Mondo Jazz

Unexpected returns, B-sides that sound as good as the A-sides, tributes to rock and folk heroes, Impulse! signing another key band of today's scene, Colorfield Records establishing itself even more as the label to follow... this and more on this week's edition of Mondo Jazz! Greg Joseph; Daniel Villareal; Anthony Wilson; Irreversible Entanglements; Darcy James Argue; Joni Mitchell; Vicente Archer, Gerald Clayton, Bill Stewart; Kris Allen. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17756229/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Blood Count"). Photo Credit: Nina Westervelt. Happy listening!

This week we focus on the reissue of a seminal project bridging acid jazz and trip-hop, the soundtrack to a film without pictures, a trip east bound and down fusion lane, a great crop of guitarists deserving wider recognition, and saxophonists of well-deserved recognition. The playlist features Marden Hill; Funkwrench Blues; Kait Dunton; Herb Alpert; B.D. Lenz; Andrew Gorny; David Preston; Max Light; Emiliano D'Auria; Benjamin Koppel, Scott Colley, Brian Blade; annd Chris Potter [pictured]. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17756229/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Blood Count"). Photo credit: Dave Stapleton. Happy listening!

A revelation of an album, "Sky" by Will Bernard, Beth Custer open a playlist which explores three piano jazz formats, solo, duo and trio, through a number of impressive recent releases. The playlist also features Yosef Gutman Levitt, Lionel Loueke; Jeff Babko, David Piltch; Benny Green; Simona Premazzi [pictured]; Satoko Fujii; Tania Giannouli; Leo Genovese, Demian Cabaud and Marcos Cavaleiro. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17698766/Mondo-Jazz (from "Fence" onwards) Happy listening! Photo credit: Jan Cain

This week take a look back at decades of productive and progressive relationship between jazz and hip-hop, with a focus on international projects and collaborations between jazz and hip-hop artists. Our way to celebrate half a century of hip-hop. The playlist features Dream Warriors; Us3; Meshell Ndegeocello [pictured]; Buckshot LeFonque; Steve Williamson; Q Tip, Kenny Garrett; Madlib; Jon Hassell; Russell Gunn; Courtney Pine; Guru, MC Solaar; Daniele Sepe; Thiefs, Mike Ladd; Jazz Liberatorz Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17727979/Mondo-Jazz (from "My Definition of a Boombastic Jazz Style" onwards). Happy listening!

Somehow a birthday has been identified for Hip-Hop, 11 August 1973, so in a couple of days you'll run into tons of initiatives marking the fiftieth anniversary of the birth of Hip-Hop. Should you catch yourself wondering, as a jazz fan, about how jazz and hip hop influenced each other… you may find a few clues with us here today... And since you're in a celebratory mood, maybe you may also celebrate the airing 250th episode of Mondo Jazz. The playlist features Gang Starr; Pigmeat Markham; Langston Hughes, Charles Mingus; Gil Scott-Heron; Frankie Crocker; Herbie Hancock, Rob Swift; Aesop Quartet; Steve Coleman [pictured], the Mystic Rhythm Society, AfroCuba De Matanzas; Greg Osby; Cassandra Wilson; Gary Thomas; Steve Lehman; Vijay Iyer and Mike Ladd Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17727979/Mondo-Jazz (up to "The Color of My Circumference I") Happy listening! Photo credit: Dimicology.

Lucy Woodward returns with a powerful single paving the way for a full-length album not to be missed, and for a playlist under the sign of electro-acoustic creativity, Brazilian influences and fearless imagination. The playlist also features Collettivo Immaginario, Tommaso Cappellato, Alberto Lincetto, Nicolò Masetto; Jason Moran, Marcus Gilmore BlankFor.ms; Cautious Clay, Ambrose Akinmusire, Immanuel Wilkins; Nils Kugelmann; ThoughtCast; Ryan Keberle; Marcello Gonçalves, Anat Cohen; Doug Richards Orchestra; and David Liebman. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17698766/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Beginning") Happy listening! Photo credit: Nina Duncan

The much awaited return of Tood Sickafoose graces our playlist together with other gem ranging from the gorgeous to the adventurous, with a couple of surprising contributions from musicians whose relationship with jazz has been notoriously... ambivalent, Frank Zappa and Stewart Copeland. The playlist also features Samuel Blaser; Todd Sickafoose [pictured]; Amaury Faye; Rudy Royston; Alexander Hawkins; Mick Rossi, Peter Hess, Matt Moran; John Zorn. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17670100/Mondo-Jazz (starting from ""Lady Rawlinson"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Shervin Lainez

