CONVERSATION

SAMBA TONTO

Rolling Stone calls award-winning Florida musician Selwyn Birchwood "a remarkable, contemporary bluesman... a powerhouse young guitarist and soulful vocalist." Now, this mesmerizing guitarist, lap steel master and cinematic songwriter unleashes the powerful new album Electric Swamp Funkin' Blues, further blazing his own musical trail. Birchwood's sound is an intoxicating mix of deep blues, blistering, psychedelic-tinged rock, booty-shaking funk and sweet Southern soul, played and sung with true blues passion. From an emotionally devastating whisper to a soul-baring scream, Birchwood's vocals command attention. Schooled in the blues' storied traditions (he toured with and was mentored by the famed Sonny Rhodes), Birchwood maps out a dazzling future for the blues with his visionary music. Selwyn Birchwood is one of the hardest-touring artists on the Alligator roster, and will support the new release with shows throughout the U.S. He's no stranger to European stages either, with plenty of tours there under his belt, and having just completed over a month's worth of European dates, 27 shows in all, with 24 taking place in France, three in Belgium and one in Czechia.

Against the tide of hip-hop, electronic dance music, and indie-rock, which dominated the airwaves of the late '90s, Dave's True Story, a Big Apple duo comprised of singer Vicky Flint and guitarist and songwriter David Cantor, flew the flag for a cool alternative: jazz-inflected hipster pop. Cantor's songs on Sex Without Bodies, the group's Chesky Records debut, are witty, cinematic, erudite, cultured, and peppered with literary references. Highlights include the finger-clicking title track - which offers a humorous slant on virtual sex - the evocative 'Ned's Big Dutch Wife,' about a woman leading a shocking double life, and an adroit, jazzy cover of Lou Reed's classic 'Walk On The Wild Side.' Bolstered with new liner notes, Sex Without Bodies is reissued in 2026 as part of the Chesky Original Masters series on 180g One Step Pressing Vinyl LP and SACD Hybrid Stereo.

This recital brings together three late piano groupings by Franz Schubert, works that distil his distinctive blend of intimacy, lyricism and emotional ambiguity. The program centers on the complete Six Moments musicaux D.780, framed by the poignant Allegretto in C minor D.915 and the Drei Klavierst�cke D.946, composed in the final year of Schubert's life. Rich in expressive depth, the Moments musicaux move effortlessly between simplicity and complexity: gentle lyricism gives way to sudden shadows, major and minor coexist in close tension, and fleeting dance rhythms dissolve into quiet resignation. The Allegretto D.915, composed as a farewell to a close friend, exemplifies Schubert's rare gift for finding increased poignancy in moments of apparent calm. The Drei Klavierst�cke, published posthumously, stand as impromptus in all but name-restless, searching works that juxtapose turbulence with luminous stillness. For pianist Katya Apekisheva, Schubert has been a lifelong companion. This recording represents a deeply personal homage, shaped by years of performing and living with this music. Recorded on a Steinway Model D at Syde Manor, the album offers a thoughtful, finely judged reading of some of Schubert's most inward and compelling piano writing.

ARIA-nominated Hammond organist Jake Mason and his Trio return with The Modern Ark a bold, soulful new chapter blending vintage organ grooves with modern jazz energy. Featuring long-time collaborators James Sherlock (guitar) and Danny Fischer (drums), the album moves from playful boogaloo to cinematic ballads, with special guests Kurt Elling and Kate Ceberano lending their voices. Recorded live in a studio in Melbourne with vintage instruments and wrapped in artwork by Jeff Raglus, The Modern Ark confirms Jake Mason Trio as a defining force in Australian soul-jazz.

Limited Edition Classic Black Vinyl Altan is arguably the most iconic band working in traditional Irish music today. For the past 35 years, they have brought the music of their native County Donegal to the world stage. The band's newest album, aptly titled DONEGAL, pays homage to County Donegal's rich musical heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant culture. The music's authenticity and allure transport listeners to a bygone era in rural Ireland while forging a connection between the past and the present. Featuring co-founder, lead vocalist, and fiddler Mair�ad N� Mhaonaigh; newest member Clare Friel on vocals and fiddle; accordionist Martin Tourish; guitarists D�ith� Sproule and Mark Kelly; and Ciar�n Curran on bouzouki and mandolin. With Jim Higgins (percussion), Steve Cooney (bass), and Graham Henderson (keyboards). Recorded by Manus Lunny at Seafront Studio in County Donegal, Ireland. DONEGAL captures the essence of the region that has inspired Altan since the band's inception and further cements Altan's legacy as one of Ireland's great cultural treasures.

NEW PAINTINGS OF JAZZ

This new recording brings together violinist Gil Shaham, conductor Eric Jacobsen, and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra in a program exploring the violin concerto as a vehicle for cultural memory and continuity. The album pairs Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's Violin Concerto in G minor, Op. 80, and Anton�n Dvor�k's Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 53, with the world-premiere recording of "F. Harper," from The Famous People by Curtis Stewart. Coleridge-Taylor's concerto reveals a Romantic voice shaped by lyricism and rhythmic vitality, while Dvor�k's work reflects folk influence and communal musical expression. Stewart's F. Harper responds through a contemporary lens, engaging questions of naming, lineage, and identity. Inspired by the layered meanings of "Slavonic," the work draws parallels between European histories of enslavement and the ways Black Americans continue to shape pride and cultural legacy today. Together, these works connect past and present through sound.

