Mondo Jazz

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

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

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)

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!

For our seasonal Hanksgiving show, this year we pay tribute to Hank Mobley, both as a saxophonist and a composer, by playing music from his albums, which are a cornerstone of the Blue Note sound and catalogue, and renditions of his music by musicians that came after him. There's so much to love in Mobley's repertoire. Happy listening and happy Hanksgiving, so it may very well become your new favorite holiday, the jazz equivalent of Festivus for the rest of us jazz loving freaks! The playlist features Hank Mobley, Big John Patton, Rafael Jerjen, Pat Martino, Warren Vache, Tony Coe, Alan Barnes, Toots Thielemans, Warne Marsh, Kenny Burrell, Stefon Harris, Jason Moran, Greg Osby, Mark Shim, John Zorn, George Lewis, Bill Frisell, Mostly Other People Do the Killing, Gary Bartz, Kenny Barron, Ray Drummond, Ben Riley. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12082760/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Fin de l'affaire")

We continue our exploration of bands and projects lead by female bass players which have become exponentially more prominent in the past two decades. Here is the fascinating music by musicians that debunk commonly held stereotypes related to the physicality of music, and develop a personal way to syntesize their countless sources of inspiration. The playlist features Marlene Rosenberg, Esperanza Spalding, Rosa Brunello, Hélène Labarrière, Hasse Poulsen, Donna Khalifé, Linda May Han Oh, Sélène Saint-Aimé, Ellen Andrea Wang, Joy Grifoni, Lisa Mezzacappa, Elise Dabrowski [pictured], Anna Butterss with Makaya McCraven, Anne Mette Iversen, Joelle Leandre, Eric Watson. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12031082/Mondo-Jazz (from Marlene Rosenberg onwards) Happy listening! Photo credit (Elise Dabrowski): Adrien Hyppolite

All around the world, there's a bassisterhood that is rapidly expanding and claiming its rigthful place on the jazz scene. This week we'll focus on the queens of the low-end and the fascinating bands and projects they lead. The playlist features Noriko Ueda, Giulia Valle, Silvia Bolognesi, Stefanie Kunckler, Heartland Trio, Mimi Jones [pictured], Caterina Palazzi, Meshell Ndegeocello, Sarah Murcia, Lisa Hoppe, Adi Meyerson, Federica Michisanti, Carmen Rothwell, Nicki Parrott, Rossano Sportiello. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/12031082/Mondo-Jazz (up to Parrott, Sportiello) Happy listening!

The second part of this week's edition of Mondo Jazz revolves around the Chicago-Paris-Brussels triangle, with forays into New York, Los Angeles and Austin, to deliver great, much awaited, new releases by the Sun Ra Arkestra, The Grassy Knoll and The Awakening Orchestra. To put the wheels in motion, the high-octane music of Dan Rosenboom. That and much more... The playlist also features Thunderblender, Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood, Geof Bradfield, Ben Goldberg, Dana Hall, Orange Moon, Sélène Saint-Aimé, Serge Lazarevitch, Ben Sluijs, Teun Verbruggen, Alex Goodman, and Dustin Laurenzi. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11952401/Mondo-Jazz (From Dan Rosenbloom onwards) Photo credit: Luciano Rossetti (Phocus Agency)

In this week's exploration of new and upcoming releases we explore a whole range of human interactions, from Matt Wilson's hugs to Kahil El'Zabar's jumps and shout, from Prince and Miles Davis going mano a mano to Bootsy Collins and Branford Maraslis proceeding arm in arm like true funkateeers, from Antoine Pierre following Miles' steps to Lionel Loueke doing the same with those of Herbie Hancock. And more... Happy listening! The playlist also features Michel Benita, Roberto Cecchetto, Thoine Thys, Miki Yamanaka and Susan Alcorn. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11952401/Mondo-Jazz Photo credit: Henrik Noergaard Rohweder Paulsen

One thing that Jazz and Circus have in common is that--unlike way too many things that we see in our daily lives--you can't fake them. You cannot pretend you're an expert among circus or jazz artists… If you are not … it'll show! And this authenticity may be one of the reasons why they seem so precious in this age of disposable fakeness. Here we continue our exploration of the connections between jazz and circuls with a dolly shot of circus acts, fire eaters, mimes, jugglers and many more. Enjoy the show, and don't forget that jazz never fails to be our safety net when we fall off the trapeze because the other guy didn't bother reaching out for us... The playlist features Rusty Bryant, Tuatara, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Mathilde Santing, Paolo Fresu, Rez Abbasi, Trio Grande & Matthew Bourne, Django Bates, Phillip Johnston, James Chance, Nucleus, Noël McGhie and Charlie Haden. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11882854/Mondo-Jazz (from Rusty Bryant onwards).

