In the glory days of vinyl, the ritual of home listening was akin to attending a live concert.
Now, with streaming platforms, social media, and an ever-expanding pluralism, listening has become more hurried and casual for most people—stripping away part of the magic and reducing music to background sound for our increasingly demanding daily routines.
Celebrating nine years online, modernjazz.gr seeks to balance these trends, ensuring that its carefully curated playlists receive the attention they deserve.
Always featuring new music from the past few months—music that rewards attentive ears without tiring them out—because it’s the contemporary groove that makes all the difference. Enjoy!
The playlist is available for streaming on the platforms below:
If you want to look into what you are listening to,
start your search from the following:
—————————–
Jerry Bergonzi, Carl Winther Trio – Blue DNA (amm)
Post-bop
Track: Jab
Info: Marlbank
The epitome of personal expression, in a major-key ballad, from the great Jerry Bergonzi (ts), with Carl Winther (p), Rune Fog-Nielsen (b), and Anders Mogensen (dr)
Nate Smith – LIVE-ACTION (Naive)
New jazz, jazz-hop, r&b/soul, New York
Tracks: Automatic, Magic Dance, Juke Joint
Info: Bandcamp, Wordplay
A modern vision of Black Music by the renowned Nate Smith (dr, keys, …), joined by first-rate collaborators: Josh Johnson, Lalah Hathaway, Lionel Loueke, Michael League, CARRTOONS, Kiefer, säje, Marquis Hill, Ben Williams, DJ Harrison, Charlie Hunter, …
Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra – Golden Lady (BespokeJazz)
Contemporary jazz, r&b, big band
Track: Hold Tight
Info: Downbeat
A tough band and an exemplary solo from Bob Reynolds (ts)
Paul Cornish – You’re Exaggerating! (Blue Note)
Modern jazz
Track: Star Is Born
Info: Blue Note, Downbeat
Harmonic richness, classical hues, and contrapuntal development that inevitably recall Brad Mehldau, from the elegant pianist Paul Cornish — Blue Note’s young lion — in his debut with Joshua Crumbly (b) and Jonathan Pinson (dr)
Robert Glasper – Code Derivation (Lama Vista/Concord)
New jazz
Track: Madiba (Flipped by Hi-Tek)
Info: Concord
A 2024 album now available on all platforms, showing the many faces of Robert Glasper, naturally with top-tier collaborators
Zeena Parkins – Modesty Of The Magic Thing (Tzadik)
Avant-garde, classical, minimal
Track: Shape Rhythm
Info: Boomcat
Microtonal studies inspired by the visual art of Jay DeFeo, by the acclaimed Zeena Parkins (harp, comp) and William Winant (perc)
Ayodele Nzinga – ghetto grimoire (Rock in Your Heads)
Spoken word, poetry, experimental, CA
Track: Shoe Strings
Info: Bandcamp
Where words contain music — and rhythm — within them
Destin Conrad – wHIMSY (AboveGroundEnt / DestinConrad / EMPIRE)
Alt. jazz, r&b, LA
Tracks: HARD!, wASH U AWAY
Info: ShatterTheStandards
Destin Conrad sings its beautiful songs in a lush production featuring the usual suspects: Terrace Martin, Keyon Harrold, Vanisha Gould
Stacey Ryan – Blessing In Disguise (Self released)
Indie pop, soul, jazz, LA
Track: Nothing Like You
Info: OneToWatch
For the “All the Things You Are” guitar chords — and beyond…
Christian McBride – Without Further Ado, Vol 1 (Mack Avenue)
Big band, vocal jazz
Track: Old Folks
Info: Paris-Move, JazzTimes
Thankfully, we have Samara Joy. Sometimes, she’s exactly what we need.
