WDCB-FM (Glen Ellyn, IL)

Cecile McLorin Salvant - With Every Breath I Take (Nonesuch) The sheer mastery and magnificence of Cecile McLorin Salvant’s voice is simply unmatched among her contemporaries in 2026. Along with her highly-developed instrument, her eclectic song choices and playful attitude take her into territory that few other “jazz” singers tread.

Simon Moullier – Ceiba (self-produced) If you’ve heard vibraphonist Simon Moullier’s previous albums, you’ve likely heard him leading a trio. Bare bones and hard-swinging, it was immediately evident that Moullier was someone that you should be keeping an eye and an ear on. On his latest album, Ceiba, he’s included a pianist, and it has changed his sound entirely.

Matthew Hermes, longtime host of WDCB’s overnight jazz programming, is announcing his retirement after more than 23 years of spinning late night jazz, citing ongoing health concerns that have kept him off mic since March. Hermes’s mellow and distinctive voice has been a beloved fixture on the airwaves at WDCB since 2003. In recent years, he’s been one of the few overnight radio hosts in Chicago still actually broadcasting live during the wee morning hours.

Leigh Pilzer – Keep Holding On (Strange Woman Records) Baritone saxophonist Leigh Pilzer hails from Washington D.C.’s Jazz scene. If her latest album, Keep Holding On, is any indication, that scene is swinging. Organist Paul Bratcher and drummer Greg Holloway are the rhythm section on every track, but five songs have guest stars on either trumpet or trombone. Wailing right out of the gate with “Swinging at the Station,” I was eager to hear how the rest of the album would pan out.

Helen Sung Big Band – Oracles (Sunnyside) I can’t imagine that writing for, arranging for, let alone running a big band is an easy task, even for someone who might genuinely love it. Helen Sung’s latest project is just that, and it’s clear that she’s poured her heart and soul into the result, the album Oracles.

Eliane Elias – Ao Vivo (Candid Records) Eliane Elias, the fantastic Brazilian pianist and vocalist, was recorded live in San Francisco back in 2023, and the results are available for us all to hear now on the recently released Ao Vivo. Fans of Elias’ piano playing will have lots to love here, as she plays with fire in a variety of settings.

Emmet Cohen – Universal Truth (Mack Avenue) Around the offices at WDCB, we sometimes talk about “no-brainer” records…that is, records that are so solid that anyone could justify playing them on the radio. Enter pianist Emmet Cohen, and his latest record, Universal Truth. There are a few groups built off the base of Cohen and drummer Joe Farnsworth.

Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced the main stage lineup for the 2026 Chicago Jazz Festival, presented by Wells Fargo, taking place Thursday, Sept. 3, through Sunday, Sept. 6, at Millennium Park. The beloved Labor Day weekend tradition returns with four days of free performances featuring internationally acclaimed artists, celebrated Chicago musicians and rising talent.

Steve Wilson – Enduring Sonance (Smoke Sessions Records) Alto saxophonist Steve Wilson recently released his latest album, Enduring Sonance, on Smoke Sessions Records. Boasting an ensemble of Joe Locke on vibes, Renee Rosnes on piano, Jay Anderson on bass and Kendrick Scott on drums, this is a band with immense chops, impeccable taste and an impressive sense of groove.

The Blck Madonna – Between The Lines (self-produced) To be honest, I can’t tell if The Blck Madonna (yes, that spelling is intentional) is the vocalist or the band behind the album Between the Lines, but no matter, it’s one heck of a debut effort. The real star here is the music. These are seven daring arrangements of standards we’ve all heard a hundred or a thousand times before.