As a poet and musician, Joy Harjo channels a creative force she describes as a "vibration of love" to connect countless traditions and artforms, countering the despair and heartache caused by power and hate. Insomnia and Seven Steps to Grace, her debut for Smithsonian Folkways, draws on the long-intertwined rhythms of jazz and poetry, the power of improvisation and self-expression through sound, and the vitality of Native culture and spirituality to spark a chain of vibrational energy to engulf the whole world. Harjo's voice is bold and direct, supported producer and bass player esperanza spalding, covering a repertoire that includes a jazz standard, a song written by Harjo's mother and uncovered by her sister, and many originals that speak to contemporary issues and her life as one of the most celebrated American poets of the last century.

From March to May 2015, John Zorn composed 300 new tunes that were eventually collected into a book of music he called The Bagatelles. This sixth volume features a pianist who has quickly become a central figure in Zorn's pantheon of musical virtuosos-Brian Marsella. His trio is one of the most talked about ensembles in the Downtown scene and these fabulous performances are filled with fiery solos, a soulful lyricism and telepathic interplay. A highlight of the Bagatelles Marathons, they perform a dramatic program of driving swingers, tender ballads, free jazz explorations and exotic mood pieces.

John Pizzarelli returns with one of his finest albums yet, Dear Mr. Bennett-a heartfelt tribute to the legendary Tony Bennett, whom he knew personally. The cover even features artwork drawn by Mr. Bennett himself. A celebrated name in jazz, Pizzarelli has collaborated with music's biggest stars and toured for years with Frank Sinatra. This release follows his acclaimed tributes Dear Mr. Sinatra, Dear Mr. McCartney, and Dear Mr. Cole.

ANDVAKE

* Janel Leppin - cello, CP-70 *Larry Ferguson - drums * Anthony Pirog - guitar * Brian Settles - tenor saxophone * Luke Stewart - bass * A composer and cellist who's honed a singular synthesis of composition, orchestration and improvisation, while heavily involved for decades with Washington D.C.'s vibrant new music, jazz, rock and improvised music scenes, Janel Leppin releases the third album by her acclaimed Ensemble Volcanic Ash. The five-piece group melds an illustrious array of D.C. talent into a glimmering expressive organism that surges, expands, ebbs and dances in multiple directions at once. "Cinematic. Unrelenting. Brash. Tender. These are just a few terms that might help capture the majesty and mystique of... cellist Janel Leppin's Ensemble Volcanic Ash." - Capital Bop - Mike Johnson is the long time leader, composer and guitarist of the legendary US avant/progressive outfit THINKING PLAGUE, originally formed in 1982. Appearing with a number of alumni of 'the Plague', including vocalist Elaine diFalco and reedman Mark Harris included in the 'band', and also featuring a string and brass section, this very much has the musically dense and lyrically very dark Thinking Plague sound that Mike has always delivered! "... some of the most rhythmically complex, texturally inventive, and melodically challenging popular music of the last 30 years, and somehow makes it all sound easy and natural." - All Music Guide - "Thinking Plague are exciting and ridiculous in equal measure, as good Prog rock should be." - Wire

BLAME IT ON MY AGE

Electrical Field of Love is the brilliant new release from Harriet Tubman - the long-running trio of guitarist Brandon Ross, bassist Melvin Gibbs, and drummer JT Lewis, joined here by the fervent voice and imagination of Grammy-nominee Georgia Anne Muldrow. Described as "black music at it's best" by NPR, Tubman has been a band that creates it's unique sound world through it's exploration of all tributaries of what the Art Ensemble of Chicago called "Great Black Music, Ancient to the Future." Jazz, funk, psychedelia, doom metal, soul, dub, and electronics are just some of what the group amalgamates through their creative process into it's own mystic brew. Into this vortex enters Muldrow, whose shared devotion to exploring black music in all of it's multivariate forms melds seamlessly into the Tubman aesthetic. She moves freely within the music, with her voice by turns incantatory, declarative, and spectral. Moments of raw propulsion resolve to space and rare beauty. Throughout, the emphasis is on listening - musicians responding in real time, shaping form through insight rather than formula, moving with the force of electric Miles, the ooze of the heaviest Funkadelic, and the sharpened edge of the Black Rock aesthetic. Through collective creativity, the convergence of these kindred spirits results in music that feels both deeply grounded and yet, inspiringly exploratory.

