Mondo Jazz

In the two weeks since our last new releases special, so much great new music came to our attention, that today we have one of those shows that some like to define all killer, no filler, except that I don't like to think of music as killing, but you get the drift. A special focus on Charlie Hunter numerous recent projects as leader or sideman, and on great bass players like Petter Eldh, Christian McBride, Michael Formanek and Clovis Nicolas. The playlist also features Nicole Johänntgen; Sébastien Texier, Christope Marguet; Kurt Elling; Sam Fribush; Lucy Woodward; Costanza Alegiani; Francesco Beccaro; Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas; Michel Meis; Dan Rosenboom, Billy Mohler, Anthony Fung Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13449683/Mondo-Jazz (up to Dan Rosenboom) Happy listening!

Welcome to the second part of this week's edition of Mondo Jazz dedicated to the one and only Geri Allen, the monumental pianist that would have turned 65 this year, but has left a body of work that will continue to play a fundamental influence on generations of musicians. Her unique synthesis of influences comes across a beautiful Songbook which we'll explore through her original interpretations and those of her peers. The playlist features Geri Allen, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette; Vijay Iyer; David Murray, Terri Lyne Carrington; Steve Coleman; Gary Thomas; Dianne Reeves; Ben Waltzer; Michael Gregory Jackson; Gerald Cleaver; Kassa Overall. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13403741/Mondo-Jazz (from Allen/Holland/DeJohnette onward). Happy listening!

This week we celebrate the legacy of a musician whose contribution to the jazz world was cut short too early, pianist Geri Allen. The fruits of her legacy, however, have already been evident for some time. There are so many among today's pianists who are in their late 40s, from Jason Moran to Ethan Iverson, from Vijay Iyer to Aruan Ortiz, in whose piano playing one can feel the influence of the Pontiac native. And when you hear today's trailblazers look up to a musician that was just 15-20 years their senior, you know that Geri Allen's repertoire is bound to become an increasingly influential source of inspiration for years to come. The playlist features Geri Allen; Tim Ray; Donald Walden; Wallace Roney; The Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet; Don Byron and Aruan Ortiz; Noël Akchoté; Vijay Iyer and Craig Taborn. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13403741/Mondo-Jazz (up to Iyer-Taborn). Happy listening!

If you belong to the CD generation you must be familiar with the feeling of surprise and elation that comes when you let the CD player spinning even when the music is over, just to realize suddenly that there was a hidden track not mentioned on the booklet or the liner notes… Today we're focusing on great tunes that - for a reason or another - were concealed to great effect but may have also not received the attention they deserve. We'll try to remedy just that focusing on ghost-tracks, and other ghostly jazz. The playlist features Cortex; Shake Stew; John Ellis; Johnny Fourie; Heiri Känzig; Howard Fishman; Paul Jarret; Jason Moran; Branford Marsalis; Aljosa Jeric; Houdini's Cage; Rêve d'éléphant orchestra; The Other Quartet; Joe Henry; and Albert Ayler. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13409684/Mondo-Jazz (from Cortex onwards). Happy listening! Photo credit: Luciano Rossetti (Phocus Agency)

You are all very familiar with the sense of surprise and joy that comes when you've finished playing an album, and as you thought it was over and you are about to turn off the player or start playing the next album... the music fills the air again when you no longer expected it. This week we focus on great jazz tunes hidden in plain sight, or plain hearing, the so-called ghost tracks, and other ghost-related jazz. The playlist features Bobby Previte; Erik Truffaz; Paolo Fresu; Thomas de Pourquery; Duke Pearson; Branford Marsalis; Medeski, Martin & Wood; Rudy Royston; Enrico Morello; Oltremare Quartet. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13409684/Mondo-Jazz (up to Oltremare Quartet). Happy listening! Photo credit: Sylvain Gripoix

Leo Sidran and Kat Edmonson's latest single introduce the Art of Conversation in jazz. Irène Schweizer and Hamid Drake, and Javier Santiago and Melanie Charles continue it as a dialogue; Keith Brown and Garage a Trois as a trialougue; Dina Ramirez, Roberto Negro, Erik Fratzke as a quadralogue; Jacques Schwarz-Bart, Makram Aboul Hosn, Ofentse Moses Sebula and Little Rosies Kindergarten as much larger conversation. But in all cases, it's the result of deep listening and opennes that gives rise to memorable music. Detailed playlist available at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13276049/Mondo-Jazz (up to Ocelot). Happy listening!

