Jazz Reviews
-
Shirley Scott - Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank
28th Apr 2023
Our final Jazz Recording of the Week for this month is a recently unearthed live recording that showcases the Queen of the Organ at the peak of her powers.
-
Ahmad Jamal Trio, 'The Awakening'
26th Apr 2023
Underrated at the time of its release but having since gone on to be adored by jazz cats and hip-hop producers alike, this album reveals the late pianist at his most joyously creative.
-
GoGo Penguin - Everything Is Going To Be OK
19th Apr 2023
A glowing return to form for the Manchester-based trio, this time digitally manipulating their unique acoustic sonorities to tackle post-human anxieties.
-
Brandee Younger - Brand New Life
14th Apr 2023
On her gorgeous new album Brand New Life Brandee Younger moves the jazz harp into lush new territory, embracing hip-hop-inspired beats and R&B moods in her hypnotic sound world.
-
Sissoko Segal Parisien Peirani - Les Égarés
7th Apr 2023
The quartet of kora player Ballaké Sissoko, cellist Vincent Sega, saxophonist Emile Parisien, and accordionist Vincent Peirani come together to produce one of the freshest-sounding releases of the year so far.
-
Tristan Banks - View From Above
31st Mar 2023
With over 30 years of experience, drummer Tristan Banks delivers an outstanding debut recording, brimming with energy and imagination.
-
Billy Childs, The Winds of Change
24th Mar 2023
Celebrated pianist, composer and bandleader Billy Childs proves that he is still at the forefront of post-bop on his new album The Winds of Change, a collection loosely inspired by film noir soundtracks.
Featured product
The Winds of Change
Billy Childs (piano)
-
Bobo Stenson Trio, 'Sphere'
17th Mar 2023
The Swedish pianist's latest trio album showcases the band's atmospheric stylings through re-interpretations of Scandinavian composers.
-
Kendrick Scott, 'Corridors'
10th Mar 2023
The American drummer and composer scales his band back to a trio - featuring Walter Smith III and Reuben Rogers - on a set of groovy originals on his latest studio album.
-
Jason Rebello & Tim Garland, 'Life to Life'
3rd Mar 2023
Building on three decades of musical camaraderie, Life to Life is a portrait of multireedist Tim Garland and keyboardist Jason Rebello's longstanding friendship with an excellently-crafted set of intimate duets.
Featured product
Life to Life
Jason Rebello & Tim Garland
-
Dexter Gordon, 'Go!'
2nd Mar 2023
On the influential saxophonist's centenary, we revisit the much acclaimed Go!, released during his 'New York Renaissance' period.
-
Graham Collier, 'Down Another Road @ Stockholm Jazz Days '69'
24th Feb 2023
The second Graham Collier offering from My Only Desire Records is a live set showcasing an alternative take on the bassist's cult classic album Down Another Road, with a sextet band featuring Harry Beckett and Karl Jenkins.
-
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis & Shirley Scott, 'Cookin' With Jaws and the Queen'
17th Feb 2023
Released in celebration of saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis' centenary, this new set collects the short-lived but fruitful collaborative sessions by Davis and the "Queen of the Organ" Shirley Scott.
-
Joe Chambers, 'Dance Kobina'
10th Feb 2023
The American drummer, vibraphonist and composer finds familiarities between jazz and the music of Latin America & Africa on his latest Blue Note album, and third as bandleader.
Featured product
Dance Kobina
Joe Chambers
-
Eyolf Dale, 'The Wayfarers'
3rd Feb 2023
Norwegian pianist Eyolf Dale makes a second outing with his trio, with evocative and folk-like compositions proving there's still plenty of ground to cover with this well-trodden formation.
Featured product
The Wayfarers
Eyolf Dale
-
Lakecia Benjamin, 'Phoenix'
27th Jan 2023
The saxophonist and composer finds strength in spite of personal trauma and wider social upheaval on her latest album Phoenix, which features contributions from the likes of Wayne Shorter, Angela Davis and Patrice Rushen.
-
Sebastian Rochford & Kit Downes, 'A Short Diary'
20th Jan 2023
Drummer Sebastian Rochford enlists pianist Kit Downes to realise a collection of intimate pieces in tribute to his father, poet Gerard Rochford.
Featured product
A Short Diary
Sebastian Rochford, Kit Downes
-
Michael Feinberg, 'Blues Variant'
13th Jan 2023
The Atlanta-hailing bassist proves himself a foundational and compositional force on his latest quartet album, with guest contributions from Dave Liebman.
-
Houston Person, 'Reminiscing at Rudy's'
6th Jan 2023
The latest album in tenor saxophonist Houston Person's large catalogue is a tribute to his old friend, the late Rudy Van Gelder, and features Person in a quintet playing a selection of ballads and up-tempo tunes in his honour.
Featured product
Reminiscing at Rudy's
Houston Person
-
Donald Byrd, 'Cookin' With Blue Note at Montreux'
16th Dec 2022
An unearthed live recording of Donald Byrd at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1973 showcases the trumpeter and his band of young mentees shortly after the release of his funk-fusion classic Black Byrd.
