Blue-in-Green:PODCAST #144: Germana Stella La Sorsa

Welcome to Episode #144 of the Blue-in-Green:PODCAST which this week sees Imran connect with Italian singer, songwriter and producer, Germana Stella La Sorsa.

In celebration of her third full-length album, Germana teams up with acclaimed London guitarist Tom Ollendorff for 'After Hours' — a sublime six-track duos project. Featuring reinterpretations of classics like The Beatles' 'Because' alongside a reinterpretation of a past La Sorsa release, 'In Time and (S)Pace', the record is a striking showcase of Germana's vocal finesse and expressive range. Whether soaring alongside a single guitar or fronting larger ensembles as on her previous releases, 'Vapour' (2021) and 'Primary Colours' (2023), Germana continues to captivate with artistry and intention. 'After Hours' marks a beautiful evolution in her sound — intimate, warm and engaging.

We're incredibly grateful for Germana's time and generosity in this conversation, which explores her artistic journey so far, the inspirations behind 'After Hours', and her admiration for artists like Gretchen Parlato and George Benson.  It's a thoughtful, inspiring listen for fans of vocal jazz, musical collaboration and fearless creativity.

To explore 'After Hours', please feel free to visit the album's Bandcamp page:

Blue-in-Green Sessions · Blue-in-Green:PODCAST_#144_Germana Stella La Sorsa

:n-the-m:x | June 2025

Welcome to our monthly mix series with each episode spotlighting 10 tracks that we were particularly excited about across various shows on Blue-in-Green:RADIO. This month showcases a selection providing a near 40-minute excursion from eclectic R&B, some sublime jazz along with some dance and lush electronica selections to round out the mix.

Music this month comes courtesy of...

'Forever Ago' by Hyper Battle (Growroom Productions)

'Give Me Your Love' by Soul Sugar Meets Dub Shepherds featuring Jolly Joseph (Gee Recordings)

'We Go Out of Our Way' by Rodina (Rodina Music)

'The Writing's on the Wall' by The 7:45s (LRK Records)

'Many Changes' by Magro featuring Telemakus

'Jealousy' by Leona Berlin

'Not Mine' by Alessia Piermarini

'Confronting' by Bastian Menz Trio (A.MA Records)

'Maczużnik' by Błoto (Astigmatic Records)

:n-the-m:x is exclusive to our Mixcloud channel so be sure to check back at the end of every month for future round-ups.

'Spinning' by The 7:45s

After a run of fantastic singles including 'Too Little Too Late' and 'The Writing's on the Wall', The 7:45s now unveil their debut full-length through LRK Records in 'Spinning'.

The Manchester-based collective, founded by songwriter, bassist and band leader Sam Flynn present an exceptional take on contemporary soul music - one that pays loving homage to the classic stylings of the genre ranging from stomping Northern Soul production to dance-floor-inspired disco to smooth and sublime neo-soul.  

Imaginatively named after 7-inch vinyl, The 7:45s are comprised of an ever-evolving line-up of musicians and vocalists who pay respectful nods towards soul music's architects but manage to present a project with a healthy dose of creativity and personality that finds the collective excitedly pushing forward to carve out a niche of their own. 

Conceived as a concept record that sees 'Spinning' embrace the thrill and excitement of a new relationship before the album's second half shifts the project's focus towards coming to terms with the heartbreak of love lost.  Songs like 'How Could You' and 'The Writing's on the Wall' - the latter featuring a notably excellent appearance from vocalist Nicole Battick - elegantly articulate those moments of remorse and self-doubt in true soul music fashion.  'The Music Always There for You' delivers as the perfect album closer.  We've been privy to the album's rollercoaster of love's ups and downs and just at the lowest point, the track's seven-minute, disco-infused workout arrives at just the right time offering that all important glimmer of light at the bottom of Pandora's Box.  Hope.

The band's website depicts their intentions as being "on a mission to produce the perfect single".  It's a wonderful thing for any band or artist to strive for, even if it does hint towards the proverbial - and perhaps unattainable - white whale.  Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah', as an example, came at the end of a five-year process which reportedly saw nearly 180 verses written and at one point saw Cohen in his underwear in a New York hotel banging his head against the floor in a desperate bid to complete the song.  It's fair to say that Cohen did in fact catch his whale.  As pertains The 7:45s - maybe they did too, but maybe that's for them to confirm.  Maybe it's a whale they never fully expect to catch up to but at the very least but at the very least, when considering 'Spinning' as a whole... by anyone's standards, they've come pretty damn close.

