Whether you look to the festivals and workshops, the communal aspect of jazz—or the amount of personal chemistry it requires—is a major part of its longevity. This is evident in the origin story of Nérija, a U.K. group formed at the London educational foundation and a jam session called Tomorrow’s Warriors. The septet…

Clockwise from top left: Vagabon, Pallbearer, Nérija, Tennis System, Seratones and Rocket Summer. Summer’s here, and with the season comes a tidal wave of album releases. It’s the best time of year to be a music fan, but also the most overwhelming. With so many new songs dropping every…