jazz standards are some of the main sources of inspiration for this episode. The playlist features Greg Spero; John Zorn, Bill Frisell, John Medeski, Brian Marsella, Kenny Wollesen; Camille Bertault; Daniel Bingert; Michael Blake; Yelena Eckemoff; Francesca Han [pictured], Ralph Alessi; Cory Smythe. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17210615/Mon...
Apr 14, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 237
This week we dedicate our show to two artists who--even though very far apart in terms of geographical origins and life trajectories, shared a devotion to beauty, elegance and originality: Ryuichi Sakamoto and Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou, who recently passed away. The playlist features also Cesária Evora, Caetano Veloso; Arto Lindsay; Vinicius Cantuaria; Adam O'Farrill; Rachel Eckroth; Francesca Han; Maya Dunietz; Kansas Smitty’s; David Virelles; Sam Reider Detailed playlist at https://spinitro...
Apr 10, 2023•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 237
This week we focus on the emerging musicians that will ensure that the historic South African jazz scene will have a bright future, and on a number of recent releases showcasing the many facets of a living master of the piano, Kenny Barron, featured as an accompanist for a vocalist, as a solo artist on a rare recording date as a leader, as a composer that inspires other contemporary musicians, and as a side-man in a very bop-oriented concert which has been recently unearthed. The playlist also f...
Apr 07, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 236
This week we open with a stunner, Billy Valentine's new album featuring the best of the Los Angeles and New York Scenes (Pino Palladino; Jeff Parker, Theo Crocker; Larry Goldings; Abe Rounds; Immanuel Wilkins; Linda May Ahn) and music that should bring much deserved attention. Then a mix of exciting releases, with a special focus on pianist a few moments that evoke the ghost of Nick Drake. The playlist also features Jeff Coffin; Salami Rose Joe Louis, Brijean; Dave Stryker; Loïs Le Van, Alban Da...
Apr 03, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 236
Los Angeles and New York are the two poles of this playlist document the vibrancy of these two scenes, and their cross-pollination, including the reissue of the iconic Wattstax Benefit Concert, a dive into new releases by Colorfield Records, a jazz look at the Erykah Badu's and Kendrik Lamar's songbook, and the reimagining of Pharoah Sanders' songs. The playlist features Ben Zwerin; Rufus Thomas; Ben Wendel; José James, Ebban Dorsey; Sam Gendel; Mark de Clive Lowe, Melanie Charles, Shigeto; Gall...
Mar 31, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 235
The exciting collaboration between Sexmob [pictured] and Scotty Hard and that involving Larry Goldings, Kaveh Rastegar and Abe Rounds open an episode focusing also on soundtracks, beat poetry and poetry of the beat, before closing with a sonic voyage by Tim Berne, Hank Roberts and Aurora Nealand. The playlist also features Daniel Villarreal; Burt Bacharach; Thomas Newman, John Beasley, Monk'estra; Lalo Schifrin; Paolo Fresu, Dino Rubino, Daniele Di Bonaventura, Marco Bardoscia; and Steve Argüell...
Mar 26, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 235
Medium-sized and large ensemble shine in all their nuances through the music included on today's playlist. At the end of the set Brazil, France and Norway add their own touch. The playlist features Anthony Branker; Andy Emler; Vince Mendoza, Metropole Orkest; SFJAZZ Collective; Franco D'Andrea; Chico Pinheiro [pictured], Romero Lubambo; Anat Cohen; Paris/Oslo. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17125620/Mondo-Jazz (from "What Place Can Be for Us?" onwards). Happy listening!
Mar 24, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 234
Countless forms of fusion in this week's show, from fusions of jazz and pop, to fusions of musical traditions. There are enough genetic modifications in just one hour that to prove that jazz's resilience passes any Darwinian evolutionary standards! The playlist features Roc Flowers, ; Marc Jordan; Leo Sidran, Sol Sidran, Michael Leonhart; Mike Dillon [pictured]; 58 Belvedere; Ludovica Burtone; Mihály Borbély; Christopher Hale; Simon Moullier; Roberto Pistolesi. Detailed playlist at https://spini...