This week we pay tribute to the late Mario Pavone, with an epic live set in which his majestic bass sound propelled the Thomas Chapin Trio into the stratosphere at the 1995 Newport Jazz Festival. The rest of the playlist revolves around modern jazz guitar, with two different way to pay tribute to Bill Frisell by the Unscientific Italians and Skuli Sverrison, the revelatory new albums by Hungarian guitarist Csaba Palotai (with Steve Arguelles) and French guitarist Paul Jarret, the guitar talk of Joel Harrison and Pete McCann in tribute to Vic Juris (for Harrison's new imprint ASG), and the solo soundpainting of Lake Michigan by Scott DuBois. Completing the dense playlist, are the new albums by Joe Lovano and Dave Douglas' Soundprints Quintet, the first of new material after a string of Wayne Shorter tribute albums, Tell No Lies and Ocelot. The playlist features Mario Pavone, Thomas Chapin, Mike Sarin; Joe Lovano, Dave Douglas; Tell No Lies; Paul Jarret; Unscientific Italians; Skúli Sverrisson with Bill Frisell; Csaba Palotai, Steve Arguelles; Joel Harrison; Scott DuBois; and Ocelot. Detailed playlist available at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13276049/Mondo-Jazz (up to Ocelot). Happy listening!

Tributes, pianists, and tributes to pianists at the core of this show, from the hommages to Paul Jackson by John Patitucci, Ennio Morricone by Stefano Di Battista, Alice Coltrane by Il Sogno and Hasan Ibn Ali by Brian Marsella to available-at-last music by Ali himself and British pianist Mike Taylor both as leader and composer for Cream. To top things up the remarkable debut album by New York based Japanese pianist Erika Dohi [pictured] with a track featuring special guests Ambrose Akinmusire and Immanuel Wilkins, Berlin based Japanese veteran pianist Aki Takase, the spiritual jazz of Wildflower, the unstoppable groove of The Bamboos and a quasi-Morriconean reprise of Moby's hit "Natural Blues" feat. Gregory Porter. The playlist features The Bamboos; John Patitucci; Stefano di Battista; Moby, Gregory Porter; Wildflower; Il Sogno; Erika Dohi; Aki Takase, Christian Weber, Michael Griener; Hasan Ibn Ali; Brian Marsella; Mike Taylor; and Cream. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13220267/Mondo-Jazz (from The Bamboos onward). Photo credit: Shervin Lainez.

A playlist replete music that hits you hard and deep regardless the volume at which it was recorded, ranging from the compelling album marking the 85th birthday of Michel Portal to the new concept album by Maria Grand, and a whole bunch of genre-defying projects to keep your spirits high! The playlist features The Gangsters; Michel Portal; Anthony Joseph; Maria Grand; The J. & F. Band; Steven Bernstein; Daniele Sepe; Mark Feldman; Paul Berner, Michael Moore; Hjortron; and Michael Rodriguez. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13220267/Mondo-Jazz (up to Michael Rodriguez). Happy listening! Photo credit: Pedro Gil Rosas

In the second part of this week's show we continue exploring the compositional genius of Keith Jarrett on the occasion of his 76th birthday, focusing on renditions of his tunes by other musicians. It is one of the ways we can celebrate the lasting contribution of Keith Jarrett to the music world at a time where unfortunately his health does not allow him to play live or record new material. The playlist features Bruce Hornsby; Angel Sucheras; Steve Cardenas; Jay Anderson; Branford Marsalis; George Schuller; Kenny Werner; Rudy Linka; Eric Legnini; Emily Remler; Larry Corryel, Philippe Catherine; Tom Lellis; The Matteson - Phillips Tubajazz Consort; Nelson Veras; and Vert. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13172951/Mondo-Jazz (from Brunce Hornsby onward). Happy listening! Photo credit: Yasuhisa Yoneda

