Another selection of recent and forthcoming jazz releases featuring outstanding vocalists.
AUDIO
PLAYLIST
Afrofuturistics - These Things Happen - The Enigmatic : Originally conceived as a vessel to interpret the works of Sun Ra, electric-era Miles Davis, and Fela Kuti through a modern beat-making lens, the project rapidly expanded into a specialized, horn-section-forward vehicle for original composition. The group’s signature sound features tenor saxophonist Keith Wakefield (Sons of Ra), trumpet and cornet player Scott Free, and the versatile woodwinds of Luc Mosley (Graphics, Grappler Zorn, Mucca Pazza) and Eli Wilson. Together, they drive the melodies and dense harmonic soundscapes for the band’s fusion-heavy explorations. This core line-up was solidified during the 2025 recording sessions for The Enigmatic, which features the additional textures of Guinean folk artist Abdoulaye Conde on Kora. The ensemble’s compositions are often punctuated by the razor-sharp lyrical artistry of MC Brother Tone. The project’s arrangements are further enriched by collaborations with veteran underground hip-hop crew Sands Of The Hour with MC Levi Stress and rapper Artie Slaw.
Kay Kostopulous - Never Let Me Go - All This Is Possible : Released on June 26, 2026, on her Black Olive Jazz label, this is the captivating fourth album by jazz vocalist, actress, and former 25-year Stanford educator Kostopoulos. Featuring an exceptional New York ensemble—including pianist John DiMartino, saxophonists Noel Jewkes and Peter Brainin, bassist Sean Conly, and drummer Vince Cherico—the eight-track collection seamlessly bridges jazz standards, Broadway tunes, and bebop with an exotic, Mediterranean-forward flair rooted in Kostopoulos’ Greek-American heritage. Infused with her rich theatrical background, a serpentine vocal agility honed by years of international dance performance, and clever lyrical contributions (such as original words to Charlie Parker’s “Segment” and McCoy Tyner’s “Search for Peace”), the album showcases a uniquely sophisticated balance of vulnerability, wit, and deep emotional storytelling.
Julian Davis Reid and Circle of Trust - Mercy We Need - Mercy We Need : Released on September 25, 2026, on Too Lost Distribution, a track from the soul-stirring second album from Chicago-based pianist, composer, and artist-theologian Julian Davis Reid and his ensemble Circle of Trust. Featuring an expressive quintet—including vocalist Tramaine Parker, alto saxophonist Lenard Simpson, bassist Ethan Philion, and drummer James Russell Sims—the eight-track project brilliantly interweaves Reid’s classical, gospel, and jazz roots with deep spiritual and philosophical inquiry. Cinematically exploring grace, grief, and resilience, the album moves seamlessly between poignant vocal highlights (such as the title track co-written to honour Parker’s late mother) and rich, contemplative instrumentals like “Farewell, Hello Again” and a dynamic reimagining of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”. Grounded in Reid’s background in contemplative spirituality and the Black church tradition, the record offers a transcendent, deeply human response to these uncertain times.
Liz Cracchiolo - Just A Girl - I’m A Women : Released on September 18, 2026, on Pacific Coast Jazz, is the striking and imaginative debut album by Tucson-based jazz vocalist and musical theatre veteran Cracchiolo. Recorded at New York City’s legendary Sear Sound with Grammy Award-winning engineer Dave Darlington and produced by Jonathan Michel and Drew Wutke, the nine-track collection showcases an all-star ensemble featuring trumpeter Benny Benack III, bassist Russell Hall, drummer Savannah Harris, pianist Marcus Lolo, and guitarist Hajime Yoshida. Blending vintage jazz and Latin rhythms with fearless theatrical storytelling, the album boldly reimagines familiar pop, rock, and alternative anthems alongside timeless standards. Anchored by Cracchiolo’s warm, luminous voice and magnetic stage presence, the record offers a sophisticated, witty, and deeply refreshing perspective that firmly establishes her as an exciting new force in contemporary jazz.
