"We believe Jazz has infinite possibility." - JABBERLOOP

What's a Jabberloop you ask? It's Jazz, baby! The five musicians who go by the Star Wars inspired name JABBERLOOP have been playing together since 2004. After a series of Jazz albums in Japan the group just made their North American debut with the November release of "REVENGE of the SPACE MONSTER" through the Daruma Label.

Featuring Daisuke on sax, Melten on keyboard, Yuki on bass, Makoto at trumpet and Yohei banging the drums, JABBERLOOP play a varied Jazz sound to achieve, as they put it, "to make songs that people can hum easily."

"We are fans of many bands. We wanted to show that in our name so we took "mo" from the katakana pronunciation of Jim Morrison, Morrissey and Maureen Tucker combined with The Police." - Rinko

And that's how you get the name Molice, a four member rock band from Tokyo. With shades of GO!GO!7188 and an animated stage show to match, the group is about to embark on their first overseas tour to the UK on December 28.

The group's first album, "Doctor Ray" was released in 2008 and features catchy songs like Ms. Panic and Headphone. Fronted by Rinko on vocals, Yuzuru on guitar, Ikuhiro on bass and Takashi on drums, Molice gets our nod as one of the best new discoveries we've made in 2009. So come take a listen -- we're glad we did.

"Complete magic... When we connect with the audience and we are all feeling the beat together -- it's just magic -- there is no other feeling as special as that." - Miho Wada

A Japanese family living in New Zealand once hired a piano teacher for their daughter. When it turned out that he was actually a flute instructor, young Miho Wada began a musical journey that would eventually take her around the world. With influences ranging from Anime theme songs, traditional Japanese music and Cuban salsa, Miho Wada has crafted a unique international sound around her passionate flute playing.

Now joined by her bandmates Colin Hunter, John McNab and Tala 'Ofamo'oni, she is following up the release of "The Traveller" and "Traveling Bugs and Talking Shoes" early this year with their first Japanese Punk Jazz album "Postcards to Your Bed" and plans to perform at next year's SXSW in Austin, Texas.

So come take a listen to the music and story of Miho Wada and learn the answer to a most curious riddle: What animal once tried to steal her hat on the way to school?