At The Improv Café, the guiding principle is simple but powerful: every song played is the live version. The station exclusively broadcasts Jazz, Big Band, Swing, and Vocal Jazz performed live, capturing the energy, spontaneity, and magic that studio recordings simply cannot replicate. For listeners, this means every note, every improvisation, every audience reaction is part of the experience, creating an authentic and immersive musical journey.
The year 2025 was remarkable for live jazz, marked by a series of groundbreaking album releases from both legendary artists and emerging voices. These recordings showcase the enduring vitality of live performance, from intimate club dates to major festival stages, and every track played on The Improv Café embodies that same immediacy and presence.
Notable 2025 Live Jazz Album Releases
Marcus Gilmore’s Journey to the New: Live at the Village Vanguard (Drummerslams) marked a long-awaited debut as a bandleader. Recorded at the legendary Village Vanguard, Gilmore’s performance highlights his visionary drumming, with Morgan Guerin on EWI and Emmanuel Michael on guitar, blending rhythm, texture, and improvisational daring into a cohesive and electrifying set. The album demonstrates why live jazz remains an unparalleled forum for experimentation and musical conversation.
Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s First Meeting: Live at Dizzy’s Club (5Passion Records) captured a high-energy contemporary fusion performance. With Chris Potter on saxophone, Larry Grenadier on bass, and Eric Harland on drums, Rubalcaba delivered a performance that balanced technical brilliance with emotional depth, offering listeners a masterclass in live improvisation.
In Philadelphia, Marshall Allen’s Ghost Horizons: Live in Philadelphia (Otherly Love/Ars Nova Workshop) distilled the essence of his regular performances at Solar Myth, presenting a kaleidoscopic journey through avant-garde textures and exploratory improvisation. The live recording immerses listeners in the immediacy of the moment, something that only a venue like The Improv Café could authentically convey.
Theon Cross’s Affirmations: Live at Blue Note New York (New Soil) introduced the UK tuba innovator’s club debut to a wider audience. His commanding live performance demonstrated the tuba’s expressive potential in modern jazz, blending groove, melody, and improvisational freedom. Similarly, Hiromi & Sonicwonder’s OUT THERE: Strollin’ – Live at Sony Hall (Telarc Records) showcased virtuosic interplay, pushing harmonic and rhythmic boundaries in a live concert environment.
Thelonious Monk Quartet – Bremen 1965 Live Release. December 12, 2025, marked a landmark moment for lovers of live jazz with the official release of Bremen 1965, the historic concert of Thelonious Monk Quartet, issued by Sunnyside Records. This archival recording, meticulously mastered from the original Radio Bremen tapes, brings to light a performance that has long been celebrated in jazz circles but previously inaccessible to the broader audience.
Recording and Performance Details
The concert was recorded on March 8, 1965, at Radio Bremen’s Sendesaal / Studio F. The lineup featured Thelonious Monk on piano, Charlie Rouse on tenor saxophone, and a freshly reconfigured rhythm section with Larry Gales on bass and Ben Riley on drums. This European engagement was the second stop on a major international tour that would also take the quartet to Australia and Japan, a period in which Monk was transitioning into a more exploratory, improvisational phase following his move to Columbia Records.
Listeners are treated to an unparalleled glimpse of Monk’s evolving live approach, where the music breathes with extended improvisations, playful interactions, and subtle rhythmic shifts. The quartet’s cohesion and the unique chemistry of this configuration make Bremen 1965 a vital document of Monk’s mid-1960s artistry.
Track Highlights
The 2-CD and 2-LP releases include a mix of Monk originals and classic standards, all captured live:
- Monk Originals: “Criss Cross,” “Well You Needn’t,” “Epistrophy” (two distinct takes), and “Rhythm-a-ning”
- Standards: “Sweet and Lovely,” “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You,” “Don’t Blame Me” (a solo piano feature), and “Just You, Just Me”
Each track exemplifies Monk’s live genius—the unpredictable phrasing, the harmonic daring, and the interplay between the quartet members. Extended improvisations allow the musicians to explore thematic ideas organically, a signature of Monk’s live performances that studio recordings often cannot replicate.
Availability and Formats
Bremen 1965 was released on December 12, 2025, and is available as a double CD, a 180g double LP vinyl set, and for digital streaming. The physical releases are particularly prized for the clarity and warmth that capture the acoustics of Radio Bremen’s Sendesaal, preserving the atmosphere of the live concert in every note.
