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All About Jazz: What's New for October 15, 2026
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We have quite a bit to share this week so let's dive in...
Our growing collection of radio shows and podcasts currently appears below the fold in this newsletter, where it doesn't always receive the attention it deserves. The new weekly newsletter will feature a lively, photo-rich design showcasing the musicians behind the music, making the programs easier to discover while freeing up space in Thursday's newsletter for the many other stories and features we publish.
Look for more details soon.
Did you know you can follow your favorite writers on All About Jazz?
When you follow a writer, you'll receive a notification whenever a new article is published. You can also follow our radio and podcast hosts to keep up with their latest programs.
It's a simple way to stay connected with the people whose work you enjoy most.
We're putting more emphasis on this feature, so look for FOLLOW links at the bottom of our articles. Find a writer you enjoy? Give them a follow!
Google's advertising network fills much of our available ad space automatically. We do block categories we consider inappropriate, including political, religious, gambling and tobacco advertising.
Would we prefer fewer of those less-than-wonderful ads? Absolutely. But advertising helps pay the bills, and greater financial support from readers and the jazz industry would allow us to depend on it less.
Guitarist Miles Okazaki, originally from Port Townsend, Washington, has become an integral figure in New York's creative music scene. Over the course of his career, he has toured and recorded with such artists as Kenny Barron, John Zorn, Steve Coleman, Miguel Zenon, Henry Threadgill, Patricia Brennan, Dan Weiss, Matt Mitchell, Mary Halvorson, and Darcy James Argue. His current projects include the trio Trickster and a large-scale ensemble, which released Boomtown (Pi Recordings) in June. On October 10, 2026, filmmaker Frank Heath and producer David Breskin will release The Monkathon, a live concert film documenting Okazaki's extraordinary solo performance of Thelonious Monk's complete songbook at The Jazz Gallery in New York, performed in a single night. Free to view, the film captures the performance in its entirety and is accompanied by a documentary, Behind the Monkathon, offering additional insight into the ambitious project. Continue reading...
Enrico Pieranunzi turned seventy-six in December 2025. Skip the tribute. He's busy—delivering four masterclass releases across 2026. The solo piano session Ennio Morricone—The Piano Sessions by Enrico Pieranunzi (CAM Sugar, 2026). A mostly-duo album with guitar, Evanscape (Bonsaï Music, 2026). A jazz-classical record with an orchestra, Improclassica (Abeat, 2025). A quartet with tenor saxophone, Perspectives (Red Records, 2026). He is not coasting on a name. He remains a powerhouse of European jazz. For American listeners unfamiliar with Pieranunzi, he would make the Mount Rushmore of European jazz by occupying the George Washington spot. Un curriculum impressionante. Since he's Roman, a more apt description is a vintage Ferrari Grand Tourer—a master of effortless speed and flawless classical engineering giving listeners singing Italian elegance in artistry and refined power in virtuosity. Continue reading...
Jazz will always be considered a soloist's music, and most fans know all the important names. But when the big bands ruled and swing was king, those groups leaned on personnel who could swing the band: Section leaders, particularly trumpeters, with the power and technique to move the music and the dancers. Francis (Franc) Williams was one such musician. From his early boyhood friendship with Art Tatum, to his seven years spent with the Duke Ellington Orchestra (1945-1951), through his time leading his Swing Four at the West End in New York City at the end of his career, Franc Williams was a superb jazz trumpet man. Continue reading...
"Zamba del Chaguanco (feat. Klaus Gesing)" by Martin Iaies
Record Label: Challenge Records
Released: 2026
"Mazurek 2" by Confusion Project
Record Label: Dot Time Records
Released: 2026
Festival-ing on Historic Grounds (read); Adventures In Jazz In Wales and Beyond In The 1960s (read); Ron Carter Foursight Quartet at Birdland (view photos); Jazzrausch Bigband: Sinfonie in Cis-Moll: III. Scherzo. Kräftig, Nicht Zu Schnell (listen); Take Five with Vocalist Greg Farnese (read); September 2026 at SFJAZZ (view photos).
Part 10: Real Isn't the Same as Ready (read); Part 9: Widening the Circle (read); Part 8: Sufficiency (read); Part 7: Freedom, Parceled (read); Part 6: Twenty Minutes (read); Part 5: Before The Sun (read); Part 4: Fresh Meat (read); Part 3: Trust, Again (read); Part 2: The Wallet (read); Part 1: Before the First Mile (read).
