David Binney's everywhere! Or so it seems judging by the amount of recent and upcoming release he's on. We sample three this week, together with the new concept album by Samora Pinderhughes and a few examples of how music and social commentary can bring about awesome albums, in a playlist that is at the East-Coast West-Coast junction.

Here's a set dedicated to the proposition that when you leave it to jazz musicians, cultural differences bring people together, not apart.

This week we'll be test driving some of the most happening jazz rides we’ve found in our favorite dealerships, from the return of Flora Purim, to Steven Bernstein's heartfelt tribute to the late Henry Butler, and a special focus on pianists, like Yelena Eckemoff, Enrico Pieranunzi, Lynne Arriale and John Taylor.

A spotlight on emerging trombonist Kalia Vandever, Binker Golding midwestern fantasies, a version of "Bitches Brew" (the song) from before "Bitches Brew" (the album), and much more

In this episode Guadelupe meets Nigeria; Japan & Italy meet Brazil; Germany meets South Korea; and many more transnational encounters from the Global Jazz Village

In this segment we feature several projects of the restless Swedish bassist Petter Eldh, solo projects by guitar masters and a young piano virtuoso, interesting meeting points for forward looking jazz and strings, & more.

Modern piano rooted in the tradition, timeless playful tongue-in cheek elegance, and two tributes to the great Herbie Nichols in this set

The Mingus centennial, of course. But first and foremost a celebration of living musicians while they're alive-and-kicking and engaged in their latest projects.

Music from garages, cyberspace and outer space, tributes and collaborations, and all around good energy in this set...

In the second part of this week's exploration of jazz inspired by classical music, we focus on projects in tribute to the works of three composers that have influenced scores of jazz musicians, Maurice Ravel, Frédéric Chopin and Claude Debussy.

Spurred by a number of recent albums, this week's edition of Mondo Jazz focuses on projects that blur the arbitrary distinction between jazz music and classical music. This segment's playlist features inspired and open interpretations of works by Igor Stravinsky, Erik Satie, Henry Purcell as well as recent jazz compositions that are rooted in the classical canon.

Welcome to the second half of our weekly perusal of new and upcoming albums. In this segment, a special focus on pianists and emerging European artists.

This week a special focus on two releases that draw attention to historic developments with stellar rosters of contributing artists, "Music for Ukraine" and "Black Lives - from Generation to Generation", and on the brand new album by the Michael Leonhart Orchestra

Somi's tribute to Miriam Makeba and a previously unreleased wild live recording by Hermeto Pascoal bookend an episode replete with beautiful new albums, with a special focus on Latin America, Caribbean and European artists.

The beautiful debut album of an emerging artist like Zoh Amba, previously unreleased tracks from the legendary Village Vanguard concerts by Geri Allen, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian and much more!

Celebrated for his distinctive voice on trumpet and cornet, elegant and timeless, Ron Miles was equally at ease with classical music, jazz tradition as well as with more out there experimentations. Here we feature a wide range of projects he lead, co-lead or guested on.

A tribute to Ron Miles

Welcome on board, fasten your seat belts as you're about to take off for a rewarding journey around the jazz world

May the fun be with you, and the Funk of the Ezra Collective, the Speaking Tango of Minino Garay, the Strata records vault-digging of Jazzanova and much more!

It’s in times like these that we are reminded about the power of music.

The playlist features music inspired by the eternal struggle between war and peace

Great new albums by adventurous saxophonists, and two extended live ECM recordings that take us places.

Another treasure-throve of brand new releases with a special focus, in the second half of the set, on bass players as leaders and composers.

Good vibes, genre-bending projects, charismatic singers and creative use of electronics are the defining features of this set of recent and upcoming albums.