Vocal jazz has been on the wane in recent years - as contemporary musicians veer either towards the bleeding edge of avant-garde jazz or the J Dilla-inflected stylings of jazz rap, the moody vocalists and smooth records that once were the standard bearers of popular jazz music fade from view in a genre that seems increasingly unfriendly to the music of Mel Tormé, Dinah Washington and ol' Blue Eyes himself.

If it sounds like drummer John Bishop and pianist Bram Weijters are playing like their hair's on fire, in a way, they are - Bishop, Weijters and bassist Piet Verbist made yearly trips to the Belgium city of Antwerp, using their time in the city to record, jam and play over a hundred shows as a trio that overflows with effortless chemistry. The COVID-19 Pandemic changed that with strict international travel restrictions meaning the three friends couldn’t make their usual trip to the city on the Scheldt.

O Som Do Jazz, despite what the name may imply, is not a purely Brazilian affair. A Brazilian vocalist, backed by American, Colombian and Cuban players each put their own spin on the established genre conventions. Comprised of seasoned musicians such as husband and wife duo David and Andrea Moraes Manson, José Valentino (appearing both on the flute and tenor sax) and Tabajara Belo on guitar, O Som Do Jazz has released one fine collection of songs in Aberto that pays loving tribute to the classic Brazilian sounds of Bossa Nova and música popular brasileira over eight carefully composed tracks.

Tiny Big Band 2 opens strong; a mysterious piano figure sets the scene before giving way to a sprightly tenor saxophone. All the players move through bandleaders Nikos Chatzitsakos’ charts with skill and nerve on “All or Nothing at All,” with the joy of the ensemble coming through the recording loud and clear. The best part is? It only gets better from here.

Ona K’s new album Full, New, Luna is a triumph of vibrant artistry and pure craft within each of the 12 tracks (46 minutes in run-time) and offers a dynamic mix of jazz, Latin, pop, and soul sounds that will captivate anyone who listens. The seamless fusion of genres creates a tapestry of sounds and feeds the creative soul. With something for everyone, this album is the perfect gateway to explore the different music styles presented.

The Christmas album This Christmas by Night is Alive is a delightful addition to any festive party, breathing new life into beloved classics like "Let It Snow" and "Sleigh Ride." Frank Lacy and Teddy Horangic's powerful vocals infuse each song with boundless cheer, creating delightful tracks such as "This Christmas" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." With jazz-infused arrangements and captivating sax solos by Jeremy Pelt, this album is a joyous and meaningful addition to your holiday music collection.

Cypress Creek Jazz Band covers all the classics with their New Orleans ragtime-style jazz ensemble and each tune is bombastically joyful to listen to. It’s not hard to get lost within the rhythms and playful instrumentations when the entire band is having so much fun redefining these time-honored tunes.