Delightful, lifting and energetic, ‘Mort Weiss Is a Jazz Reality Show’ recalls the best vintage straight-ahead jazz – but done the Mort Weiss way.

Randy Brecker knows his way around both pop and modern jazz. He puts both together so convincingly on this update of a Donald Fagen classic.

Reaching out to anyone who enjoys improvised music, Dead Neanderthals’ ‘Worship the Sun’ is simple, coherent and above all, fun.

With ‘Baboon Strength,’ released on Sept. 9, 2008, Charlie Hunter didn’t waver so much between an R&B-influenced feel and the abstract.

Trying to make sense of the surprises that lurk around every corner on Halvorson’s solo guitar outing ‘Meltframe’ is much of the fun in listening to this.

Steven T. Easter is a bit of a phenomenon. As we learn in this in-depth talk, he is a musician, promoter, producer and kite flyer – yes, kite flyer.

Master bassist Michael Bisio and his Accortet flat out thrive in unusual settings and while they often stretch out, they never lose their grip on tradition.

A model of consistency, style and grace, Michael Dease stays at the head of the class among jazz trombonists with his seventh album, ‘Decisions.’

Guitarist Matt Gold and drummer Nate Friedman display a jazz acumen well beyond their years on Sun Speak’s sophomore album, ‘Sacred Rubble.’

The way trumpet ace Joe Magnarelli’s band members interact each other so well makes ‘Three On Two’ a gratifying way to experience mainstream jazz.