Billie Holiday: Complete Decca Recordings

Cut between 1944 and 1950, this is largely Billie with big bands and studio orchestras, negotiating strings and occasionally over-written...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: June/2017

Clifford Brown: Jazz Immortal

Barry Galbraith | Bob Gordon | Carson Smith | Clifford Brown | Elmo Hope | George Morrow | Gigi Gryce | Henri Renaud | Jack Montrose | Joe Mondragon

Despite more than 60 years passing since his fatal road accident, the flame of Brown's trumpet still burns brightly, as...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: August/2019

Eric Reed Quartet: Everybody Gets The Blues

Eric Reed | McClenty Hunter | Mike Gurrola | Tim Green

Reed writes eloquently and touchingly about his religious faith in his lengthy album essay. The son and grandson of devout...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: September/2019

Wayne Horvitz & The Royal Room Collective Music Ensemble: At the Reception

Wayne Horvitz

Fans of the late Butch Morris' approach to ensemble improvisation will find much to pore over here. ‘Conduction’ – as...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: February/2015

Sax Gordon: In the Wee Small Hours

Rooted in the Chicago blues, tenor saxophonist gets some McGriff grooves motoring along with Alberto Marsico's B3 in a classic...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: August/2018

Dizzy Gillespie Big Band: Complete 1956-57 Studio Sessions

Dizzy's finest mid-1950s albums World Statesman, In Greece and Birks Works plus bonuses, sensibly packaged together, competing with Verve's now...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: March/2015

Mark Turner/Ethan Iverson: Temporary Kings

Ethan Iverson | Mark Turner

Both are members of the splendid Billy Hart Quartet; Mark Turner, an influential contemporary jazz saxophonist originally from LA, has...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: October/2018

Thelonious Monk: Complete 1947-56 Trios

Al McKibbon | Art Blakey | Ben Riley | Butch Warren | Charlie Rouse | Dave Brubeck | Frankie Dunlop | Gary Mapp | Gene Ramey | Johnny Griffin

The EJC label is well named in this case, although the contents render redundant an earlier CD of Monk’s first...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: February/2016

Don Cherry: Homeboy, Sister Out

Abdoulaye Prosper Niang | Brion Gysin | Claude Salmieri | Don Cherry | Eli Medeiros | Fil Mong | Jannick Top | Jen-Pierre Coco | Negrito Trasante | Ramutcho Matta

One of the legendary brass man’s most thought provoking and appealing works – a snapshot of 1980s Paris as the...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: August/2018

Paisean

Ex-Middlesex 1980s uni graduates, the experienced saxophonist Ed Jones and pianist-composer Steve Plews, convene for a set balancing hard bop...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: February/2013