[COULEURS JAZZ MONTH – THE BEST OF!]
On COULEURS JAZZ RADIO only – www.couleursjazzradio.fr
At Paris time: Monday 04:00pm, Tuesday 05:00pm, Wednesday 06:00pm,
and @ Toronto time : Tuesday 08:00pm and Wednesday 10:00pm
The 12 Best albums (Hit Couleurs Jazz) released the month before: November 2025, so:
Chantez sous l’appli ! (singing under the rain or under the apps…)
Apps Couleurs Jazz Radio GooglePlay : https://bit.ly/CJRGooglePlay
Apps Couleurs Jazz Radio iOS Appstore : https://bit.ly/CJRAppstore
With:
Brandon Sanders for Lasting Impression ;
- Dhafer Youssef dor Shiraz ;
- Giovanni Mirabassi, Gianluca Renzi, Colin Stranahan + Peter Bernstein for The N.Y.C Sessions Vol.1 ;
- William Brunard, Tchavolo Schmitt, Fanou Torracinta for Django Celebration #2 ;
- Markus Conrad, Caspar van Meel, Afra Mussawisade for Jaggat;
- Laurent Epstein, Eddie Gomez, Willie Jones III et Vanisha Gould for French Movies in New-York ;
- Iiro Rantala, Kaisa Mäensivu, Morten Lund for Trinity;
- Kerry Politzer for Alternate Route ;
- Lafayette Harris Jr. for All in Good Time ;
- Henri Texier for Healing Songs ;
- Cyril Benhamou for H.O.T ;
- Yoann Loustalot, Blaise Chevalier, Fred Pasqua for Aérophone.
Laurent Epstein – French Movies in New York
With French Movies in New York, Laurent Epstein delivers a beautifully shaped tribute to the iconic melodies of French cinema, reimagined in an intimate New York setting.
The pianist surrounds himself with a dream team: the legendary Eddie Gomez, whose melodic bass lines feel like a second voice, and Willie Jones III, a drummer whose refined swing brings both warmth and clarity.
Guided by Daniel Yvinec and supported by the elegant arrangements of Philippe Maniez, the album highlights the emotional depth of this repertoire without ever falling into nostalgia. A standout moment comes from vocalist Vanisha Gould, whose soulful tone transforms familiar themes into fresh, tender narratives.
Recorded with remarkable cohesion in New York, French Movies in New York showcases Laurent Epstein not only as a sensitive accompanist but as a leader with a clear artistic vision. A luminous, accessible, and sophisticated album — and a beautifully accomplished milestone in the pianist’s journey.
French Movies in New York is an album Plaza Mayor Company.
Join the release concert at Sunside, Paris on January 16, 2026 !
Drummer Brandon Sanders returns with an album that shows a striking step forward in clarity and confidence.
Joined by Eric Scott Reed on piano, Warren Wolf on vibraphone, and Eric Wheeler on bass, he leads a quartet that feels grounded, warm, and driven by a strong collective pulse.
The presence of one of the best Jazz singer nowadays, Jazzmeia Horn on two tracks adds expressive depth, her voice blending naturally into the ensemble’s acoustic sound. Balancing thoughtful originals with reimagined standards, Lasting Impression delivers music rooted in tradition yet fully alive, shaped by a leader who embraces his artistic identity with conviction.
A vibrant, engaging release that reinforces Brandon Sanders as a noteworthy voice on today’s U.S. jazz scene.
Lafayette Harris Jr. – All in Good Time
Pianist Lafayette Harris Jr. delivers a warm, unpretentious album where clarity of intention meets an understated sense of finesse.
With Kenny Davis on bass and Jerome Jennings on drums, he explores a mix of standards, original pieces and reimagined songs with effortless flow.
Jeremy Pelt appears on three tracks, his focused, burnished tone adding a striking narrative depth, while Houston Person brings his trademark warmth to a memorable cameo.
Recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Studio, All in Good Time offers music that feels honest, balanced, and deeply rooted in the living tradition of the trio.
A generous and highly musical session, reminding us how compelling jazz becomes when played with craft, clarity, and heart.
Dhafer Youssef – Shiraz
With Shiraz, oud master and vocalist Dhafer Youssef delivers one of the most striking achievements of his recent career — a profoundly moving album where every phrase feels born from lived experience.
Built as a deeply personal journey, the music navigates gratitude, vulnerability and renewal with remarkable nuance. Supported by an exceptional ensemble — pianist Daniel García, trumpeter Mario Rom, bassist Swaéli Mbappé, drummer Tao Ehrlich, and guest guitarist Nguyên Lê— Youssef creates a sound world that blends Sufi heritage with the clarity and refinement of contemporary jazz.
His voice, pure and weightless, carries the album to moments of breathtaking intensity, as if reaching for something essential and beyond words.
Shiraz radiates warmth and depth, standing as a luminous testament to an artist who continues to expand the emotional and spiritual borders of modern jazz.
Kerry Politzer – Alternate Route
On Alternate Route, pianist Kerry Politzer delivers one of her most engaging and finely crafted recordings to date.
With only a single day in a New York studio, she brings together an exceptional lineup — guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, saxophonist Jaleel Shaw, bassist Alex Claffy, and drummer George Colligan — and captures music that feels both exacting and effortlessly alive.
Politzer’s writing blends sophistication and clarity: rich harmonies, flowing melodies, and grooves that give each soloist room to shine.
Kurt Rosenwinkel contributes his unmistakable warmth, Jaleel Shaw brings depth and agility, and George Colligan, on drums, anchors the session with striking versatility.