The Outer View: Kris Davis, Janis Siegel, and Steve Lacy (listen); Mondo Jazz: Ayumi Tanaka, Nduduzo Makhathini, Nicholas Payton, Butcher Brown & More (listen); Bitches Brew: The HII Trio, Ray Russell, T Square, Usein Bekirov, Aziza Mutafa Zadeh and Chick Corea (listen); Exploration: Happy 109th Birthday Thelonious Monk! His Music Interpreted by Himself, Ralph Peterson, Carmen Bradford, and Others (listen); JazzNow: Six new jazz releases from Joey DeFrancesco, Jerry Z, Bill Carter, Flying Horse Big Band, Clarence Hines Jazz Orch, Springfield Jazz Orchestra (listen); A Broad Spectrum: Dida Pelled, Zuri Alexander, Myra Melford, Tara Davidson, Gaia Wilmer & More (listen); The First Instrument Jazz Show: Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Jon Hendricks, Ekep Nkwelle And More (listen); One Man's Jazz: Joe Hertenstein, Alexander Von Schlippenbach & John Coltrane (listen); Neon Jazz: Monty Alexander, Rahsaan Barber, Sean Mason & NicoleYvette (listen); North Star Sounds: New Releases and Avant Classics (listen); Strictly Jazz Sounds: Thelonious Monk: Wrong is Right, Part 1 (listen); The Tonearm: David Perlis: Everything You Love Is from Marin (listen); Jazz Connections: South African Jazz, chapter 1: The Jazz Epistles, Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba (listen); The Mystery Of Artie Shaw: Chapter 9: The day Artie Shaw played Berezowksy at Bop City (listen); Live At The Bop Stop: Darren Frate Group (listen); The Jazz Disturbance: Ekep Nkwelle, Brandon Seabrook, Donald Vega, Sakoto Fujii, Caixa Cuba (listen); Mondo Jazz: Siril Malmedal Hauge, Kjetil Mulelid, Sullivan Fortner, Columbia Icefield & More (listen).
Timely announcements covering new album releases, tours, special events and more. View all recent announcements.
Red Carpet Productions and All About Jazz Media Partner on 2027 Artist Residency Grant Program (read); Blind Blues Guitarist Joey Stuckey Readies 'King Of Strings' Ep, Recorded Live At The Les Paul Recording Studio (read); Vocalist Naama Embarks On A Musical Expedition On "Songs From The Road," Set For November 20 Release By La Reserve Records (read); JazzWeek Radio Chart: October 12, 2026 (read); Las Guaracheras Bring Their Explosive Salsa Powerhouse Tour To New Jersey (read); Christian McBride, Yuja Wang, And Ben Folds To Headline The 2027 Irving S. Gilmore International Piano Festival (read); Flutist/Composer Christian Artmann Reconvenes His Long-standing Quintet Of Laszlo Gardony, Jeff Denson, & Yoron Israel, Plus Guest Vocalist Elena McEntire, For Two Bay Area Shows November 7 & 8 (read); Mark Isham: The Voice Within Premieres October 11 On Scientology Network Following Hollywood Screening (read); Tickets Now On Sale For November Shows At Smoke Jazz Club Including Billy Hart, Charles McPherson, And More (read).
Got news? Share it in our newsletter and on our website. Learn how, here.
Posted to All About Jazz Newsletter IN THE All About Jazz GROUP
Read more posts by Michael Ricci
Radio & Podcasts Are Getting Their Own Newsletter
All in the Family gave birth to The Jeffersons and Happy Days gave birth to Laverne & Shirley. Now, in the grand tradition of successful spin-offs, Radio & Podcasts is getting its own newsletter!Our growing collection of radio shows and podcasts currently appears below the fold in this newsletter, where it doesn't always receive the attention it deserves. The new weekly newsletter will feature a lively, photo-rich design showcasing the musicians behind the music, making the programs easier to discover while freeing up space in Thursday's newsletter for the many other stories and features we publish.
Look for more details soon.
Follow Your Favorite AAJ Writers
Did you know you can follow your favorite writers on All About Jazz?When you follow a writer, you'll receive a notification whenever a new article is published. You can also follow our radio and podcast hosts to keep up with their latest programs.
It's a simple way to stay connected with the people whose work you enjoy most.
We're putting more emphasis on this feature, so look for FOLLOW links at the bottom of our articles. Find a writer you enjoy? Give them a follow!
About Those Ads...
Every once in a while, someone asks why an ad appearing on All About Jazz has absolutely nothing to do with jazz. The simple answer is that we don't choose those ads. :-)Google's advertising network fills much of our available ad space automatically. We do block categories we consider inappropriate, including political, religious, gambling and tobacco advertising.
Would we prefer fewer of those less-than-wonderful ads? Absolutely. But advertising helps pay the bills, and greater financial support from readers and the jazz industry would allow us to depend on it less.
