Themandus drop new single ‘float_niceview’

20 April 2026

Porto keeps producing some of the most interesting crossovers in contemporary jazz, and Themandus sit firmly in that lane. Formed by Afonso Boucinha Silva (saxophone, EWI, synths), Ricardo Alves (guitar) and Eduardo Carneiro Dias (drums), the trio take a familiar set up and stretch it through electronics, an expanded approach to their instruments and a clear openness to experimentation. Since emerging, the band leaned into a hybrid language where composition and improvisation overlap freely. They pull in elements of disparate genres like post-rock, drum’n’bass, and ambient, with the three members’ shared background in jazz tying it all together. There’s a strong sense of control underneath it all, even when things sound loose, showing a band that is technically sharp. Their 2023 self-titled debut album on Porta-Jazz laid that out clearly and saw them establish a sound that is meticulous and adventurous, with a clear emphasis on interplay and dynamics.

The threesome have just released a brand new track, the daring, intricate and electrifying ‘float_niceview’. Building up in a sparse and abstract way, with a sense of restrain, it shifts into something entirely driving and propulsive that carries the track forward with intent. What’s more, they have also teased a second full-length album, and we’ll keep our eyes peeled for more updates. Now take a listen to ‘float_niceview’. We’ve had it on repeat all day!

In other related news, Themandus are performing at Porto’s Maus Hábitos this Thursday 23rd April – don’t miss their thrilling and explosive live show if you’re lucky to be around!

Jerk shares new single, ‘alarmed’, from upcoming as day breaks EP

18 April 2026

It hasn’t been long since last year’s as night falls EP, but luckily for us Brooklyn’s Jerk is back with a new EP, as day breaks, completing a two-part cycle that maps the shift from night into daylight. Composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Joni Kinney, who helms the project, created the EP with longtime collaborator Martin Wade. The new release leans into a more uplifting and open-ended sound, building on Jerk’s blend of jazz, funk and electronic influences. The upcoming as day breaks favours live instrumentation and loose, expressive arrangements, capturing a sense of movement and clarity as the story moves into the morning hours. Jerk comments: “This joint album project is the essence of Jerk — neither day nor night, but something more ethereal.”

‘alarmed’ is the latest single to emerge from the EP ahead of its release on May 15th through DeepMatter Records. Radiant and playful, ‘alarmed’ is built on a juicy and slick groove that carries a sense of optimistic energy. Speaking about the track, Jerk shares:

“The track is made up of two distinct sections, with an A section meant to evoke those first moments of consciousness, as well as a B section meant to evoke the baggage we all carry day to day.”

Listen to ‘alarmed’ below.

Tara Clerkin Trio drop second single, ‘Silently’, off upcoming new album Somewhere Good

15 April 2026

Photo: Peter Eason Daniels

Last month, Tara Clerkin Trio announced the release of their long-awaited new album Somewhere Good, marking their first new music since 2023’s widely acclaimed On The Turning Ground mini-album. Alongside the announcement, the Bristol-based trio of Tara Clerkin, Sunny Joe Paradisos, and Patrick Benjamin had shared the whimsical, gentle and mesmerizing title track. Now, ahead of the album’s release on June 5th through World of Echo, they are teasing Somewhere Good with the utterly beautiful, bright and hazy cut called ‘Silently’. The track comes with accompanying visuals and you can stream it below.

Blue Earth Sound details new EP, The St. Louis Sessions, and shares lead single ‘Chartreuse’

14 April 2026

Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist, bandleader and composer James Weir is gearing up to release new material under his Blue Earth Sound moniker, following last year’s debut album Cicero Nights, which was one of our Album Picks of 2025. Entitled The St. Louis Sessions, the forthcoming EP finds Weir building on the jazz-inflected and cinematic sound of his debut, with a more spontaneous approach. The 5-track EP was recorded in St. Louis, Missouri, and is centred around the home studio of drummer and longtime collaborator Austin LeMoine, where a series of informal sessions brought together a small group of musicians, including local horn players Jawaad Spaan and Josiah Burton. Visiting from Chicago with some demos, Weir used the sessions as a space to experiment and develop ideas in real time, with live takes shaping the final recordings and much like with Cicero Nights, placing collaboration at the core of the project. Weir shares:

“Austin was hip to some local brass players, Jawaad Spaan and Josiah Burton, from the St. Louis scene that we invited over for an experimental session tracked in his living room. After bonding over shared taste and drinks, we recorded the horn takes live together over my demos.”

The St. Louis Sessions EP arrives on April 8th through DeepMatter Records, and ahead of it, Blue Earth Sound has shared the magnetizing and lulling lead single ‘Chartreuse’. Take a listen below.

Dorian Wood previews upcoming LP, Canto de Todes, with second single ‘Honey’

13 April 2026

Last month, Los Angeles-based anti-disciplinary artist Dorian Wood announced her new album Canto de Todes, introducing a project grounded in ideas of community, ancestry, and music as a force for collective transformation. Long recognized for work that pushes against convention and challenges structures of marginalisation, Wood brings together her multidisciplinary practice into a record that blends chamber classical, folk, torch song, and experimental textures, all anchored by her powerful voice. Alongside the album announcement, she had shared a first glimpse with the utterly stunning and moving lead single single ‘Girasoles‘. As we near the album release on May 1st via New Amsterdam Records, Wood is offering a second preview, ‘Honey’. Originally released on her 2021 album REACTOR, the track was reimagined for cello quartet, guitar, and voice, taking on a renewed urgency within the context of Canto de Todes. The song is a plea for an end to what Wood describes as “white indifference,” as she explains:

“This piece connects with Canto de Todes as a way of promoting societal change through joyful transgression. In each of us is a radical that can do something spectacular, to end the waves of oppression that we have normalized for so long that continue to hurt people.”

‘Honey’ comes with a live accompanying video and you can watch it below.

Jeff Parker announces third ETA IVtet album, Happy Today

10 April 2026

There’s wonderful news from incredibly talented, versatile and prolific guitarist and composer Jeff Parker, who has recently announced Happy Today, a brand new album with his ETA IVtet. The quartet, comprising Jay Bellerose on drums, Anna Butterss on bass, and Josh Johnson on saxophone, has been building its sound for years, originally forming out of Parker’s long-running Monday night sessions at the now-closed ETA in Los Angeles. Happy Today stretches across two long-form pieces, and it was recorded live at Lodge Room in LA last August. The album is also tied to a difficult period in Parker’s life, something he speaks about:

“2025 was a very difficult year for me and my family. Dealing with being displaced from the Eaton fires for eight months, and the kind of toll that instability took on my family’s mental health and general outlook, coupled with Donald Trump being back in office and basically making life miserable for everyone… There was a lot of sadness and despair. But feeling the sense of community that we created with our concert, and later hearing the recording, seeing the beautiful footage that had been shot and the photographs of such joy to be back in that space and to be making music again: It was a very happy moment. So I called the record Happy Today. It’s meant to be a statement of joy.”

Even with the dark elements surrounding it, there’s a warmth to the album, and it feels open, human, and uplifting.

Happy Today arrives on May 15th through International Anthem and Nonesuch Records and alongside the album, a concert film by Charlie Weinmann is set to follow later in May, capturing the same performance that became the record.

An excerpt from the utterly delightful and stunning ‘Like Swimwear (Part One)’ is now streaming and serves as the first taste of what’s coming. Take a listen now.