From Brazilian-tinged pieces to contemporary swing and atmospheric ballads, Alternate Route showcases a group in total synergy. It’s modern jazz played with precision, generosity, and heart — a testament to Kerry Politzer’s compositional voice and her ability to inspire the musicians around her.
With Trinity, pianist Iiro Rantala, bassist Kaisa Mäensivu, and drummer Morten Lund deliver a rare kind of standards album — one that feels freshly discovered, played with the openness and immediacy of a first encounter.
Recorded at Château Palmer (near Bordeaux, France) in a natural, intimate setting, the session captures three musicians meeting in real time, shaping each tune with instinct, empathy, and unguarded clarity.
Iiro Rantala approaches the repertoire with remarkable purity, letting each melody speak without ornament or clever detours.
Kaisa Mäensivu brings warmth and lyrical depth, including a beautifully understated duo passage, while Morten Lund, steeped in the Copenhagen jazz lineage, anchors the trio with effortless swing and subtle drive.
Trinity is all about connection — three voices breathing together, revealing the timeless beauty of standards without filters.
A tranquil, luminous recording where simplicity becomes art, and where the music feels as alive as the moment it was created.
Yoann Loustalot, Blaise Chevallier and Fred Pasqua’s trio delivers a beautifully spacious album recorded at the Jazz Club Blue Perry, (France).
With no harmonic instrument, the music unfolds with clarity and freedom, blending subtle lyricism, gentle tension and finely tuned interplay. A poetic, cohesive, and elegantly minimalist release.
👉 Full article by Jean -Pierre Alenda: here!
Henri Texier – Healing Songs
With Healing Songs, Henri Texier delivers a deeply personal album shaped as a quiet offering—first to himself, then to everyone who has followed his journey.
These pieces, drawn from past inspirations and new reflections, carry the intimate warmth and emotional clarity that define his music.
Texier’s melodic instinct, his sense of space, and his unmistakable tone turn each track into a moment of calm intensity.
The album unfolds like a journal of gratitude, a collection of pieces meant to soothe, uplift, and reconnect. More than 60 years into a remarkable career, the French bassist once again proves why he remains one of Europe’s essential creative forces: a musician of profound sincerity and unmistakable voice.
Oh God! it is sooo Good!
Jaggat – Jaggat (2025)
Un trio qui fait dialoguer les cultures avec élégance
On their self-titled album Jaggat, the trio offers a beautifully crafted set of pieces where chamber-jazz clarity meets a wide spectrum of global colours.
Guitarist Markus Conrad and bassist Caspar van Meel shape compositions that feel spacious and inviting, while Afra Mussawisade enriches the music with a distinctive percussive language full of texture and nuance.
Whether as a trio or joined by violinist Christoph König, Jaggat cultivates an elegant balance of lyricism, rhythmic drive and subtle world-music inflections. Hints of Spanish, Indian, Arabic and African traditions surface naturally, never as ornament but as part of a coherent musical identity.
A warm, sophisticated album that highlights how cultural openness can give rise to a sound that is both personal and universal.
Tchavolo Schmitt • Fanou Torracinta • William Brunard –Django Célébration #2
The second volume of Django Celebration (see the last month article ) offers a distinct identity from the first release, driven by the powerful personality of Tchavolo Schmitt and his raw, fiery playing. Fanou Torracinta contrasts this with a warm, lyrical tone, while William Brunard provides a fluid, grounding presence on bass.
Together, they revisit gems from the manouche repertoire with freshness and imagination, moving effortlessly between driving swing, melodic elegance and understated expressiveness.
A vibrant tribute to Django’s spirit — not a nostalgic exercise, but a living dialogue between generations.
Ce deuxième volume de Django Célébration poursuit la série avec une personnalité tout à fait différente du premier opus. (voir article du mois dernier)
Cyril Benhamou • Pascal Blanc • Jérôme Mouriez — H.O.T.
With H.O.T., pianist and multi-instrumentalist Cyril Benhamou launches a fresh, forward-looking trio project alongside bassist Pascal Blanc and drummer Jérôme Mouriez. The three musicians dive into a space where jazz, groove and modern influences collide, crafting a music that feels both spontaneous and finely sculpted.
The project was born in June 2024 during a performance at the Jazz des 5 Continents Festival, where the trio’s chemistry instantly sparked the desire to build something new together. Their first single, Hip Hop des Kids, set the tone: hybrid textures, vibrant energy and a playful, contemporary approach that extends naturally across the album.
Recorded by Jeff Ginouves, H.O.T. unfolds like a bold sonic journey—rich in contrasts, open to improvisation and always anchored by the trio’s collective identity. The album also features striking touches such as White Keys, a smart and fresh reimagining of a Chilly Gonzales composition, highlighting both Benhamou’s modern sensibility and the rhythmic drive of Blanc and Mouriez.
A vivid, inventive and groove-infused record, H.O.T. positions the trio as one of the promising voices of today’s forward-thinking jazz.
Giovanni Mirabassi – The N.Y.C. Sessions Vol. 1
For this first installment devoted to the Great American Songbook, Giovanni Mirabassi brings a surprisingly fresh perspective to a repertoire that so many have revisited before him.
Joined by longtime bassist Gianluca Renzi and rising New York drummer Colin Stranahan, he crafts a trio sound that feels both deeply rooted and wonderfully spontaneous.
Recorded at the legendary Samurai Hotel Studio with engineer Mike Marciano, the session captures a vivid balance between tradition and modern phrasing, shaped by Mirabassi’s three decades of musical experience.
The result is a joyful, unforced set of standards delivered with clarity, warmth, and genuine interplay — a promising opening to what is announced as a multi-volume journey.
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