When Cloudflare Gets in the Way...
If you encounter the Cloudflare 5xx screen when visiting All About Jazz, first try a hard refresh (Shift + Refresh) in your browser. That always restores access for me (I use Firefox on a Mac). If that doesn't work, try another browser. As a last resort, try clearing your browser's cache. If you're unsure how, simply search for instructions on clearing your browser's cache.Album Reviews
The album reviews below represent our most popular from the past week. View more recent reviews. Theory of Nothing: Record Live in 1977 Brand X |  Freedom Call Dave Holland |  Minwi Nite Bjuti |  Constellations and Hemispheres Wadada Leo Smith |
 Keeping It In Context Daniel Carter / Sabir Mateen / William Parker / Lou Grassi | IDENTITY Confusion Project |  Creative Inspirations David Virelles |  Let the Music Happen Danny Green |
Looking for an album review?
If you're a musician, publicist, or record label seeking album review coverage on All About Jazz, please read our review submission guide, then complete the coverage request form here. When submitting your request, include up to five AAJ album reviewers who best align with your music.Miles Okazaki's Monkathon
Guitarist Miles Okazaki, originally from Port Townsend, Washington, has become an integral figure in New York's creative music scene. Over the course of his career, he has toured and recorded with such artists as Kenny Barron, John Zorn, Steve Coleman, Miguel Zenon, Henry Threadgill, Patricia Brennan, Dan Weiss, Matt Mitchell, Mary Halvorson, and Darcy James Argue. His current projects include the trio Trickster and a large-scale ensemble, which released Boomtown (Pi Recordings) in June. On October 10, 2026, filmmaker Frank Heath and producer David Breskin will release The Monkathon, a live concert film documenting Okazaki's extraordinary solo performance of Thelonious Monk's complete songbook at The Jazz Gallery in New York, performed in a single night. Free to view, the film captures the performance in its entirety and is accompanied by a documentary, Behind the Monkathon, offering additional insight into the ambitious project. Continue reading...
Enrico Pieranunzi, Right Now
Enrico Pieranunzi turned seventy-six in December 2025. Skip the tribute. He's busy—delivering four masterclass releases across 2026. The solo piano session Ennio Morricone—The Piano Sessions by Enrico Pieranunzi (CAM Sugar, 2026). A mostly-duo album with guitar, Evanscape (Bonsaï Music, 2026). A jazz-classical record with an orchestra, Improclassica (Abeat, 2025). A quartet with tenor saxophone, Perspectives (Red Records, 2026). He is not coasting on a name. He remains a powerhouse of European jazz. For American listeners unfamiliar with Pieranunzi, he would make the Mount Rushmore of European jazz by occupying the George Washington spot. Un curriculum impressionante. Since he's Roman, a more apt description is a vintage Ferrari Grand Tourer—a master of effortless speed and flawless classical engineering giving listeners singing Italian elegance in artistry and refined power in virtuosity. Continue reading...
Franc Williams: Live From The West End
Jazz will always be considered a soloist's music, and most fans know all the important names. But when the big bands ruled and swing was king, those groups leaned on personnel who could swing the band: Section leaders, particularly trumpeters, with the power and technique to move the music and the dancers. Francis (Franc) Williams was one such musician. From his early boyhood friendship with Art Tatum, to his seven years spent with the Duke Ellington Orchestra (1945-1951), through his time leading his Swing Four at the West End in New York City at the end of his career, Franc Williams was a superb jazz trumpet man. Continue reading...
Songs of the Week
Two vibrant interpretations of folk traditions—one rooted in Argentina, the other in Poland—reimagined through the expressive language of contemporary jazz. Enjoy both. "Zamba del Chaguanco (feat. Klaus Gesing)" by Martin Iaies
L I S T E N
Album Information
Title: People. Places. Music For Large EnsembleRecord Label: Challenge Records
Released: 2026
"Mazurek 2" by Confusion Project
L I S T E N
Album Information
Title: IDENTITYRecord Label: Dot Time Records
Released: 2026
Top Songs
The songs below represent the most heard in the past four weeks. View the Song of the Day archive. Maree Latenti From the album Equilibri Precari By Diego Allieri |  Elysian Shore From the album Farther (still) By Mike Dana |  Left Behind From the album Congregation By Robert Jukic |  Si Par Hasard From the album Clouds (Special Edition) By Marie-Paule Franke |
 Cautious Romanticism From the album Clarinet, Without a Net By Seth Kibel |  Pradera From the album Raíces By Benjamin Garcia |  Wounded Healers From the album Set Me Free By Sean Gibbs |  Empty Pockets From the album Touzle Your Kurchy By Frank London |
Choice Content
Festival-ing on Historic Grounds (read); Adventures In Jazz In Wales and Beyond In The 1960s (read); Ron Carter Foursight Quartet at Birdland (view photos); Jazzrausch Bigband: Sinfonie in Cis-Moll: III. Scherzo. Kräftig, Nicht Zu Schnell (listen); Take Five with Vocalist Greg Farnese (read); September 2026 at SFJAZZ (view photos).
