DownBeat December 2026 Featured Selections

Explore the jazz releases featured in the December 2026 issue of DownBeat, bringing together new recordings from established masters and distinctive contemporary artists spanning Brazilian jazz, timeless standards, adventurous modern composition and intimate acoustic interplay.

This month’s selections include Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo’s Horse Blues (Arbors Records), an all-original collection blending jazz, blues and Brazilian influences across electric and acoustic guitar, and legendary tenor saxophonist Houston Person’s From the Heart (Arbors Records), a warm and soulful celebration of the Great American Songbook recorded at the historic Van Gelder Studio. Pianist and composer Isamu McGregor explores transformation, uncertainty and new beginnings on Vida Nueva (Ghost Note Records), an expansive project developed over more than five years that moves through an eclectic range of settings, including two-piano duets with Jean-Michel Pilc and the four-part improvised suite “The Fates.”

Also featured is Peregrine (Hard Wag Records), bringing together Grammy-winning drummer Peter Erskine with pianist Alan Pasqua and bassist Scott Colley. Recorded with an emphasis on acoustic purity, the trio combines original material with nuanced interpretations of familiar songs including “God Only Knows” and “Wichita Lineman,” showcasing the remarkable communication, space and sensitivity shared by three veteran improvisers.

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