Listen to this week’s playlist on YouTube and Spotify 

Critically acclaimed pianist, composer band bandleader Emmet Cohen has traveled the world with his sold-out performances, created and hosted one of the most highly watched regular online jazz shows in the world, and has earned a reputation for cultivating an atmosphere with his musicality for generations of musicians to find new inspiration. However, it’s his friendship with jazz legend Michael Funmi Ononaiye that has profoundly shaped his journey since 2012. On “Vibe Provider,” Cohen presents a masterful blend of originals compositions and beloved classics, dedicated to his friend and mentor, who was a master DJ, percussionist, former A&R executive, and chief programmer for Jazz at Lincoln Center.

For several years now, bassist Christopher Parnis has been making a name for himself on the Canadian jazz scene as both an elevating sideman and a driven bandleader. In 2019, he began assembling a quintet of his own to develop and perform his original music. He started with his oldest musical colleague, fellow Peterborough, Ontario born musician Aaron Blewett on drums. He then added Zimbabwean guitarist Matt Greenwood, Toronto-based trumpeter Christian Antonacci, and acclaimed Canadian pianist and two-time JUNO Award-winner Brian Dickinson. It is with this band that Christopher recorded his debut album, “Everything You Could Be,” a dynamic recording that chronicles his journey to Toronto to pursue his art.

Also this week, bassist and composer Matt Booth, a ubiquitous performer on the New Orleans jazz scene, releases his first album of all original music, “Sun Prints”; veteran trumpet player, bandleader, composer and arranger Tom Harrell offers up yet another ambitious, hard-to-resist album, ”Alternate Summer”; and Milan-based pianist and composer Antonio Farao unveils his sixth trio album, “Tributes,” featuring bassist John Patitucci and drummer Jeff Ballard