Mondo Jazz

A set bookended by great singers and featuring the new and not so new poetry of Nikki Giovanni, exciting young bands and musicians from Europe, a Big Band featuring only horns, percussions and vocalists, and more! The playlist features Matt Berry, Emma Noble; La La Lars; Fazer; Run Logan Run; Javon Jackson, Nikki Giovanni; Balto Exclamationpoint; Linda Fredriksson; The Bogie Band featuring Joe Rus...

In this set we focus on recent and upcoming albums but we’ll also try to catch up on a number of gems from 2021 that we had not yet had a chance to feature, with a special focus on Afro-centric projects. The playlist features Young Pilgrims; Graham Costello; Ananasnna; Arnaud Dolmen; Weedie Braimah; Toumani Diabaté, London Symphony Orchestra; Mdou Moctar; Omar Sosa, Seckou Keita; Andrew Cyrille, W...

Highlights from the European jazz scene plust a special focus on Ornette Coleman's direct and indirect inspiration of many contemporary musicians and on highly personal debut albums. The playlist features Theorem of Joy; Mario Rom; Peter Rom; Girls in Airports, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra; Xhosa Cole; Bugpowder; John Zorn; Patricia Brennan; Nala Sinephro; Ensemble Kuhle Wampe. Detailed playlist at https...

We're still riding high on the wave of the amazing releases that came out in 2021, we explore the sonic multiverse of Celia Kameni through four of her many collaborations before diving into the transcendental music of Pastor T.L. Barrett, Yebba, Esperanza Spalding and some interesting jazz & string projects. The playlist features also Thomas Naïm; Alfio Origlio; The Amazing Keystone Big Band; Bigr...

2022 has arrived, and from a jazz perspective, it came right after a truly spectacular year in terms of the quality and quantity of jazz albums that were released… so the pressure is on! Mondo Jazz's New Year resolution is not new at all: keep looking for the most exciting, left of center, fresh, possibly under-exposed, certainly deserving wider recognition jazz we can find out there. In this edit...

The queen of the Hammond organ, Rhoda Scott, opens an episode that hops from organists, to saxophonists, from vibraphonists to trombonists, and pianists, with trumpets and guitars for good measure, all playing in the key of fun and adventurous jazz. The playlist features Delvon Lamarr; Jeff Lederer; Nathan Francis, Eero Koivistoinen; María Grand; Adam O'Farrill; Jorge Rossy; Pasquale Mirra, Gianlu...

Up-and-comers, younger and older Statesmen in a playlist that offers a cross-section of some the most creative new jazz on record. The playlist features Dave Meder; Alex Hamburger; Emile Parisien; Andrea Keller; Gabriel Zucker; Jeff Parker; Ben LaMar Gay; Fred Pallem; David Sanford; Dino Betti van der Noot; Fabrizio Savino. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/14840679/Mondo-Jazz (up...

Riveting saxophone solos taking us into the stratosphere, eclectic vocalists, legendary drummers and more, including the otherwordly beauty that Ha-Yang Kim and Ayesha Brooks add to the already striking compositions of Wayne Horvitz, and the compelling sophomore release by bassist Ilaria Capalbo. The playlist also features The Baylor Project; Danilo Blaiotta; Nate Smith; Michela Lombardi; Sky Crea...

A lil' dive in the 1970's world of soul- or funk-tinged jazz, then some adventurous large ensembles; a focus on Scandinavian artists and the first single from Immanuel Wilkins' sophomore release, for a set with lots of interesting facets. The playlist features also Sarah Vaughan; Julien Lourau; Artifacts; Jazz Station Big Band; Trondheim Jazz Orchestra, Ole Morten Vågan; Remy Le Boeuf; Petter Eldh...

This year our seasonal Hanksgiving episode celebrates a musician of sumptuous elegance and sophisticated narrative and harmonic feel like pianist Hank Jones. As usual, we play a mix of albums that feature him as a leader, co-leader or side-man and renditions of his work by other musicians. The playlist also features Ella Fitzgerald; Johnny Hartman; Abbey Lincoln; Donald Byrd; Warren Vaché; Thad Jo...

For our seasonal Hanksgiving show, this year we pay tribute to Hank Jones, both as a saxophonist and a composer, by playing music from his albums as a leader and sideman, and renditions of his music by musicians that came after him. The collaboration with Malian master musician Cheick Tidian Seck kicks off a playlist which includes albums ranging from leader projects and solo work, to collaboratio...

From Nikara Warren to Makaya McCraven; from Melanie Charles to Brandee Younger; from BADBADNOTGOOD to Ill Considered... a playlist replete with some of the most happening projects of the moment. The playlist features also corto.alto; Henry Cole & Villa Locura; Chip Wickham; Eivind Aarset. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/m/playlist/view/14601032 (from "Black Rhythm Happening" onward). Ha...

Enjoy a playlist which starts with Larry Goldings getting scary and ends with Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass confirming they're out of the ordinary. The playlist also features Scary Goldings; Isaiah J. Thompson; John Taylor; Guano Padano; Rope feat. Petra Haden; Camille Bertault & John Finbury; The SWR Big Band, Chris Potter; Thomas Curbillon. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/m/playlist/vie...

