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The Soulful Jazz Music We Are Listening Today
By Nina Golan
12 November, 2025 3:36pm GMT+8 / MYT

A global playlist of jazz brilliance — featuring eight artists redefining soulful expression across Asia’s 2025 live music circuit.

Asian Jazz sceneJazz artists touring AsiaJazz Festivals 2025Jose Miguel Java Jazz FestivalKenny G Asia Tourlive Jazz MalaysiaMusic Press Asia Jazz RecommendationsNubya Garcia JazzSenri Kawaguchi DrummerSoulful Jazz 2025
Jazz Recommended Playlist Music Press Asia

When the world’s stages light up, jazz pulses in the rhythm of discovery — and in 2025, Asia has become a hotspot for the genre’s soulful voices. Here are eight artists we’re excited about right now, each bringing a distinct flavour of jazz to the region, and albums worth adding to your playlist.

1. Kenny G (USA)

Legendary for his smooth saxophone melodies, Kenny G brings his “Timeless Legacy” tour to Malaysia this year.

Recommended album: Forever in Love – an enduring classic that sets the mood for relaxed evening jazz.

Kenny G latest album 2025 Music Press Asia
[Kenny G is now touring in USA and Mexico. 23 dates were announced with 5 of them scheduled at The Jazz Alley in Seattle. Kenny G’s latest album ‘Life in the Key of G is out now. Newswire by Music Press Asia]

2. Jose Miguel (Philippines)

Blending jazz, folk and big-band sounds, Jose Miguel performed at the Java Jazz Festival 2025 in Jakarta, marking his regional breakthrough.

Recommended album: 5 Star Overthinker – an expressive debut that showcases his soulful vocals and jazz sensibility.

Jose Miguel LIVE Overthinker Album Music Press Asia
[Listen to Jose Miguel album ‘5 ‘Star Overthinker’ out now. Newswire by Music Press Asia]

3. Senri Kawaguchi (Japan)

Japan’s prodigious drummer is increasingly touring East Asia, bringing virtuosic rhythm and fusion edge.

Recommended album: Antarctica – her 2025 release with bold arrangements and deep groove.

Senri Kawaguchi Japanese drummer tours Music Press Asia
[A prodigious Japanese drummer known worldwide for her incredible speed and musicality. Senri began drumming at age 5 and was recognized as one of the top 500 drummers globally by age 13. She has collaborated with jazz legends and amassed billions of views on her videos. Newswire by Music Press Asia]

4. Julian Chan (Singapore)

A respected saxophonist and composer, Julian Chan is setting the tone for modern Asian jazz with workshops and live sets.

Recommended album: The New Jersey Sessions – a recording that bridges Asian talent and Western jazz tradition.

Julian Chan and Michael Veerapen Trio live jazz Music Press Asia
[Julian Chan and Michael Veerapen Trio performed LIVE at Kuala Lumpur’s Jazz bar No Black Tie last June. Newswire by Music Press Asia]

5. Dan Costa (Brazil/Europe)

Dan Costa is an acclaimed British, Italian, and Portuguese jazz/world music pianist and composer known for blending European classical music, American jazz, Brazilian music, Portuguese Fado, and Spanish Flamenco. His music is often described as “entrancing” and reflects his mixed cultural background and appreciation for the natural environment.

Recommended album: Suite Três Rios – melodic, reflective, and globally aware.

Dan Costa World Jazz Music Press Asia
[In 2010, Daniel Greco Costa was awarded a diploma with merit at Sir Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts in the UK, but he pursued classical music studies and his strong interest in his Latin roots and jazz led him to study at the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espectáculo in Portugal, where he graduated in jazz piano with a Rotary Club award for outstanding achievement in 2015. Newswire by Music Press Asia]

6. Nubya Garcia (UK)

Garcia has announced touring dates in Japan and China after her album Odyssey.
Pitchfork

Recommended album: Odyssey – her bold, string-inflected jazz exploration.

Nubya Garcia UK Saxophonist tours Music Press Asia
[Nubya Garcia UK Saxophonist has announced 3 tour dates performing in London, Sao Paolo and Chicago. Newswire by Music Press Asia]

7. Kōh “Mister Saxman” Sripanajön (Thailand)

A standout on the Thai jazz scene, featured in major regional festivals like the Hua Hin International Jazz Festival 2025. “Kōh Mister Saxman” is the stage name of the renowned Thai jazz saxophonist Sekpol Unsamang (also spelled Sakpol Aunsumran or Mr. Sekpol Unsamran). 

Koh Mr.Saxman or Koh has been the familiar name to thai audiences and thai musicians for almost 20 years as a saxophone artist

Recommended album: Just Another Saxman – blending Thai local groove with soulful sax lines.

KOH Mr Saxman is Thailand famous saxophone player Music Press Asia
[In 2008, Koh played a role of businessperson by owning the first Jazz Music Company in Thailand called “Mellow Tone Records”. He worked together with his good producer Nueng Natthawut (Mr.Drummer) who also produced “The Sound of Saxman” album as the first album on behalf of “Mellow Tone Records”. The album was full with quality and best musicians around the world such as Darren Rahn, Mel Brown, Frank Selman and was recorded at Denver, USA. Newswire by Music Press Asia]

8. Yuri Kishimoto (Japan)


Yuri Kishimoto started out on the saxophone at the symphonic band club at the age of 13. While she went to US to study language at the age of 17, won the 2nd seat in the Kentucky Camberland Youth University Symphonic Band. In 2011, she was admitted to the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music,changed focus to jazz and studied saxophone under Bob Zung. She started to arranging in 2011 under Osamu Matsumoto, Yoshihiko Katori. She was joining Get Jazz Orchestra and picked up as a concertmistress.

Part of the jazz wave across Asia, Kishimoto appears on international festival bills this year.

Recommended album: Night Waves – a sleek, urban jazz album with Japanese subtlety.

Yuri Kishimoto Japanese Saxophone musician performs Music Press Asia
[In 2011, she entered Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, and turned her focus to jazz. She has studied under Bob Zung, and was an active member of the Get Jazz Orchestra (as Concert Mistress). She graduated from Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in 2015. Newswire by Music Press Asia]

Why These Artists Matter This Year

Each of these eight musicians is actively touring or appearing across Asia in 2025, making them accessible — and their albums ripe for discovery. They represent diverse geographies and styles: from the smooth sax of Kenny G to the rhythmic daring of Senri Kawaguchi, from the local-rooted jazz voice of Jose Miguel to the fusion experiments of Dan Costa.

How to Listen and Explore

Dive into the recommended album for each artist — they’re smart entry points.

If they’re performing near you (check Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan), go see them live — jazz thrives in live settings. Pay attention to local festivals and venues: Asia’s jazz calendar in 2025 is richer than ever.

At Music Press Asia, we believe jazz’s soulful voice is timeless — and 2025 is proving a great year to listen in.

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