We start with a soft and haunting song by American jazz trumpeter Chet Baker, recorded at a concert in Tokyo. A lugubrious piece about a man broken by grief, a time never reached, a dream never realized.

After a seven-year hiatus and a series of hit singles, the Vancouver-based mood maker Jack J released his debut album earlier this year. Permeated with Linda Fox’s saxophone, 'Clues (Part I)' is an introspective work of melancholic ambient jazz.

Estrela Acesa is a glowing Brazilian record that was on heavy rotation at home this month. Unfolding delicately, the sensual ‘Ponta de Faca’ evokes a sense of deep nostalgia accentuated by those long-gone summer days.

With a beautiful cover that perfectly captures the essence of the record, L’été suivant…, the 4th album by French quarter Limousine, swings between jazz, pop and krautrock to deliver a fine collection of feel-good, easy-listening songs. Graceful detachment and exhilarating nonchalance on ‘Columbus’.

Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Jack Adkins spent a good chunk of his life on the road, playing his music in small venues to whoever cared to listen, staying in one place for a couple of weeks before moving on to his next destination. With its reverb-laden surf guitars and funky playfulness, 'American Sunset' captures the lonesome experience of a true troubadour who had no home base for an entire decade.

Next is a light, short and honest song by Maryland musician Michael Nau. The frontman of Page France and Cotton Jones crafts reflective indie rock tinged with folk, psychedelic and vintage pop influences.

Hazy and lazy feels on this cosmic folk track coming straight out of Hawaii. It’s taken From These Shores, a project by Aloha Got Soul curators Roger Bong and Oliver Seguin that aims to shed light on forgotten treasures from the archipelago's rich musical past.

AIR’s Jean-Benoît Dunckel and Jonathan Fitousssi join forces on ‘Mirages’ for a sonic exploration of analog synthesis. Conceived with precision as part of Xavier Veilhan’s Studio Venezia project at the 57th Venice Biennale, the album features synthesizers amassed over several years, and swings from softly-played cinematic pieces to more minimalist ones.

Greg Foat and his group return to deliver once again a splendid album, maybe their most danceable to date. Teetering on the edge of jazz fusion disco boundaries and blending styles and influences from all over the place, this is a solid record all the way through. With its psychedelic penchant, ‘Electric Dreams, Pt. 1’ hit the sweet spot.

We follow up with another song from Fuga Ronto, another favorite from the same album. Languages are mixed in the classic Fuga way, and it's as strong as the previous one. A world beat.

Next is another sun-kissed record from Larry Heard, his fifth release under his most notable Mr. Fingers moniker. After a 4-year hiatus, the holy father of deep house reappeared earlier this year and dropped 10 tracks of Balearic-infused deep house and downtempo. ‘Drive’ has his iconic, warm, and atmospheric signature written all over it.

Inspired by the insignificance of man in the face of outer space and our eternal material connection to the cosmos, JB Dunckel released his third studio album Carbon in 2022, a record referencing this crucial elemental relationship. With its visceral dimension, precision and millimeter-accurate electronics, the bright lead single ‘Corporate Sunset’ is, according to the musician, a social commentary on how big corporations are changing the world and what they propose could be paradise.

Dreamy yet energizing, the opening song of the British duo’s 2014 album Only Now Forever is an absolute banger. It features waves of synthesizers and hard-driving sequences that will keep your foot tapping.

We continue with another song from Limousine’s 2014 album L’été suivant… With its motorik beat and pumping energy, it progressively stretches and ascends before engulfing you in its swirling jam and fading away.

Max Cooper keeps pushing the envelope. On his latest release Unspoken World, he once again exemplifies total control over each individual sound with unique and thickly layered compositions. ‘Ascent’ is a reflective track that guides the listener into an experience of escapism and connection to something higher.

The Smile is Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood's new project. During the lockdown, the pair enlisted Son of Kemet’s ex-drummer Tom Skinner, and in May 2022, they released their debut album A Light for Attracting Attention, to critical acclaim. ‘Free In The Knowledge’ is melancholic, devastating and as good as anything they’ve ever made. Healing music that lifts the soul.

We come full circle with Chet Baker and end with a soulful, deeply emotional rendition of one of the greatest and saddest love songs ever written. The depth and quality of his voice and horn bring you to places in your heart you may have never visited until Chet.