Focus On: Miles Ahead
This week, we shine the spotlight on Billie Eidson's Miles Ahead: A Jazz Road Trip—where she follows back roads, open skies, and the spaces between cities, until the road finally meets the ocean for a jazz cruise. Look for parts 12-18 over the next week. Part 10: Real Isn't the Same as Ready (read); Part 9: Widening the Circle (read); Part 8: Sufficiency (read); Part 7: Freedom, Parceled (read); Part 6: Twenty Minutes (read); Part 5: Before The Sun (read); Part 4: Fresh Meat (read); Part 3: Trust, Again (read); Part 2: The Wallet (read); Part 1: Before the First Mile (read).
Radio & Podcasts
Tune into our extensive collection of quality programs every week.The Outer View: Kris Davis, Janis Siegel, and Steve Lacy (listen); Mondo Jazz: Ayumi Tanaka, Nduduzo Makhathini, Nicholas Payton, Butcher Brown & More (listen); Bitches Brew: The HII Trio, Ray Russell, T Square, Usein Bekirov, Aziza Mutafa Zadeh and Chick Corea (listen); Exploration: Happy 109th Birthday Thelonious Monk! His Music Interpreted by Himself, Ralph Peterson, Carmen Bradford, and Others (listen); JazzNow: Six new jazz releases from Joey DeFrancesco, Jerry Z, Bill Carter, Flying Horse Big Band, Clarence Hines Jazz Orch, Springfield Jazz Orchestra (listen); A Broad Spectrum: Dida Pelled, Zuri Alexander, Myra Melford, Tara Davidson, Gaia Wilmer & More (listen); The First Instrument Jazz Show: Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Jon Hendricks, Ekep Nkwelle And More (listen); One Man's Jazz: Joe Hertenstein, Alexander Von Schlippenbach & John Coltrane (listen); Neon Jazz: Monty Alexander, Rahsaan Barber, Sean Mason & NicoleYvette (listen); North Star Sounds: New Releases and Avant Classics (listen); Strictly Jazz Sounds: Thelonious Monk: Wrong is Right, Part 1 (listen); The Tonearm: David Perlis: Everything You Love Is from Marin (listen); Jazz Connections: South African Jazz, chapter 1: The Jazz Epistles, Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba (listen); The Mystery Of Artie Shaw: Chapter 9: The day Artie Shaw played Berezowksy at Bop City (listen); Live At The Bop Stop: Darren Frate Group (listen); The Jazz Disturbance: Ekep Nkwelle, Brandon Seabrook, Donald Vega, Sakoto Fujii, Caixa Cuba (listen); Mondo Jazz: Siril Malmedal Hauge, Kjetil Mulelid, Sullivan Fortner, Columbia Icefield & More (listen).
News Announcements
Timely announcements covering new album releases, tours, special events and more. View all recent announcements.
Red Carpet Productions and All About Jazz Media Partner on 2027 Artist Residency Grant Program (read); Blind Blues Guitarist Joey Stuckey Readies 'King Of Strings' Ep, Recorded Live At The Les Paul Recording Studio (read); Vocalist Naama Embarks On A Musical Expedition On "Songs From The Road," Set For November 20 Release By La Reserve Records (read); JazzWeek Radio Chart: October 12, 2026 (read); Las Guaracheras Bring Their Explosive Salsa Powerhouse Tour To New Jersey (read); Christian McBride, Yuja Wang, And Ben Folds To Headline The 2027 Irving S. Gilmore International Piano Festival (read); Flutist/Composer Christian Artmann Reconvenes His Long-standing Quintet Of Laszlo Gardony, Jeff Denson, & Yoron Israel, Plus Guest Vocalist Elena McEntire, For Two Bay Area Shows November 7 & 8 (read); Mark Isham: The Voice Within Premieres October 11 On Scientology Network Following Hollywood Screening (read); Tickets Now On Sale For November Shows At Smoke Jazz Club Including Billy Hart, Charles McPherson, And More (read).
Got news? Share it in our newsletter and on our website. Learn how, here.
Posted to All About Jazz Newsletter IN THE All About Jazz GROUP
Read more posts by Michael Ricci
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