Jon Balke: Discourses

Jon Balke

Known for his enduring work with the singular Magnetic North Orchestra and Batagraph or earlier as a member of the...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: July/2020

Theo Bleckmann: Elegy

Ben Monder | Chris Tordini | John Hollenbeck | Shai Maestro | Theo Bleckmann

Although the German singer may be largely defined by his interesting renditions of the music of anybody from Charles Ives...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: April/2017

Alexander McCabe: Quiz

Alexander McCabe | Gregory Hutchinson | Rudy Royston | Ugonna Ekegwo | Uri Caine

There is a fine line between pleasant and underwhelming, and unfortunately McCabe's quartet crosses it one time too many here....

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: June/2011

Alicia Olatuja: Intuition: Songs From The Minds Of Women

Alicia Olatuja | Ben Williams | Billy Childs | David Rosenthal | Dayna Stephens | Etienne Charles | Jeremy Pelt | John Cowherd | Markus Howell | Sullivan Fortner

Vocalist Olatuja was a standout performer on pianist-arranger Billy Childs' acclaimed Laura Nyro tribute Map To The Treasure, but this...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: June/2019

Carmen McRae: Sings Lover Man and other Billie Holiday classics

Not a tribute, but a reinterpretation of Billie's repertoire, this was a classic McRae Columbia album, given a welcome reissue,...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: May/2013

Johnny Lytle Trio: Blue Vibes/Happy Ground

Albert Heath | Johnny Lytle | Milt Harris | William “Peppy” Hinnant

Many might only know Lytle from his rare groove track ‘The Village Caller’ which, for a time, was a staple...

Reviewed by Roy Carr in issue: November/2012

Joshua Jaswon Octet: Silent Sea

Aarón Castrillo | Anna Serierse | Jan Landowsk | Johannes Mann | Joshua Jaswon | Marc Doffey | Miguel Gorodi | Sidney Werner

There's much to admire in this striking new recording from the Joshua Jaswon Octet. As heard on album opener ‘Maurice’,...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: December/2020

Ole Matthiessen: Past and Present

This Danish pianist/composer time travels through blues-rooted post-bop with a sextet featuring the cream of straight ahead Danish musicians....

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: June/2012

Farzin Farhadi Trio and String Quartet: The Cure

American-Iranian saxophonist-composer Farhadi tugs at the heart strings with his string-laden contemporary jazz originals that chime with the achingly...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: December/January/2021/2022

Album Interview: Stacey Kent: Dreamer In Concert

Graham Harvey | Jeremy Brown | Jim Tomlinson | Matt Skelton | Stacey Kent

One of Stacey Kent's best albums, certainly as good as Breakfast On The Morning Tram and up there with Close...

Reviewed by Stephen Graham in issue: Dec/Jan/2011/2012