Also featuring vocals by Sting, Andy Summers, Jeffrey Osborne, José James, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Dianne Reeves, and Antoinette Henry
Endlings – PARALLEL 03 (Whited Sepulchre)
Experimental, Electronic, avant-garde
Track: Protrio Veneno
Info: Bandcamp, OldGreyCat
Inventiveness and musicianship — remarkable for the genre
Ted Taforo – The Absurdity Of Modern Life (Outside In Music)
New jazz, jazztronica
Track: Don’t Be That Guy
Info: Google AI
“High Octane Jazztronica”, from saxophonist Ted Taforo
Marshall Allen – The Omniverse Oriki (High Two Recordings)
Afro-futurism, free jazz, Philadelphia
Track: Omniverse Oriki 3
Info: Bandcamp
At 101, Marshall Allen remains the ultimate master of the jazz mystique
Avishai Cohen – Little Big Beat Studio (Live Session) [Naive]
Contemporary jazz
Track: Brightlight
Info: AvishaiCohen
For the odd meters, we trust Avishai Cohen (b, voc) and his crew: Itay Simhovich (p), Roni Kaspi (dr), Yuval Drabkin (sax), Yonathan Voltzok (trb)
Mikko Pettinen Why Not – Patient Patient (Eclipse Music)
Progressive jazz, Helsinki
Track: Patient Patient
Info: Bandcamp
When difficult personal health experiences ignite inspiration:
Mikko Pettinen (crt, tr, voc, eff), Joakim Berghäll (bs, bcl, eff), Vesa Ojaniemi (b, eff), Tuomas Timonen (dr), Joona Pirilä (effects)
John Zorn – Prolegomena (Tzadik)
modern classical
Track: Sigil Magick
Info: Tzadik
A string sextet brings to life an intricate composition by John Zorn. Performed by Chris Otto (vl), Austin Wulliman (vl), John Pickford Richards (vla), Yura Lee (vla), Jay Campbell (vlc), and Michael Nicolas (vlc)
MORE NEW RELEASES
(from well-known musicians, labels, and others that got attention)
VOCALISTS
- Frank Wildhorn, Jane Monheit, Clint Holmes – Frank Wildhorn & Friends: Live in Las Vegas
- Nicole Zuraitis, Dan Pugach, Tom Scott – Live at Vic’s Las Vegas (Live) [La Reserve]
- Kurt Elling & Christian Sands – Wildflowers, Vol. 3
- Brian Byrne – She Must Go
Ft. Kurt Elling, Veronica Swift, Curtis Stigers, Kate McGarry, Tierney Sutton, .. - ALBITA, Chucho Valdés – Masters Of Our Roots
- Caity Gyorgy, Mark Limacher – Caity Gyorgy with Strings (La Reserve)
- Suhel – Let’s Talk
- Dara Tucker – Time Wouldn’t Wait
- Michael Mayo – Fly (Deluxe Edition) [Mack Avenue]
- Ledisi – For Dinah (Candid)
- Misuzu Ichikawa – I’ll Be Seeing You
- Cécile McLorin Salvant – Oh Snap (Nonesuch)
Ft. Sullivan Fortner, Yasushi Nakamura, Kyle Poole, ..
TRUMPETERS
- Dan Rosenboom – Coordinates
- Natsuki Tamura, Satoko Fujii, Ramon Lopez – Yama Kawa Umi
- daoud – ok (ACT)
- Till Brönner – Italia
Ft. Mario Biondi, .. - Ibrahim Maalouf – Kalthoum – 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
- Frederik Köster & NDR Bigband – K. on the Shore (Traumton)
- Nils Petter Molvær – KHMER (Live in Bergen) [Edition]
- Charlie Porter – Cipher
Ft. George Colligan, .. - Kirk Knuffke, Stomu Takeishi, Bill Goodwin – Window (Royal Potato)
- CORBAAL and Erik Truffaz – What’s my name
- Chief Adjuah – Stretch Music 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
SAXOPHONISTS, CLARINETISTS, FLUTISTS
- Jaleel Shaw – Painter of the Invisible
Ft. Lawrence Fields, Ben Street, Joe Dyson, Sasha Berliner, Lage Lund - Alexa Tarantino – The Roar and the Whisper (Blue Engine)
Ft. Steven Feifke, Philip Norris, Mark Whitfield, Jr. - Jimmy Greene – As We Are Now
Ft. Mike Moreno, Aaron Goldberg, Dezron Douglass, Jonathan Barber, .. - John Zorn & Dave Lombardo – Memories, Dreams, And Reflections (Tzadik)
- Tenors In Chaos – More Chaos
- Boney James – Morning Sax
- Eric Alexander & Vincent Herring – Split Decision (Posi-Tone)
- Andrew Gould – The Austin Session
- Najee – Under the Moon over the Sky
- Miguel Zenón Quartet – Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at The Village Vanguard
- Jason Rigby, Mark Guiliana – Mayhem (Endectomorph)
- Tim Ries – Live at Smalls (Live) [SmallsLive]
Ft. Chris Potter, Kalman Olah, John Patitucci, Billy Drummond - Hillai Govreen – Every Other Now (Fresh Sound New Talent)
Ft. Steve Cardenas, Eric McPherson, Café Da Silva, .. - Eric Alexander – Like Sugar (Cellar Live)
Ft. David Hazeltine, Dennis Carroll, George Fludas - Prism Quartet, Miguel Zenón – El Eco de Un Tambor
- Chad Lefkowitz-Brown – The Shadow Of Your Smile
- Nat Birchall – LIBERATED SOUNDS
- Paul Dunmall – Away With Troubles And Anxieties! (Discus)
- JD Allen – Love Letters (The Ballad Sessions) [Savant]
- Donny McCaslin – Lullaby for the Lost (Edition)
Ft. Jason Lindner, Ben Monder, Tim Lefebvre, Zach Danziger - Alex Hitchcock – Letters From Afar (New Soil)
- Albert Cirera & Tres Tambors – Orangina
- Cory Weeds & Jerry Weldon – Cory Weeds Meets Jerry Weldon (Cellar Live)
- Gary Bartz NTU Troop – The Eternal Tenure of Sound: Damage Control
- Sam Dillon – My Ideal (Cellar Live)
Ft. David Hazeltine, Alexander Claffy Rodney Green
TROBONISTS, TUBISTS
- Theon Cross – Affirmations (Live At Blue Note New York) [New Soil]
- Nick Finzer – The Jazz Orchestra Volume 1 (Outside in Music)
- Conrad Herwig, Eddie Palmieri, Luques Curtis – Reflections-Facing South
- Natalie Cressman, Ian Faquini – Revolução (GroundUP)
- Michael Dease – Flow (Posi-Tone)
Ft. Geoffrey Keezer, Sharel Cassity, Gary Kerkezou, ..