Mar 20, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 234
Six decades separate Latvian guitarist Ella Zirina, who's 25, from Charles Lloyd who just turned 85. But the beauty of music is that obliterates any conventional notion of time and space, so here's a playlist that hops from country to country and from generation to generation in search of a beauty continuum. The playlist features Emile Parisien, Vincent Peirani, Vincent Segal, Baba Sissoko; Ella Zirina; Tineke Postma; Costanza Alegiani; Enzo Carniel, Hermon Mehari, Damien Varaillon, Stéphane Ad...
Mar 17, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 233
At a time in which the frantic pace of this world is making record executives explore the idea of one--minute songs to satisfy the swipe-crazed Instagram generation, this playlist if full of music that may feel like a welcome act of counter-culture. Extended form songs, elegant songs, strange songs... Enjoy the ride! The playlist features Brad Mehldau; Valtteri Laurell Pöyhönen; Sara Caswell; The Vampires; Chris Abrahams; The Necks; Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily. Detailed playlist at ...
Mar 14, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 232
Rarely has a jazz musician created a body of work in which depth, sophistication and melodies coexist as beautifully as Wayne Shorter did. In this episode we selected interpretations of his compositions by musicians we admire and who chose to follow his soothsaying footprints. In loving tribute to Mr. Gone. The playlist features Wayne Shorter, Milton Nascimento; Camille Bertault; Yuri Honing, Vince Mendoza, Metropole Orkest; Joni Mitchell; Don Grolnick; Wayne Horvitz; Michael Moore; Jimmie Rowle...
Mar 10, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 233
Organ grooves, a take on the Jackson Five opened by the merciless beat of an Ornette Coleman alumnus, a few compelling debut albums, the ongoing collaboration between Aruán Ortiz and James Brandon Lewis, the return of Joshua Abrams meditations for large ensemble and more, make this week's playlist worth your attention... The playlist features Ari Joshua, Skerik, Delvon Lamarr, Grant Schroff; Michael Blake; Papanosh; Simon Lucaciu; Ferg Quill; James Brandon Lewis; Aruán Ortiz; Joshua Abrams Natur...
Mar 06, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 232
As a young adult Burt Bacharach used fake IDs to get into 52nd Street jazz clubs to have his mind blown away by heroes of the bebop revolution like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Those early impressions could not but leave a mark in his sophisticated pop songs, seeds that would later make those very same songs blossom in the hands of jazz players, going full circle. As a composer and songwriter he had a remarkable gift for combining simplicity and complexity, the African roots of jazz R&...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 231
A celebration of the genius of Bart Bacharach, Mondo-Jazz style, focusing on off-the-beaten path takes on his idiosyncratic repertoire, since Bacharach's music is accessible and appealing for mass appeal and yet complex and sophisticated to intrigue even the most forward looking musicians. Romantic songs, political songs, themes for soundtracks, but all--without fail--earworms that stay with you well beyond the last note. The playlist features Django Bates; Stevie Wonder; Dave Douglas; Oranj Sym...
Feb 20, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 231
Americana-tinged guitarists, cinematic moods, a cast of London-all-stars chasing the electric-Miles-voodoo down, inflections of Jimi Hendrix, and music that may help you with meditation, introspection, or even state alteration... This and more in this week's set! The playlist features Thomas Naïm; Stephen Ulrich; Rob Mazurek, Exploding Star Orchestra, Jeff Parker; London Brew; Alessia Obino; Phil Ranelin, Wendell Harrison, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad; Jasmine Myra; Oren Ambarchi; Holsen ...
