Destin Conrad - wHIMSY

Destin Conrad trades sleek R&B for something looser and more adventurous on wHIMSY, an alternative jazz album housed here in a gatefold jacket that suits its relaxed, late-night mood.

Known for silky, emotionally precise R&B songwriting, Conrad surprised plenty of listeners in 2025 by turning toward live instruments and improvisational warmth. The album was cut quickly in Los Angeles, and that speed gives it a spontaneous, in-the-room feel, the sound of a singer and a band finding the groove together rather than polishing every edge.

He brought serious company along, including saxophonist and producer Terrace Martin, trumpeter Keyon Harrold, songwriter James Fauntleroy and jazz vocalist Vanisha Gould. On "wASH U AWAY" with Martin, his feathery voice floats over the band with ease, and across the record the arrangements give him plenty of air, moving between hazy ballads and loose, swinging grooves that feel made for small rooms and low lights.

He later brought these songs to NPR's Tiny Desk, and the album's charm is exactly that intimacy: a gifted vocalist stretching out, taking risks and clearly enjoying himself.

For R&B fans curious about jazz, or jazz fans looking for a fresh voice, wHIMSY is a rewarding detour, and the gatefold sleeve gives it a suitably handsome home.