For listeners tuning in to The Improv Café, this release is a perfect example of why we only broadcast live performances. Every rendition is unique, every improvisation spontaneous, and every moment brims with the electricity that only live Jazz, Big Band, Swing, and Vocal Jazz can deliver. From Monk’s deft piano touch to Rouse’s inventive saxophone lines, and the dynamic rhythm work of Gales and Riley, Bremen 1965 is a masterclass in live performance.
Chick Corea Trio’s Trilogy 3 – A Posthumous Live Masterpiece. At The Improv Café, we pride ourselves on bringing listeners the full energy and spontaneity of live Jazz, Big Band, Swing, and Vocal Jazz. Every song we play is the live version, capturing the magic, improvisation, and raw emotion that only a true performance can deliver. In that spirit, 2025 offered an extraordinary treat for jazz aficionados with the posthumous release of Trilogy 3, the final installment in Chick Corea’s celebrated trio series featuring bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade.
Release and Overview
Trilogy 3 was made available for streaming on February 28, 2025, with physical editions on CD and 180-gram vinyl following on September 12, 2025. The recordings were sourced from Corea’s last tour dates in 2019 and 2020, spanning iconic international venues across Paris, Toulouse, Oviedo in Spain, Shizuoka in Japan, and Burlington, Vermont. The album serves not only as a testament to Corea’s genius but also as a historic document capturing the trio’s live chemistry at the peak of their collaborative powers.
In December 2025, Trilogy 3 earned a nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album at the 2026 Grammy Awards, reaffirming the enduring influence of Corea’s live performances and the trio’s impeccable synergy.
Performance Highlights and Tracklist
The album features eight extended live tracks, each a masterclass in improvisation and interaction:
- Humpty Dumpty (Live in Burlington, VT, 2019) – A dynamic opener, filled with Corea’s signature harmonic creativity and McBride and Blade’s propulsive interplay.
- Windows (Live in Paris, 2020) – This performance marked the first trio recording of this classic composition since 1968, offering a fresh and exploratory interpretation.
- Ask Me Now (Live in Paris, 2020) – A delicate yet intricate homage to Thelonious Monk, performed with extraordinary nuance and live sensitivity.
- You’d Be So Easy to Love (Live in Toulouse, 2020) – A swinging, improvisation-rich take on the Cole Porter standard, brimming with spontaneous musical dialogue.
- Trinkle Tinkle (Live in Oviedo, Spain, 2020) – A showcase of technical brilliance, this live version emphasizes intricate rhythms and interactive energy.
- Scarlatti: Sonata in D Minor K9, L413 Allegro (Live in Paris, 2020) – Corea’s jazz-classical synthesis comes alive, demonstrating the trio’s versatility in a live setting.
- Spanish Song (Live in Paris, 2020) – Evocative and vibrant, this performance captures the trio’s ability to weave melodic storytelling with improvisational freedom.
- Tempus Fugit (Live in Shizuoka, Japan, 2019) – A thrilling close to the album, blending rapid-fire runs with fluid interplay, leaving the listener energized and inspired.
Each track on Trilogy 3 exemplifies why The Improv Café exclusively broadcasts live jazz. The immediacy, the risk-taking, and the responsive dynamics of the trio are impossible to replicate in a studio setting. Listeners experience the thrill of being in the audience, feeling the pulse of the live moment, and witnessing musical conversation unfold in real time.
Availability in New Jersey
For fans in the Garden State, physical copies of Trilogy 3 were available at regional favorites such as The Sound Garden and Princeton Record Exchange through the latter part of 2025. Vinyl enthusiasts and collectors particularly appreciated the warm fidelity and immersive sound that 180-gram LPs provide, perfectly capturing the atmosphere of Corea, McBride, and Blade performing together live.
Other notable live releases included Bram De Looze’s Live at Brussels Jazz Festival (Edition x Flagey 2025), featuring a stellar quartet with Joey Baron, Thomas Morgan, and Hank Roberts; Amir ElSaffar’s New Quartet Live at Pierre Boulez Saal 2 (Maqām Records); Espen Berg’s solo piano recording The Kempen Concert; and the hard-bop energy of Trumpet Project: Live at the Keystone Korner. Experimental soundscapes were represented by Rhodri Davies in LIVE TELYN WRACHÏOD (GLASGOW 2025), highlighting the diversity of live jazz expression.
Notable 2025 Live Jazz Album Releases
- Marcus Gilmore: Journey to the New: Live at the Village Vanguard (drummerslams). A long-awaited debut as a leader, featuring Morgan Guerin on EWI and Emmanuel Michael on guitar.
