Mondo Jazz

Moving fluidly from New York’s new generation to Europe’s creative hubs and onward to Havana and beyond, this playlist underscores the music’s global dialogue, its openness to diverse traditions, and a shared spirit of curiosity that connects bold experimentation, reflective balladry, and socially aware themes within today’s evolving jazz landscape.

The playlist features Caelan Cardello; Dave Douglas; Gonzalo Rubalcaba [pictured], Daniele Sepe; Melissa Aldana; Robert Lucaciu; Julie Campiche; Roberto Fonseca, Vincent Segal; Max Nagl; and Simon Hanes.

Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/21998024/Mondo-Jazz [from "John Neely" to "The Number of the Beast Is 666"].

Happy listening!

A heartfelt tribute to Michel Portal, a rare artist equally at home in jazz and classical music, a prolific film composer, fearless improviser, and true multi-instrumentalist. Drawing on recordings made as leader, co-leader, and sideman, the episode traces a career that helped shape a distinctly European jazz voice—rooted in American traditions yet independent in spirit—while remaining open to global influences, cross-genre dialogue, and boundless sonic exploration.

The playlist also features Nels Cline; Richard Galliano; Henri Texier; Emile Parisien; Vincent Peirani; and Miroslav Vitous.

Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/21998024/Mondo-Jazz [up to "Surfing with Michel"].

Here's a survey of recent albums shaped by renewal, spirituality, and collective energy. From all-star ensembles to projects rooted in local scenes and cross-European collaboration, the playlist highlights musicians who balance lyricism with exploration.

The playlist features Martin Wind; Joel Ross; Tom Gershwin; Piccola Orchestra Materana Onyx; Paul Jarret; Philipp Gropper [pictured].

Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/21962524/Mondo-Jazz [from "Passing Thoughts" onwards].

Happy listening!

Picture: Jože Balas

Here's a playlist that follows a thread of rhythm, breath, and cross-cultural dialogue, bringing together composer-led projects that highlight the flute as a bridge between power and lyricism. From big band exuberance to intimate trio settings and a celebrated live document, the playlist moves through music that is vibrant, border-crossing, and deeply collaborative. It closes in a more contemplative space, where improvisation becomes a search for silence, resonance, and shared meaning.

The playlist features Gareth Lockrane; Stéphane Galland, Lucia Pires, Louise van den Heuvel; Yilian Cañizares [pictured]; Al Foster; Yom x Ceccaldi.

Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/21962524/Mondo-Jazz [from "All the People" to "Sacred Lake"].

Happy listening!

Enjoy a cross-section of today’s creative scene through a playlist that links transatlantic collaborations, distinctive singer-composers, and artists who stretch jazz beyond inherited boundaries. From the energy of the Los Angeles vanguard to Berlin’s experimental edge, a reissued gem, and a rediscovered live document connecting past masters, this episode traces a continuum between new voices and enduring legacies.

The playlist features Billy Mohler; Nicole McCabe; Annahstasia; Ellery Eskelin; Sera Kalo [pictured]; and Paul McCandless.

Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/21962524/Mondo-Jazz [up to "Slink"].

Happy listening!

Photo: Dovile Sermokas