For over four and a half decades, Keith Jarrett has penned countless memorable compositions many of which have become integral part of the repertoires of many of today's musicians. As his years at ECM have become increasingly focused on improvisational tour de forces or the exploration of the Great American Songbook, the compositions of Keith Jarrett that other musicians have been covering are mostly the tunes from his years with Atlantic Records and Impulse! Records albums, which perhaps better lend themselves to a re-interpretation. This week we explore some of the best, and some of the more unusual, renditions of the Keith Jarrett Songbook to celebrate the pianist's 76th birthday. The playlist features Big Band Katowice; Woody Herman; Steve Arguelles; Pat Metheny; Mike Gibbs; Georgie Fame; Keith Jarrett; Ulf Wakenius; Noël Akchoté; Sylvain Luc; Peter Lehel; SHIN-SKI; Noah Haidu; and Eric Revis. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13172951/Mondo-Jazz (up to Eric Revis). Happy listening!

Jazz from Sweden, Republic of Korea, Australia, Switzerland and the USA in this set which blends tradition, innovation, and social engagement. The playlist features Jazzagenturen Qt.; Butcher Brown; Susanna Risberg; Andrea Keller; Johan Lindström; Focusyear Band; Pat Donaher; Soojin Suh; Jordan Vanhemert; Peter DiCarlo; Felipe Salles. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13116160/Mondo-Jazz (from Susanna Risberg onward). Happy listening! Photo credit: Rene Jakobson

A Hammond Organ spotlight opens the show, courtesy of the WRD Trio, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio and the James Taylor Quartet. Its groove then gives way to the contemporary sounds of Mark Lettieri and Taylor Eigsti's latest collaboration with Gretchen Parlato and Becca Stevens, the spledid new albums of Israeli pianist Maya Dunietz and bassist Almog Sharvit; the jazz forays of the Stooges' Iggy Pop (with Dr. Lonnie Smith) and Mike Watt (with Three Layer Cake; the return of trumpet maverick Jaimie Branch with a live album, and two adventurous Italian projects, Circles 44 and Koine Sound Collective; and a second taste from the impressive debut album by guitarist Zane Carney. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13116160/Mondo-Jazz (up to Koine Sound Collective). Happy listening!

We continue our focus on the compositions of Charles Mingus, on the eve of what would have been his 99th birthday. Today's jazz would sound very different if Mingus had not been around and for this show we're focusing on some of the best renditions of some of his most beautiful compositions. The playlist features Quincy Jones; Gavino Murgia; Andy Summers; RZA; Jyoti; Soil & Pimp Sessions; Ravi Coltrane; Bobby Previte, Hal Willner; Stephanie Nilles; Ron Miles; Mark Murphy; Honi Gordon; and Domino Quartet. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13065964/Mondo-Jazz (from Quincy Jones onwards). Happy listening! Photo credit: Guy Le Querrec

This week Charles Mingus would have turned 99 years old, so to be a whole year ahead of the celebration of his centennial we've decided to focus this edition of Mondo Jazz on his figure as a composer, featuring some of the best renditions of some of his most memorable compositions. The playlist features Maceo Parker; Osmiza; Vienna Art Orchestra; Jane Bunnett, Dewey Redman, Stanley Cowell, Dean Bowman; Joni Mitchell; Gil Evans; Steve Lacy; Hal Willner; The Uptown Horns; Greg Cohen; Elvis Costello, Bill Frisell; Michael Blake; Medeski, Martin & Wood. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13065964/Mondo-Jazz (up to Medeski, Martine & Wood). Happy listening!

