DownBeat November 2026 Featured Selections

Four distinctive releases spotlight the breadth of contemporary jazz and blues, from Brazilian guitar and timeless tenor saxophone to roots-driven slide guitar and adventurous modern piano.

Diego Figueiredo expands his considerable guitar vocabulary on Horse Blues (Arbors Records), an all-original collection bringing together Brazilian rhythms, jazz improvisation, and the blues. Moving between acoustic and electric guitar, Figueiredo ranges from the buoyant “Good Vibe” and laid-back “Just Relax” to the road-inspired “From Memphis to New Orleans.” Joined by bassist Tacio Figueiredo and drummer Anderson Matos, with harmonica and keyboards adding color, he delivers a melodic, rhythmically vibrant portrait of a guitarist continuing to broaden his musical language.

Veteran tenor saxophonist Houston Person puts melody first on From the Heart (Arbors Records), a warm, soulful exploration of the Great American Songbook recorded at the historic Van Gelder Studio. Person brings his unmistakable sound to “Satin Doll,” “Moonlight in Vermont,” “The Nearness of You,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and other standards, joined by an accomplished ensemble featuring Eddie Allen, John Di Martino, James Chirillo, Sean Smith and Vincent Ector. The result distills Person’s six decades of experience into performances built on swing, restraint and an abiding respect for the song.

Pianist and composer Senri Oe turns the discipline of everyday creativity into music on HOMEWORK (PND Records), an ambitious collection of 16 original compositions inspired by his life in New York City. Oe’s trio with bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Ross Pederson combines sophisticated interplay and contemporary jazz energy with more intimate performances recorded in Oe’s apartment. Moving between acoustic warmth, solo reflection and experimental production, HOMEWORK offers a personal portrait of composition as an ongoing way of life.

Blues guitarist and singer PK Mayo looks back across his musical journey with All Before Yesterday (New Folk Records), a two-CD collection of early recordings personally selected by Mayo. A veteran slide guitarist whose career has crossed paths with artists including Jonny Lang, Tracy Nelson and David Hidalgo, Mayo draws freely from blues, country, rock & roll and folk. Across nearly two hours of music, his muscular acoustic and electric slide playing, soulful vocals and songwriting capture the roots-driven blend that has defined his career.

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