Kirk Whalum’s “Epic Cool” Takes No. 1 on the Muzilog Jazz 40

Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science make the chart’s biggest move as Laura Mvula and Nile Rodgers arrive with the highest new entry.

The latest Muzilog Jazz 40 has a new No. 1, as acclaimed saxophonist Kirk Whalum moves into the top position with “Epic Cool,” leading another competitive cycle of music heard during Jazz

Wednesdays on Muzilog Muzik Radio.

Whalum climbs from No. 2 to No. 1, replacing Gerald Clayton’s “Cinnamon Sugar,” which moves to No. 4 after holding the top spot. The change represents more than a new chart leader; it shows just how active the upper tier of the Jazz 40 has become. Jon Fadem’s “Postcard” advances from No. 3 to No. 2. At the same time, Walter Kittle’s “Lovin’ The Jam,” featuring Gerald Albright and Nils, moves from No. 4 to No. 3. With Clayton remaining inside the Top 5, four of the previous chart’s strongest records continue to command significant airplay.

But the week's most dramatic movement belongs to Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science.

“Identity Song” Makes a Major Move

“Identity Song” rockets from No. 19 to No. 5, a 14-position leap that earns the recording Biggest Climb honors on the latest Jazz 40. The move puts Carrington and Social Science directly among the chart's leaders. It gives the Top 5 an interesting mixture of contemporary jazz voices, veteran musicianship and recordings that stretch beyond a narrow definition of the genre.

Carrington also maintains another presence on the chart with “Money Jungle,” which moves from No. 18 to No. 16. Further down, several recordings are showing significant momentum. JC Warren and Co.’s “Promises” jumps 12 positions from No. 20 to No. 8. At the same time, Garry Percell’s “Love Ballad” rises from No. 31 to No. 19. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah’s “Perspectives” also makes a strong recovery, climbing ten positions to No. 18. Natalie Cadét featuring Katisse Buckingham joins the group of major movers as “Take 5” climbs from No. 40 to No. 28.

Laura Mvula and Nile Rodgers Enter the Jazz 40

The highest debut belongs to Laura Mvula, featuring Nile Rodgers, with “Overcome,” which enters the Muzilog Jazz 40 at No. 35. The addition also reflects the musical space Jazz Wednesdays is designed to occupy. Rather than treating jazz as a closed format, the programming allows room for recordings influenced by soul, R&B, funk, fusion and other styles that share musical language with contemporary jazz.“Overcome” brings together Mvula's distinctive vocal and compositional approach with the unmistakable musicianship of Rodgers, making it a natural addition to that broader musical conversation. Ced N’ Juene’s “Grace” also makes its first appearance, entering at No. 40.

A Chart That Continues to Move

One of the more interesting developments in this edition is the extent of movement beyond the Top 10. Roberta Flack’s “You Know What It’s Like” advances eight positions to No. 27, while Mark Mixx’s “Tha Sauce” climbs six spots to No. 26. Fabian Chavez’s “Shine A Little Love” and FireBun’s “Babylon” each move five positions upward. Not every recording moved in the same direction. Gergana Velinova’s “Free” falls from No. 8 to No. 20. At the same time, Michelle Lordi’s “Poor Bird,” previously one of the chart's highest new entries, moves from No. 10 to No. 29. Those shifts illustrate an important part of the Jazz 40: chart position is not intended to function as an editorial ranking of which recordings are “best.” It reflects what is actually happening within the station's Jazz Wednesdays airplay during the measured period. That distinction allows the chart to change as programming changes.

Where Established and Independent Jazz Meet

The latest Top 40 also illustrates the range Muzilog Muzik Radio has been developing through Jazz Wednesdays. Names such as Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Roberta Flack, Kirk Whalum, Gerald Clayton, Terri Lyne Carrington, Najee, Will Downing, Nile Rodgers and Boney James exist within the same programming environment as independent and emerging artists receiving an opportunity to build measurable radio activity. That combination is increasingly central to the Muzilog Jazz 40's purpose. Rather than separating legacy, contemporary, and independent music into different worlds, Jazz Wednesdays presents those recordings as a single listening experience. The resulting chart becomes a snapshot of that ecosystem, who is gaining rotation, which songs are maintaining interest, and where new recordings are emerging.

For this cycle, the biggest headline belongs to Kirk Whalum. After sitting just beneath the top position, “Epic Cool” is now the No. 1 jazz recording on

Muzilog Muzik Radio.

And with “Identity Song” suddenly sitting at No. 5, the next Jazz 40 could look very different again.

MUZILOG JAZZ 40 — Proposed New Chart

TC	Artist	Song	LC	Movement
1	Kirk Whalum	Epic Cool	2	▲1
2	Jon Fadem	Postcard	3	▲1
3	Walter Kittle	Lovin' The Jam	4	▲1
4	Gerald Clayton	Cinnamon Sugar	1	▼3
5	Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science	Identity Song	19	▲14
6	NEXT Collective	Africa	6	—
7	S.M.V.	Thunder	7	—
8	JC Warren and Co.	Promises	20	▲12
9	Eric Knight	Exotica	5	▼4
10	Miles Davis	Catembe	9	▼1
11	Perrí	Feel So Good	11	—
12	Pieces of a Dream	Night Vision	15	▲3
13	Ricky Jones	Set It Off	17	▲4
14	Keith John	Why Don't We Try	13	▼1
15	Quincy Jones	Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song)	16	▲1
16	Terri Lyne Carrington	Money Jungle	18	▲2
17	Daryl Beebe feat. Tim Bowman	I-75	21	▲4
18	Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah	Perspectives	28	▲10
19	Garry Percell	Love Ballad	31	▲12
20	Gergana Velinova	Free	8	▼12
21	SHVŃ	LIVE WITHOUT	12	▼9
22	Special EFX	Been So Long	23	▲1
23	Vel Lewis feat. Marion Meadows	Smoovee	24	▲1
24	Fabian Chavez	Shine A Little Love	29	▲5
25	FireBun	Babylon	30	▲5
26	Mark Mixx	Tha Sauce	32	▲6
27	Roberta Flack	You Know What It's Like	35	▲8
28	Natalie Cadét feat. Katisse Buckingham	Take 5	40	▲12
29	Michelle Lordi	Poor Bird	10	▼19
30	Najee feat. Will Downing	Catch A Feelin'	22	▼8
31	Carol Albert	City Walk	27	▼4
32	Nicole Henry	Everything Is Fine	33	▲1
33	Sharon Rae North	Drive	36	▲3
34	Irreversible Entanglements	Vibrate Higher	38	▲4
35	Laura Mvula feat. Nile Rodgers	Overcome	NEW	NEW
36	Lori Nicely feat. Selina Albright	Come On Down	14	▼22
37	Art Ruprecht	Chillin	25	▼12
38	Brittany Atterberry	Cocoa Chocolate	26	▼12
39	George Howard	I Want You For Myself	37	▼2
40	Ced N' Juene	Grace	NEW	NEW

The Muzilog Jazz 40 is compiled from verified airplay during Jazz Wednesdays on Muzilog Muzik Radio. Songs are ranked by total qualifying plays during the chart period, with previous chart position used to resolve ties.

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