Jimmy Smith: Four Classic Albums

This is Smith at the height of his powers on Blue Note between 1957 and 1960, and with the larger...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: February/2020

Stuart Popejoy: Pleonoid

This bass guitarist's algorithmic-based composition lasts an entirely joyless 60 minutes, in spite of it featuring a few notable fellow...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: May/2017

The Duncan Fraser Big Band: Dealing in Wheeler

A tribute to Kenny Wheeler from a young ex-NYJO flugelhornist composing and arranging for Big Band, that performance-wise sounds a...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: July/2012

Booker Ervin: The Good Book: The Early Years 1960-62

Addison Farmer | Al Harewood | Andrew Cyrille | Bill Barron | Booker Ervin | Booker Little | Charli Persip | Dannie Richmond | Ed Shaughnessy | Eric Dolphy

Ervin is scarcely remembered these days except by fans of Mingus, and possibly of mid-1960s Randy Weston, but those who...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: April/2018

Sonny Rollins: The Contemporary Leader

8-piece brass ensemble | Barney Kessel | Ben Riley | Bob Cranshaw | Connie Kay | Dick Katz | Ernie Wilkins | Hampton Hawes | Harry Saunders | Henry Grimes

An absorbing compilation, assembled and annotated by Simon Spillett, it's a useful reminder of the period when Rollins carried all...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: August/2014

Charlie Parker: At Café Society

Al Haig | Art Blakey | Charles Mingus | Dick Hyman | Dick Twardzik | Duke Jordan | Herb Pomeroy | Irv Kluger | Jimmy Woode | Joe Gordon

These three reissues, identified by their recording location, all carry polite warnings about the sound quality. The performances from Boston's...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: May/2021

Blossom Dearie: Discover Who I Am: The Fontana Years 1966-1970

Allan Ganley | Arthur Watts | Blossom Dearie | Brian Gascoigne | Daryl Runswick | David Snell | Derek Grossmith | Freddie Logan | Harold McNair | Ian Carr

Blossom Dearie’s professional life can be divided into several periods, from her early days in New York, via a stay...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: August/2023

Mark Jennett: Everybody Says Don't

Andy Panayi | Geoff Gascoyne | Martin Shaw | Rob Barron | Sebastiaan de Krom | Sebastiaan De Krom

Kicking off with the adrenalised title track, taken from the Sondheim musical Anyone Can Whistle, this hugely enjoyable 14-track collection...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: October/2014

Chet Baker: Chet Sings!

Bob Neal | Bud Shank | Carson Smith | Chet Baker | Dannie Richmond | Dave Wheat | George Morrow | Jimmy Bond | Joe Mondragon | Kenny Drew

Perhaps for far too long Chet Baker the crooner has received a bad press. The fact that he played this...

Reviewed by Roy Carr in issue: August/2013

Mundell Lowe: Five Classic Albums

Al Haig | Art Taylor | Buddy Rich | Charlie Parker | Curley Russell | Dizzy Gillespie | Don Lamond | Hank Jones | Kenny Dorham | Max Roach

Overshadowed by the likes of Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell and Tal Farlow, Lowe was a major league talent whose metier,...

Reviewed by Simon Spillett in issue: May/2020