Author's posts
New Music Monday for January 19, 2026
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify “Decidedly So” is the new album from veteran New York City trumpeter and composer Joe Magnarelli, whose performances reflect the essence of modern jazz: warm, distinctive melodies in both compositions and improvisations; rich, expressive harmonies; and an alluring sense of swing. For his third release for Cory Weeds’ Cellar …
New Music Monday for January 12, 2026
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Swedish bassist Mattias Svensson’s first encounter with pianist Bill Mays was in a studio in Japan where they recorded Svensson’s 2009 debut trio recording. Further recording and touring only heightened their desire to work more together, so Mattias took action and assembled a session in Copenhagen in 2022 with …
New Music Monday for January 5, 2026
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Grammy-winning vocalist, pianist, and songwriter Nicole Zuraitis shows she is a one-of-a-kind artist with the release of her first concert album, “Live at Vic’s Las Vegas,” recorded at the eponymous club, and just nominated for another Grammy Award. In the span of a two-hour show, Zuraitis delivers a masterful …
New Music Monday for December 29, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Masterful trio interplay reliant on deeply honed three-way communication and a refined sense of understatement make Fred Hesch’s third recording for ECM Records, “The Surrounding Green,” an essential entry into the piano trio canon. Hersch tackles a handful of 20th century compositions—spanning from standards to less frequented jazz tunes—as …
New Music Monday for December 22, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Guitarist John Scofield and bassist Dave Holland, two of jazz’s contemporary masters, have played together over the years in contexts including projects with Herbie Hancock and Joe Henderson and a spirited co-led band with Joe Lovano and Al Foster. “Memories of Home” is their first duo album together. It …
New Music Monday for December 15, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Pianist Kerry Politzer is always on the move. As a busy performer and bandleader with nine albums as a leader, a jazz educator at two universities, and the mother of two children, time is always of the essence for her when realizing a project. With ten original compositions and …
New Music Monday for December 8, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify Al Muirhead is a true institution in Canadian jazz, widely recognized as one of the country’s elder statesmen of jazz trumpet. Since moving to Calgary in 1966, Al has been a cornerstone of the Western Canadian jazz scene, performing and touring with luminaries such as Dizzy Gillespie, Guido Basso, …
New Music Monday for December 1, 2025
Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify The Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra is one of the Midwest’s most prominent jazz bands. Founded in 2013, the CCJO is a17-piece not-for-profit ensemble dedicated to performing, preserving and teaching jazz as a living art form. Over the years, they have presented big band arrangements of works by Ellington, Mingus, …