The extrovert pianism of Stefano Bollani and Benito Gonzalez opens this show, which then dives into recent Nordic and Eastern European jazz (Fredrik Nordström, Julia Karosi, JAF Trio), embraces the compelling melodicism of Roberto Spadoni, Chris Pattishall, Stefano Coppari, Wayne Horvitz and Sara Schoenbeck, explores the music of two adventurous Canadians (Lina Allemano and Francois Houle), before landing in Ornette-land courtesy of Miguel Zenon. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13026978/Mondo-Jazz (from Stefano Bollani onwards). Happy listening! Photo credit: Gert Vandepoele

This week we focus on music about fake news (Veronica Swift - pictured) and black lives (Daniel Casimir, Spaza), historic British jazz reissues (Neil Ardley) and young compelling reeds players Rahsaan Barber, Pauli Lyytinen, Tobias Meinhart, Michael Thomas, Leonhard Skorupa of the Austrian angular trio Znap!, and Nathan Daems of the Belgian power-outfit Echoes of Zoo) Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/13026978/Mondo-Jazz (up to Neil Ardley). Happy listening! Photo credit: Matt Baker

A show focusing directly or indirectly on current and past masters of the creative scene, from Don Cherry to John Coltrane, from William Parker to Tony Allen. Big Monitors; Tony Allen; Emanuele Passerini; Elin Forkelid; John Coltrane; Don Cherry. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12965801/Mondo-Jazz (from Big Monitors onward). Happy listening!

Hypnotic tunes, Orchestras, South African piano masters and James Brandon Lewis' prolific vein are the main theme of this show focusing on new and upcoming releases. The playlist features Omar Sosa; Sam Fribush; De Beren Gieren; Dave Holland; Lee Pardini; Ghost Funk Orchestra; Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra; Jihye Lee Orchestra; Nortonk; Bheki Mseleku; The Ibrahim Khalil Shihab Quintet; James Brandon Lewis. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12965801/Mondo-Jazz (up to James Brandon Lewis). Happy listening! Photo credit: Eunha So

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, Florian Arbenz and Edward Perraud, and blast from the downtown past: the debut album by Pachora! The playlist features Julian Lage; Charles Lloyd; Florian Arbenz, Nelson Veras, Hermon Mehari; Edward Perraud; Bad Uok; Pachora; Stephanie Nilles; Charles Mingus; Sons of Kemet; Nubya Garcia. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12923792/Mondo-Jazz (from Julian Lage onward). Happy listening!

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 features Georgia Anne Muldrow; H ZETTRIO; Dzhian & Kamien; Tom Misch, Yussef Dayes, Rocco Palladino; Pino Palladino, Blake Mills; Sam Gendel; Carlos Niño; Zane Carney; Henry Solomon, Logan Kane; JOMORO; R+R=NOW; Sana Nagano; John Zorn, Mary Halvorson, Erik Friedlander, Michael Nicolas, Trigger, and Ikue Mori. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12923792/Mondo-Jazz (up to Ikue Mori). Happy listening! Photo credit: Luke Marantz.

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, surf music or American contemporary and classical music into jazz. They contain many familiar traits which are hard to pin down because they've been revisited through Frisell's original vision, creating a brand of Americana that has become influential well beyond the confines of the US. Here we'll explore some of the best renditions of his songs. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12860963/Mondo-Jazz (up to Jerry Douglas) Happy listening! Photo credit: Monica Jane Frisell

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 career and is now reaching a healthy cruising speed. In this part of the show we'll feature renditions of Frisell's tunes by The Spellcasters; Rope; JP Schlegelmilch; Matt Brewer; Leni Stern; Arto Lindsay; David Sylvian; Danny Barnes; David Halliday; Unscientific Italians; Allen Ginsberg; Hal Willner; Gabriela; Angela Davis; Brooklyn Rider. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12860963/Mondo-Jazz (from The Spellcasters onward) Photo credit: Luciano Rossetti (Phocus Agency)