Circus is like Jazz. They both require a great deal of originality and a capacity to improvise and be in the moment. They come out of a sense of artistic urgency and self-expression since they are not arts that people embrace to get rich. And they both demand incredible dedication and discipline. We explore the connections between these two art forms, focusing on jazz inspired by the circus world, composed for circus shows, or evoking-in a way or another-"The Greatest Show on Earth" Sit back, relax, enjoy the show, and, like Charles Mingus put it, "Don't Be Afraid, the Clown's Afraid Too". The playlist features Art Blakey, Raffaello Pareti, Django Bates, Emile Parisien, Vincent Peirani, Otello Savoia, Michael Shrieve, Bobby Previte, Kamikaze Ground Crew, Richard Galliano, Sexmob, Wayne Horvitz, Geri Allen, Mary Lou Williams, Leïla Martial, Charles Mingus, Willem Breuker, and Henry Threadgill. Detailed playlist: https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11882854/Mondo-Jazz (up to Threadgill)

In the second part of this week's review of new and upcoming releases we focus on new projects by saxophonists Ben Wendel (as leader and sideman of Tom Guarna) and Nubya Garcia (revisiting Joe Henderson for the "Blue Note Re:imagined" project, and as member of Maisha. Also noteworthy the new project of drummers Cindy Blackman Santana (with a guitar dream-duo of Vernon Reid and Carlos Santana), and Antoine Berjeaut as well the new trio by Norwegian bassist Ellen Andrea Wang. To bring some acoustic balance the brilliant debut of Ben Rosenblum's Nebula Project and the reading of one of Aaron Copland's piano blues by Marco Fumo Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11851066/Mondo-Jazz (from Nubya Garcia onwards).

Another week devoted to new and upcoming releases with a special focus on the latest albums by Italian saxophonist Francesco Bearzatti and the members of his Tinissima 4et, trumpeter Giovanni Falzone, bassist Danilo Gallo and drummer Zeno De Rossi. To complete this all-European showcase, two quite different projects by British saxophonist Iain Ballamy, the resounding elegance of Renaud-Gabriel Pion, a lesson on how to 'play nature' by András Dés Rangers, the great debut of the Charlotte Greve Trio with Chris Tordini and Vinnie Sperrazza and the uplifting music by Spanish bassist Giulia Valle and British saxophonist Ken Stubbs. Happy listening! Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11851066/Mondo-Jazz (up to Iain Ballamy, Aidan Pope). Photo credit: Paolo Piga.

Elvis Costello with the Michael Leonhart Orchestra, Robert Wyatt with Mary Halvorson's Code Girl, Jesse Harris lending his pen to Camille Bertault or John Zorn and Petra Haden... that why we like blurred lines between genres! And so do Rosa Brunello, Nels Cline, Erik Friedlander with new releases that draw inspiration from a multitude of sources. And keep an eye on the French vibraphone player Simon Moullier who has just released a remarkable debut album. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11796385/Mondo-Jazz (from the Michael Leonhart Orchestra onwards) Happy listening!

This week our playlist is bursting at the seams with great projects, several of which explore the renewed interest in what many like to call 'spiritual jazz', from Roberto Ottaviano to Dwight Trible's Cosmic Vibrations and Matthew Halsall out of the increasingly interesting Manchester jazz scene. The rest of the playlist alternates forward looking projects like the welcome return of Craig Taborn's Junk Magic, "Supersense" the multisensory project by Steph Richards with Jason Moran, or Torbjörn Zetterberg's Den Stora Frågan, with powerful straight-ahead releases like the debut stunners by Immanuel Wilkins and the Doxas Brothers. In the middle of it all, a feel-good jazz-meets-soul of Curtis Mayfield by William Parker and Leena Conquest with the help of a choir of 90 kids from Paris' suburbs. Happy listening! Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11796385/Mondo-Jazz (up to Mary Halvorson). Photo credit: Chris Weiss.

Although Sting is widely known for his solo career and for fronting The Police, his love for jazz has been a common thread throughout his career. His jazz sensibility became more prominent when he started his solo career with a band of young heavy-weights from the New York jazz scene of the time, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, Darryl Johns and Omar Hakim. We continue our exploration of Sting's jazz projects and renditions of his jazz compositions by the likes of Lester Bowie, Pat Metheny, Esbjörn Svensson, Michael Brecker, collaborations with producer Hal Willner and more. Happy listening! The playlist also features Bob Belden; Christian McBride; Michela Lombardi; Nils Landgren, Lars Danielsson, Wolfgang Haffner; Eric Reed; Nobuyoshi Ino; Joe Henderson; Bill Frisell, David Sanborn, Fareed Haque, Don Alias, Hank Roberts; and Branford Marsalis. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11767727/Mondo-Jazz (from Bob Belden's "The Dream of the Blue Turtles" on).

