Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap's Elemental marks their first collaborative recording, featuring eight familiar jazz standards. The album showcases Bridgewater’s inventive vocal interpretations and Charlap’s masterful piano accompaniment, offering a fresh take on classic repertoire.

Commercial success

• Elemental debuted on the JazzWeek radio chart, peaking at No. 103 and maintaining a presence for over 20 weeks.

Cultural impact

• Bridgewater and Charlap’s tour behind Elemental included headline appearances at major jazz venues such as Birdland Jazz Club and the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

Critical response

• Jazzwise praised Bridgewater’s "marvel" of a voice and the duo’s "remarkably vibrant affair," noting the album’s creative reimagining of standards and the synergy between vocalist and pianist. Read full review

Michael Mayo's Fly is his follow-up to his 2021 debut album, Bones. Self-produced and recorded in just two days in January 2024, the album features pianist Shai Maestro, bassist Linda May Han Oh, and drummer Nate Smith.

Commercial success

• The album peaked at No. 6 on the JazzWeek radio chart in January 2025 and remained in the Top 20 for several weeks.

Cultural impact

• Michael Mayo launched a U.S. and European tour in support of Fly, with performances at major venues including the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival and Blue Note Jazz Club in Poznan, Poland.

• The album's deluxe edition featured collaborations with the Norrbotten Big Band, expanding Mayo's reach into European jazz circuits.

• Fly has been highlighted in jazz education circles, with Mayo's background at the New England Conservatory and the Hancock Institute of Jazz drawing attention to his innovative vocal approach.

Critical response

• The Guardian praised the album's "cleaner sound, lighter mood, and happy mix of originals and jazz standards," noting Mayo's inventive trio and his "bravura" performances. Read full review

As the name suggests, Nicole Zuraitis's debut concert album, Live at Vic's Las Vegas, was recorded live at the renowned Vic's Las Vegas jazz club, and was produced by Zuraitis and Tom Scott. The album features an all-star ensemble including Dan Pugach, Idan Morim, Keyon Harrold, and Rachel Eckroth.

Commercial success

• The album was recorded over three sold-out nights at Vic's Las Vegas, drawing significant attention from the jazz community and local press.

• Live at Vic's Las Vegas charted on the JazzWeek radio chart, reaching as high as No. 103 and maintaining steady airplay across more than 10 jazz radio stations nationwide.

Cultural impact

• The live recording at Vic's Las Vegas spotlighted the venue as a rising hub for jazz, with the album's success bringing national attention to the Las Vegas jazz scene.

• Zuraitis's ensemble featured acclaimed musicians, fostering collaboration across generations of jazz artists and elevating the profile of independent jazz releases.

Critical response

• "The album captures the energy of a live jazz performance, with Zuraitis and her band delivering both technical mastery and emotional depth throughout the set." – NPR Music Read full review

• "Zuraitis’s inventive arrangements and commanding stage presence make Live at Vic’s Las Vegas a must-hear for jazz vocal fans." – The New York Times Read full review