Gilbert Cox sounds like the kind of artist you stumble onto once and then keep circling back to all week. In Her Eyes lands like a fresh single with real timing: direct, memorable, and a little sly about how quickly it gets under your skin.
Jazz
Sofia Rojic turns “Misty” into the kind of song that makes a room feel quieter in the best way. Fresh off the archive, it lands like a discovery you want to brag about before everyone else catches on.
Dorothy Mckenzie makes Moonsteps feel like a fresh transmission from the cool side of the room. The track lands with the confidence of a song that already knows your name and your playlist.
Ron Fields makes Don't Go To Strangers feel like the record you meant to find all along. The timing lands perfectly: warm, direct, and a little sly, with enough polish to sound brand new without trying too hard.
Carl Clementine and Tenderly land like a fresh obsession, the kind of track that sneaks into your head and refuses to leave. The song feels essential because it brings a little warmth without sanding off the edges.
Ibrahim Maalouf turns S3NS into the kind of track that feels instantly important, like it just slipped onto the air and claimed the room. Brass-led and sharp-edged, it sounds too alive to ignore, which is exactly why it belongs on today’s shortlist.
David Fitzpatrick Trio turns "All The Things You Are" into the kind of surprise that stops a scroll cold. The standard arrives sounding freshly polished, as if a late-night club set just found its best song.
The Sunday Duo makes The Nearness Of You feel like the kind of track people claim they just found, then play three more times before dinner. Warm, unhurried, and immediately familiar, it lands right when a little elegance beats any algorithm.
Stephen Rogerson lands “Black Orpheus” like a fresh cut from a city-lit jazz set, and it deserves immediate attention. The track feels alive in the room, elegant without dressing up for the occasion.
Oakwood Station lands “Blue Spaces” like a fresh cue from the good part of the playlist. The track feels essential right now because it clears the room without getting precious about it.
Harper Pepe slips “Days of Wine and Roses” into the day like a half-remembered favorite you suddenly need again. The title alone feels like a small, sharp wink, and the track lands with enough confidence to sound already unavoidable.
Hara Noda sounds like a fresh arrival with Catcher, the kind of track that sneaks in and suddenly owns the room. Clean, confident, and a little sly, it feels essential for anyone craving something polished without losing the pulse.
Tony Ballantine makes Willow Weep For Me feel like a fresh pickup from the front of the bin, not a dusty standard. The performance lands with immediate, unforced charm and gives the tune real pull.
Alexis Cohen turns “Infant Eyes” into the kind of sleeper pick that suddenly feels obvious. The track lands like a fresh discovery with enough elegance to sound like the smartest thing in the room.
Bleecker Jazz Duo turns “After You’ve Gone” into a smart, smoke-lit standard that lands like a fresh cut, not a museum piece. For anyone craving something polished with a pulse, this feels essential right now.
Ronald & the Fairies drops Snow Keeps Falling like a fresh flurry through your feed, and suddenly the day feels more cinematic. The track sounds newly unearthed, which is exactly why it lands now.
Infinity Ripple arrives with "Sangfroid" sounding less like a deep cut and more like the smartest thing in the room. The track lands with the calm confidence of a song you were supposed to hear first.
Blue Shoes Duo lands “Mean To Me” like a fresh cut worth hearing now. The melody feels instantly familiar, but the delivery has enough bite to keep it from drifting into background music.
Snorre Kirk and Stephen Riley make Festival Grease feel like a fresh swing-side missive from the front of the bandstand. The cut lands with enough snap and lift to sound essential right now, like the room suddenly remembers how good a hard-grooving jazz tune can feel.
Andy Jordan returns with “Gin & Jazz” sounding strangely urgent, like a late-night track that somehow already knows your week. The groove lands fast, and so does the mood: cool, sharp, and hard to ignore.
Casey Abrams turns “Why Don’t You Do Right?” into a sly, freshly polished earworm. The swing lands with enough attitude to feel brand new, which is exactly why it earns a spot on today’s shortlist.
My favorite Jazz songs from the past year.
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Karrin Allyson turns “The Shadow Of Your Smile” into the kind of late-night standard that sounds newly uncovered instead of politely preserved. On 'Round Midnight, she makes a familiar song feel immediate, cool, and worth a replay right now.
Katie Melua turns “This Year’s Love” into the kind of quiet headline that stops the room. Fresh ears catch the ache immediately, and the song lands like a late-night favorite you somehow missed the first time.
