With the past six months delivering an unstoppable stream of excellent new albums, we take stock and focus on the standout songs and compositions that have left a mark.

It seems like we were just ringing in the New Year a few days ago, and now it's already July. So let's start looking back at the songs that we have loved the most in the first six months of the year. Here's the first batch.

Large ensembles, young talents, modern jazz ministry and a hidden gem from Brazil make up for a very rewarding listen.

Unearthed gems, old souls, and soulful organ jazz in this playlist.

A tribute to Sly Stone, courtesy of Steven Bernstein, opens a playlist featuring different strokes by different folks.

The never-ending fertile interplay between jazz and classical music, opera, and other musical genres is at the heart of a wide-ranging and compelling set.

Enjoy a set full of surprises and delights, starting with Marc Ribot's latest album, a 9-song collection bearing the mark of Hal Willner, and a quarter-century in the making!

Believe it or not, another week has gone by and Mondo Jazz is back with its usual cargo of recent and upcoming releases, debut albums, new collabs, sharp dressed old partnerships, and more...

Enjoy another dispatch of recent and upcoming releases, full of gems by emerging and established masters like Vincent Peirani, Chris Cheek, Ines Velasco [pictured], Myra Melford, Emi Makabe, and Matteo Paggi.

Enjoy this playlist, with its cinematic funk, Tropicalia-tinged future soundscapes, and the key to understand the times we are living, courtesy of Ben Sidran and Mose Allison.

A heartfelt tribute to Guy Klucevsek, the gentle giant who unleashed his accordion onto Downtown, and beyond.

Enjoy a playlist featuring large ensembles of various shapes and sounds, the music and spirit of Misha Mengelberg and the versatility of Silke Eberhard.

The stirring upcoming album by Sabeth Pérez, the versatility of Elsa Nilsson, jazz for social justice, a stunning debut album and a much-rumored lost recording featuring Tomasz Stańko make up this playlist of compelling new releases.

"Looking back to look forward" could be the motto of this playlist. It kicks off with a blaxploitation tinged scorcher of a song from an upcoming Charles Kynard re-release, followed by a live performance in which Enemy (Kit Downes, Petter Eldh, James Maddren) marks a decade of music making by playing some of their key tunes.

Brandee Younger's feelgood new album opens a playlist with excellent debut albums, and old friends playing in new configurations.

Songs, blues, cosmic jazz and more in this playlist featuring some of the most exciting new releases.

A cinematic set for lovers of soundtracks, music connected -- one way or another -- to the movie world, grooves and earworms.

A world of sonic explorers from all over the world, in the 37 minutes of this playlist that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home.

Between Branford Marsalis' integral reimagining of Keith Jarrett's "Belonging" and Tony Tixier's prolific output, here is a playlist full of creative, up and coming musicians.

In case the first new album of Kneebody in six years was not enough to make you immediately click 'play' and listen to this episode of Mondo Jazz, a playlist replete of imaginative music should do the trick.

No matter the format, from duo to large ensemble, depth and introspection are the defining characteristics of the music featured in this playlist.

Enjoy a playlist featuring gems from around this jazz world, connected through a number of common threads…