Modern jazz guitarist Alex Wintz returns with Collage-a soul-stirring, groove-laden exploration of growth, memory, and life's unpredictable rhythms. Featuring acclaimed players Victor Gould (piano), Matt Penman (bass), and Jimmy Macbride (drums), this vibrant collection of originals and select covers reflects Wintz's journey through marriage, fatherhood, and the road-tested life of a touring musician. From the joyful propulsion of "Pondhop" to the reflective warmth of "Better Half," Collage offers a rich sonic palette that bridges modern jazz, blues, and world influences. A must-have for fans of Pat Metheny, Julian Lage, and Lionel Loueke, this album highlights Wintz's deep compositional voice and masterful guitar tone. Recommended If You Like: Joshua Redman, Etienne Charles, Gilad Hekselman. For Fans Of: Modern jazz, lyrical guitar, small group interplay, NYC jazz scene

The daughter of 'Cats In The Cradle' singer Harry Chapin, Jen Chapin is a New York urban folk singer/songwriter and activist with an appetite for social justice. In 2008, accompanied solely by her husband, bassist Stephan Crump, and saxophonist Chris Cheek, she created reVisions in which she reimagined a collection of Stevie Wonder songs to offer social commentary on Barack Obama's historic rise to power. As much a testament to Chapin's unique artistic sensibility as a celebration of the enduring appeal and relevance of Wonder's songs, ReVisions, which also includes two self-penned numbers, puts a new spin on Wonder classics like 'Masterblaster (Jammin'),' 'You Haven't Done Nothin',' 'Higher Ground' and 'Village Ghetto Land.' Bolstered with new liner notes featuring a recent interview with Jen Chapin, ReVisions: The Songs Of Stevie Wonder is reissued in 2026 as part of the Chesky Original Masters series on 180g One Step Pressing Vinyl LP and SACD Hybrid Stereo.

* Janel Leppin - cello, guitar, bass, Prophet-5, piano - "Janel Leppin is one of the most restlessly creative forces in 21st century jazz and rock." - AllMusic - Cellist, composer and improvisor Janel Leppin has performed and / or recorded with a huge number of artists, including the Sun Ra Arkestra, Eyvind Kang, Susan Alcorn, Priests and Marissa Nadler and leads her acclaimed group Ensemble Volcanic Ash. Slowly Melting is a solo album of deep possibilities and deeper results, featuring the cello.

Antonio Carlos & Jocafi, the legendary duo from Bahia whose music has embodied the soul of Brasil for over five decades, return with a bold new collaboration: Jazz Is Dead 026. Introduced to Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad by Beto Barreto of Baiana System, the meeting was instant magic. "The first time we met, it was like family," they recall. That kinship led Younge and Muhammad to invite the duo to Los Angeles, where they carried a handful of ideas and created new songs on the spot-an intuitive, improvisatory process that defines the Jazz Is Dead ethos. The story of Antonio Carlos & Jocafi begins in Salvador at the close of the 1960s, when the pair first joined forces as composers and performers. In 1971, their debut album Muita Zorra! Introduced Brasil to a sound that was both rooted in Bahia's folk traditions and attuned to the modern pulse of samba, funk, and MPB. From that record came Voc� Abusou, an anthem that became one of the most recorded songs in the history of Brasilian popular music. The duo quickly distinguished themselves through their ability to channel the everyday life, humor, and struggles of Bahia into universal songs that resonated across the country and beyond. Through the 1970s and 1980s, Ant�nio Carlos & Jocafi wrote and recorded music that blended the sacred and the profane, Afro-Brasilian traditions and urban funk, biting satire and joyous celebration. Their compositions were picked up by some of the greatest voices of their generation: Clara Nunes, Gal Costa, Maria Creuza, and S�rgio Mendes among them. They also contributed to television and cinema, writing theme songs that became part of Brasil's cultural fabric. Despite their success, they remained deeply tied to Bahia, drawing constant inspiration from Salvador's streets, the Mercado Modelo, the rhythms of candombl�, and the irreverent humor of the people. Now, with Jazz Is Dead 026, Ant�nio Carlos & Jocafi reaffirm their creative vitality while introducing their timeless Bahian spirit to a new generation. "Adrian's love for Brasil is greater than that of many Brasilians," they say, noting how deeply he listens, studies, and channels the rhythms, stories, and feelings of their culture. The result is an album that bridges Salvador's Mercado Modelo with the global stage, weaving Bahia's folkloric traditions into Jazz Is Dead's analog soul. This collaboration stands not only as a continuation of their journey but also as a testament to the enduring power of Bahia's music-a sound that carries history, resistance, and joy in every beat. From Voc� Abusou to Jazz Is Dead 026, Ant�nio Carlos & Jocafi remain essential voices in the evolving story of Brasilian music.

