Classic Cool – Melody & Elsen

Sydney’s jazz duo Melody & Elsen prove that less really can be more. Their new jazz standards album Classic Cool captures the power of simplicity. With just vocals and double bass, they breathe new life into timeless classics.

Recorded in one day, the 8-track set feels like a live performance. It’s spontaneous, raw and deeply intimate. Melody Beck’s vocals glide through ballads and bop alike, while Elsen Price anchors everything with his rich, resonant tone.

The duo explores the romantic ache of Autumn Leaves, then swings playfully through Paper Moon. Guest pianist Van-Anh Nguyen joins for two tracks, adding elegance without overpowering the minimalist vibe.

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Saha Gnawa – Saha Gnawa

What happens when Moroccan Gnawa music collides with New York jazz fusion? You get the hypnotic debut of Saha Gnawa — a bold blend of deep tradition and forward-thinking improvisation.

Led by Gnawa master Maâlem Hassan Ben Jaafar, the group channels centuries-old trance rituals through Brooklyn’s experimental jazz scene. Tracks build from ancestral rhythms into spiraling synths and ecstatic grooves.

Jason Lindner (David Bowie’s Blackstar) adds futuristic textures on keys. The result? A trance-jazz fusion album that feels spiritual, spontaneous, and wildly fresh.

Refined in late-night jam sessions, Saha Gnawa crafts a sound described by some as North African futurism. Traditional chants transform into danceable waves. As BBC’s Gilles Peterson says, “You can’t beat a little bit of Moroccan Gnawa with a little bit of New York free jazz.”

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