Suzanne Pittson, Bevan Manson - Like A Byrd (Byrd Like) - Conversations :Released on June 26, 2026, on Vineland Records, a captivating and deeply spontaneous jazz album by vocalist Pittson and pianist Manson. Built around a rediscovered, intimate demo recorded live off-the-cuff at Bellboy Studios in Richmond, California, the five-track collection pairs Pittson’s instrument-like vocal agility and horn-like phrasing with Manson’s masterfully imaginative piano accompaniment. Spanning thrilling bop-oriented workouts on Freddie Hubbard's "Like a Byrd" and Charlie Parker's "Confirmation," delicate interpretations of standards like "After You" and "I'm a Fool to Want You," and a magnificent, grandly arranged orchestral closer on "Out of the Hub (One of Another Kind)" featuring a 42-piece ensemble, the record is a luminous celebration of chemistry, trust, and fearless musical dialogue.
Ran Blake and Dominique Eade - Lost Highway - Roots & Byways : Released on July 3, 2026, on Sunnyside Records, this release is a masterclass in modern vocal-piano recital and the culmination of a decades-long creative partnership between avant-garde jazz pianist Blake and acclaimed vocalist Eade. Recorded live at the New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, the 16-track collection is a sprawling, risk-taking exploration of 20th-century song—effortlessly weaving together jazz standards, folk idioms, R&B deep cuts, country ballads, and cinematic themes (ranging from Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk to Hank Williams, Whitney Houston, and traditional folk). Anchored by Eade’s fearless emotional depth, uncynical agility, and wordless vocal turns (such as on Monk’s “Pannonica”) alongside Blake’s striking palette of spare chord voicings, metallic tension, and Monk-inspired subversive comping, the album stands as a profoundly intimate, spontaneous dialogue between two master improvisers redefining the boundaries of the American songbook.
Branford Marsalis Quartet and Diane Reeves - Lush Life - Dedicated To You : Released on September 18, 2026, on Marsalis Music and Blue Note Records, a stunning and sophisticated tribute album by the Branford Marsalis Quartet and legendary jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves. Created in celebration of John Coltrane’s centennial, the project brilliantly reinterprets all six standards from Coltrane’s classic 1963 Impulse! collaboration John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman—including “Autumn Serenade,” “Lush Life,” and the title track—interspersed with focused instrumental selections from Coltrane’s broader repertoire like “26-2” and “Central Park West”. Rather than mimicking past arrangements, Reeves brings fresh color and a fluid sense of time alongside Marsalis’s tightly-knit rhythm section (pianist Joey Calderazzo, bassist Eric Revis, and drummer Justin Faulkner), resulting in an exquisite, deeply responsive homage that honors a jazz icon on its own terms.
Ekep Nkwalle - The Creator Has a Master Plan - Caged Bird : Released on September 25, 2026, on Mack Avenue Records, is the striking and deeply anticipated debut album by vocalist, composer, and bandleader Nkwelle. Inspired by Maya Angelou’s autobiographical masterpiece I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and shaped by Nkwelle’s Cameroonian-American heritage and early upbringing in the Black church, the nine-track project effortlessly bridges jazz, gospel, blues, and folk traditions. Backed by an exceptional ensemble featuring pianists Luther S. Allison and Julius Rodriguez, bassist Russell Hall, and drummer Brian Richburg, Jr., Nkwelle moves fluidly from stirring spiritual interpretations (like “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”) and Abbey Lincoln’s title track to bold artistic statements—including her first venture into vocalese with original lyrics added to D.C. jazz composer Roger “Buck” Hill’s “The Sad Ones”. Anchored by her warm, commanding vocal poise and profound emotional depth, the record stands as a triumphant meditation on faith, survival, and the pursuit of freedom.
Amy London - When Lights Are Low - Alto Madness : Set for release on October 16, 2026, on the FiveCat label, this is a vibrant and imaginative solo album by acclaimed New York jazz vocalist, lyricist, and educator London, marking her first full-length project in eight years. Centreed around a tribute to legendary alto saxophonist Benny Carter alongside compositions by other iconic alto players—such as Richie Cole, Johnny Hodges, Louis Jordan, and Jimmy Dorsey—the album features a stellar core band with saxophonist Mike Hashim, pianist Janice Friedman, bassist Ralph Hamperian, drummer Mike Campenni, trumpeter/flugelhornist Ron Horton, and special guest appearances by vocal ensemble The Royal Bopsters. Blending swinging bop energy, playful shuffles, and fresh vocalese written specifically to the band’s brand-new improvised solos, the record stands as a joyful, deeply collaborative celebration of the vibrant chemistry of a tight-knit jazz ensemble.
