Pianist Harold Mabern (1936-2019) was talented beyond measure. Though he never received the honor and distinction of the prestigious NEA Jazz Master designation, his music and the musicians who knew him tell a different story. That story unfolds beautifully throughout the 10th anniversary reissue of Mabern’s 2015 recording, Afro Blue. The newly remixed and remastered recording features performances from some of the most celebrated names in vocal jazz, including Gregory Porter, Norah Jones, Kurt Elling, Jane Monheit, and Alexis Cole. The recording also features contributions from an all-star band, including longtime bandmates Joe Farnsworth (drums), Eric Alexander (sax), and John Webber (bass), alongside Steve Turre (trombone), Jeremy Pelt…
You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please Log In.
On May 15 and 16 in 2025, the Immanuel Wilkins Quartet entered the Village Vanguard, New York City’s legendary jazz room, to record the saxophonist’s first ever live outing. It is the first of three volumes from those shows: Vol. 2 was released in April, and Vol. 3 in May. In addition to Wilkins’ alto horn, the quartet consists of pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Ryoma Takenaga, and drummer Kweku Sumbry. The entire project contains just 13 tracks: four lengthy tracks appear here. This music is wildly creative, making for intense listening as this group improvises in the moment and communicates seemingly instinctively.
Hurray for the Riff Raff release 
The year is 2026, the rollercoaster ride that was Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine has long since been shut down and covered in tarpaulin to make way for a 21st century theme park of bland pop.
…“Legendary Edition” of the band’s self-titled debut offers the remastered original album (featuring tracks like “Mama Kin,” “Movin’ Out” and the eventual smash hit “Dream On”) alongside a new remix of the album, overseen in 2024 by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry with producer/engineer Zakk Cervini and producer Steve Berkowitz, plus a further 17 unreleased tracks including studio outtakes and a vintage live performance in the band’s hometown.
…For this anniversary release, the album has been fully remastered, and accompanied by an additional LP of bonus tracks, including the 2005 tour EP, a trove of previously unreleased studio and live tracks, and rarities like “The End’s Not Near” (as featured on The O.C.) and a demo version of “The Funeral.”
Zappa Records is rolling out its first archival release of 2026, and in doing so, is belatedly celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of Frank Zappa’s landmark releases. Bongo Fury, The Mothers of Invention’s 1975 collaboration with fellow iconoclast Don Van Vliet a.k.a. Captain Beefheart, is notable not only as the final original album to be released by Zappa and The Mothers but also as a transitional album featuring band members George Duke, Tom and Bruce Fowler, and Napoleon Murphy Brock alongside newer recruits such as Terry Bozzio and Denny Walley. Zappa was coming off a purple patch that saw his music reaching a new level of success (including the Gold-certified albums Over-Nite Sensation and 
This release from instrumental drone trio 
Following 
While 
Compiled by Jonny Slut of the influential mid-week London club night Nag Nag Nag, When the 2000s Clashed: Machine Music for a New Millennium anthologizes the hipster club scene of the decade, starting with the electroclash movement and moving through dance-punk revival on to blog-house. Electroclash stapes like Peaches, ADULT., Fischerspooner, and Ladytron all appear on the first two discs, which also feature neo-electro classics like Vitalic’s vampire-rave bloodcurdler “Poney Pt. I” and Legowelt’s sublime “Disco Rout.” The haunting vibes continue with a remix of Golden Boy and Miss Kittin’s “Rippin Kittin” and Pet Shop Boys’ remix of Atomizer’s “Hooked on Radiation,” while the likes of Detroit Grand Pubahs’ “Sandwiches” and Avenue D’s “Do I Look Like a Slut?” revel…
…Over the course of those decades, Ace Records has established a number of long-running series including their Songwriters and Producers lines. A recent release in the Songwriters series celebrates two of the all-time greats in both categories: Philadelphia’s Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. Love Train: The Gamble and Huff Songbook brings together 24 songs from the Philadelphia International Records duo who also formed two thirds of Mighty Three Publishing along with the late Thom Bell. Though some of PIR’s brightest lights are represented here (The O’Jays, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes, Lou Rawls), the collection draws heavily on the songs written by G&H that left Philly to resonate in Detroit, Memphis, London, Jamaica, and beyond.
On his own, 
