Tom Zygmont - Lumina Way - Neckbone Music
Seasoned drummer Tom Zygmont releases his debut album Lumina Way — a groove-forward blend of blues, jazz, rock, and funk. Tom and his musical friends make every moment on the album feel alive — from the tropical sway of “Afro Blue” and breezy charm of “It’s Complicated,” to the high-octane pulse of “Lumina Way” and the playful blues-funk of “Better From a Distance.” Fire burns in “Contusion,” warmth fills “Sixteen Words,” and global flavor emerges in “Pacifica,” “Big Dipper,” and “Just Friends With Benefits,” culminating in the hypnotic, atmospheric “Seikilos,” — a perfect reminder of their curiosity and freedom. Produced by longtime collaborator Terry Wollman and recorded mostly live at Sunset Sound in Hollywood by Kenji Nakai, the album radiates the energy of musicians who listen, respond, and inspire one another. It’s more than a studio project — it’s a celebration of long friendships and the joy of creating together. “There’s a looseness to it that I love,” Tom says. “It’s the sound of musicians having fun — no overthinking, just playing.” Lumina Way is an irresistible journey — music to move to, smile with, and return to again and again.
Johannes Enders - Phantom Happiness - Enja Records
With Phantom Happiness, Johannes Enders presents a new international jazz quartet at the highest artistic level. At his side are pianist Rainer Böhm, American bassist Doug Weiss, and legendary drummer Jorge Rossy. Four strong musical personalities united by a shared sonic ideal of depth, freedom, and narrative power. At the core are exclusively new compositions by Johannes Enders — music that oscillates between lyrical intimacy and energetic urgency. Phantom Happiness explores fragile moments of happiness, fleeting moods, and the tension between inner calm and restless motion. Melodic clarity meets open forms, complex rhythms meet spontaneous interaction. The quartet captivates with an exceptionally sensitive interplay: Enders’ distinctive, expressive tenor saxophone sound unfolds over Rainer Böhm’s richly colored harmonies, supported by the deep, elastic pulse of Doug Weiss and the refined yet powerful rhythmic language of Jorge Rossy. Phantom Happiness is modern jazz with depth and conviction —personal, contemporary, and uncompromisingly musical.
Zuri Alexander - Hear Me - Deniscott Music Publishing
HEAR ME is the debut album from jazz vocalist Zuri Alexander. Though not autobiographical, it traces the emotional arc of a person’s decision to go no contact with a parent. Six original songs move alongside reimagined standards, “April in Paris” and “The Gentle Rain”, carrying the story from tension to clarity and release. The album explores what happens when speaking up feels more dangerous than being disrespected. She voices her feelings in the spoken word piece “Writing Journal Entry 334”. In “Hear Me”, she speaks her truth and declares she is going no contact. “Through the Truth” finds her facing the unknown. HEAR ME is a record of rare emotional truth framed by pianist Hiro Morozumi, bassist Jeffery Littleton, drummer Jimmy Ford, guitarist Mitchell Long, and saxophonist Louis Van Taylor.
Rob Dehlinger & His Alpha Rhythm Kings - Party Time - Dehlinger Productions
Trumpeter, arranger, composer, and vocalist Rob Dehlinger has been leading The Alpha Rhythm Kings since 2017, delighting audiences from California to New York with their exuberant blend of retro swing and jump blues. Critics and fans alike praise the band’s “badge of authenticity,” a testament to their stylistic precision and irresistible onstage energy. The group now celebrates the release of their second full length album, PARTY TIME. Although the musicians are top tier interpreters of 1930s and ’40s swing and the band is exceptionally tight, the album’s “magic sauce” lies in Dehlinger’s spot on arrangements. He captures the essence of vintage swing and jump blues while giving each track a contemporary spark, never straying far from the heart of the music. Even modern tunes are convincingly transformed into period authentic showpieces. PARTY TIME says it all. It’s music for celebrations, good times, and anyone who likes to hit the dance floor. With his impeccable arrangements and deep command of vintage style, Dehlinger proves that this joyful, swinging, and timeless music never goes out of fashion.
Thelonius Monk - Live In Paris 1967 Vol 2 - Rhythm-A-Ning Entertainment
Thelonius Monk – Live In Paris 1967 Vol 2 continues the story, and is inseparable from the first volume, while developing its own atmosphere. The introduction is long, the presenter takes time to announce the program, and the audience responds with another tremendous burst of applause. You can almost picture the Salle Pleyel: the musicians under the powerful stage lights, working in the heat of the room, concentrating intensely on one another while the audience waits for the next musical encounter. Despite the physical demands of the performance, there is an unmistakable sense of happiness in the room. The musicians are not merely fulfilling an engagement. They are enjoying the privilege of being together and sharing their music with an audience that is completely receptive. Personnel: Larry Gales – Bass, Gigi De Leo – Coordinator, Ben Riley – Drums, Thelonious Monk – Piano, Charlie Rouse – Tenor Saxophone. Includes: Blue Monk, ‘Round About Midnight, Hackensack, Straight, No Chaser.
