Brooks Geiken
From Dave Schumacher’s seaworthy “Agua con Gas” to Carlos Henríquez’s rhythmic “Monk con Clave,” these new releases fuse Afro‑Caribbean pulse with big‑band imagination, blending tribute, danceable grooves, and inventive soloing into a shared, celebratory soundscape.
Two standout releases showcase adventurous composition, tight ensemble interplay, and the next wave of trumpet-driven jazz.
Strong albums from trios led by pianists Edward Simon and Alfredo Rodríguez.
Sliding back and forth between the past and the present, “Eating Ashes” paints a gritty, emotional, and forceful vision of a family traumatized by disconnection.
Lettuce is pushing funk forward, drawing on what has come before (Tower Of Power) and making some distinctive changes.
Two jazz albums whose uncompromising visions succeed.
Recommendations for albums from multi-instrumentalist Roger Glenn and vibraphonist Mike Freeman.
MonoNeon is the most important musician to emerge from Memphis in recent memory.
Two very influential and brilliant Cuban musicians, Albita Rodríguez and Chucho Valdés, join together to make a fine album; Chilean guitarist/vocalist/composer Camila Meza serves up a potent mixture of jazz and lyrics concerned with social justice.
A trio of superb albums run the stylistic gauntlet, from the traditional to the experimental.
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