Here is your weekly antidote to background music, where we lean in, listen close, and find what’s truly worth hearing. And there's plenty of gems worth hearing in here, with a special focus on remarkable singers like Rufus Wainwright, Theo Bleckmann and Terry Callier.

Whether born in the heart of Detroit, captured in the stillness of a London church at night, or inspired by cinematic visions of Norwegian immigration to Minnesota, the music in this playlist invites you into sound worlds that captivate and reward at every turn.

Here is a playlist that gives the drummers some, actually more than some as it focuses exclusively on records released by remarkable modern drummers, and composers/bandleaders like Makaya McCraven, Sam Ospovat, and Jonathan Blake.

Another episode of Mondo Jazz, another constellation of global musical connections — spanning Morocco to India, Basque to Arabic traditions, and the space where classical and world influences meet.

Artists stepping outside their usual terrain, and others that go deep in the one they're familiar with, take center stage in this week’s selection of standout release.

Cultural roots—and our shared roots on this planet—tie together the projects featured in this playlist of recent and soon-to-land treasures.

Welcome back to our weekly dispatch of recent and upcoming releases—where recent and upcoming isn’t a marketing catchphrase but living proof that jazz keeps surpassing expectations, along with our sheer ability to keep up.

Mike Stern-powered debut albums, pastoral projects, and a J.J. Cale-tinged antidote to worry wmake up a playlist well worth your time.

Here is another dispatch of fresh new releases at the intersection of high-octane energy, cinematic vibes and much awaited returns.

Enjoy another playlist where we trade the same-old standards for future ones, which hopefully you’ll be discovering here first.

Here is a playlist highlighting recent releases by some of the most adventurous players of our time, with a special focus on two pillars of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians—as the AACM marks its 60th anniversary—Wadada Leo Smith and Henry Threadgill.

Enjoy a playlist that celebrates the "art of the impromptu" — live performance, spur-of-the-moment recording sessions, concerts released at lightning speed, and the joy of creating in the moment.

Jazz-inflected renditions of pop songs, Hammond B-3 romps, and magmatic textures make up a playlist which proves that great music rarely happens on major labels—or emerges from algorithms.

This time we’ll dive into adventurous large and mid-size ensembles rewriting the rules of how size can matter, then close with a burst of spiritual fire from New Zealand.

Psychedelic boogaloo jams, games of fantasy jazz, progressive funk influences and downtown vibes, are the main ingredients of this fun playlist!

Enjoy another playlist that tries to prove that great music does not usually happen on a major label, or in a Spotify bunker somewhere, especially when it's music as ecletic and creative as this one.

Enjoy another playlist that shines a light on recent and upcoming releases and tries to bridge the gap between mainstream and progressive audiences.

Here a few more memorable finds from our weekly listening so you can go straight to the heart of today’s vibrant West Coast, East Coast and European jazz scenes.

Here is another week worth of sifting through the flood of new music to bring you the gems you’d never find on shuffle.

Chad Taylor is so busy as leader, co-leader and special guest on countless new albums in 2025, that he--literally--seems to be here, and there, and everywhere (pretty much like Ted Lasso's Roy Kent!). Here is a quick guide to enjoy his ubiquitousness!

Enjoy an installment of Mondo Jazz spotlighting fresh releases that balance fire and subtlety, urgency and reflection. A great reminder that jazz is never just one thing—it’s restless, searching and multi-faceted.

Here's a playlist which shines a light on Lex Korten, one of New York’s most in-demand young pianists. Alongside his much-anticipated debut, you’ll hear collaborations that show just how deeply he’s shaping today’s scene. Also included: a stirring Max Roach tribute from Terri Lyne Carrington and Christie Dashiell, plus an uplifting new release from pianist Michael Wolff.

From his early accordion days and forró roots to his global influence, Hermeto Pascoal lived in total communion with sound, inspiring generations worldwide. More than a multi-instrumentalist, he was a true “multi-thing-ist,” turning pianos, flutes, and drums into magic—but also rubber ducks, teapots, rivers, and stalactites. Perhaps shaped by his vision impairment, he treated every style and every sound source with equal respect, creating what he called universal music—not jazz, not strictly Brazilian, but everything at once. This playlist honors his genius and career, eight decades of spreading music, joy, and love.

There are countless ways to frame a jazz project—through cinema, sci-fi, the push and pull between roots and exploration, unconventional line-ups, or the African diaspora. You will find them all in this eclectic playlist.