Cream of the crop: top Eurojazz
Eurojazz best-of so far in 2026
“The alternative to curiosity is indifference” – Brad Mehldau
As anyone who has read Brad Mehldau’s brilliantly vivid and honest memoir Formation will know, the pianist is a fine prose writer as well as everything else. Check out the American’s Substack for a new essay that I spotted earlier today which is pretty thought provoking. I think it went up recently. He takes on a few sacred cows and describes his recent gigs playing in New York and hanging out and how he is distrustful of spending too much time on things like Instagram and Facebook.
Brubeck Living Legacy Prize returns with £7,000 award for emerging jazz artists
Applications open in June.
Alejandro Falcón, Falcón In Blue, Dot Time Records ***1/2
Afro-Cuban jazz is experiencing a moment thanks to this.
Miles Davis centenary marked with broadcast
One Jazz marks 100 years of Miles Davis with a 48-hour global broadcast
Africa Oyé Returns to Liverpool
Liverpool’s Sefton Park is the place to be this summer for a major 2026 line-up led by Fatoumata Diawara, Patoranking
Gustaf Ljunggren, Along the Low Road, April Records ***
A naturalistic, gentle listen full of sweeping chordal washes and mindful malarkey.
Steve Wilson, Enduring Sonance, Smoke Sessions **** recommended
There’s a lot of spirit in the rendition here of a strong selection of tunes including material by Quincy Jones and Milton Nascimento.
Hermine Deurloo and Anton Goudsmit, Unfiltered, Challenge ***1/2
Charming harmonica and guitar duetting. Includes tunes by Bill Frisell and Enrico Pieranunzi.
Scott Hamilton, In the Still of the Night, GLM Music ****
The use of vibes against sax and the choice of tunes are some of the reasons to like this swinging latest from Scott Hamilton
Full Circle Quartet, Same Sky, No label ***
A south coast of England sound that is big on mindfulness and gentle melodic development.
Matthew Stevens, Matthew Stevens, Candid ****
An ambient, late night kind of listen factoring in originals of Canada born guitarist Matthew Stevens plus Leadbelly and Sonny Sharrock numbers
Simone Locarni and Tom Arthurs, Alianti, Abeat **** recommended
Landing empathetically in the special place that is the Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor universe, this is an album introducing a new duo that wards off ennui and rewards deep listening so tenderly.
John Beasley with the SWR Big Band, Invisible Piano, O-tone music ****
The SWR has had a good year for releases. I liked the collab with Paul Carrrack. Even better is this from John Beasley. Originals as well as James Taylor and Earth, Wind & Fire material figure on an album that takes its name from the visual cue of a 1920s Max Ernst proto-surrealist painting.
Knats, A Great Day in Newcastle, Fontana **1/2
This homage to the north east is certainly about local pride. Its appeal if you are not from there is more debatable.
Lorikeet, Woven, Babel ***1/2
Jaunty, rather lovely, English folk and some Americana and improv directions figure on newly surfacing Somerset band Lorikeet’s Woven.
Jarrod Lawson, Just Let it, Dome ***1/2
Laugh at Yourself stands out most, where Eric Roberson duets winningly.
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