Bob McChesney – Wingwalkers – MoCo Records
The name Wingwalkers recalls the fearless daredevils of the 1920s who amazed crowds by walking on the wings of soaring aircraft. On this recording, these musical daredevils—Bob McChesney, Bill Cunliffe, Kevin Axt, and Vinnie Colaiuta—take their own exhilarating flight, balancing risk, beauty, and freedom as they honor the great architects of jazz: Coltrane, Corea, Monk, Parker, Henderson, and more. McChesney dazzles with his effortless “doodle” technique and fluid, expressive lines, while Cunliffe’s lyricism and harmonic imagination shine throughout. Axt anchors the quartet with deep musicality and rhythmic agility, and Colaiuta brings his trademark virtuosity and conversational interplay, keeping the whole flight aloft. Together, these four artists walk the wings of jazz tradition—balancing daring innovation with deep respect for the masters who inspired them.
Lizz Wright – Nearness – Candid
Born from a quiet prayer offered by a young college freshman watching a master pianist from afar, Nearness is an extraordinary, stripped-back masterclass 25 years in the making. Featuring just Lizz Wright’s dark, spellbinding alto and Kenny Banks Sr.’s brilliant piano and organ architecture, this intimate 11-track collection explores a lifetime of shared roots and platonic love. Moving seamlessly from the joyful swing of “Just You, Just Me” to the deep, bluesy soul of “Amazing Grace” and the sharp, regal reclamation of traditional spirituals like “Soon I Will Be Done,” Nearness captures two powerhouse artists operating at the very apex of collaborative intuition and faith.
Liz Cracchiolo – Just a Girl (I'm A Woman) - Pacific Coast Jazz
With Just a Girl I’m a Woman, jazz vocalist Liz Cracchiolo delivers a debut that feels both timeless and strikingly personal. Blending classic jazz standards with inventive re-imaginings of pop songs, Cracchiolo uses the Great American Songbook and contemporary hits alike as vehicles for self-expression, reshaping each selection through her own sophisticated lens. What makes the project compelling is not just the repertoire, but the story behind it. This is an album rooted in reclamation—a woman returning to herself, her voice, and her artistic instincts after years of outside expectations. The title itself signals that transformation: playful on the surface, but deeply declarative underneath. Vocally, Cracchiolo balances smoky elegance with emotional honesty, drawing on the glamour of icons like Peggy Lee and Julie London while remaining unmistakably modern. Whether interpreting a standard or turning a pop favorite into a torch song, she brings wit, warmth, and confidence to every phrase. The result is a debut that honors tradition while asserting identity—an album about finding one’s power and sounding fully, finally at home in it.
Sounds of A&R (SOAR) - Dishes Ain’t Clean - Soaring Records
Sounds of April and Randall’s fourth album, Dishes Ain’t Clean, is a self-produced collection of 13 original songs that moves fluidly between jazz, indie folk, world pop and R&B. Written by vocalist April May Webb and trumpeter Randall Haywood, the album uses a familiar household chore as an extended metaphor for self-presentation, examining the versions of ourselves we polish for public view alongside the unfinished truths left behind closed doors. Developed with mentorship from T.S. Monk, the project was supported by Chamber Music America’s Performance Plus Program, funded by the Doris Duke Foundation, as well as New Music USA’s Next Jazz Legacy Program. Webb, WINNER of the 2024 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, and Haywood, a Juilliard-trained composer and bandleader, lead an ensemble anchored by Webb’s brothers Jacob Webb on bass and Dr. Nathan Webb on drums, joined by pianist Dr. Ryan Tomski, guitarists Charlie Sigler and Drew Cooper, and multi-instrumentalist Gabe Valle. Terri Lyne Carrington describes the album as “a superbly produced eclectic offering from the dynamic vocal/trumpet duo, giving strong cinematic, singer-songwriter, and R&B vibes along with beautifully swinging tracks for your staunch jazz and hybrid jazz fans.”
Carmen Lundy - Notes From The Wine Cellar - Afrasia Productions
Notes From The Wine Cellar, the extraordinary new album from jazz vocalist and composer Carmen Lundy, is set for release August 21st via Afrasia Productions. Created over the course of the past several years but recorded in January of 2026, the record’s arrival coincides with Carmen being named a 2026 NEA Jazz Master, the highest accolade a jazz artist can receive. Drawing from a lifetime of artistic and personal reflection, this collection brings together songs inspired by love, faith, family, social consciousness, and the enduring search for purpose. Rooted in the creative spirit of New York City’s jazz scene and shaped by decades of growth, the album bridges past and present through compositions that have evolved over time alongside newly written works. Blending jazz, gospel, and soul traditions, these songs explore unity, identity, loss, forgiveness, and hope with honesty and grace. Together, they form a deeply personal yet universal statement, celebrating the transformative power of love as life’s greatest and most enduring truth.