This weeks playlist highlights musical contrast and deep ensemble chemistry. The selection begins with hypnotic grooves, cinematic depths, and global, prayerful textures, before navigating lyrical introspection and evocative writing. The second half features a run of heavy-hitters, including fiery electric fusion live from Montreal, precise chamber-jazz, and intimate hard-bop recorded straight from the bandstand. The music then pushes into avant-garde free-improvisation, dynamic big-band arrangements of archival masterpieces, and a monumental, 24-minute performance captured live at a legendary jazz shrine.

PLAYLIST

Jeff Parker ETA IVtet “Happy Today” from Happy Today (International Anthem/Nonesuch Records) 00:00

Hayes Greenfield “Film Noir” from Painting In Sound (Sunnyside Records) 20:23

Ize Trio “Stars” from Global Prayer (Self Released) 27:33

Randy Ingram “Aloft” from Sound Within (Chill Tone) 37:07

Randy Trubitt “PTW” from (Peace is Not) An Awful Lot to Ask (Signbearer Records) 42:22

James McClure “iBhengezo” from A dizziness from the unsaid (MOLK Records) 51:21

Miles Davis “Speak (That’s What Happened)” from What It Is: Montreal 7/7/83 (Live) (Columbia/Legacy) 58:15

Steve Swallow “Six” from Winter Songs (ECM Records) 1:10:40

Ted Chubb “Little Flower Girl” from Live at The Statuary (Circle 9) 1:15:58

Juanma Trujillo, Kenneth Jiménez, Vasco Trilla “Breaking Statues” from Nada es Nada (Ramble Records) 1:23:52

Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra “Tattooed Bride” from Ellington Masterworks (MCG Jazz) 1:32:32

Immanuel Wilkins “Composition IX” from Immanuel Wilkins Quartet: Live At The Village Vanguard (Blue Note Records) 1:44:40