This collection offers a sophisticated journey through the expansive landscape of contemporary jazz, balancing reverent interpretations of the tradition with bold, experimental frontiers. From intimate trio dialogues and reimagined standards to the sweeping textures of modern orchestral arrangements, these selections highlight the genre’s remarkable ability to evolve while staying rooted in its core values of improvisation and rhythmic rigour. Whether exploring the avant-garde edges of the New York scene or the storied heritage of European jazz, this playlist serves as a testament to the enduring creative spirit and technical brilliance of today’s most compelling improvisers. We close with two tracks from Mike Westbrook who sadly passed on April 11th.
PLAYLIST
Joe Lovano, Julian Lage, Asante Santi Debriano, Will Calhoun “First Song” from Paramount Quartet (ECM Records) 00:00
New England Jazz Collaborative “Ol’ Liminal” from Tributaries (ACP Records) 07:12
Peter Erskine “Bop Be” from Peregrine (Hard Wag Records) 11:01
George “Jerry” Gilliam “Stolen Moments” from It’s Playtime Jerry (Meta Jax) 17:23
Steven Bernstein “Woodstock” from ResoNation Trio (Royal Potato Family) 23:57
Steven Bernstein “Erbium 1” from Ultra Resonance (Royal Potato Family) 27:51
Ben Flocks “Old Devil Moon” from Moonshades (West Cliff Records) 32:39
Maria Schneider “A World Lost/American Crow Revisited (Alternate Take)” from American Crow (ArtistShare®) 37:23
Franck Amsallem “Bud Will Be Back Shortly” from Summer Times (Fram Music) 55:42
David Bowden “Singing Sands” from Unsung Songs (David Bowden Music) 1:04:43
Carl Clements And The Real Jazz Trio “Selene In Respose” from Retrospective (Greydisc) 1:08:07
Phil Haynes, Ben Monder, Peyton Pleninger “Moonrise Aurora Starlit Meteor” from Terra (Corner Store Jazz) 1:17:52
Michael Formanek “New Old World” from New Digs (Intakt Records) 1:36:27
Mike Westbrook Concert Band “Folk Song” from The Last Night At The Old Place (Cadillac) 1:47:46
Mike Westbrook “Metropolis IX” from Live 1972 (Cadillac) 1:55:31
