jazz albums
Album Review: Tori Handsley – ‘As We Stand’
FOREVER associated with folklore whimsy, celestial mystery and the delicate songstress, maybe the harp will always have an image problem? Of course in jazz there have inevitably been those who have been able to shove this immovable object away from its own clichés – think the improvisational drive of Dorothy Ashby or spiritual lift of …
Album Review: Emily Kuhn – Sky Stories
New jazz… Chicago… must be another International Anthem release right? Well no, this is something from outside that powerhouse, the debut by Emily Kuhn, trumpet player out now on the BACE records. As a label BACE has been steadily releasing music from the jazz-tinged, electronic, experimental, post-rock whirlpool for a couple of years now and …
EP: Oscar Jerome- Breathe Deep Remixes
Although it’s been robbed of its live connection this year, the UK Nu- jazz train has kept up the momentum with a roll of dynamic and defining releases. Oscar Jerome’s ‘Breathe Deep’ album was one of those touchstones. It saw the KOKOROKO guitarist and super collaborator (with buddies like Shabaka Hutchings, Moses Boyd and Yussef …
EP: Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes – What Kinda Music Bonus Tracks
If you got into Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes stellar album ‘What Kinda Music’ released in April this year, then here’s something to help you through the winter wilderness. Blue Note have just released bonus tracks from the album sessions , available via the usual digital suspects or cannily stitched onto a new deluxe vinyl …
EP: Bryony Jarman-Pinto – Fish Factory Sessions
Out now on the ever brilliant Tru Thought label is the latest EP from songwriter and vocalist Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Fish Factory Sessions EP. They are as-live recordings of songs from her much lauded ‘Cage and Aviary’ album recorded at (unsurprisingly) London’s Fish Factory Studios. Of the sessions, Bryony says “The Fish Factory Sessions were meant …
Album Review: Jon Hassell – Seeing Through Sound (Pentimento Volume 2)
When Brian Eno has touted you as ‘the most influential composer of the last 50 years’, when you’re credited as raising cultural awareness with your ground- breaking Fourth World Music, when you’ve spent over 80 years on this planet, you might be tempted to kick back a little, put your feet up and bask in …
Album Review: Derrick Hodge – Color of Noize
Derrick Hodge may have been flying under the radar of many as sideman with artists such as Robert Glasper, Maxwell, Terence Blanchard and Common but is here now with his third album under his own name. With such a high pedigree brings with it obvious anticipation.This album is impossible to pigeon hole stylistically. It is …
Album Review: JAF Trio – JAF Trio
JAF Trio are an up and coming young Finnish-Danish band featuring Adele Sauros of Superposition, Bowman Trio bassist Joonas Tuuri and drummer Frederick Emil Bülow. They won the We Jazz Rising Star at the We Jazz Festival in 2017 and now that very label are putting out the trios debut album The trio’s self titled …
Album Review: Simon Jefferis – Vibrations
Brixton based polymath Simon Jefferis returns to rising label DeepMatter with his debut LP ‘Vibrations’. From the golden era energies of ‘Back 2 Ours’ featuring Austin’s Abhi The Nomad, through to the silky smooth melodies of ‘White Rabbit’ (featuring the incredible Rosie Lowe on vocals) and shoulder swaying rhythms of ‘Something In The Water’, ‘Vibrations’ …
Album Review: Maceo Parker – Soul Food – Cooking With Maceo
Fans of Maceo have had a whole 8 years to wait for his latest studio album. Well let me tell you I don’t think they will be disappointed. Soul Food – Cooking with Maceo serves up a nourishing, all you can eat buffet of classics and originals infused with New Orleans Funk. ‘Cross The Track’, …