Jazz is a world of endless possibilities - from improvisation and unique instrumentation, to fusion of different genres, cultures, and collaboration between artists around the world. Even though it's more than 100 years old, we still find jazz particularly exciting today through the original elements that each artist brings into it - electronic beats, synthesizers, samples, ambient textures, hip-hop, spoken word, or just the artist's own unique personality - you name it, it can become jazz.
We want to spotlight 15 artists who we think shape the sound of today's nu/contemporary jazz (or jazztronica, electro jazz, call it however you like) and keep us excited for each new release (in no particular order of importance, numbers, or how much we love them). If that's your first time discovering them, happy listening, and you can thank us later.
But first things first, let's go back to the basics.
What is jazz music?
Jazz is a genre of music that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the African-American communities with roots in blues, ragtime, spirituals, hymns, marches, and dance music. It was often used as a form of honest self-expression and rebellion against the oppression and discrimination of those communities at the time.
Over the years, jazz developed a lot, incorporating elements of swing rhythms, blue notes, complex harmonies, musicals, popular songs of the time, and different styles of jazz emerged, such as swing, dixieland, bebop, hardbop, big band, modal jazz, cool jazz, free jazz, Latin, Afro-Cuban, and more. The most important characteristics of jazz are improvisation, swing, rhythm, harmony, and, most importantly, the feel and passion. Among the key figures who shaped the jazz of the 20th century are George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Betty Carter, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, Lester Young, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, and many more.
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Sounds like a potential new playlist - "essential jazz records that everyone needs to know".
What is contemporary jazz?
The jazz of today is a broad and continuously evolving genre, so it's almost impossible to place it in a single frame. However, contemporary jazz could be represented by the jazz music from the late 20th century onwards that fuses elements from other genres like funk, rock, hip-hop, electronica, and world music. Key features of contemporary jazz include genre blending, rhythmic experimentation (odd time signatures, polyrhythms, rhythm shifts), improvisation and more expanded instrumentation (synthesisers, samples, effects, processors, as well as world instruments).
Nu jazz definition
In simplest terms, nu jazz is a blend of jazz and electronica, and also emerged in the last decades of the previous century. It's also known as e-jazz, electro jazz, jazztronica, future jazz, or jazz house, even though all these terms could be perceived slightly differently by people.
We have a playlist just for that, so feel free to explore as much as you like. In case you use other streaming platforms, you can find our jazz of today playlist here.
15 upcoming nu/contemporary jazz artists to keep on your radar in 2026
The list we came up with is mostly based on personal preferences and who we have on rotation these days. We also looked into how active these artists are and tried to have a mix of newcomers and people who are already making a splash. There are so many more talented artists we didn't get to include, but we hope this is a great gateway into the world of new jazz for you.
- Venna
- corto.alto
- Momoko Gill
- Salin
- Moses Yoofee Trio
- VLADKO
- Omasta
- Yoni Mayraz
- Nubya Garcia
- Jazzbois
- Don Glori
- Happy Garden
- jerk
- Jemima Whyte
- Blair / Huber
Venna
Venna is certainly one of the most talked-about artists on this list. His debut album, MALIK, released in 2025, shot the London-based producer and saxophonist up on everyone's list. The Grammy-winning artist and frequent Yussef Dayes collaborator is a man of many talents. Besides being an exceptional saxophonist, we were very impressed by his vocal abilities. A trait that should not be overlooked.
With contributions from Jorja Smith, Cari, Leon Thomas, Smino, MIKE, and his own voice woven throughout, MALIK unfolds as a space to drift, reflect, and reconnect. The record is further enriched by an expansive lineup of musicians, including Rocco Palladino, Elijah Fox, AoD, J Warner, Marco Bernardis, and longtime creative partner Yussef Dayes.
One of the reasons why we believe Venna's prime spot on this list is because he manages to reach out and bring in fans from other genres into jazz, and while his music employs influences way beyond the genre, it is a great gateway for new fans of the music to fall in love with the dynamics and range of jazz, making Venna a must-have on our modern jazz artists of 2026 list.
In case you wonder, yes - MALIK was on our Essential Albums of 2025 list.
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corto.alto
Liam Shortall, under the artist alias corto.alto, is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and future jazz producer from Glasgow. Distinct for his music are his amazing trombone solos, funky danceable grooves, and collaborations with some great featured artists, but also his killer bandmates.
