{"title":"DownBeat August 2026 Featured Selections","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-686ed4c5-aaa8-800c-bd0d-f851c8bf8fc7-4\" data-is-intersecting=\"true\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [\u0026amp;:has([data-writing-block])\u0026gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" data-turn-id=\"request-686ed4c5-aaa8-800c-bd0d-f851c8bf8fc7-4\" data-turn-id-container=\"request-686ed4c5-aaa8-800c-bd0d-f851c8bf8fc7-4\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-4\" data-turn=\"assistant\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-conversation-screenshot-content=\"\" class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"07efcb4d-918d-45a0-bfc1-2d619aef754f\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-5\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" data-turn-start-message=\"true\" tabindex=\"0\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"533\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eDownBeat’s August 2026 selections celebrate the enduring artistry of jazz’s past while embracing bold contemporary voices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"533\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eThe legendary \u003cstrong\u003eWDR Big Band\u003c\/strong\u003e joins forces with acclaimed trumpeter \u003cstrong\u003eSean Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e on \u003cem\u003eJagged Edges \u0026amp; Elegant Lines: The Music of Ayn Inserto\u003c\/em\u003e, a powerful large-ensemble showcase of Inserto’s rhythmically daring and emotionally compelling compositions. With sweeping orchestration, intricate textures, and Jones’s virtuosic trumpet work, the album highlights one of today’s most distinctive compositional voices.\u003cspan aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"535\" data-end=\"950\"\u003eAlso featured is pianist \u003cstrong\u003eMike Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e’s elegant \u003cem\u003eMike Jones with Strings\u003c\/em\u003e, a heartfelt tribute to the timeless drummerless jazz trio tradition pioneered by Nat King Cole and Oscar Peterson. Joined by guitarist Graham Dechter and bassist Alex Frank, Jones delivers a swinging, intimate session filled with conversational interplay and classic standards performed with warmth, sophistication, and effortless charm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"952\" data-end=\"1021\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eBuy distributor direct here on MVDShop or from your favorite music retailer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"z-0 flex min-h-[46px] justify-start\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mt-3 w-full empty:hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"text-center\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"mike-jones-graham-dechter-alex-frank-mike-jones-with-strings-cd","title":"Mike Jones \/ Graham Dechter - Mike Jones with Strings (CD) PREORDER","description":"\u003ch1\u003eMike Jones teams up with Graham Dechter on guitar and Alex Frank on bass to resurrect the classic drumerless jazz trio\u003c\/h1\u003e \u003cp\u003eEver since Nat King Cole pioneered the drummerless trio with guitarist Oscar Moore\u003cbr\u003eand bassist Wesley Prince in the 1930's it's become the chamber music of jazz. Oscar\u003cbr\u003ePeterson famously revived this format in the early 1950's with Ray Brown on bass and\u003cbr\u003eHerb Ellis or Barney Kessel on guitar. The guitar and bass take on the task of\u003cbr\u003etimekeeping and establishing the groove while the pianist flows with the wave they\u003cbr\u003ecreate. The format allows for more conversational interplay between the musicians as\u003cbr\u003ewell as an intimate aesthetic.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMike Jones has been a traditionalist of the roots of jazz and swing has always been his\u003cbr\u003epriority. Teaming up with Graham Dechter and Alex Frank was no accident but a well-\u003cbr\u003eplanned fulfillment of a dream to resurrect the drummerless trio. Dechter and Frank\u003cbr\u003ework together often and have their own trio with Ryan Shaw called the Lineage Trio in\u003cbr\u003ewhich they channel the original Poll Winners group of Ray Brown, Barney Kessel and\u003cbr\u003eShelly Manne.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA live recording setting was chosen to encourage the liberality of interaction. Even\u003cbr\u003ethough they have only played together a couple times, the set has the feeling of old\u003cbr\u003efriends who can listen and anticipate each other's direction of movement within a tune\u003cbr\u003elike they've played together for years. There's genuine joy in their playing and their\u003cbr\u003esense of swing is second to none.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMike Jones has performed live for over four million people over decades as music director and opening act with legendary magicians Penn \u0026amp; Teller (since 2002.) Numerous television appearances on 'Penn \u0026amp; Teller's BS', 'Penn \u0026amp; Teller Tell A Lie' and currently on 'Penn \u0026amp; Teller Fool Us' have given Mike a much wider audience, and yearly headlining appearances at Chicago's famed Green Mill Jazz Club and others, have kept him in the jazz world.\u003c\/p\u003e    \u003ch2\u003eTrack Listing\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cul\u003e        \u003cli\u003e Oh, Lady Be Good!\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eGone With The Wind\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eAutumn Leaves\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eKelly’s Blues \u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eDestination Moon \u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eDeed I Do \u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eThe Very Thought Of You\u003c\/li\u003e                  \u003cli\u003eExactly Like You\u003c\/li\u003e          \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003ch2\u003eAdditional Details\u003c\/h2\u003e  \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLabel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Capri Records\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGenre:\u003c\/strong\u003e Jazz\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRun Time:\u003c\/strong\u003e 56:49 mins\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegion:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0       \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelease Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 08\/21\/26\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPC:\u003c\/strong\u003e 054987417825\u003c\/p\u003e ","brand":"CAPRI","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48619537793273,"sku":"CAP74178","price":14.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0815\/4889\/files\/CAP74178.jpg?v=1782932360"},{"product_id":"wdr-big-band-sean-jones-jagged-edges-elegant-lines-the-music-of-ayn-inserto-cd","title":"WDR Big Band \/ Sean Jones - Jagged Edges \u0026 Elegant Lines: The Music of Ayn Inserto (CD) PREORDER","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe awesome big sound of the historic WDR Big Band with critically acclaimed Sean Jones out front playing the genius of Ayn Inserto! A Can't Miss!\u003c\/h1\u003e \u003cp\u003eGENRE: Jazz\/Large Ensemble\/WDR Big Band \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCOMPOSERS: Ayn Inserto, Sean Jones \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e 'It's either on the beat or off the beat.' Ayn Inserto \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003efrom the liner notes:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn oversimplified way of describing her writing, the comment feels less like a limitation than a kind of generosity - Ayn often minimizes her own compositional voice to highlight the music and the musicians around her.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI've known Ayn for over 30 years and I have played a lot of her music. Hearing her work realized 'live' by the WDR Big Band is both a personal pleasure and a reminder of how she has constantly been developing her musical voice. Her writing is unapologetic, rhythmically insistent, and built on a language she has refined over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJagged Edges \u0026amp; Elegant Lines is an apropos description of that voice. The phrase is not decorative - it is structural. Her music lives in the tension between those two ideas. The edges are sharp, often angular, driven by horn stabs, bass line interruptions, and unexpected rhythmic resolutions. But the lines they form - across ensemble writing, across form, across time - are surprisingly continuous. What feels fragmented in the moment is part of the master plan. Her compositional identity is built on controlled friction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e Sean Jones is an American trumpeter and composer featured on the 2007 Grammy Award-winning album by Nancy Wilson. As a bandleader, Jones has released eight albums. He performs with his own groups both nationally and internationally. Jones actively tours venues and festivals. 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