This week we start with a remembrance of Tony Bennett and Jane Birkin, two artists who had a number of common traits that went well beyond their musicality, from their progressive activism to their multi-disciplinary talents. After that we revert to our weekly exploration of new and upcoming releases, with a special attention to trios and piano-saxophone duos. The playlist features also Alan Ferber; Naya Bazz; Roberto Negro, Emile Parisien; Nora Stanley, Benny Bock; Pierrick Pedron, Gonzalo Rubalcaba; Francesco Chiapperini; Peter Bruun and Chris Speed. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17670100/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Amos"). Happy listening!

This week's playlist features two recent albums by, and featuring, Donny McCaslin , the new album by German baritonist Kara Linn plus a score of forward looking bass players and leaders, from Meshell Ndegeocello to Linda May Han Oh, Ben Wolfe and Philly natives Christian McBride and Alexander Claffy. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17641622/Mondo-Jazz [from "Clear Water" onwards] Happy listening! Photo Credit: Dave Stapleton

After a couple of weeks focusing on some of our favorite tunes from the first half of the year here we are back on our night road to some of the most exciting new and upcoming releases, many of them with a cinematic and nocturnal vibe. The playlist features Erik Truffaz; Hernan Cassibba; The Vampires feat. Chris Abrahams; Rob Mazurek; London Brew; Yussef Dayes, Shabaka Hutchings; Matthieu Donarier, Eve Risser, Karsten Hochapfel, Toma Gouband; Eleonora Strino [pictured], Greg Cohen, Joey Baron; Christina Galisatus; and Jeff Coffin. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17641622/Mondo-Jazz [up to "Luminosity"]. Happy listening!

Africana to Americana and beyond in the final installment of our retrospective of some of the most memorable tunes we got to hear during the first half of the year. The playlist features Bill Laurance, Michael League; Artemis; Ben van Gelder; Ballaké Sissoko [pictured], Vincent Segal, Vincent Peirani, Emile Parisien; Gangbé Brass Band, Kala Jula, Fama Diabaté; Magic Malik; Ethnic Heritage Ensemble; and Stephen Ulrich. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17612249/Mondo-Jazz (from "Round House" onward). Happy listening!

Last week we focused our playlist on some of our favorite tracks from the first six months of the year. Evidently two hours were not enough and we could not play them all… so here we are going through the rest of the best. The playlist features Vicente Archer; Enzo Carniel, Hermon Mehari, Damien Varaillon, Stéphane Adsuar; John Hadfield [pictured], Kinan Azmeh; Vinnie Sperrazza, Ethan Iverson, Michael Formanek; Rachel Eckroth; Darren Johnston; Ralph Alessi; Jacob Young, Mats Eilertsen, Audun Kleive; and Asher Gamedze. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17612249/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Out Stepped Zim"). Happy listening!

A retrospective of some of the most compelling tunes we heard in the first half of 2023, distilled for your enjoyment. The playlist features Michael Blake; Thomas Naïm; Greg Ward; Lucia Cadotsch; Alessia Obino; David Preston; Ella Zirina; Kaisa's Machine; The Peggy Lee Band. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17583788/Mondo-Jazz (from "Little Demons" onwards). Happy listening! Photo credit: Dasha Dare

The first half of the year has brought us plenty of great new albums. Let's look back at some of the tunes and compositions which have left a mark during these six months. The playlist features Billy Valentine; Larry Goldings, Kaveh Rastegar, Abe Rounds; Greg Joseph; Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, Lauren Henderson [pictured]; Anat Fort; Gaia Wilmer; Magos Herrera; David Virelles; Sam Bardfeld. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17583788/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Refuge"). Happy listening!

Ambition does not have to be an expression of self-centeredness. It may be, and should be, the pursuit of high achievements, and the realization of broad and innovative visions. This playlist is bursting at the seams with music driven by the good kind of ambition... The playlist features Yilian Cañizares; David Virelles; Ken Stubbs; Darren Johnston; John Hadfield; Camille-Alban Spreng, Benjamin Sauzereau, Marco Giongrandi; The Peggy Lee Band; Wynton Marsalis [pictured]; Johan Lindström & Norrbotten Big Band. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17588145/Mondo-Jazz from ("Oxun" onwards). Happy listening!

