This week’s jazz releases include Norwegian drummer Thomas Strønen’s Time Is A Blind Guide, showcasing a refreshed ensemble that weaves cello, piano, bass, and violin into an intricate soundscape. Grammy winner Jacob Collier strips things back on The Light For Days, delivering a four-day recording of originals and covers that emphasise his voice and guitar. Norwegian singer Rebekka Bakken embraces her roots on NORD, singing entirely in her native language with a blend of folk, jazz, and spiritual hymns. Finnish guitarist Kalle Kalima’s trio Klima Kalima explores blues, rock, and folk influences on the narrative-driven Voyager Blues, inspired by the Voyager spacecraft. Finally, Live At Smoke captures the legendary Al Foster in his final birthday performance. Joined by Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, and Joe Martin, the album celebrates a lifetime of jazz, joy and great music-making.
Time Is A Blind Guide - Off Stillness
Thomas Strønen
Time Is A Blind Guide - Off Stillness, led by Norwegian drummer Thomas Strønen, features a new lineup with Leo Svensson Sander on cello, blending seamlessly with piano, double bass, and violin to create a fluid, dynamic ensemble sound. Presented by ECM, the album captures the group’s rare acoustic chemistry and intricate interplay.
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
The Light For Days
Jacob Collier
Following the expansive Djesse Vol. 4, Grammy winner Jacob Collier returns with The Light For Days, a stripped-back collection that highlights his voice and his deep connection to the guitar. Recorded in just four days in the room where his career began, the album blends originals and carefully chosen covers into an intimate and timeless album.
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 44.1 kHz, 16 bit)
Nord
Rebekka Bakken
Norwegian singer Rebekka Bakken returns with NORD, her first album entirely in her native language, blending intimate originals, timeless folk melodies, and spiritual hymns into a deeply emotional and poetic soundscape. With her signature mix of jazz, folk, pop, and Nordic melancholy, the album is both a tribute to her roots as well as a statement on love and faith.
Available format: CD
Voyager Blues
Klima Kalima
Finnish guitarist Kalle Kalima’s trio Klima Kalima returns with Voyager Blues, an original and adventurous jazz album blending rock, blues, and folk influences with a clear melodic sense of style. Inspired by the slowly dying Voyager spacecraft, the music explores the simplicity of the blues alongside rock-infused polyrhythms and a gritty sound.
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 48 kHz, 24 bit)
Live At Smoke
Al Foster
Live At Smoke captures the exhilarating final birthday performance of legendary drummer Al Foster, featuring Chris Potter, Brad Mehldau, and Joe Martin in a joyous, swinging celebration of originals and classics. Recorded before a packed audience, the album showcases Foster’s masterful sense of swing and the deep musical rapport among longtime collaborators, offering a luminous tribute to his enduring legacy.
Available formats: CD, Download & Streaming (up to 96 kHz, 24 bit)
