WDCB-FM (Glen Ellyn, IL)

The Greg Abate Quartet – In the Moment (Summit Records) Saxophonist Greg Abate outdid himself for his new album, In the Moment. He put together a rock-solid quartet with Bill O’Connell on piano, Harvie S on bass and Steve Johns on drums. They’re a hard-swinging unit, and their enthusiasm is evident throughout these nine tracks. “The Little Men” and “Kerry’s Song” are two sambas that stand out and really make the album pop. “In the Moment” is the disc’s ballad, and it is lovely.

Ulysses Owens, Jr. – Kind of Grunge (Cellar Music) A couple of years back, you might have noticed me playing a down-to-earth and hard swinging version of Nirvana’s "Heart Shaped Box" here and there.

Ron Carter & Yotam Silberstein – Duets (Jojo Records) It’s amazing to hear that even at 89 years old, Ron Carter’s still got it. He’s still swinging, still inventive, and still driving people around him to make great music. Paired with guitarist Yotam Silberstein, the two of them make for a potent duo on their recently released album, Duets.

The Chicago Jazz Festival, a Labor Day weekend tradition, returns to Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center to celebrate all forms of jazz through free, high-quality music programming. Over the course of four days, the festival continues its legacy of showcasing Chicago's vibrant jazz community alongside national and international artists to raise awareness and appreciation for one of the city's most beloved art forms - all completely free to the public.

Ali Ryerson – The Ali Ryerson Quartet (ACR Music) Flautist Ali Ryerson is back in 2026 with a new album, called simply The Ali Ryerson Quartet. Ryerson’s always been a great player, so I was excited to hear her in action again. For her latest effort, she recruited Larry Ham for piano duties, she brought in Lou Pappas to play bass, and Tom Melito’s sitting at the drums.

Elias Haslanger – Legacy (Cherrywood Records) Texas based tenor saxophonist Elias Haslanger has long been a proponent of swinging, greasy, in the pocket ensembles, like his Church on Monday group. On Legacy, he’s put together a potent bunch of players and they swing just as hard as ever. He’s joined by Mike Sailors on the trumpet, Andy Langham on piano, Ryan Hagler on bass and Daniel Dufour on drums.

Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein & Bill Stewart – Rhombus (Smoke Sessions) The trio of Larry Goldings (organ), Peter Bernstein (guitar) and Bill Stewart (drums), has been around for as long as I can remember, and almost certainly before that, too. Their latest album for Smoke Sessions, Rhombus, is another reminder of why they’re such a beloved group.

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.