This week we focus on a bunch of projects that put in a blender lots of seemingly disparate elements and come up with their own signature sounds, from the edgy to the smooth. The playlist features Kaisa's Machine; Jacob Young; Kosmos; Sketchbook Quartet; Erik Friedlander's Sentinel; Mowgli; Debora Petrina; Echoes of Zoo; Christine Tobin; and Louis Stewart. Detailed playlist at (up to "Invitation"). Happy listening!

This week we looking into both the jazz side of Prince, including the unexpressed potentials of his collaboration with Miles Davis, as well as covers of his music by notable jazz players from Nina Simone to Joshua Redman. The playlist features Nina Simone; Malcolm Braff; Madhouse; Miles Davis; Marcin Wasilewski; Joshua Redman; Julia Hülsmann; Heinz Sauer, Michael Wollny Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17470974/Mondo-Jazz (from "Sign 'O' the Times" onwards). Happy listening!

Prince who would have turned 65 this year. He may have left us over 7 years ago, but the influence of his music continues unequalled, including on the world of jazz, with which he's often flirted. Here a selection of some of the most interesting examples of "purple jazz", including some extended jamming by Prince himself. The playlist features Helen Sung; The Volunteered Slaves; T.J. Kirk; Santi Debriano; Steven Bernstein and the Millennial Territory Orchestra; David Helbock; Joachim Kühn; Jacob Young; Eric Vloeimans, Will Holshouser; Prince. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17470974/Mondo-Jazz (up to "West"). Happy listening!

A remembrance of Karl Berger, the stunning new album by Magos Herrera [pictured], and a whole bunch of projects you can find along the Johannesburg-New York-Chicago expressway. The playlist features also Sam Butler; Kirk Knuffke, Jay Anderson, Matt Wilson; Gretchen Parlato, Lionel Loueke; Magos Herrera; Ken Stubbs; Asher Gamedze; Good Intentions; Scree; Malcolm Jiyane Tree-o & Grandmaster CAP. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17442424/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Surrender Is Easier Said Than Done"). Happy listening!

A tribute to Tina Turner opens a show featuring music characterized by a deliberate desire to blur the lines between jazz and other genres, be it pop, R&B, world music or church music, and to do so with the most wonderful arrangements. The playlist features Herbie Hancock; Don Braden; Selma Savolainen; Le Cri du Caire, Abdullah Miniawy, Erik Truffaz, Peter Corser; Ben Van Gelder; Matt Ulery; and Rajna Swaminathan. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17442424/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Surrender Is Easier Said Than Done"). Happy listening!

From projects inspired by African traditions to jazz spiked with hard-rock, passing through some fascinating chamber influences, this week's playlist showcases the creativity, breadth and depth of today's international jazz scene. The playlist features Kala Jula & Gangbé Brass Band [pictured]; Peter Somuah, Stevo Atambire; Samuele Strufaldi; Ze in the Clouds, Paolo Fresu, Uri Caine; Rudy Royston; Sam Bardfeld; Vincent Peirani; Francesco Bearzatti; Brass Against; Ingrid Laubrock; Brandon Seabrook. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17327362/Mondo-Jazz (from "Asro" onward). Happy listening! Photo credit: Suzy Mazzanisi

This week we focus on two of the most vibrant scenes in Northern Europe, Amsterdam and Berlin. Along the way we hop from Copenhagen to New York with a few more stops on the way. Enjoy some of the freshest jazz projects out there. The playlist features Lucia Cadotsch, Kurt Rosenwinkel; Petter Eldh, Sun-Mi Hong; Deadeye; Michele Sannelli; Mariasole De Pascali [pictured]; Lukas Traxel; Tilo Weber; Girls in Airports; Carlo Mombelli; Ralph Towner; and Ben Wolfe. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17327362/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Hats Off to Rebay") Happy listening!

