Taborn, Craig: Dream Archives
They say : The trio-debut of pianist, composer and 2025 MacArthur Fellow Craig Taborn with Tomeka Reid and Ches Smith has been eagerly awaited. The trio’s approach on Dream Archives is full of complexity, yet as the title suggests, a wide musical spectrum is covered as multitudes of idioms seem to be pulled from history and reconfigured to form a previously unheard sound world full of reveries. (ECM 2833)
Tak For Dit Brev: Langsyn
They say : Langsyn, the second album from Danish ensemble Tak For Dit Brev, captures the magic of two live September nights at Copenhagen’s Gaarden & Gaden. Led by composer Simon Toldam, this collection of “sound letters” weaves Scandinavian folk lyricism with contemporary jazz improvisation. Featuring Tobias Wiklund, Nils Berg, and Anders Christensen, Langsyn (Farsight) is a warm, intimate reflection on connection, memory, and presence — released November 14, 2025, on ILK Music. (ILK Music, ILK375LP)
Talts, Rahel: Back And Forth
They say : Back and Forth is the fourth album of the jazz pianist and composer Rahel Talts. It features an award-winning virtuoso guitarist Rob Luft (UK). The music is melodic, energetic, hopeful, dreamy and shows the high skills of the top European jazz musicians on the album. Rahel has toured over Europe and Asia with the band and gained fans all over the world. (Rainbow Records/self-release) Hear Rahel Talts
Tenorio, Zach: Field Trip
They say : Zach Tenorio is a wizard: a producer, composer, improviser, and true keyboard virtuoso not afraid to make deep and surprising choices instead of shredding—which he also does expertly. ‘Field Trip’ is a whirlwind of ideas: the sound of Rick Wakeman hurtling into the future towards the LA beat scene, Hermeto Pascoal trying his hand at J Dilla, a glimmer of 70s funk here, a cascade of sampled Tenorio vocals there, hymnal organ giving way to technicolor moog rippage, cracked an re-contextualized memories of DJ Shadow or The Avalanches fluttering around the edges. (Maximum Overdub)
Terry, Clark: Portraits
They say : Released in 1989, Portraits is a testament to the prodigious talent of the legendary trumpeter, flugelhornist, and jazz educator Clark Terry. For Portraits, produced by David Chesky, Terry assembled a quartet comprising pianist Don Friedman, bassist Victor Gaskin, and drummer Lewis Nash. With Terry alternating between flugelhorn and muted trumpet while also showing off his chops as an occasional vocalist, the quartet breezes through a blend of familiar jazz standards, like ‘Pennies From Heaven,’ and Terry’s hard-driving original tune, ‘Finger Filibuster,’ (Chesky Records) Hear Clark Terry
The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe: A Spirit Speaks
They say : One of many projects on Strata-East spearheaded by bassist, composer, and arranger Bill Lee (legendary director Spike Lee’s father), The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe’s only album, A Spirit Speaks (reissuing on LP for Record Store Day Black Friday), enlists Bill Lee’s brother and sisters—Clif Lee, A. Grace Lee Mims, and Consuela Lee Moorehead—to form a group named in tribute to their enslaved ancestors. Combining elements of jazz, gospel, soul, and blues, among other influences, A Spirit Speaks has become one of the most sought-after albums from the catalog. (Mack Avenue, CD-SES-19744252)
Thompson, Vance: Lost And Found
They say : After a neurological disorder forced him to put down the trumpet, Grammy-nominated musician and composer Vance Thompson is back as a leader for the first time in over a decade – this time as a vibraphonist/composer. His deft and original touch remains as the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra founder/director is joined by a quartet of longtime collaborators: Pianist Taber Gable, guitarist Steve Kovalcheck, bassist Tommy Sauter, and drummer Marcus Finnie for this joyful and swinging affair. (Moondo Records)
Thorn, Jesper: Stille
They say : Danish bassist and composer Jesper Thorn has become one of Scandinavia’s most distinctive musical voices, known for blending introspective storytelling with the understated lyricism of Nordic jazz. His award-winning albums Boy and Dragør earned international praise for their emotional honesty and cinematic depth, establishing a sound world where fragility, melancholy, and quiet beauty intertwine. (April Records)
Tjader, Cal: Demasiado Caliente
They say : Born in St. Louis, Missouri, vibraphonist, and multi-instrumentalist Cal Tjader is known as the most successful non-Latino Latin musician. Although he engaged in a wide variety of jazz idioms, the music of Cuba, the Caribbean, and Latin America, were his primary focus and inspiration. In April 1954, he formed The Cal Tjader Modern Mambo Sextet and recorded several albums in rapid succession for Fantasy Records. Demasiado Caliente (1960), presented here is one of the sextet’s most highly rated. (Descarga 637014 – LP)
Tolliver, Charles & Cowell, Stanley: Music Inc
They say : Music Inc by Charles Tolliver and Stanley Cowell (reissuing on CD/LP December 12) set the standard for creative expression and musical mastery that the label’s co-founders Tolliver and Cowell exemplified throughout their careers. Recorded on November 11, 1970, Music Inc is a masterclass in executing a singular creative vision for large ensembles, embodying the freedom and finesse that Strata-East has been synonymous with since the 1970s. (Mack Avenue, CD-SES-1971252)
Troen /Arnesen Quartet: New Paintings Of Jazz