'Everything in Between' by Bastian Menz Trio

'Everything in Between' marks the latest release of the Bastian Menz Trio unveiling their bold new project through Italy's A.MA Records.  

The new album not only heralds Bastian Menz's debut with A.MA but the project also serves as the label's first ever live full-length which is a wonderful claim for the champions of contemporary and European jazz to now be able to make.  And it's a distinction that has been bestowed onto exceptional hands in those of Hamburg-based drummer, Menz.

As an artist who likes to embed himself in varied surroundings and ensembles, Menz appears to thrive off of the company of others - whether they comprise members of his trio, the Bastian Menz Quartet or the soul fusion outfit The KAYD Project - Menz attributes much of his performances and collaborations to the art of improvisation as much as to his esteemed compositions.  Menz's Facebook and Instagram accounts offer some fantastic insight into the wide breadth of his music knowledge and appreciation with short videos of band rehearsals, live shows and the real treats that feature Menz's solo performances on drums that feature loving odes to Max Roach as well as scintillating broken beat and groove-based improvisations.

A renowned and devoted live performer, Menz's touring schedule this year alone has seen him maintain a staggering selection of dates around Germany alongside the aforementioned line-ups which makes the release of 'Everything in Between' all the more appropriate.

Menz is joined by two incredible artists in acclaimed bassist Reuben Rogers - a solo artist in his own right and a musician who has recorded on over seventy albums alongside names including Charles Lloyd and Joshua Redman - and then there's saxophonist and highly-decorated band leader Konstantin Herleinsberger who can lay claim to work as part of the NDR Big Band as well as helming his own projects.

Recorded Live at the comparatively new concert hall of the University of Music and Drama in Hamburg, the JazzHall's exquisite surroundings would no doubt have offered an elegant backdrop to those fortunate enough to have been in attendance, 22nd March 2024.  Showcasing the trio's boundless talents over the album's nine compositions, listeners are treated to a warm and intimate performance that transports each of us to Hamburg's JazzHall with these phenomenal musicians creating solely for our listening pleasure.

As veritable masters of their craft, Menz, Rogers & Herleinsberger prove equally adept at captivating audiences through their more spirited numbers like 'Confronting' and 'Taking a Trip' as well as they're each able to sweetly serenade during the more affectionate pieces like 'Emily' and the album's title track.  The album is packed with healthy doses of band solos and some exhilarating interplay particularly between Menz and Rogers during the latter half of 'Linz Shuffle'.

'Everything in Between' sets the bar incredibly high for A.MA's future forays into live recordings.  The project proves to be an exceptional record that moves beyond merely a performance and more towards a conversation.  One that listeners will be grateful to have been part of.

International Jazz Day 2025

Our celebrations for International Jazz Day took place Sunday 27th April this year and we were incredibly proud to present an extra special series of shows to celebrate our unwavering affections for the genre with the team showcasing new and innovative global jazz music and artists while paying homage to the genre's icons, architects and labels.

You can now catch-up on every show we aired for the day via the following links and re-live the celebrations at your leisure.  We'd like to extend a massive thank you to the phenomenal Blue-in-Green:RADIO team who went above and beyond, delivering some spectacular shows!

Yve's Joy (& Jazz) ::: An inspired selection celebrating the joys of big band ensembles from around the world including selections from #FrederikLundin #OdenseJazzOrchestra #TobiasHoffmannJazzOrchestra #KathrineWindfeldBigBand #GardNilssensSupersonicOrchestra #KarmenRoivassepp #AarhusJazzOrchestra #BeatsAndPiecesBigBand #IgmarThomas #ReviveBigBand #BillLaurance #WDRBigBand.

The Illicit Grooves Radio Show ::: Returning to Blue-in-Green:RADIO for our contribution to International Jazz Day, Bob Hill has created the Free Movement mix for a one-off broadcast of The Illicit Grooves Radio Show. A mix that focuses on independent labels and is designed to recognise the internationalist message of Herbie Hancock's annual celebration of Jazz; the Free Movement Mix reflects the musique san frontieres ethos of free ideas, cultural exchange and artistic cross-pollination that occurred when the peoples and the beats and rhythms of the global majority travelled from its West African birthplace to every continent of the globe." - Bob Hill.

Cosmic Radio ::: DJ, producer and Oioji Records founder - and host of Cosmic Radio - As Valet delves into the catalogue of Mainstream Records for an exquisite selection of jazz-filled bliss.