Around the world in a playlist, which features Latin and Caribbean influeces, touches of Indian music, spiritual jazz, Brazilian aromas, microtonal atmospheres, and visceral electro-acoustic outbursts. The playlist features Kevin Fingier; Samuel Blaser [pictured]; João Selva; Michael Blake; Clément Janinet; Aka Moon, The Orchestral Constellation; La Marmite Infernale. Detailed playlist available at https://spinitron.com/m/playlist/view/16955232 (up to "Viscères électriques"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Alex Troesch

A special focus on the deep, eclectic and exciting LA scene in this hour of Mondo Jazz, which then concludes with an unearthed gem by Chet Baker from the late 70s. The playlist features Mark Guiliana [pictured]; Jeff Babko, Tim Lefebvre; Rachel Eckroth; Larry Goldings, Kaveh Rastegar, Abe Rounds; Dorian Holley, Nayanna Holley; Billy Valentine; and Chet Baker. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17298446/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Guinea"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Dave Stapleton

This week we focus on three fascinating releases which celebrate the genius and legacy of Don Cherry, after starting with a tribute to Led Zeppelin, Emma Rawicz's new project, one of the best piano trios I've heard in a long time, lead by a drummer, and new music by Michael Formanek. The playlist features Francesco Bearzatti; Emma Rawicz; Vinnie Sperrazza, Ethan Iverson, Michael Formanek; Peter Broetzmann, Majid Bekkas, Hamid Drake [pictured]; Kahil El'Zabar, Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Dwight Trible, David Ornette Cherry; Jamie Breiwick; and Ken Vandermark. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17298446/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Guinea"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Luciano Rossetti.

Welcome to an edition of Mondo Jazz under the sign of groove and high energy feelgood releases. The playlist featured Jakob Manz; Leon Lee Dorsey; Izo FitzRoy; Joel Harrison; Wayne Tucker; Robin Mansanti; Miku Yonezawa [pictured]; The Jazz Avengers; Diego Rivera; Filthy Six; Genevieve Artadi; Yumi Ito; Sarah Elizabeth Charles. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17269003/Mondo-Jazz (from "Soul Tiger" onward). Happy listening!

Here is our weekly merry-go-round of recent and upcoming albums, which this time will feature great saxophonists, up and coming composers, and various projects showing that jazz is the most inclusive genre out there, welcoming any source of inspiration from Baroque to Brazilian to Flamenco. The playlist features Walter Smith III; Riccardo Gola; Felipe Salles, Melissa Aldana; Ben Rosenblum; Cyro Baptista [pictured]; Gianluigi Trovesi, Stefano Montanari; Jean-Marie Machado; Yvonnick Prené; Shirley Scott. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17269003/Mondo-Jazz (up to "By The Time I Get to Phoenix"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Makota Ebi

Cécile McLorin Salvant, Ben Wendel and Kurt Rosenwinkel [pictured] are the threads bridging the various parts of this week's show which, in turn, is like a bridge between Europe and the US. The playlist also features Jacques Schwarz-Bart; Kerkko Koskinen, Linda Fredriksson. UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra; Angel Bat Dawid; Aki Takase; Next.Ape; Jim Snidero; and Tobias Meinhart Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17239727/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Berlin People"). Happy listening! Photo credit: David Kaufman

Strings, strings and more strings in this episode... from those of Brandee Younger's and Dorothy Ashby's harps, to those of the Ulysses String Quartet; from those of the guitars of Marc Ribot, Mariusz Sobanski and Guillaume Vierset, to those of the basses of Meshell Ndegeocello and Clovis Nicolas. The playlist features Hot Mustard, Alanna Royale; Brandee Younger; Meshell Ndegeocello, Julius Rodriguez; Dorothy Ashby; Clovis Nicolas; Ulysses String Quartet; Ikiru; Guillaume Vierset; Sobasnki Music Laboratory; John Zorn, Asmodeus. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17239727/Mondo-Jazz (from "The End of Time" onward). Happy listening!

Experiments, from Chicago and elsewhere, technical mastery offset by sense of humor, jazz as sonic story-telling, and transfiguration of jazz standards are some of the main sources of inspiration for this episode. The playlist features Greg Spero; John Zorn, Bill Frisell, John Medeski, Brian Marsella, Kenny Wollesen; Camille Bertault; Daniel Bingert; Michael Blake; Yelena Eckemoff; Francesca Han [pictured], Ralph Alessi; Cory Smythe. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17210615/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Emahoy"). Happy listening!