Paolo Angeli's Grammy nominated multi-stringed solo adventures, the many sides of French cellist Vincent Courtois and much more in this playlist. The playlist also features Ed Palermo; H ZETTRIO; Red Kite; Michael Feinberg; Steven Bernstein; Samuel Blaser; Mark Lockheart; Reverso; Bill Carrothers Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/14528850/Mondo-Jazz (from "Spacewalk" onward). Happy...

Tune in and discover Cécile McLorin Salvant's new direction, Itai Kriss's demonstration that Middle-Eastern and Carribbean music were always meant to work together, and much more ... The playlist also features Sammy Miller; David Tixier; De Beren Gieren; Romero Lubambo & Rafael Piccolotto Chamber Orchestra; Fredrik Nordström; Mareike Wiening; Marcin Wasilewski; Martin Wind. Detailed playlist at ht...

We open with tributes to three artists that passed in the past few days, Alan Hawkshaw, Leslie Bricusse and Franco Cerri, before delving in new releases ranging from the straight-ahead hard-hitting energy of Pete Rodriguez to the sound (and silence) explorations of Ayumi Tanaka and her Trio. The playlist also features Brian Bennett; Alicia Hall Moran; Helen Merrill, Gordon Beck; Pete Rodríguez; Ma...

The bonanza goes on... another week replete with exciting new music ranging from the groovy to the angular, from the visceral to the playful, bookended by two Italian trumpet maestros, Fabrizio Bosso (in his collaboration with Rosario Giuliani and Enrico Rava. The playlist features Rosario Giuliani, Fabrizio Bosso; Théo Girard; Nexus; Pedway; Octurn, Magic Malik; Ghost Horse; Sandra Nkaké, Ji Dru;...

One of the best things about today’s jazz scene is its sheer variety. A glimpse of that is on display in this set, starting with a special treat for Mondo Jazz listeners: Ben Allison's "Breakfast with Eric", a tune that has a very special story... listen to the show to find out why. A special mention for the debut album by {{Malcolm Jiyane}}; once more... listen to the show and find out for yourse...

Another truckload of great new and upcoming albums this week, for a show that highlights the beauty of jazz which is not aligned with the major label esthetics. The playlist features Kurt Elling; Nicola Guida, Greg Osby; Rachel Eckroth; Manu Codjia, Giuseppe Millaci, Lieven Venken; UASSYN; Javier Girotto, Vince Abbracciante; Sylvie Courvoisier, Mary Halvorson; NRG Bridges; Mathias Eick; Chris Morr...

Spiritual jazz, spirited jazz and creative jazz in this playlist, which offers a pretty good case study on why jazz is often described as the "sound of surprise". The playlist features Common; Ingebrigt Håker Flaten; Matthew Halsall; Kahil El'Zabar; Anais Drago; Craig Taborn; Steph Richards, Joshua White; Ohad Talmor; Sara Schoenbeck, Nels Cline; Brad Linde; Wendy Eisenberg. Detailed playlist at h...

For the first part of this week's show we focus on new and upcoming albums by trumpet players, and collaborations between guitarists and drummers. The playlist features Nicholas Payton; Abigoba; Miles Davis; Andorra; Daniel Freedman; Giacomo Zanus; Andrew Cyrille; Dan Phillips, Hamid Drake; Csaba Palotai, Steve Arguelles. Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/14314184/Mondo-Jazz (up to...

Ornette Coleman playing for Lou Reed? Or the Sun Ra Arkestra backing U2? And Kenny Wheeler collaborating with both David Sylvian and Joni Mitchell? This and many more fascinating collaborations between jazz masters and pop and rock musicians in this playlist. John Zorn, Jesse Harris, Petra Haden; Rickie Lee Jones, Joe Henderson, Robben Ford; Vince Mendoza; Tanita Tikaram, Mark Isham, Marc Ribot; T...

This week a playlist that focuses on the contribution of jazz musicians to pop, hip-hop, and rock projects, from the Art Ensemble of Chicago playing with French singer Brigitte Fontaine, to John Zorn featured on the debut album by the Brazilian queen Marisa Monte and The Thing's mighty alliance with Neneh Cherry. And a tribute to the late Dr. Lonnie Smith a jazz master known for his boundary-defyi...

Two main themes in the second parts of this week's edition of Mondo Jazz. Jazz players of Caribbean heritage (Arturo O'Farrill--Cuba, Cynthia Abraham--Guadeloupe, Kazemde George--Haiti), and remarkable piano jazz (Marc Cary, Kirk Lightsey, Scott Spivak & Frank Kimbrough, Irène Schweizer, Chick Corea] Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/14221029/Mondo-Jazz (from "Despedida in Lion Str...

We are back at it… our ongoing exploration of the best new and upcoming releases, from the neo-cool, of Donald Fagen and Patricia Barber, to one of the events of the fall, the latest album by Henry Threadgill's Zooid. The cherries on top: the thorougly satisfying new albums by Burnt Sugar--The Arkestra Chamber and Adam O'Farrill. The playlist features Donald Fagen; Patricia Barber; Burnt Sugar--Th...