Fini Bearman: Step Up

Fini Bearman | Josh Morrison | Rick Simpson | Tom Farmer

Dedicated to the sadly departed trumpet player, Richard Turner, Fini Bearman's debut album Step Up possesses something of the rhythmic...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: May/2012

Jesse Davis: Live at Smalls Jazz Club

Jesse Davis | Joe Farnsworth | Peter Washington | Spike Wilner

New Orleans-born altoist Davis, now 57, studied under the late Ellis Marsalis in his home town and then made for...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: March/2023

Carmen McRae: Book of Ballads

The orchestral setting never suited McRae as well as a trio or quartet, but this and the sequel included here,...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

Vula Viel: Do Not Be Afraid

Bex Burch | Jim Hart | Ruth Goller

The Gyil is a xylophone specific to northern Ghana and neighbouring regions, the buzz of spider-silk-screened holes in the gourds...

Reviewed by Nick Hasted in issue: May/2019

Live at the Baked Potato! – Charged Particles with Tod Dickow: Play the Music of Michael Brecker

Aaron Germain | Jon Krosnick | Murray Low | Omar Ledezma | Tod Dickow

This is a really dynamic and ambitious live tribute to the legendary saxophonist Michael Brecker, who sadly passed away at...

Reviewed by Robert Shore in issue: February/2022

The Gary Burton Quartet with Orchestra: A Genuine Tong Funeral

Carla Bley | Gary Burton | Gato Barbieri | Howard Johnson | Jimmy Knepper | Larry Coryell | Lonesome Dragon | Mike Mantler | Steve Lacy | Steve Swallow

Heartening that Sony Music are delving into their huge archives for material other than that by Miles Davis. This CD...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: June/2016

Frank Sinatra: Sinatra-Basie/Sinatra and Swinging Brass

Sinatra’s voice excels in the settings Neal Hefti created for him, both with Basie and an all-star LA big band,...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: November/2013

Cameron Graves: Seven

Cameron Graves | Colin Cook | Kamasi Washington | Max Gerl | Mike Mitchell

Blimey! Did they have a bus to catch? Graves and co. billywhizz through 11 cuts in just 32 minutes. Graves...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: March/2021

Alam Khan: Immersion

Alam Khan | Benjamin Araki | Indranil Mallick

Immersion's packaging is Spartan or, if that's the way your tastes tend, minimalist. Its music, though, oozes sumptuousness – it's...

Reviewed by Ken Hunt in issue: August/2018

Coryell Auger Sample Trio: Coolidge Returns

Julian Coryell | Karma Auger | Nicklas Sample

Despite it's starry provenance – yes, Julian is Larry's son, Nick is Joe's offspring and Karma is Son of Brian...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: June/2010