This week we dedicate our show to two artists who--even though very far apart in terms of geographical origins and life trajectories, shared a devotion to beauty, elegance and originality: Ryuichi Sakamoto and Emahoy Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou, who recently passed away. The playlist features also Cesária Evora, Caetano Veloso; Arto Lindsay; Vinicius Cantuaria; Adam O'Farrill; Rachel Eckroth; Francesca Han; Maya Dunietz; Kansas Smitty’s; David Virelles; Sam Reider Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17210615/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Emahoy").

This week we focus on the emerging musicians that will ensure that the historic South African jazz scene will have a bright future, and on a number of recent releases showcasing the many facets of a living master of the piano, Kenny Barron, featured as an accompanist for a vocalist, as a solo artist on a rare recording date as a leader, as a composer that inspires other contemporary musicians, and as a side-man in a very bop-oriented concert which has been recently unearthed. The playlist also features Vusi Mahlasela; Thandi Ntuli; Bokani Dyer [pictured]; Linda Sikhakhane; Mthunzi Mvubu; BCUC; Claudia Acuña; Billy Childs; Sonny Stitt. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17181589/Mondo-Jazz (from "Umzala" onward). Photo credit: Raees Hassan

This week we open with a stunner, Billy Valentine's new album featuring the best of the Los Angeles and New York Scenes (Pino Palladino; Jeff Parker, Theo Crocker; Larry Goldings; Abe Rounds; Immanuel Wilkins; Linda May Ahn) and music that should bring much deserved attention. Then a mix of exciting releases, with a special focus on pianist a few moments that evoke the ghost of Nick Drake. The playlist also features Jeff Coffin; Salami Rose Joe Louis, Brijean; Dave Stryker; Loïs Le Van, Alban Darche; Bobo Stenson; Magic Malik; Anat Fort; Marie Kruttli; Margherita Fava; Jeff Parker, Matthew Stevens. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17181589/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Alberta"). Happy listening!

Los Angeles and New York are the two poles of this playlist document the vibrancy of these two scenes, and their cross-pollination, including the reissue of the iconic Wattstax Benefit Concert, a dive into new releases by Colorfield Records, a jazz look at the Erykah Badu's and Kendrik Lamar's songbook, and the reimagining of Pharoah Sanders' songs. The playlist features Ben Zwerin; Rufus Thomas; Ben Wendel; José James, Ebban Dorsey; Sam Gendel; Mark de Clive Lowe, Melanie Charles, Shigeto; Galliano; Brad Allen Williams; Daniel Rotem; Dan Rosenboom; Camilla Battaglia [pictured]. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17153495/Mondo-Jazz [from "Strolling" onward] Happy listening!

The exciting collaboration between Sexmob [pictured] and Scotty Hard and that involving Larry Goldings, Kaveh Rastegar and Abe Rounds open an episode focusing also on soundtracks, beat poetry and poetry of the beat, before closing with a sonic voyage by Tim Berne, Hank Roberts and Aurora Nealand. The playlist also features Daniel Villarreal; Burt Bacharach; Thomas Newman, John Beasley, Monk'estra; Lalo Schifrin; Paolo Fresu, Dino Rubino, Daniele Di Bonaventura, Marco Bardoscia; and Steve Argüelles. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17153495/Mondo-Jazz [up to "10ntious"] Happy listening!

Medium-sized and large ensemble shine in all their nuances through the music included on today's playlist. At the end of the set Brazil, France and Norway add their own touch. The playlist features Anthony Branker; Andy Emler; Vince Mendoza, Metropole Orkest; SFJAZZ Collective; Franco D'Andrea; Chico Pinheiro [pictured], Romero Lubambo; Anat Cohen; Paris/Oslo. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17125620/Mondo-Jazz (from "What Place Can Be for Us?" onwards). Happy listening!

Countless forms of fusion in this week's show, from fusions of jazz and pop, to fusions of musical traditions. There are enough genetic modifications in just one hour that to prove that jazz's resilience passes any Darwinian evolutionary standards! The playlist features Roc Flowers, ; Marc Jordan; Leo Sidran, Sol Sidran, Michael Leonhart; Mike Dillon [pictured]; 58 Belvedere; Ludovica Burtone; Mihály Borbély; Christopher Hale; Simon Moullier; Roberto Pistolesi. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17125620/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Latina"). Happy listening!