With his debut album Bad With Names, he was shortlisted for the iconic Mercury Prize (2024), won "Best Album" at the Scottish Jazz Awards, and won "Act Of The Year" at the Jazz FM Awards (2025), public vote with Ezra Collective and Nubya Garcia the other two nominees.
In the last couple of years, he's been keeping very busy with touring, selling out shows, and playing festivals throughout the UK and worldwide. I have had the pleasure of catching him play a couple of times, and I can assure you it's been great fun.
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Momoko Gill
Momoko Gill is a self-taught drummer, composer, singer, and songwriter. Growing up between Japan, the US, and the UK, London is where she discovered her musician self and where she is currently creating. Approaching her music with pure honesty and openness to surprises and unexpected directions, what inspires her most is the natural world surrounding us, and the moments a person opens up their heart.
Her debut album Momoko was released last month, full of raw emotionality and experimental attitude. It's so worth checking out!
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Salin
Salin is a Thai-born, Canada-based drummer, producer, and composer. Her current sound explores the enchanting sounds of Northeast Thailand and marries it with the 70s psychedelia of West Africa, all through the lens of a modern soulful production, exploring themes of identity, spirituality, and humanity.
Working with both local Thai and Canadian musicians, Salin has brought together elements of East and West in the form of her latest full-length album, Rammana, which was nominated for Global Music Album of the Year at the 2026 Juno Awards (the Canadian equivalent of the US Grammys).
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Moses Yoofee Trio
Having grown up in Potsdam and Berlin, Moses Yoofee has long been active in the German jazz scene, described as "young jazz genius" by Germany's Tagesspiegel at age 14. The trio came together in 2020 after Moses met Roman Klobe (bass) at Berlin's Jazz Institute, and Roman suggested they jam with his friend Noah Fürbringer (drums) - "It felt really good. Instant love!" - Moses shares. They won the 2024 German Jazz Prize’s prestigious Live Act of the Year award. Their goals, as they described, are “emotions, moments, and bangers”.
Their debut full-length album MYT was out in February last year, recorded over 10 days at Glaswald studios, in the countryside outside of Stuttgart. Since their album release, they've been touring all over the world, with some exciting upcoming festival appearances this summer.
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VLADKO
Vladislav Michev, VLADKO, stands as a luminary among Bulgaria's contemporary musicians, showcasing his virtuosity on trombone, bass trumpet, flugelhorn, and a multitude of other instruments with a career spanning various genres, including jazz, funk, and fusion. Since 2013, he has been a pivotal figure in the BNR Big Band and Brass Association Big Band, while simultaneously contributing his talents to diverse projects such as Funky Miracle, A3ck, and Bobo & The Gang.
His latest EP, Synergy, was released in January on Stereofox Records. "
The title of the EP, Synergy, draws inspiration from the idea that when talents and energies come together, they create something far more colorful, distinctive, and unique. I wanted to get together some of the most talented people around me and see what we can do together. To channel this collective energy into something different."
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Omasta
Within a very short time, five young musicians from Krakow, Poland, performing under the name Omasta, have taken the Polish and European jazz scenes by storm. Their sound blends jazz with influences from hip-hop and street culture, driven by a powerful rhythm section and enriched with trumpet, saxophone, and flute. The name Omasta comes from a regional Krakow dialect word meaning “fat added to food for flavor.” It’s a fitting metaphor: the group’s music is saturated with thick drums and deep, heavy bass.
Despite their short time together, Omasta has already performed all across Poland, as well as internationally, including appearances at the Jazz Cade, Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, AB in Brussels, and the Gent Jazz Festival in Belgium. They have also supported the legendary hip-hop group Slum Village.
Omasta released their debut album Jazz Repport from the Hood last October. It's a collectively composed album immersed in the textures of city streets and everyday urban life, beautifully capturing the energy from the live recording room, as well as their youthful energy, ready to take on new stages and further explore new sounds and the world.
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Yoni Mayraz
UK-based keyboardist and producer Yoni Mayraz is another important name, shaping the sound of today's jazz.
His latest album, Dogs Bark Babies Cry, released last September, stands for "the moment when a commotion takes place. Dogs start barking, babies cry. It’s an ominous sound, yet a natural one. One that can be heard from afar. It’s full of feeling. The whole album is an exploration of internal tension - fears and desires, beauty and decay", explains Mayraz.
Recorded at the legendary Konk Studios in North London, the album captures a unique moment in time. Making full use of the dark wooden acoustics and vintage gear, each track was recorded live, with different guest artists joining across the session. The result is a bold statement, built on tightly structured compositions and grooves, weaving together elements of 90s hip-hop, Middle Eastern textures, and electronic soundscapes, while echoing the sound of the great 70s jazz-funk trios.
