Mondo Jazz

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

A deep dive into British jazz, whether rooted in the UK or transplanted to Australia.

The playlist features Iain Ballamy [pictured]; Sara Colman, Rebecca Nash; Ken Stubbs; and Luis Perdomo.

Detailed playlist at https://spinitron.com/RFB/pl/21926939/Mondo-Jazz [from "Toque N. 6 up to "The Known End"].

Happy listening!