3CD collection, enlarging on the inspiration for The Beatles' post-live experimentation. Providing examples which will cast light on the genesis of such imperishable pop masterpieces as 'Yesterday', 'Tomorrow Never Knows', 'Strawberry Fields Forever', 'Penny Lane', 'Eleanor Rigby' and 'A Day In The Life'.

After Bess's departure, what becomes of Porgy? Having fallen in love with Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, the brilliant pianist and arranger Vyacheslav Gryaznov decided to answer this question by taking up the opera's themes. With Rhapsody in Black, a concerto for piano and orchestra, he picks up the story where the opera leaves off: Bess in New York, Porgy following in her footsteps. Neither a pastiche nor a simple arrangement, Rhapsody in Black reclaims Gershwin's legacy by blending electrifying improvisations, big-band sonorities, and poetic ballads. With this New York fresco, complemented by Rhapsody in Blue, Gryaznov creates an extraordinarily vibrant diptych, superbly brought to life by the Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien and Wayne Marshall, a leading specialist and outstanding interpreter of Gershwin.

Greetings from Florida: Postcards from Paradise is a new genre-blending song cycle from composer Scott Lee featuring jazz vocalist-guitarist Camila Meza. The album explores the tension between an imagined Florida and the reality experienced by those who are drawn to the state: retirees, tourists, immigrants, and nature lovers. Eight poems by Cuban American poet Carolina Hospital serve as lyrics, each reflecting a different side of Florida, from tourism and retirement to climate crisis and ecological loss. Written for Camila Meza and chamber ensemble, the music blends contemporary classical elements with jazz idioms and pop song structures. Meza's jazz/pop vocals and driving guitar glide over top of noisy, pointillistic grooves performed by a top-notch chamber ensemble of Floridian musicians who deftly execute Lee's complex scores. Together, the poems and music invite listeners to look beyond the postcard and experience Florida in all it's complexity, fragility, and beauty.

Midway through Martin Luther King, Jr.'s historic speech at the 1963 March on Washington, a voice rang out from behind him: "Tell them about the dream, Martin!" That voice belonged to Mahalia Jackson, King's close friend and one of the most revered gospel singers of the 20th century. Glorious Mahalia, a visionary tribute to Jackson's life by the internationally renowned Kronos Quartet, uses that moment as a springboard to explore the depth of Jackson's musical craft and it's impact on the Civil Rights Movement, including her relationship with Clarence Jones and Studs Terkel, other luminaries of the time. Featuring compositions by Stacy Garrop and Zachary James Watkins, a new arrangement of Jackson's astonishing version of the Antonio Haskell composition "God Shall Wipe All Tears Away," and archival audio of Jackson's voice, the album illuminates Jackson's historic artistry and advocacy.

ARIA

PLACES AND OTHER STORIES

After recording some of Bach's major works, Claire- Marie Le Guay continues her exploration of the boundless territories of the composer by taking a more intimate approach. The doors to these masterpieces are left ajar, and the pianist is modestly sketching the personal history of her relationship with Bach's music. She offers us the keys to a universe rich in colors and contrasts: a diversity that rhymes with eternity.

Traetta's Ifigenia in Tauride draws us into the tragic heart of the House of Atreus. Orestes is consumed by guilt over the murder of his mother Clytemnestra, while Iphigenia bears the lasting scars of her near-sacrifice, planned by her own father Agamemnon. They are two tormented souls, profoundly alone, who find each other in a moment of overwhelming recognition. Traetta's music captures this tragic tension perfectly. Standing at the crossroads of Neapolitan bel canto and Gluck's dramatic reform, his vocal writing is never an empty display. Every line, every ornament, conveys raw, sincere emotion. Christophe Rousset leads the musicians of Les Talens Lyriques and a brilliant cast of soloists, with Roc�o P�rez delivering a deeply moving portrayal of Iphigenia, in this masterpiece by Traetta, recorded here for the first time.

Sky Garden is the dynamic debut album from New York City-based trio Silvan Joray (guitar), Jakob Ebers (bass), and Jeff Krol (drums)-a radiant and intimate collection of nine original compositions that speak to the power of trust, interplay, and shared vision in jazz. Recorded during a residency at Avaloch Farm Music Institute, the album features compositions from all three members: from the mathematically inspired energy of "Fractometry" to the wistful dreamscape of "Reverie" and the playful harmonic twists of "You're Beating Around the Bush." Each track reflects a unique voice, yet the group flows with a single pulse-lean, interactive, and expressive. Whether it's the warmth of "For Mascha" or the kinetic push of the title track "Sky Garden," this album offers a modern jazz experience with deep roots and forward momentum. Sky Garden is a must-have for fans of inventive guitar trios and contemporary chamber jazz.

Intakt Records is thrilled to release this first collaboration with pianist Alexis Marcelo - a mesmerizing solo debut! A contagious exuberance of playing, energetic explosive improvisations, and an openness to jazz tradition and experimentation combine on this album to create an impressive musical statement. "Almost everything he plays affirms his history and culture as a first-generation American, the son of a Panamanian mother and a Dominican father. Growing up in the Bronx and in Queens during hip hop's first years - the first jazz he heard were samples - hearing salsa and merengue at home, attending Latino evangelical churches, and - yes - studying classical music at the Harlem School of the Arts shaped Marcelo's identification as an African Latino with an inclusive sensibility(...)Once artists establish a strong identity, they can draw outside the lines, smudge them, even erase them, without diluting or diminishing that identity. That is what Alexis Marcelo has done with Solo Piano", writes Bill Shoemaker in the liner notes.

SAN PAOLO DI GALATINA