- Gonzalo Rubalcaba: First Meeting: Live at Dizzy’s Club (5Passion Records). A high-energy contemporary fusion set featuring Chris Potter, Larry Grenadier, and Eric Harland.
- Marshall Allen’s Ghost Horizons: Live in Philadelphia (Otherly Love/Ars Nova Workshop). Distilled from regular gigs at the club Solar Myth in Philadelphia.
- Theon Cross: Affirmations: Live at Blue Note New York (New Soil). The UK tuba revolutionary’s first live album, recorded during his club debut in Manhattan.
- Hiromi & Sonicwonder: OUT THERE: Strollin’ – Live at Sony Hall (Telarc Records).
- Bram De Looze: Live at Brussels Jazz Festival (Edition x Flagey 2025). A quartet performance featuring Joey Baron, Thomas Morgan, and Hank Roberts.
- Amir ElSaffar: New Quartet Live at Pierre Boulez Saal 2 (Maqām Records).
- Espen Berg: The Kempen Concert. A solo piano recording.
- Trumpet Project: Live at the Keystone Korner. A hard bop live album release.
- Rhodri Davies: LIVE TELYN WRACHÏOD (GLASGOW 2025).
Archival & Historic Live Releases in 2025
- Keith Jarrett: New Vienna: At the Musikverein, 2016 (ECM), a solo piano performance.
- Cecil Taylor & Tony Oxley: Flashing Spirits (Burning Ambulance).
- Pharoah Sanders Quartet: Love Is Here (Transcendence Sounds).
- Rodrigo Amado & Chris Corsano: The Healing (Live At ZDB) (European Echoes).
- Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Two archival releases from Resonance Records: Vibrations In the Village / Live At the Village Gate and Seek & Listen / Live At the Penthouse.
- SoSaLa: 1983 – Live at Montreux Jazz Festival and Rathausplatz Bern (DooBeeDoo Records).
Archival & Historic Live Releases
2025 also offered a wealth of archival treasures. Keith Jarrett’s New Vienna: At the Musikverein, 2016 (ECM) brought a solo piano performance of unmatched nuance and subtlety to new audiences. Cecil Taylor and Tony Oxley’s Flashing Spirits (Burning Ambulance) captured the dynamic intensity of free jazz improvisation, while Pharoah Sanders Quartet’s Love Is Here (Transcendence Sounds) offered a spiritual and immersive live experience. Rodrigo Amado & Chris Corsano’s The Healing (Live At ZDB) (European Echoes) and Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s Vibrations in the Village / Live at the Village Gate and Seek & Listen / Live at the Penthouse (Resonance Records) brought historic performances back into focus. Additionally, SoSaLa’s 1983 – Live at Montreux Jazz Festival and Rathausplatz Bern (DooBeeDoo Records) showcased timeless European festival performances.
Each of these albums reaffirms why The Improv Café is dedicated exclusively to live Jazz, Big Band, Swing, and Vocal Jazz. There is a profound difference between hearing a studio track and experiencing the unpredictability and vitality of a live performance. On the station, listeners hear every nuance, from spontaneous solos to subtle audience interactions, preserving the essence of the music as it happened.
Tonight, the Live at the Village Vanguard Radio Show continues this tradition, spotlighting historic and contemporary live performances from one of the world’s most iconic jazz clubs. From Marcus Gilmore’s trailblazing ensembles to the explosive energy of Gonzalo Rubalcaba and the textural richness of Marshall Allen, listeners will experience the thrill of jazz as a living, breathing art form—completely live, completely real, and completely unforgettable.
2025 Village Vanguard Releases
- Marcus Gilmore: Journey to the New: Live at the Village Vanguard (Drummerslams). Released in May 2025 as a digital exclusive before a wider vinyl release in October. This auspicious debut features Gilmore leading a unique ensemble with two bassists and an Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI).
- Miguel Zenón Quartet: Vanguardia Subterránea: Live at the Village Vanguard (Miel Music). Released in early 2025, this album was recorded in late 2024 and received a 2026 Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album.
- Bill Stewart: Live at the Village Vanguard (Criss Cross Jazz). This 2025 release features the master drummer alongside saxophonist Walter Smith III and bassist Larry Grenadier.
2026 Outlook
- Gerald Clayton: The pianist has a residency scheduled at the Vanguard from January 20–25, 2026, leading to speculation about potential future recordings following his previous Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard project.
- Chris Potter Quartet: The quartet is scheduled for a high-profile New Year’s Eve 2026 performance at the venue, featuring Craig Taborn, Scott Colley, and Marcus Gilmore.