GUITARISTS
- Jose Gobbo Trio – Confluence (Caligram)
- John McLaughlin & 4th Dimension – Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2022
- Paul Bollenback & Boris Kozlov – Synergy (SteepleChase)
- Wolfgang Muthspiel, Scott Colley, Brian Blade – Tokyo (ECM)
- Bill Coon – Standard Elegance (Cellar Live)
PIANISTS, KEYBOARDISTS
- Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta, Joey Calveiro – A Tribute to Benny Moré and Nat King Cole
- Leo Genovese, Francesco Marcocci, Aleksandar Petrov – Before You Fly
- Brad Mehldau – Ride into the Sun (Nonesuch)
- Steven Feifke & Blue Lou Marini – Point of View (La Reserve)
- Marc Seales – People & Places (Origin)
Ft. Ernie Watts, .. - Harold Lopez-Nussa – NUEVA TIMBA (Blue Note)
- Dave Douglas – Alloy (Greenleaf)
- Mike LeDonne & The Groover Quartet – Turn it Up! LIVE At The Sidedoor! (Cellar Live)
Ft. Eric Alexander, Peter Bernstein, Joe Farnswotrh - John Taylor, Marc Johnson, Joey Baron – Tramonto (ECM)
- David Kikoski – Weekend at Smalls (Cellar Live)
Ft. Randy Brecker, Joe Martin, Billy Hart - Brian Culbertson – Day Trip
Ft. Marcus Miller, Sheila E., Branford Marsalis, Randy Brecker, .. - Dabin Ryu – Trio (Endectomorph)
Ft. Joe Martin, Johnathan Blake
BASSISTS
- Mike Pope – The Parts You Keep (Origin)
Ft. Geoffrey Keezer, Nate Smith, Randy Brecker, Roxy Coss, .. - Pino Palladino & Blake Mills – That Wasn’t A Dream (Impulse!)
- Noah Garabedian – Quartets and Solos
Ft. Dayna Stephens, Jimmy Macbride, Samuel Adams - Rich Brown – NYAEBA (Whirlwind)
DRUMMERS, PERCUSSIONISTS
- Ferenc Nemeth – UnStandard Too
Ft. Massimo Biolcati, Marcus Strickland, Dayna Stephens - Joe Farnsworth – The Big Room (Smoke Sessions)
Ft. Jeremy Pelt, Sarah Hanahan, Joel Ross, Emmet Cohen, Yasushi Nakamura - Anne Paceo – Atlantis
- Johnathan Blake – My Life Matters (Blue Note)
Ft. Dayna Stephens, Fabian Almazan, Dezron Douglas, .. - Kassa Overall – CREAM
VIBRAFONISTS
- Mulatu Astatke – Mulatu Plays Mulatu (Strut)
ACCORDEONISTS, HARMONICISTS, ..
- Dino Saluzzi – El Viejo Caminante (ECM)
- Ben Thomas – The Hat with the Grin and the Chuckle (Origin)
- Vincent Peirani – Living Being IV (Time Reflections) [ACT]
Ft. Emile Parisien, ..
