Modern Jazz Today
Modern Jazz Today – Episode #512 (Week of 12-1-2025)
This week’s set leans into melodic storytelling, rhythmic drive, and a wide-open sense of modern jazz possibility. We move from Lisa Hilton’s luminous piano world and Lee Mason’s groove-forward energy into global colors and big-band punch.
Canadian highlights are threaded throughout, adding that extra spark of homegrown creativity to a truly international mix. Thanks for listening and supporting the artists keeping this music thriving.
This week on Modern Jazz Today, we’re featuring saxophonist and composer Carl Schultz and his new Origin Records release The Road to Trantor, an eight-movement suite inspired by Isaac Asimov’s Foundation universe. With Schultz is pianist Adam Benjamin, guitarist Tim Wendel, bassist Zack Teran, and drummer Alwyn Robinson. Hear “Ecumenopolis” in Hour One, a standout chapter from this adventurous, forward-leaning album.
* Indicates Canadian Content — Canadian artists are marked with an asterisk and highlighted in green.
| Artist/Group Name | Song Title | Album | Record Label | Track Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hour #1 | ||||
| Lisa Hilton | Tropical Tuesday | Extended Daydream | Lisa Hilton Music | 5:47 |
| Lee Mason | Bootsie | Music by Lee Mason 1971 | Chappell Music UK | 3:14 |
| Carl Schultz | Ecumenopolis | The Road To Trantor | Origin Records | 6:57 |
| Lisa Rich | Bulgarian Folk Song | Listen Here | Discovery Records | 1:02 |
| Jennifer Wharton’s Bonegasm | Be Normal | Grit & Grace | Sunnyside Records | 5:20 |
| Denin Slage-Koch | Continue | It Comes in Waves | SK Records | 6:54 |
| David Lopato | Prince of Darkness | Short Stories | Global Coolant Records | 6:45 |
| Dave Young Quartet* | June Night | June Night | Modica Music | 6:25 |
| Jesse Fischer | The Intrepid Fox | Flipped II | Self-Released | 6:19 |
| Chris Monson* | Where the Leaf Has Been | Seldom in the Well | Self-Released | 4:16 |
| Jennifer Madsen | In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning | Reimagine | SingBaby Productions, LLC | 2:39 |
| Hour #2 | ||||
| Daggerboard & Erik Jekabson Orchestra | Studio Perspective | The Axes Volume II – Summer Solstice | Wide Hive Records | 5:48 |
| Montclair Women’s Big Band | Caravan | Salsa de la Bahia Vol. 3: Renegade Queens | Patois Records | 4:30 |
| The Empress* | Bolivia | Square One | Cellar Music Group | 6:42 |
| Ermelinda Cuellar | Tu Mi Delirio | Under A Lavender Sky | Self-Released | 3:52 |
| Charles McPherson | Surge | Reverence | Smoke Sessions | 6:24 |
| Christine Jensen* | Fantasy on Blue | Harbour | Nettwerk/Justin Time Records | 5:24 |
| Leigh Pilzer’s Seven Pointed Star | SKCC | Beatin’ the Odds | Strange Woman Records | 5:01 |
| Donny McCaslin | Kid | Kid (single) | Edition Records | 4:10 |
| Troy Roberts | Jack the Sipper | Nu-Jive Perspective | Inner Circle Records | 7:39 |
| Melbreeze | The Island | Animazonia | Blue Canoe Records | 5:09 |
Jeff Williams – Modern Jazz Today ™
A Modish Creative Group ™ Production
www.modernjazztoday.com
modernjazztoday@gmail.com
mixcloud.com/modernjazztoday
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