Feb 17, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 230
This week we put together a set which is centered around jazz influenced by Gnawa music, and musicians and bands which know how to develop and envelope, or develop a melody and mood which envelopes the listener. The playlist features Bill Laurance, Michael League; Club d'Elf; Naïssam Jalal [pictured]; Nguyên Lê; George; Lise Van Dooren; Christoph Irniger; and Emiliano Sampaio. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/16982901/Mondo-Jazz (up to "We Have a Dream"). Happy listening!
Feb 13, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 230
Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter are back, and they're SuperBoogieng! So are Jim Black and Kit Downes who are on a couple of new albums each. The playlist also features interesting new European projects, and albums that blend jazz with hip hop and music for the dance floor. The playlist features Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, Nate Smith; Federico Nuti; Julie Campiche [pictured]; Cedric Hanriot, Days; Matters Unkown, Miryam Solomon; Jim & The Schrimps; John Zorn, Jim Black; Kuhn Fu; Sebastian Roc...
Feb 07, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 229
There are different ways to unpack this playlist. One of them is looking at it as a travelogue that will take us to that music incubator that Chicago continues to be; to a scene deserving wider recognition like that of Washington D.C.; to Brazil, France and Italy. And it all starts from Free Form Funk Freqs' 3rd Galaxy. The playlist also features Greg Ward's Rogue Parade; Art Ensemble of Chicago; Alune Wade; Gaia Wilmer [pictured]; Janel Leppin; Cristiano Calcagnile; Emmanuel Borghi Trio. Detail...
Feb 03, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 228
The painstaking job of unearthing subtle nuances which were lost in earlier mixes of five of his albums is at the heart of the remastering labor of love that Ben Allison [pictured] has embarked on during the pandemic. During the first part of our show we focus on listening with new ears to some of our old favorites from those album. Then we turn to other musicians that strive to discover new angles and perspectives about old tunes, or to examine how sound, textures, and silence, also play a key ...
Jan 30, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 228
A playlist built around the work of impressive emerging saxophonists (Lakecia Benjamin, Xhosa Cole, Jason Marshall, and Alex Hitchcock), and guitarists (Ant Law and David Doruzka). Together with a tribute to Kurt Vonnegut, the reissue of an Acid Jazz classic, and much more, this is an hour of music that should keep you happy and speculative. The playlist also features Mother Earth; Georgia Anne Muldrow; Adriano Adewale, Ian Parmel; J.D.Hive; Jason Yeager; David Doruzka, Piotr Wyleżol, Jeff Balla...
Jan 27, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 227
Sun Ra may have joined the outer spaceways almost 30 years ago but he continues to inspire our earthly affairs through the musicians that have worked with him. We explore recent releases of the Arkestra and of bassist Tyler Mitchell, both of which revolve around the contribution of Marshall Allen. The other cluster of tracks is centered around the interlinkages among three musicians that have collaborated for a long time Brian Blade, Jon Cowherd, Chris Potter. In between, Santi Debriano with his...
Jan 24, 2023•1 hr•Ep. 227
An intriguing set of music featuring Americana in its Unitedstatesean and British declinations, three variations on the concept of jazz for large ensembles, John Zorn's take on existentialism, psychoanalysis, and the uncertainty principle, Chad Taylor's interpretation of Andrew Hill's music, and Nelide Bandello's nod to the world of Tim Berne. The playlist also features JD Allen; Hedvig Mollstead, Trondheim Jazz Orchestra; Letieres Leite & Orkestra Rumpilezz; Tower Composers Jazz Orchestra; ...
Jan 22, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 226
Precious archival recordings featuring unheard music by Charles Stepney, Donald Byrd and Miles Davis open this edition of Mondo Jazz featuring new and upcoming albums. The playlist is completed by the epic live album by Jeff Parker "Mondays at the Enfield Tennis Academy", and the intriguing work of young European players. The playlist also features Mané Fernandes and the Duo Hofmaninger/Schwarz. The detailed playlist is at https://spinitron.com/m/playlist/view/16870261 (up to "2019-07-08 II"). H...
Jan 20, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 226