Six decades separate Latvian guitarist Ella Zirina, who's 25, from Charles Lloyd who just turned 85. But the beauty of music is that obliterates any conventional notion of time and space, so here's a playlist that hops from country to country and from generation to generation in search of a beauty continuum. The playlist features Emile Parisien, Vincent Peirani, Vincent Segal, Baba Sissoko; Ella Zirina; Tineke Postma; Costanza Alegiani; Enzo Carniel, Hermon Mehari, Damien Varaillon, ‎Stéphane Adsuar; Mario Costa; Rachel Therrien; Julian Lage; Charles Lloyd, Julian Lage, Zakir Hussain. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17096840/Mondo-Jazz (from "Esperanza" onwards). Happy listening! Photo credit: Dave Stapleton

At a time in which the frantic pace of this world is making record executives explore the idea of one--minute songs to satisfy the swipe-crazed Instagram generation, this playlist if full of music that may feel like a welcome act of counter-culture. Extended form songs, elegant songs, strange songs... Enjoy the ride! The playlist features Brad Mehldau; Valtteri Laurell Pöyhönen; Sara Caswell; The Vampires; Chris Abrahams; The Necks; Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17068033/Mondo-Jazz (from "I Am the Walrus" onwards). Happy listening! Photo credit: Soichiro Suizu.

Rarely has a jazz musician created a body of work in which depth, sophistication and melodies coexist as beautifully as Wayne Shorter did. In this episode we selected interpretations of his compositions by musicians we admire and who chose to follow his soothsaying footprints. In loving tribute to Mr. Gone. The playlist features Wayne Shorter, Milton Nascimento; Camille Bertault; Yuri Honing, Vince Mendoza, Metropole Orkest; Joni Mitchell; Don Grolnick; Wayne Horvitz; Michael Moore; Jimmie Rowles, Stan Getz; Dee Dee Bridgewater; Raphaël Pannier; Kari Ikonen; Jerry Bergonzi Detailed playlist at (up to "Fall"). Photo credit Robert Ascroft (Blue Note)

Organ grooves, a take on the Jackson Five opened by the merciless beat of an Ornette Coleman alumnus, a few compelling debut albums, the ongoing collaboration between Aruán Ortiz and James Brandon Lewis, the return of Joshua Abrams meditations for large ensemble and more, make this week's playlist worth your attention... The playlist features Ari Joshua, Skerik, Delvon Lamarr, Grant Schroff; Michael Blake; Papanosh; Simon Lucaciu; Ferg Quill; James Brandon Lewis; Aruán Ortiz; Joshua Abrams Natural Information Society. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17068033/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Stigmergy"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Il Muro.

As a young adult Burt Bacharach used fake IDs to get into 52nd Street jazz clubs to have his mind blown away by heroes of the bebop revolution like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Those early impressions could not but leave a mark in his sophisticated pop songs, seeds that would later make those very same songs blossom in the hands of jazz players, going full circle. As a composer and songwriter he had a remarkable gift for combining simplicity and complexity, the African roots of jazz R&B and soul with the European classical influences of French impressionism. The result were the unforgettable melodies he was admired for, many of which are featured in this playlist, as interpreted by a wide ranging of progressive musicians. The playlist features Larry Goldings, Harry Allen; Toots Thielemans; Gabor Szabo; Isaac Hayes; Dee Dee Bridgewater; Charles Lloyd; Bill Frisell; Dionne Farris, Charlie Hunter; Steve Kuhn; Marie Mcauliffe; Benjamin Koppel. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17011710/Mondo-Jazz (from "The Look of Love" onward). Happy listening!

A celebration of the genius of Bart Bacharach, Mondo-Jazz style, focusing on off-the-beaten path takes on his idiosyncratic repertoire, since Bacharach's music is accessible and appealing for mass appeal and yet complex and sophisticated to intrigue even the most forward looking musicians. Romantic songs, political songs, themes for soundtracks, but all--without fail--earworms that stay with you well beyond the last note. The playlist features Django Bates; Stevie Wonder; Dave Douglas; Oranj Symphonette; Mike Patton; Guy Klucevsek; Fred Pallem & Le Sacre du Tympan; Dwight Trible, Matthew Halsall; David Linx, Magic Malik; Anthony Braxton; Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/17011710/Mondo-Jazz (up to "I Say a Little Prayer"). Happy listening!