UK Vibe ::: Steve Williams from the revered UK Vibe unlocks the treasures gracing the UK Vibe offices with fantastic new music from #MurielGrossmann #MilosColovic #AMARecords #Jaubi #NadavSchneerson #NnennaFreelon #BoyceJusticeGriffith #NigunQuartet #SashaBerliner

Futuristica Music ::: DJ, producer, Futuristica Music founder and Crates is High proprietor Simon S showcases an exquisite tribute to the music of saxophonist and flautist #JoeHenderson with a 2hr selection that runs the gamut of his musical treasures.

Twistedsoul ::: Colin Smith gives us another insight in to the delectable selections that comprise his Twistedsoul with music covering a typically broad sonic palette including cosmic soul, jazz fusion, ambient folk and left-field hip-hop.

New Perspectives in Jazz ::: Imran presents a special episode of New Perspectives in Jazz exploring music that finds its happy place within the realms of electronica-tinged jazz with some fantastic music from #IshmaelEnsemble #Chiminyo #BlackFlower #KAU #MAGRO #7thSENSE #LOrage #CollettivoImmaginario and more...

New Jazz RoundUP ::: June 2025

'Sou Makuri' by Shinken Shobu

Shinken Shobu marks the dawn of an exciting new era for harpist Stina Hellberg Agback.  Having immersed herself within Sweden's jazz contingent for years now, Agback's affections for the genre have long benefited from numerous creative and collaborative avenues that have showcased her indelible talent and vision.  Groups and ensembles including SHA3K, Hexabit and Trilobit have demonstrated creative takes on contemporary jazz, and while the quartet Alice, John och jag pays tribute to classics by John and Alice Coltrane, her duo project with Leo Svenson Sander, Namna, carves out a new and distinctly unique direction.  As a project that finds inspiration from Japanese ideologies ('Sou Makuri' meaning 'full resolution'), Shinken Shobu strives to represent the vast array of Agback's musical make-up, pulling everything together for a more unhindered perception of her artistry as opposed to perhaps distributing characteristics and styles amongst the various aforementioned groups.  It's an incredibly bold and imaginative position that lovingly exists within contradiction - while 'Shinken Shobu' translates to 'dead serious', the album conversely thrives from its free-spirited approach, and while the album falls within an Agback-composed and helmed project, it is still one that inspires interplay and creative freedoms from its performers.

'Impermanence' by Yotam Ben-Or Quartet

'Impermanence' marks the third full-length release from harmonica player Yotam Ben-Or.  Now based in New York for over ten years, having moved over from Jerusalem as part of his studies, Ben-Or has become ingratiated within the city's thriving hot-bed of innovative and contemporary jazz.  Renowned for his soulful and intimate playing, Ben-Or can boast a litany of awards, accolades and distinctions to his name that continue to see his star rise notably since the release of his debut album 'Sitting on a Cloud' back in 2018.  With pianist Gabriel Chakarji and bassist Alon Near having served as long-standing collaborators to Ben-Or's quartet from the debut project to today's 'Impermanence' - a quartet now rounded-out with drummer Alon Benjamini - much of Ben-Or's music revolves around connections.  From Ben-Or's personal connections with the music he composes and performs to the interpersonal connections he forges alongside his band members enabling them all to freely create together within a trusted collaborative space.  'Impermanence' is brought to loving life by a series of fantastic pieces from the playful 'Milonga Gris' to the spirited 'René' and the lush album closer 'Trying' featuring vocalist Esther Quansah.

'Beech' by Cecilie Strange

Cecilie Strange has become incredibly skilful at creating profound and deeply personal relationships through her music - intimate snap shots that invite listeners to see the world and, in many ways, her own self through the lens of her beautiful compositions and performances.  While Strange's previous offering 'Beyond' (2023) marvelled at the divinity of our existence and conceptualized the capricious journey we each undergo from our first day to our last, 'Beech' regards the relationship between "nature and memory".  A storyteller at heart, the six tracks that comprise 'Beech' serve as a selection of elegant aural recountings of places and experiences of personal significance.  Continuing Strange's long-running association with April Records - who have housed projects from the saxophonist dating back over the last yen years - 'Beech' once again finds Strange in familiar and flawless company alongside pianist Peter Rosendal, bassist Thommy Andersson and drummer Jakob Høyer who have consistently served as the core unit for past projects 'Beyond', 'Blikan' (2021) and 'Blue' (2020).  Vocalist Josefine Cronholm who also provided sublime support for 'Beyond' once again wows with vocal contributions on three of the album's tracks including the exquisite 'On the Tip of Sólheimajökull'.