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Nubya Garcia
Nubya Garcia is a multi-award-winning tenor saxophonist, bandleader, and composer hailing from the vibrant UK jazz scene.
Her sophomore album, Odyssey, released in September 2024, is a majestic feat that blends orchestral arrangements with R&B, jazz, and dub, featuring Joe Armon-Jones (keys), Daniel Casimir (bass), Sam Jones (drums), and guest appearances by Esperanza Spalding, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and more. It's a deeply personal offering about her journey to falling back in love with musical composition over the years since the release of her debut album Source in 2020.
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Jazzbois
Jazzbois are a jazz fusion trio based in Budapest, Hungary, with Bencze Molnár on keys, Viktor Sági on bass, and Tamás Czirják on drums. Some of their notable performances include the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival, ESNS and Cross The Tracks.
Their latest album, Montreal, was released only a week ago and was recorded in front of a small audience at Studio Fast Forward, also available as a live video recording on YouTube. After performing at the Montreal Jazz Festival in June 2025 in Canada, Jazzbois were approached by Rémi Hermoso to record the live session. The result was this intimate, honest, piano-driven performance, a celebration of music and human connections.
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Don Glori
Producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, his artist name is an anagram for Gordon Li from Melbourne, Australia, now based in London.
His third album, entitled Paper Can’t Wrap Fire, released in May 2025, is a kaleidoscopic genre-surfing odyssey that brings together the worlds of jazz, soul, and funk. Feeling both contemporary and classic, familiar yet novel, it’s an assured third release that sees an artist in full flight, showcasing his creative prowess and the uniqueness of their musical voice. It’s an album enriched with more soul, R&B, and funk-oriented songs than his previous jazz-rooted productions, yet there’s still plenty of jazz material for those familiar fans of Don's earlier works. The title comes from an old Chinese proverb, roughly translated as "you can’t deny the truth". “A lot of the songs are in some way about truth-seeking, observations and the masks you put on to deal with life (hence the cover art),” Don mentions.
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Happy Garden
Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Happy Garden fuses elements of nu jazz, afro rhythms, and beautiful soundscapes into immersive sonic landscapes. With rich instrumentation and a spirit of exploration, Happy Garden invites their listeners into a meditative, groove-driven experience that's both grounding and uplifting.
Their debut EP HAPPY GARDEN dropped just a couple of weeks ago and is packed with so much energy, positivity, and some amazing playing. If you're in London, I'd also definitely recommend keeping an eye out for their gigs - I promise you'll be dancing all night long and won't want to leave!
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jerk
Jerk is one of those rare projects that doesn’t just sit within the modern jazz landscape, but it quietly bends it out of shape. The New York-based composer and bandleader has carved a sound that feels deeply intentional yet instinctively loose, where jazz fluency collides with funk grit, psychedelic haze, and the textural curiosity of experimental electronics.
What makes Jerk stand out (and we all agreed on that) was the existence of this beautiful cinematic thread running through all of his music, influenced as much by jazz and all of its specifics as hip hop and soul music. There's this feeling is purpose deeply engraved in his music, making him an artist we had the spotlight.
We had the pleasure of interviewing jerk on Stereofox towards the end of 2025, something I highly recommend checking out.
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Jemima Whyte
Jemima Whyte is a name you’re about to hear more and more often. A Northern rep, now based in London, she’s already played some impressive stages, including Ronnie Scott’s, The Jazz Cafe, and Love Supreme Festival, alongside her band, featuring an all-female horn section.
Her debut EP Joy Grows sounds just like its name - joyful, groovy, and vibrant. The perfect addition to your sunny day, or, if it’s not sunny outside, her music will take care of that.
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Blair / Huber
If you're looking for a transcendental jazz experience, look no further than Blair / Huber - a project that sees saxophonist Darius Blair and guitarist Niko Huber's creative synergy. While the duo has just one EP under their belt, the collaboration is uncanny, and that's because of the decade the two have spent playing together, honing their craft.
What makes IN A NEW ORDER stand out is the beautiful usage of empty space in their music. Something that's not very common for jazz. A prime example of how modern jazz can keep that classic flair while adding a modern twist, especially from ambient and drone music.
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If you've made it this far, well done, and thank you for supporting upcoming artists! Hope you have an amazing time discovering their music.
With love,
Stereofox
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