We have pressed pause on our usual pursuit of the latest arrivals and instead revisited some of the sounds that made the first half of 2026 such a rewarding stretch for curious ears.

Halfway through 2026, Mondo Jazz pauses to celebrate some of the recordings that have brought the most pleasure, surprise and inspiration over the past six month.

Which songs stayed with us after months of listening, reviewing and sharing new releases? Here's another batch for your sonic delight.

As summer gets underway, Mondo Jazz looks back at some of the music that made the first half of 2026 so memorable.

A playlist about musical kinship: artists supporting, inspiring, and challenging one another as they bring their distinct voices to a web of interconnected projects.

Engaging, socially engaged, and globally minded: a playlist of new releases from four - or more - corners of the world.

Seven projects, even lessons in creative transformation—from reimagined genres, traditions and freshly taped recording sessions to the spontaneous reinvention that unfolds whenever musicians meet in the moment.

A cross-generational and cross-genre journey from raw soul and classic jazz storytelling to contemporary experimentation, tracing unexpected connections across today’s global jazz landscape.

Enjoy the fragrant aromas, vivid textures and evocative soundscapes of a handful of remarkable new albums that illustrate the richness of today's transnational jazz scene.

From intimate reflection to expansive improvisation, here is a string of new albums connecting Jobim to Bartz, Olatunjii to Roach, Paris to London, through artists who balance compositional craft, exploratory spirit, and a commitment to jazz as a living art form.

From less-is-more to more-is-more—and all the shades of creativity in between—this playlist unfolds under the approving eye of Geri Allen, whose enduring legacy continues to resonate on both sides of the Atlantic.

Striking debuts, new chapters in established careers, and yet more surprises from relentlessly curious artists—this is a playlist designed to keep your ears on high alert.

Here’s a little more music for curious ears, restless spirits, and anyone who finds algorithms far too predictable.

Here’s another weekly dispatch of compelling recent releases from across the ever-expanding jazz spectrum.

A playlist full of delightful surprises, offering music lovers a welcome counterweight to the darker surprises the news keeps delivering.

Enjoy a playlist dedicated to musicians who keep redrawing the musical map one surprising album at a time.

Paris–Bogotá; New York–Rome; São Paulo–Basel; Bern–New York; New York–São Paulo… this playlist feels like a masterclass in transatlantic cross-pollination, where ideas, rhythms, and musical identities travel as freely as the artists themselves.

Jump into a time-traveling playlist that brings a spectacular 1984 recording by Carla Bley back to the future, at the end of a generations-bridging ride where emerging artists modernize tradition and elder statesmen pay homage to their heroes, or join forces with younger voices.

Two remarkable emerging singers, Selma Savolainen and Sonia Spinello, bookend a playlist of recent and upcoming releases which range from the adventurous to the spiritual.

Here is a playlist featuring artists working outside the spotlight, often ahead of the curve, across continents, across scenes.

The European and US jazz scenes in a dialogue full of elegance and surprises.

Recent and new releases in a playlist that crosses borders—whether cultural or musical—with a special focus on jazz renditions of popular music (from Dylan to Radiohead to Pavement).

Here is music born in a remote cottage in the Outer Hebrides, or rethinking how the Hammond organ fits within a large, adventurous ensemble; music that celebrates Corsica, or brings long-standing collaborations to new heights.

And here we go again—another edition of Mondo Jazz, dedicated to recent and upcoming releases from across the jazz globe, where you can travel from Tokyo to New York in less than half an hour.

Enjoy a playlist that ranges from the jazz infused power-folk of Annahstasia to the neo-cool of Walter Smith III passing through, chamber, cinematic and classical influences.