Linda May Han Oh, Melissa Aldana, Cindy Blackman Santana, Bernd Lhotzky & More [Mondo Jazz 376-2]

A gathering of adventurous musicians who refuse to stay in their lane, from offbeat twists and radical reinventions to restless imagination and understated magic, plus and the much-awaited return of Lloyd Swanton’s The Catholics.

A playlist of unexpected connections: from Cory Weeds to Stan Getz, with Huey Lewis as the missing link; from James Ellroy to Calibro 35’s cinematic funk-jazz; and from Steve Reid to today’s scene via Nova Fellowship—with a few more surprises along the way.

A groovy playlist featuring music that blurs boundaries: between past, present and future; between cultures and places; and between genres.The playlist features Nate Smith; Kiefer [pictured]; Fathers; Léon Phal; Echoes of Zoo; and Thiefs.Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/23138354/Mondo-Jazz [from "Cough-Drop" onward].Happy listening!

One of our favorite albums of the year, music born on the Chicago-LA express, a rediscovery of Bill Lee and a joyride with Isaiah Colleri, tributes to Herbie Hancock and Gilberto Gil, and a healthy dose of quantum mechanics... Sounds like a strange equation? Tune in to the wonderfully unpredictable world of Mondo Jazz and see if the pieces add up.

After a few weeks during which we’ve delved into the legacies of Cassandra Wilson, Stevie Wonder and Dave Holland, a huge pile of new releases has built up on our virtual desks and hard drives. And so we’re back to our usual format: plentiful of new releases, where the borders between jazz, global music, electronics and improvisation from all over the world become pleasantly blurry—and the only real requirement is curiosity.