'The Cave' by Marilyn Crispell, Thommy Andersson & Michala Østergaard-Nielsen

Spearheaded by revered drummer and band leader Michala Østergaard-Nielsen, 'The Cave' represents a trio of top-tier and international jazz talent coming together to release their debut collaborative project, released through ILK Music.  Østergaard-Nielsen creates some undeniable magic alongside her cohorts for this project including US pianist Marilyn Crispell and Swedish bassist Thommy Andersson (marking his second entry into our article following on from his contribution to Cecilie Strange's aforementioned 'Beech').  Much of this project's brilliance rests within its seemingly diametrically opposed ideologies - conceived as an album that showcases the players' incredible compositional talents while also wholly embracing the freedom of improvisation that each of the artists are afforded as well.  It's a fascinating concept to grasp, the idea that two things that would naturally appear on differing ends of a scale can actually be more intertwined that it may appear - one could consider the idea of "order" and "chaos" as opposing entities but in reality, you need one to actually achieve the other.  'The Cave' doesn't just explore the tension between organisation and fluidity — it transforms that very tension into sound with each track becoming its own conversation where composition lays the groundwork and improvisation brings it to life.  It's in this space that the trio's music resonates most profoundly resulting in a compelling listen that reimagines the consequences of when design and chance meet on equal terms.

'Nina Feldgrill' by Nina Feldgrill

Marking the debut album from Nina Feldgrill, the self-titled release through Quinton Records presents an incredibly bold and inspired project from the Vienna-based bassist and composer.

As a highly-decorated and highly-educated artist, Feldgrill's path has already brought so many notable successes her way from having been awarded the Oe1 Jazz Scholarship in 2024, as well as having achieved incredible success at the Austrian Jazz Awards for Best Newcomer in that same year.  With a bachelor degree already under her belt from the Musik und Kunst Privatuniversität der Stadt Wien and also finding herself on track to achieving her masters at the JAM Music Lab Private University, Feldgrill's passions in jazz find her on a set path of perpetual exploration.  Feldgrill's dynamic and unparalleled vision presents a genuinely sublime and wholly unique perspective for her music - an ideology captured perfectly through this release and one that pays due homage to the litany of collectives and ensembles that she has found herself attached to over the years.

Nina Feldgrill has consistently embraced the concept of collaboration - the ability to create alongside varying arrangements of musicians and to celebrate that moment through music that proves a unique experience to each artist within that space.  YouTube features an excellent hour-long video dated from 2020 that showcases Feldgrill on bass alongside Lili Maljoc on vocals and Katarina Kochetova on piano and vocals as they celebrate their affections for US pianist Robert Glasper under the guise of Ladies in Blue.  It's a video and performance that proves thrilling viewing and further demonstrates Nina's versatile approach when it comes to her music.  

With so many collectives and ensembles to her name, the release of Nina Feldgrill's debut album finds an inspired way to celebrate some of those key relationships and dynamics that have helped to define her career to date by fully introducing listeners to her phenomenal range as an artist and composer.  Comprised of nine compositions, the album is ingeniously divided amidst three different ensembles that ultimately cater to the varying facets of her musical make-up: Wind's Whispers, river and Feldgrill2. 

Fronted by Iranian vocalist Saba Robatjazy, Feldgrill's bass forms a key part of the Wind's Whispers quartet which also finds her compositions catering to a more accomplished and global perspective beautifully captured through 'Blue', 'Shadows' and 'One Day'.  While as co-founder of the river four-piece alongside saxophonist Robert Unterköfler, the ensemble embraces more improvisational and free-spirited styles within contemporary jazz generating strong album highlights with 'Turn Left', 'Nobody Wins for Long', 'Hope in Despair' and 'Dear Master'.  Feldgrill2 comes with the added distinction of Nina with the opportunity to perform alongside her father, renowned Austrian bassist Werner Feldgrill, in an ensemble that further boasts the inclusion of Cuban percussionist Nelson Williams Herrera who adds a further dynamic layer to the Feldgrill-helmed sextet.

Nina Feldgrill's debut is not merely an introduction — it is a declaration.  Across its shifting ensembles and tonal palettes, the album captures an artist deeply attuned to both the collective and the personal, the structured and the free.  It's a sensational project and one that solidifies her name as a compulsory voice for jazz today.