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Sammy Figueroa
In October, we celebrated National Hispanic Heritage Month with Latin jazz percussionist Sammy Figueroa. Born in NYC and raised in Puerto Rico, his father, singer Charlie Figueroa, was his earliest influence and the inspiration for his most recent record, Searching For Memory (Busco Tu Recuerdo). Critics have decided he’s the one to pick up the mantle from Ray Baretto and Mongo Santamaria as the next great conguero.
FEATURED TRACK: "Culpa Al Destino"
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Blue Cranes
Blue Cranes hail from Portland, OR, The quintet imbues quite a range of styles into their jazzy concoction. Rock and Latin jazz have informed the group’s improvisational style since its 2007 debut, Lift Music! Flown Music! Classical and avant-garde are added to the mix in their latest,
My Only Secret, released in August.
FEATURED TRACK: "Sloan"
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Slowly Rolling Camera
This trio from Cardiff, Wales instills their work with trip-hop to create cinematic soundscapes, not surprising considering their name. For fans of Portishead and Massive Attack, it’s not surprising that they tapped producer Andy Alan to produce their 2014 debut. Their latest, Where The Streets Lead, was released in August.
FEATURED TRACK: "Flow"
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Ja Ron Marshall
The Black Pumas’ keyboardist steps out with another solo venture. Earth Sounds, so-named “because it's organic music," Marshall has explained. "It's all analog instruments, even the synths.” Effortless grooves abound instilled with funk, R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop. His playing is fluid and engaging, but don’t discount the contributions of his Collective (saxophonist/flutist Brian Donohoe, bassist Chris Loveland, and drummer Michael Longoria).
FEATURED TRACK: "Water Flows"
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Peace Flag Ensemble
The experimental jazz collective from Saskatchewan, Canada, released its third album this year, Astral Plains. Built around the improvisations of pianist Jon Neher, the quintet is rounded out by Travis Packer (bass) Dalton Lam and Paul Gutheil (horns), and Michael Scott Dawson (also producer and contributor of electronics, guitars, and other sounds). A couple of their main influences are jazz legend Keith Jarrett and Mark Hollis (formerly of the new wave group, Talk Talk).
FEATURED TRACK: "Natural Amble"
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Cécile McLorin Salvant
Cécile grew up in Miami where she was exposed to a wide array of musical styles, from jazz to hip-hop, Caribbean, soul, and more. The 2010 winner of the International Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition, she sounds like a singer from a bygone era, firmly rooted in the vocal traditions of Billie Holiday, Betty Carter, and Sarah Vaughn.
FEATURED TRACK: "Doudou"
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Marcus Rutz
The Chicago-based trumpeter has audiences enamored with his style. His music is infused with blues and soul, and Rosie G. was drawn to his fluid phrasing. Incorporating styles from his globe-trotting, you can hear influences from Brazil, Japan, and the smoking-hot London scene. His latest record is Storybook.
FEATURED TRACK: "Storybook"
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Fabiano Do Nacimiento
Brazilian-born guitarist Fabiano Do Nascimento is based in Los Angeles and is a highly sought-after session player. He’s a leader in his own right too, having released several albums blending his native musical influences with jazz and electronica on his latest, Das Nuvens.
FEATURED TRACK: "Thrdworld"
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Miguel Zenon
Puerto Rican Miguel Zenon's journey with the alto saxophone began with Classical studies, but he was later exposed to jazz through friends. Eventually meeting Danilo Perez, who became his mentor, he merged his Latin roots with jazz and has since released over a dozen albums. The latest, Música De Las América, is an exploration of the music of the American continents.
FEATURED TRACK: "Antillano"
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Donna Thompson
London singer and multi-instrumentalist Donna Thompson’s sound is deeply soulful jazz. Her vocal style is firmly rooted in R&B and soul traditions. She took a break from music for a bit but was lured back by saxophonist Alabaster DePlume and the owner of PRAH studios, Stephen Bass, who encouraged her return, to the benefit of all lovers of jazz who patiently wait for her follow-up to 2022’s Something True.
FEATURED TRACK: "Be With You"