From his early years as a bass player in the trad Phoenix Jazzmen, the straight-ahead Newcastle Big Band, and the fusion quintet Last Exit, to his collaborations with idols like Gil Evans and Miles Davis, jazz has been a constant in Sting's artistic path. This week, we feature music from his jazzier projects as a leader or side-man, and jazz renditions of his compositions by jazz legends and up and coming masters. Happy listening! The playlist also features Gregory Porter; Espen Berg; Jazz Fantasy feat. Franco Ambrosetti; John McLaughlin; The Bob Belden Ensemble; and Marcin Wasilewski. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11767727/Mondo-Jazz (up to Marcin Wasilewski). Photo credit: Frédéric Stucin

A classical musical upbringing; a deep knowledge of contemporary classical masters; a career that rapidly saw him develop affinities and life-long collaborations with mainstream and forward-looking jazz musicians, both from the US and from abroad; equally at home with fusion, pop and rock. In sum, Kenny Kirkland epitomized that kind of musician that defies categorization which we tend to admire the most. Here is the second part of our celebration of this legacy. Happy listening! The playlist also features Courtney Pine, Kenny Garrett, Jeff "Tain" Watts, Emilia Mårtensson & Barry Green, Conjure, Kip Hanrahan, Hal Willner, Carla Bley, Ernie Watts with Gilberto Gil, Miroslav Vitous, George Ohtsuka, John Scofield, Mabumi Yamaguchi, Stone Alliance and Noah Haidu. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11713129/Mondo-Jazz (from Kenny Kirkland "When will the Blues Leave?" onwards).

On September 28th, 2020, Kenny Kirkland would have turned 65. This week we celebrate his legacy as leader, co-leader, as side-man invited to add power and sophistication to the bands he joined, and as composer, through renditions of his music by peers and contemporary musicians. Among these, pianist Noah Haidu has recently released the first-ever album entirely dedicated to the Kenny Kirkland songbook, which we feature here and in the second part of the show, which will be online in a few days. Happy listening! The playlist also features Jeff "Tain" Watts, Noah Haidu, Wynton Marsalis, Craig Taborn & Steve Lehman Trio, Michael Brecker, Sting, and Branford Marsalis. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11713129/Mondo-Jazz (up to Branford Marsalis)

Django Bates celebrated his 60th birthday and 40th anniversary as a musician while marking Bird's centennial with adventurous and witty arrangements for the Norrbotten Big Band. That gives us a cue to look into more Scandinavian and large-ensemble music, following the adventures of Bates' bassist Petter Eldh, as part of the much awaited return of Lucia Cadotsch's Speak Low project in which he works side-by-side with Swedish saxophonist Otis Sandsjö who, in turn, can be found in Martin Perret's L'Anderer. The big band and orchestra section of the playlist is lush and deep thanks to the encounter of Michael Moore [pictured] with the NDR Big Band, Mike Fahie's jazz arrangements of Debussy and the love sounds of Le Mirifique Orchestra. At the top of the set Danish saxophonist Benjamin Koppel's rendition of Buddy Miles (in the company of Bernard Purdie, Randy Brecker and Scott Colley!) and French drummer Raphaël Pannier's reimagining of Wayne Shorter. At the end of the set bassist Luke Stewart rides the Chicago-Washington D.C. express and Noah Kaplan explores the microtonal space, while John Lurie a.k.a. Marvin Pontiac dotes on his little garden gnome.

This week we hit the mother lode, with plenty of undiscovered, or re-discovered, jazz ore, in the form of unreleased live recordings of Joe Harriott and the re-release of "Windows of the Mind" by the skoonum player, and Ray Charles alum, Billy Brooks, respectively. Among the new gems projects of the acoustic (Roots Magic; Reijseger, Fraanje, Sylla [pictured]; Federica Michisanti), electro-acoustic (Rob Mazurek with the Exploding Star Orchestra; Dinosaur) and electric (Guillaume Perret; Mach 6) amalgam. And, to wrap things up, the exciting finds of two Franco-American duos of sonic surveyors, featuring members of the cult band The Reyclers: Noël Akchoté-Bill Frisell and Fred Hersch-Benoit Delbecq. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/11677159/Mondo-Jazz (up to Fred Hersch and Benoit Delbecq). Happy listening. Photo credit: Krijn van Noordwijk (courtesy of Ernst Reijsger).