Americana-tinged guitarists, cinematic moods, a cast of London-all-stars chasing the electric-Miles-voodoo down, inflections of Jimi Hendrix, and music that may help you with meditation, introspection, or even state alteration... This and more in this week's set! The playlist features Thomas Naïm; Stephen Ulrich; Rob Mazurek, Exploding Star Orchestra, Jeff Parker; London Brew; Alessia Obino; Phil Ranelin, Wendell Harrison, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad; Jasmine Myra; Oren Ambarchi; Holsen & Cassiers; Brandon Ross. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/16982901/Mondo-Jazz (from "Panama Red" onward). Happy listening!

This week we put together a set which is centered around jazz influenced by Gnawa music, and musicians and bands which know how to develop and envelope, or develop a melody and mood which envelopes the listener. The playlist features Bill Laurance, Michael League; Club d'Elf; Naïssam Jalal [pictured]; Nguyên Lê; George; Lise Van Dooren; Christoph Irniger; and Emiliano Sampaio. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/16982901/Mondo-Jazz (up to "We Have a Dream"). Happy listening!

Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter are back, and they're SuperBoogieng! So are Jim Black and Kit Downes who are on a couple of new albums each. The playlist also features interesting new European projects, and albums that blend jazz with hip hop and music for the dance floor. The playlist features Kurt Elling, Charlie Hunter, Nate Smith; Federico Nuti; Julie Campiche [pictured]; Cedric Hanriot, Days; Matters Unkown, Miryam Solomon; Jim & The Schrimps; John Zorn, Jim Black; Kuhn Fu; Sebastian Rochford, Kit Downes; Pablo Held, Norma Winstone Detailed playlist available at https://spinitron.com/m/playlist/view/16955232 (from "Boogie Down" onward). Happy listening! Photo credit: Gerald Langer

There are different ways to unpack this playlist. One of them is looking at it as a travelogue that will take us to that music incubator that Chicago continues to be; to a scene deserving wider recognition like that of Washington D.C.; to Brazil, France and Italy. And it all starts from Free Form Funk Freqs' 3rd Galaxy. The playlist also features Greg Ward's Rogue Parade; Art Ensemble of Chicago; Alune Wade; Gaia Wilmer [pictured]; Janel Leppin; Cristiano Calcagnile; Emmanuel Borghi Trio. Detailed playlist available at (from "Outer Arm" onward). Happy listening!

The painstaking job of unearthing subtle nuances which were lost in earlier mixes of five of his albums is at the heart of the remastering labor of love that Ben Allison [pictured] has embarked on during the pandemic. During the first part of our show we focus on listening with new ears to some of our old favorites from those album. Then we turn to other musicians that strive to discover new angles and perspectives about old tunes, or to examine how sound, textures, and silence, also play a key role in the process of discovering compelling harmonies and melodies. The playlist also features Romain Pilon; Jo Lawry, Linda May Han Oh, Allison Miller; Mette Henriette; Joon; Raffaele Casarano. Detailed playlist available at (up to "Malaspina"). Happy listening!

A playlist built around the work of impressive emerging saxophonists (Lakecia Benjamin, Xhosa Cole, Jason Marshall, and Alex Hitchcock), and guitarists (Ant Law and David Doruzka). Together with a tribute to Kurt Vonnegut, the reissue of an Acid Jazz classic, and much more, this is an hour of music that should keep you happy and speculative. The playlist also features Mother Earth; Georgia Anne Muldrow; Adriano Adewale, Ian Parmel; J.D.Hive; Jason Yeager; David Doruzka, Piotr Wyleżol, Jeff Ballard; and Zack Lober. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/16899336/Mondo-Jazz (from "Stoned Woman" onward). Happy listening!

Sun Ra may have joined the outer spaceways almost 30 years ago but he continues to inspire our earthly affairs through the musicians that have worked with him. We explore recent releases of the Arkestra and of bassist Tyler Mitchell, both of which revolve around the contribution of Marshall Allen. The other cluster of tracks is centered around the interlinkages among three musicians that have collaborated for a long time Brian Blade, Jon Cowherd, Chris Potter. In between, Santi Debriano with his own Arkestra Bembe. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/16899336/Mondo-Jazz (up to "Marshall's Groove"). Happy listening! Photo credit: Andrea Palmucci