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 Josefine Cronholm's project inspired by the poetry of Carl Sandburg) to the prog vibes of Oba Loba featuring Belgian singer Lynn Cassiers and Valentin Ceccaldi, Théo Ceccaldi & le Grand Orchestre du Tricot featuring the signature vocals of Thomas De Pourquery. Philippe Lemm's piano trio featuring the late Angelo di Loreto, the 36-year collaboration of Roberto Cipelli and Paolo Fresu, Stefano Tamborrino's blend of jazz and chamber music and the funky side of Lawrence Sieberth's New Orleans-meets-Paris project complete the packed playlist. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12724697/Mondo-Jazz (from Ve.Nika onward). Happy listening! Photo credit: Steven Haberland

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 drummer Anne Pacéo's project Circles. A second taste of two current favorites, the Pino Palladino - Blake Mills collaboration and the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, Chris Potter's compelling one-man-show, the intricate philigrane of Shijin and Tamil Rogeon's electro-spiritual jazz adventures complete this journey in our stashes of new and upcoming releases. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12724697/Mondo-Jazz (up to Tamil Rogeon). Happy listening! Photo credit: Arve-Kjersheim

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 career and is now reaching a healthy cruising speed. In this part of the show we'll feature renditions of Frisell's tunes by The Spellcasters; Rope; JP Schlegelmilch; Matt Brewer; Leni Stern; Arto Lindsay; David Sylvian; Danny Barnes; David Halliday; Unscientific Italians; Allen Ginsberg; Hal Willner; Gabriela; Angela Davis; Brooklyn Rider. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12860963/Mondo-Jazz (from The Spellcasters onward) Happy listening! Photo credit: Luciano Rossetti (Phocus Agency)

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, rock, pop, surf music or American contemporary and classical music into jazz. They contain many familiar traits which are hard to pin down because they've been revisited through Frisell's original vision, creating a brand of Americana that has become influential well beyond the confines of the US. With tunes like "Throughout" or "Strange Meeting" having been covered by tens of musicians, Bill Frisell' songbook is becoming as influential as his instrumental style Here we'll explore renditions of his songs by Michael Gibbs; Wayne Horvitz; Unscientific Italians; Elvis Costello and Metropole Orkest; Molly Johnson; Steve Argüelles; Aljosa Jeric; Charlie Haden; Tony Malaby; Noël Akchoté; Dylan-Thomas Vance and Griff Bear; and Jerry Douglas. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12860963/Mondo-Jazz (up to Jerry Douglas) Happy listening! Photo credit: Monica Jane Frisell

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 Stecks & Dead Cat Bounce; Alban Darche; Tania Giannouli; Cat Toren; Soojin Suh; Alexander von Schlippenbach; Daniele Germani. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12681941/Mondo-Jazz (from Gretchen Parlato onward). Happy listening! Photo credit: Seung Yeol Nah.

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 Martino; Hitra; Jakob Bro; Warped Dreamer; Hubert Dupont, Antoine Berjeaut, Steve Arguelles; Francesco Chiapperini & Theo Bleckmann. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12681941/Mondo-Jazz (up to the Westerlies).

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 Wright; Rigmor Gustafsson; Tom Scott, Phil Woods; World Renown; Black Sheep; Ramsey Lewis, Billy Taylor; Chick Corea, Christian McBride, Brian Blade. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12628787/Mondo-Jazz (from Masabumi Kikuchi onward). Photo credit: Roberto Cifarelli

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; Santana; Biréli Lagrène, Sylvain Luc; Roy Haynes; Diego Figueiredo; Friedrich Gulda; Susanne Abbuehl; Tommy Smith; Kris Bowers; Nicola Andrioli; Mural; Chick Corea. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12628787/Mondo-Jazz (up to Chick Corea). Photo credit: Roberto Cifarelli.

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 Quintet. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12593654/Mondo-Jazz (from Marbin onward) Happy listening! Photo credit: Richard Conde

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 listening!

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 Marvels and Ayelet Rose Gottlieb provide the perfect way to open the proceedings. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12536816/Mondo-Jazz (from Charles Lloyd onward) Happy listening!

