Over the span of two decades, London’s Jazzman Records’ remarkable Spiritual Jazz compilation series has been uncovering and celebrating deep, esoteric jazz from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, with each volume often focusing on a different region, theme, or influential label. For its latest installment, Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind the Iron Curtain, the label ventures deeper than ever into the hidden world of Cold War-era jazz from the Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe.

Released in two parts, this brilliant new release includes rare and often overlooked recordings created under the unique and challenging social and political conditions in the region during the Cold War period of 1962-1988. The 29-track compilation features artists and ensembles from countries such as the former USSR, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and other Eastern Bloc nations, highlighting the creativity and resilience of musicians who navigated censorship and limited resources to produce innovative works. Even the most knowledgeable jazz collectors will likely find themselves stumped by the selections on these records.

With Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind the Iron Curtain, Jazzman Records continues to build on the legacy of its legendary Spiritual Jazz series by delivering one of the most compelling and insightful compilations of 2025. Don’t sleep on this one, as it seems to selling out quickly in a number of vinyl outlets!

Various — ‘Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind the Iron Curtain Pt. 1’
(Jazzman Records)

1. Collage – Halb Sirp (Bad Sickle)
2. Manfred Ludwig-Sextett – Gral
3. Krzysztof Komeda – Crazy Girl
4. Polish Jazz Quartet – Promenade Through Empty Streets
5. Vagif Mustafa-Zade – Caucasus
6. Quartet “Jazz Focus-65” – Monday Morning
7. Theo Schumman Combo – Karawane
8. Vaclav Zahradnik – Podzimní Slunce
9. Karel Velebny – Lori
10. Sevil – Mugam
11. Focus ’65 – Autumn Sun
12. Golstain-Nosov Quintet – Rosinent In Toledo
13. YU All Stars 1977 – Kosmet
14. Michael Fritzen Quartett – Rien
15. Dan Mindrila – Sonet

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Various — ‘Spiritual Jazz 18: Behind the Iron Curtain Pt. 2’
(Jazzman Records)

1. Leningrad Jazz Ensemble – Aria
2. Sh Jazz Quintet – Delilah
3. Josef Blaha Trio – Inter Mezzo Forte
4. Csaba Deseo Ensemble – Beyond The Csitári Mountains
5. Manfred Ludwig-Sextett – Skandinavia
6. Anatoly Vapirov – Mystery
7. Zbigniew Namyslowski – Piatawka
8. Andrzej Trzaskowski Quintet – Synopsis (Expression I)
9. Tomsits Quartet – Dhrupad
10. Nicolai Gromin Quartet – Corrida
11. Valery Kolesnikov, Vyacheslav Novikov, Vladimir Molotkov, Alexander Christidis – Rainbow
12. Tone Jansa – Goa
13. S+HQ – My Girl (And Other Things)
14. Pege Jazz Workshop – Hungarian Folk Song

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• Compilation
• Jazz
• Spiritual Jazz