They say : An auspicious second album on Losen Records by the Trøen Arneson Quartet co-led by saxophonist Elisabeth Lid Trøen and pianist Dag Arnesen, both well-known musicians throughout Scandinavia and beyond. New Paintings of Jazz is a celebration of collaborative artistry, where individual brilliance contributes to a collective beauty. This is not just a collection of talented individuals; it is a unified force where each musician’s sensitivity and creativity weave seamlessly with the others. The intricate dialogues, the shared breaths between phrases, and the collective ebb and flow demonstrate a deep understanding and respect for the music and for each other. And that shared spirit, that sense of community, is the essence of this extraordinary album. New Paintings of Jazz features nine original compositions by Trøen originally commissioned by Jazzfest, Vossa Jazz, and the Oslo Jazz Festival, 2022. Elisabeth Lid Trøen -tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute; Dag Arnesen – piano; Ole Marius Sandberg – bass; Sigurd Steinkopf – drums. Recorded July 2024, Nobel Lyd, Bergan, Norway. Produced by Elisabeth Lid Trøen (Losen Records LOS3072 – CD)
Trowbridge, Carolyn: Found Memories
They say : Carolyn Trowbridge, a vibraphonist and percussionist who is a major part of the Austin, Texas music scene, makes her debut as a leader on Found Memories. Her regular quartet is augmented with several other musicians, most notably flutist Alex Coke, creating ensemble-oriented performances full of color, drama, unpredictable grooves and variety. (Self Released)
Vanore, John: Easter Island Suite
They say : This majestic, sweeping album from Philadelphia trumpeter, composer and bandleader John Vanore and his powerful large ensemble Abstract Truth, explores the mystery and beauty of Easter island and its monumental statues. Among the ensemble members are alto saxophonist and flutist Michael Mee, bassist Craig Thomas, pianist Ron Thomas, saxophonist/bass clarinetist Bob Howell and guitarist Greg Kettinger. (Acoustical Concepts)
Various Big Band Leaders: Classic V-Disc Big Band Jazz Sessions
They say : Last year, Mosaic released a massive 11-disc set of small-group jazz recordings from the V-Disc program — the World War II project that sent music discs to military bases overseas while the domestic music industry was enduring a recording ban over performance royalties. We’re thrilled to present that set’s counterpart, the equally weighty 10-CD set featuring big bands, including Buddy Rich, Woody Herman and Count Basie. Not only is this music most listeners today have never heard, it’s also music from the apex of the big-band era, when bands were at their peak. (Mosaic Records #284) Sample Classic V-Disc Big Band Jazz Sessions
Vicéns, Gabriel: Niebla
They say : New York City-based guitarist and composer Gabriel Vicéns returns with Niebla, his fifth studio album, featuring a sextet lineup with Román Filiú (alto saxophone), Vitor Gonçalves (piano), Rick Rosato (bass), E.J. Strickland (drums), and Victor Pablo (percussion). A follow-up to his acclaimed 2024 release Mural, the album is a boundary-defying work that merges the vibrant rhythms of Afro-Puerto Rican folklore with the harmonic richness of modern jazz and the fearless spirit of avant-garde experimentation. (Clepsydra Records, CR 001)
Vitous, Miroslav: Mountain Call
They say : (ECM 2673)
Voyage: Voyage
They say : Melbourne trio Voyage – vocalist Tom Barton, guitarist Diego Villalta, and pianist Nathan Liow – unleash their fearlessly free-improvised self-titled debut on 5 December 2025. Amidst evolving orbits of looped vocals, fractals of affected electric guitar and ethereal synth drones, ‘Voyage’ explores uncharted sonic territories of mystical darkness erupting into transcendent awe. With seamless collective synergy, these acclaimed Australian artists transcend their diverse backgrounds in jazz, electronic, and experimental music to create raw, spellbinding performances. (Independent) Hear Voyage
Waan: We Want Waan
They say : Waan represents the coming together of accomplished saxophonist Bart Wirtz and keyboard magician Emiel van Rijthoven. As a pair of self-confessed tech nerds hailing from The Netherlands, the duo finally released their debut album ‘Echo Echo’ on Sonar Kollektiv in 2023. In July 2024, Bart and Emiel retreated to a house in the middle of the peaceful Dutch island of Texel. There, they began sketching out new ideas in open-ended, improvisational sessions — laying the foundation for what would become their sophomore album: We Want Waan. (Sonar Kollektiv SK549LP) Hear Waan
Wild Blue Herons: It’s All About Love
They say : The husband-and-wife team of Bill Sample and Darlene Cooper – known collectively as Wild Blue Herons – return in 2026 with It’s All About Love, a soulful, groove-driven set of original music shaped by a lifetime of shared artistry. Blending jazz, funk, gospel and contemporary pop influences, the band’s third album captures the expansive sound they’ve honed on festival stages and club dates across Canada. (Independent)
Wind, Martin: Stars And Sand
They say : Bassist/composer Martin Wind is joined by legendary pianist Kenny Barron, clarinetist Anat Cohen and drummer Matt Wilson for a rare meeting of kindred spirits—masters of their craft whose collective warmth and deep respect radiate through every note. The session includes Wind originals as well as timeless gems by Duke Ellington and Bud Powell and inaugurates the Newvelle Ten Collection, a landmark five-album series celebrating (Newvelle)
Yamirah’s Solar Explorers: Andromeda Galaxy
They say : Andromeda Galaxy, the debut album releasing 30.01.26 from Berlin indie-jazz trio Yamirah’s Solar Explorers, fuses guitar, keys, and drums into a cosmic soundscape. Across nine tracks, Ria Rother, Sacha Hladiy, and guitarist-composer Yamirah Gercke blend contemporary jazz, indie soul, and R&B with clear melodies and shifting rhythms. The instrumental pieces invite listeners to drift inward. Fans of Robert Glasper, Yussef Dayes, George Benson and classic organ trios will will feel at home. (Fat Banshee Records LC 97469) Hear Yamirah’s Solar Explorers
