DownBeat September 2025 Featured Selections

DownBeat’s September 2025 spotlight shines a light on forward-looking collaborations and global grooves from across the jazz spectrum. Guitar fans will be thrilled by Head & Heart, a high-voltage meeting of minds between Finnish fusionist Varre Vartiainen and six-time Grammy nominee Mike Stern. Drawing deep inspiration from the golden era of ’70s jazz fusion, the album delivers dazzling interplay and compositional depth—anchored by Vartiainen’s sharp writing and Stern’s legendary phrasing.

Also featured is flutist Itai Kriss’s radiant Daybreak, a jazz journey that unfolds like the arc of a single day. Blending gospel warmth, Brazilian rhythm, and bold improvisation, Kriss places the flute at center stage—backed by a stellar lineup including Benny Benack III and Yotam Silberstein. These albums explore the intersection of tradition and innovation, offering a rich listening experience for jazz fans new and old.

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