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://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12536816/Mondo-Jazz (up to Franco Ambrosetti) Happy listening! Photo credit: Shayan Asgharnia

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 Ibarra; Sun Ra Arkestra. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12487369/Mondo-Jazz (from Navasha Daya onward). Happy listening! Photo courtesy of Elin Forkelid (credit: Peter Gannushkin).

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-Bart and Chris Dave. The playlist features also Chris McCarthy; Max Bessesen; Cowboys & Frenchmen; Dave Gisler Trio feat. Jamie Branch; Randal Despommier; R+R=NOW; Miguel Zenón, Luis Perdomo. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12487369/Mondo-Jazz (up to Zenón-Perdomo). Happy listening! Photo credit: Dovile Sermokas

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 Rendell onward) Happy listening!

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 Peirani, Emile Parisien; Naïssam Jalal; François Lana; Renaud-Gabriel Pion; Raphaël Pannier; Yannic Seddiki; Alban Darche, Jean-Louis Pommier, Sebastien Boisseau. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12450353/Mondo-Jazz (up to Alban Darche) Happy listening! Photo credit: Thibault Stipal

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!

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 Wangemann; Federica Michisanti; Jeff Cosgrove; Martin Wind; Joe Locke; Evan Harris; Katie Bull; Maryanne de Prophetis. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12403391/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Chant"). Enjoy the show!

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; Dave Gisler; Sylvain Rifflet; Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra; Antônio Neves; Mauro Ottolini; Becca Stevens; Elan Mehler; Ron Miles. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12351227/Mondo-Jazz (from Ernesto Cervini onward). Happy listening! Photo credit: Elliot Ross

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 Brandon Lewis; Kristiana Roemer; Lee Pardini; William Chernoff; Dayna Stephens. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12351227/Mondo-Jazz (up to Analog Player Society). Happy listening! Photo credit: Ludovico Granvassu

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 Angeles Guitar Quartet; Pat Metheny; Alberto Pinton; J. Peter Schwalm, Arve Henriksen; AINON; Ibrahim Maalouf; Kronos Quartet; Stephan Thelen. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12324136/Mondo-Jazz (From Gregory Porter onward). Happy listening! Photo credit: Shawn Peters

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/Mondo-Jazz (up to Giovanni Francesca). Happy listening!

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 but also for an atmosphere that was as welcoming to the musicians as it was to the audience. The playlist features Fred Hersch; Ben Allison; Mina Agossi; Steven Bernstein, Henry Butler & Hot 9; Dave Douglas [pictured]; Jakob Bro; David Gilmore; Dafnis Prieto; Edward Simon; Dena DeRose; Gary Bartz. Detailed playlist available at: https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12172805/Mondo-Jazz (from Fred Hersch onwards). Photo credit: Russell Moore

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 Street. The playlist features The Michael Leonhart Orchestra [pictured]; Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra; Mingus Big Band; The Michael Blake Euplion Orchestra; Maria Schneider Orchestra; Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra; SFJAZZ Collective; Wolfgang Muthspiel, Mick Goodrick; Ben Sidran feat. David "Fathead" Newman; Antonio Sanchez. Detailed playlist available at: https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12172805/Mondo-Jazz (up to Antonio Sanchez). Photo credit: Nathan West.

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 listening!

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 Detailed playlist available at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12131126/Mondo-Jazz (up to Raoul Björkenheim). Happy listening!

This year our seasonal Hanksgiving episodes celebrates a musician that is a cult figure in the world of saxophonists and fans of the Blue Note catalogue, saxophonist and composer Hank Mobley. The show features a mix of Hank Mobley's tunes and renditions of his work by peers that were attracted by his brand of jazz firmly grounded in the blues and R&B roots that he had mastered in the years that preceded his first engagement, with Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers. The playlist features Hank Mobley, Eddie Roberts, Gianni Basso, Irio de Paula, Philip Catherine, Wood in di Fire, James Spaulding, Cory Weeds, Ralph Lalama, Peter Bernstein, Eli Degibri, Randy Sabien. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12082760/Mondo-Jazz (from "Soft Impressions" onwards) Happy listening!