HARPISTS
- Alina Bzhezhinska, Tulshi – Whispers of Rain (Tru Thoughts)
VIOLISTS, VIOLONISTS, CELLISTS
GROUPS
- Nicholas Payton, Esperanza Spalding, Karriem Riggins – Triune (Smoke Sessions)
- Ratko Zjaca, Marius Preda & Trilok Gurtu – Touching Minds
- Heirloom – Familiar Beginnings (Shifting Paradigm)
- Jazzorchester Vorarlberg – Sonus Variegata
- Fieldwork – Thereupon (Pi)
Ft. Steve Lehman, Vijay Iyer, Tyshawn Sorey
BIG BANDS, ORCHESTRAS, ENSEMBLES
- Orkester 20:20 – Awakenings
- Exploding Star Orchestra, Rob Mazurek – Holy Mountains
Ft. Luke Stewart, James Brandon Lewis, Chad Taylor, .. - Arturo O’Farrill – The Original Influencers: Dizzy, Chano & Chico (Live at Town Hall)
Ft. Jon Faddis, Pedrito Martinez, Donald Harrison, .. - Trombone Shorty & New Breed Brass Band – Second Line Sunday
- Adam Blackstone – Humble Magic, Vol. 1
- Luigi Grasso, NDR Big Band – La Dimora Dell’Altrove GROUPS
- Plunky, Oneness of Juju – Made Through Ritual (Strut)
- Shakti – Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live)
Ft. John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, Selvaganesh Vinayakram, .. - Chicago Underground Duo – Hyperglyph (International Anthem)
Ft. Rob Mazurek, Chad Taylor, .. - Lucian Ban, John Surman & Mat Maneri – The Athenaeum Concert
- The DIVA Jazz Orchestra – A Celebration of Maurice Hines – Tappin’ Thru Life
- Tutu Puoane, Metropole Orkest – Wrapped in Rhythm, Vol. 2
- Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis – Essentially Ellington 2026
- Joan Reinders, Millennium Jazz Orchestra – Chronology Vol.1 (& Vol. 2)
Ft. Ferdinand Povel, Peter Weniger, Philipp Catherine, .. - Webber/Morris Big Band – Unseparate
- NDR Bigband & Geir Lysne – Visiting Krzysztof (NDR Bigband)
- Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra – Don’t Fence Me In / Strollin’ (Decca)
- Stephen Philip Harvey – Multiversal: Live at Bop Stop
Ft. Bobby Selvaggio, .. - Max Treutner – Zen Garden
Ft. Silvan Joray, Matt Penman, Jochen Rueckert - Nu Art Orchestra & Marike van Dijk – The Tivoli Sessions #1
BEATS, DJs & PRODUCERS, GROOVES & MOODS, SOUNDTRACKS ..
- Dom Salvador, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad – Dom Salvador JID024 (Jazz is Dead) (
- Pan Amsterdam – Confines
- Africa Express – Africa Express Presents… Bahidorá
- Kokoroko – Tuff Times Never Last (Brownswood)
- Cory Henry – Divine Time
- Angel Bat Dawid – The Oracle (IA11 Edition) [International Anthem]
- Ill Considered – Balm (New Soil)
- Natalie Slade – Molasses (ΒΒΕ)
- Juicy J and Logic – Live And In Color
- Jon Batiste – BIG MONEY
- Ami Taf Ra – The Prophet and The Madman
Ft. Kamasi Washington, Ryan Porter, .. - Venna – MALIK
- Anushka – Ancestry (BBE)
- Rafiq Bhatia – Environments (Anti-Epitaph)
- Terence Blanchard – Katrina: Come Hell and High Water (Soundtrack from the Netflix Documentary Series)
- FloFilz – Hagaki (Melting Pot)
- Ebi Soda – frank dean and andrew (Tru Thoughts)
- Langendorf United – Undercover Beast
- Asta Hiroki – Continuation
- Reuben Lewis, I Hold the Lion’s Paw – Potentially Interesting Jazz Music (EarShift)
- Meklit – A Piece of Infinity
Ft. Brandee Younger, Camille Thurman, .. - Ruben Blades, Roberto Delgado & Orquesta – Fotografías
- The Circling Sun – Orbits
- Juicy J – Head On Swivel
- Samantha Schmutz & Adrian Younge – Samantha & Adrian
- Juicy J – Caught Up In This Illusion
- Wildchild – Child of a Kingsman (BBE)
- Alfa Mist, Tawiah – All Time
Greek
- Tereza Catarov – Koren
Ft. Yiorgos Bereris, Thodoris Ziarkas, Billy Pod, Christos Stylianides, .. - The Soul Peanuts Orchestra (Live at Orfeas)
Ft. Erik Panagopoulos, Raphael Meleteas, GIANNIS PAPADOULIS, Stavros Manthos - Jan Van Angelopoulos, Costis Christodoulou, Harris Lambrakis – All We Got Is Time