- Archival Reissues: Major labels like Blue Note have announced extensive 2026 reissue schedules (Tone Poet and Classic Vinyl series) that often include classic Vanguard recordings, though specific live Vanguard titles for 2026 re-release have not yet been explicitly detailed in early lineups.
Recent 2025 Performances (Potential Future Releases)
Several major artists performed live at the Vanguard in 2025, creating a pipeline for possible future releases:
- Vijay Iyer Trio: Performed in early 2025 (Jan 28–Feb 2).
- Kris Davis Trio: Performed in January 2025.
- Linda May Han Oh, Ambrose Akinmusire, & Tyshawn Sorey: Performed as a collective in June 2025.
The Improv Café Celebrates the Living Legacy of Live Jazz at The Village Vanguard. At The Improv Café, every note counts, because every song played is the live version. The station exists for one clear purpose: to showcase nothing but live Jazz, Big Band, Swing, and Vocal Jazz. Studio recordings, overdubs, and synthetic effects have no place here. Instead, listeners are transported straight into the room with the musicians, experiencing the spontaneity, energy, and interaction that define live performance.
Tonight, that ethos comes alive with the Live at the Village Vanguard Radio Show, a five-hour immersion into one of the most legendary jazz venues in the world. Located in New York City’s Greenwich Village, The Village Vanguard has been a proving ground for the greatest jazz musicians of all time. Its intimate, triangular room and low-ceilinged layout create a direct connection between the audience and the performers, allowing every brush stroke, piano flourish, and horn cry to resonate with clarity and depth.
In 2025, the Vanguard’s stage produced several notable live recordings that are already being celebrated by jazz enthusiasts. Drummer Marcus Gilmore’s debut as a bandleader, Journey to the New: Live at the Village Vanguard, introduced an innovative ensemble featuring two bassists and the Electronic Wind Instrument (EWI), capturing the kinetic energy and rhythmic daring that have become Gilmore’s signature. Miguel Zenón Quartet’s Vanguardia Subterránea combined fiery Latin jazz rhythms with the Vanguard’s intimate acoustics, earning a 2026 Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album. Bill Stewart’s self-titled Live at the Village Vanguard brought the master drummer together with saxophonist Walter Smith III and bassist Larry Grenadier for a performance that balanced technical mastery with soulful improvisation.
The Vanguard’s importance extends beyond contemporary releases. Its stage continues to inspire speculation and anticipation for 2026, with planned residencies and performances by some of jazz’s brightest lights. Pianist Gerald Clayton will lead a residency from January 20–25, sparking excitement for potential live recordings following his acclaimed Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard. The Chris Potter Quartet is slated for a high-profile New Year’s Eve performance, featuring Craig Taborn, Scott Colley, and Marcus Gilmore, promising more historic live moments captured directly from the room. Labels such as Blue Note are also preparing extensive reissues of classic Vanguard performances through their Tone Poet and Classic Vinyl series, ensuring that the legacy of live jazz at the venue remains accessible for new generations.
Throughout 2025, the Vanguard has hosted a remarkable array of performances that could inspire future recordings. Vijay Iyer Trio’s early-year residency, the Kris Davis Trio’s January performances, and the collaborative ensemble of Linda May Han Oh, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Tyshawn Sorey in June all brought unique voices to the iconic stage, creating unforgettable live experiences that resonate long after the final note.
On The Improv Café, these moments are preserved and celebrated. Listeners can hear not only the music but the room itself—the subtle interactions, the spontaneous improvisations, and the energy of the audience—all integral to what makes jazz live and alive. The station’s commitment to exclusively broadcasting live Jazz, Big Band, Swing, and Vocal Jazz ensures that every tune, from the classic standards to contemporary breakthroughs, retains the immediacy and excitement of the original performance.
Tonight’s Live at the Village Vanguard Radio Show offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience these performances as if you were sitting front-row in Greenwich Village. From the groundbreaking sounds of Marcus Gilmore to the lyrical mastery of Bill Stewart, from the Latin fire of Miguel Zenón to the forthcoming performances of Gerald Clayton and Chris Potter, listeners are invited to engage with jazz as it was meant to be heard—live, raw, and unforgettable.
For true jazz aficionados, The Improv Café remains a rare sanctuary where every note is a live note, every performance a living document, and every broadcast a journey into the heart of the music. Tune in and be transported straight to The Village Vanguard. The Improv Café remains the definitive destination for anyone who wants to experience jazz the way it was meant to be heard: vibrant, spontaneous, and always live.
