From November 2025, we have a very good free improv release worth checking out. From Jonah Parzen-Johnson’s Bandcamp site: “A Few We Remember is the new album by Jonah Parzen-Johnson and Lau Nau. The recording debut for the new duo of Finnish composer Lau Nau, aka Laura Naukkarinen, and American Continue Reading
Jazz
Nicola Conte – Terra Em Transe / Naquela Base
When in doubt, easy listening cures most ills! Nicola Conte thrills with this 7-inch single, bursting with bossa nova, smoky jazz, and a lounge-laden vibe that hits the spot.
Moyses Dos Santos – Maria
Far Out Recordings should be lauded forever for bringing so many great modern (and a few elder) Brazilian musicians to the attention of Western listeners. On that note, we welcome a debut from a new talent who will serve as a vanguard to Brazil’s diverse music scene in Moyses Dos Continue Reading
Devin Gray feat. Andrea Parkins & Frank Gratkowski – Hz of Gold
This is the second album in the past few weeks I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing that features percussionist Devin Gray, and the two musicians he collaborates with on this disc are legendary: Andrea Parkins- electronics, accordion & wurlitzer Frank Gratkowski- saxophones, flutes, & clarinets Devin Gray – drums & Continue Reading
Marco Benevento – Glera
I don’t know how Marco Beneveto managed not to get caught by my radar, as he produces such great Nu-Jazz that I almost feel bad I didn’t know about him sooner. This is an upcoming release, but the tracks available are funky and as contemporary as it gets.
Hadley Caliman – Iapetus
Wewantsounds, the most esteemed reissue label around, socks it to us yet again with a vinyl reissue of a long-forgotten work by Hadley Caliman, criminally unavailable since 1971. Instrumentation & PersonnelHadley Caliman: Tenor Saxophone & FluteWoody “Sonship” Theus: DrumsJames Leary: BassTodd Cochran: PianoVictor Pantoja: CongaLuis Gasca: TrumpetHungria Garcia: Timbales
Nikolay Smagliev & Dr.Jazz – Tailagan
I had some dear friends who were members of the Siberian jazz scene many years ago. Names like Roman Stolyar, Sergei Belichenko and others produced music equal-to or better than their contemporaries in Moscow and St. Petersburg for a while. Nikolay Smagliev & Dr.Jazz seem to be keeping in that Continue Reading
Esbjörn Svensson Trio – HOME.S.
The world lost one of jazz’s most incredible players in 2008 when pianist Esbjörn Svensson was killed in a diving accident. He and his trio were at the peak of their creative powers in this album, where the playing is gentle but dynamic. One could only imagine what sort of Continue Reading
Armen Donelian – Sayat-Nova: Songs Of My Ancestors
From Armen Donelian’s Bandcamp site: “Pianist, composer, bandleader, and educator Armen Donelian has carved out an enviable career spanning four decades, including seminal stints with Jazzmen Sonny Rollins, Billy Harper, Chet Baker, and Mongo Santamaria. But two other streams – Classical and Middle Eastern music – have influenced Donelian’s artistic Continue Reading
Fania All Stars – Live At Yankee Stadium Vol. 1
Adalberto Santiago, Alfredo De La Fé, Alphonse Mouzon, Barry Rogers, Billy Cobham, Bobby Cruz, Bobby Quesada, Bobby Valentin, Boncana Maïga, Cali Aleman, Celia Cruz, Cheo Feliciano, Eddie Palmieri, Hector Lavoe, Hector Zarzuela, Ismael Miranda, Izzy Sanabria, Jimmy Delgado, Joe Bataan, Johnny Pacheco. Look at that list. These are the kings of salsa. bolero, and so many other genres, with a few legendary jazz folks helping out. The Fania All Continue Reading