Anthony Strong: Stepping Out

Anthony Strong | Chris Allard | Sebastian De Krom | Sebastian de Krom | Tom Farmer

With his 2009 debut release Guaranteed the singer-songwriter and pianist Anthony Strong delivered an impressive calling card of mostly originals....

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: May/2013

Ornette Coleman: The Road To Free Jazz: The Early Years 1958-61

Billy Higgins | Charlie Haden | Don Cherry | Ed Blackwell | Ornette Coleman | Percy Heath | Red Mitchell | Shelley Manne

Given the gargantuan amount of Ornette reissues on the market it might be hard, at first sight, to argue the...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: July/2018

Mike Walker: Ropes

Adam Nussbaum | Ali Howes | Becca Thompson | Benedict Holland | Cheryl Law | Clark Rundell | Diane Manson | Gemma Babs | Gwilym Simcock | Helen Tonge

Manchester's Mike Walker, one of the most exciting and imaginative jazz-to-fusion guitarists in Europe, has been thrilling audiences and captivating...

Reviewed by John Fordham in issue: May/2019

Terence Blanchard: The Comedian

Carl Allen | David Pulphus | Kenny Barron | Khari Allen Lee | Ravi Coltrane | Terence Blanchard

One of the key soundtrack composers of the last two decades returns to writing for the silver screen with a...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: May/2017

Dinah Washington: Complete Recordings with Don Costa

Dinah Washington

This is a hugely enjoyable 2CD set from Dinah Washington that brings together her collaborations with the conductor and arranger...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: August/2015

Julia Hülsmann Trio: Sooner and Later

Heinrich Köbberling | Julia Hülsmann | Marc Muellbauer

Recently Berlin-based pianist Julia Hülsmann applied her skills to the Kurt Weill songbook and associated pieces for a project with...

Reviewed by Robert Shore in issue: May/2017

Sheila Jordan: Portrait of Sheila

Jordan's debut for Blue Note (still available from them) is a classic, and one of her finest albums – this...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: June/2014

Jeremy Rose & The Earshift Orchestra featuring Simon Barker and Chloe Kim: Disruption! The Voice of the Drums

Ben Carey | Chloe Kim | Hilary Geddes | Jaques Emery | Jeremy Rose | Novak Manojlovic | Simon Barker | Thomas Avgenicos

Jeremy Rose made sure he was earmarked as talent to watch with 2015's Wire in the Blood, not only as...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: Dec/Jan/2022/2023

The Bad Plus: the bad plus

Ben Monder | Chris Speed | Dave King | Reid Anderson

There is a sense of abandon and creative exuberance on this album, essentially the re-birth of The Bad Plus, in...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: November/2022

Joel Ross: The Parable of the Poet

Craig Weinrib | Gabrielle Garo | Immanuel Wilkins | Joel Ross | Kalia Vandever | Maria Grand | Marquis Hill | Rick Rosato | Sean Mason

Blue Note labelmates Ross and Immanuel Wilkins have been two of the most eagerly-embraced African-American jazz newcomers of recent years,...

Reviewed by John Fordham in issue: April/2022