CONVERSATION

SAMBA TONTO

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.

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.

NEW PAINTINGS OF JAZZ

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'.

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.

ARIA

PLACES AND OTHER STORIES

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.

Blessed with a captivating, richly sonorous singing voice, Japan-born, Seattle-based Valerie Joyce recorded two albums for audiophile label Chesky Records in the 2000s. The first of them, 2005's critically acclaimed New York Blue, featured the young singer supported by a crack Big Apple jazz band: formidable pianist Andy Ezrin, alternating bassists John Hebert and Tim Lefebvre, and drum stalwart Gene Jackson. They are augmented on some tracks by the veteran session musician Lawrence Feldman's smoky saxophone. Joyce's intriguing repertoire blends deft interpretations of well-known evergreens from The Great American Songbook ('Darn That Dream') with jazz standards (Miles Davis' 'Blue In Green'), jazz-tinged R&B ('Fever'), rock (Jimi Hendrix's 'Little Wing'), and pop (The Beatles' 'Golden Slumbers'). Bolstered with new liner notes featuring a recent interview with Valerie Joyce, New York Blue is reissued in 2026 as part of the Chesky Original Masters series on 180g One Step Pressing Vinyl LP and SACD Hybrid Stereo.

Marc Riordan and Jon Leland make music together as Ragger. The two began collaborating in 2017 after being invited by Cameron Stallones to form the current trio lineup of his long-running experimental project Sun Araw. They approach Ragger with a very specific scope of material in mind: the ragtime compositions of Scott Joplin and his contemporaries, presented in synthetic tones for synthesizers and electronic V drums. Hausu Mountain proudly introduces Ragger to the world with their first album, Euphonic Sounds. Riordan and Leland play precise and complicated music with tumbling melodies flecked with ornamented details that spiral over busy percussion patterns - but they present the keyboard and drums in bright electronic voices that wouldn't be out of place in a Super Nintendo game soundtrack. Marc Riordan's synths shimmer with detail in the upper register tones and bump with heavy-hitting bass, as the low, mid, and high voices interact in a state of tight counterpoint that highlights the complexity of ragtime as it was originally composed. His attention to detail in synth voice selection and programming positions Ragger as a funhouse mirror reflection of tone-obsessed stalwarts of the experimental underground like Emeralds or Oneohtrix Point Never - not to mention the duo's participation in Sun Araw as that project continues to dig deeper into synthesis with each new album. With his cascading electronic tom-tom fills and flurries of synthetic woodblocks clicking beneath FM synth cymbal crashes, Jon Leland's drum performances bring to mind a giant steam-powered calliope instrument with it's pistons pumping as innumerable mallets strike row after row of miniature drum heads. This style makes the drums feel like just as much of a lead instrument as Riordan's synths, as both instrumentalists lock into a tight symbiosis as they work through the winding architectures of their ragtime tune selections.

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