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.

Enjoy a playlist packed with unbridled joy and energy!

A playlist of handpicked gems from both sides of the Atlantic.

Enjoy another playlist of brilliant new releases the algorithms haven’t caught up with yet.

Here is a set that explores projects that reflect their authors’ fascination with music from far beyond their own birthplaces.

If you admire musicians that have developed a signature sound, then this is the playlist for you!

Enjoy another batch of wonderful recent releases which reshuffle long-time collaborators into fresh configurations, and the reissues of two seminal albums by Polar Bear.

Another stack of recent and upcoming albums to soundtrack the week ahead, kicking off with three stunners by Kirk Knuffke, Bram de Looze, and Anat Fort’s compelling take on the dreamworld of Paul Motian.

In this week’s installment of our sonic journey around the jazz world, we begin with the North Africa-North America express, driven by Trinidadian trumpet maestro Etienne Charles, and end with Brad Mehldau’s reimagining of the music of Elliott Smith.

Here is another batch of recent and upcoming releases from artists doing things their own way—whether it’s reimagining the legacy of pianist Les McCann and the poetry Everett Hoagland, or turning the listener into a real-time DJ.

Enjoy a playlist of standout new jazz releases from off the beaten path, with a special focus on late-night band heroes Lenny Pickett, Ron Blake, and Jon Batiste in a one-of-a-kind collaboration with Randy Newman.