Jay Phelps: The Now

David Mrakpor | Harry Ling | Jack Robson | Jansen Santana | Jay Phelps | Menelik Claffy | Nicola Guida | Rūta Sīpola | Simon Jnr | Tom Ford

The seventh solo album by Canadian-born, London-based trumpeter du jour Jay Phelps, The Now has been a while coming. Recorded...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: May/2023

MultiTraction Orchestra: Reactor One

Alex Roth | Arve Henriksen | James Allsopp | Jon Scott | Kate Ellis | Rhodri Davies | Ruth Goller

Alex Roth convened the MultiTraction Orchestra as an audacious Covid riposte, beating lockdown's loneliness by inviting 27 musicians from 15...

Reviewed by Nick Hasted in issue: April/2023

Nakama: Most Intimate

The Norwegian bass player Christian Meaas Svendsen's quintet's recording sometimes comes across as overly cerebral, its mix of Euro-jazz, traditional...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: April/2017

Ben Williams: State of Art

Ben Williams | Christian Scott | Etienne Charles | Gerald Clayton | Jaleel Shaw | Jamire Williams | John Robinson | Marcus Strickland | Matthew Stevens | string quartet

A bass-sideman for high profile mainstream US jazzers such as Terence Blanchard, Stefon Harris, Jacky Terrasson, and saxophonist Marcus Strickland...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: February/2012

Various Artists: All Night Long OST

Allan Ganley | Charles Mingus | Colin Purbrook | Dave Brubeck | Johnny Dankworth | Johnny Scott | Kenny Napper | Stan Roderick | Tubby Hayes

Originally released on CD in 2004, the 1960s soundtrack CD specialist label Harkit reissue this British jazz soundtrack: a fascinating...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: Dec/Jan/2012/2013

Billy Cobham: Magic/Alivemutherforya

Alphonso Johnson | Alvin Batiste | Billy Cobham | Jochim Kuhn | Kathleen Kaan | Mark Soskin | Pete Escovedo | Pete Maunu | Randy Jackson | Sheila Escovedo

Break out your best bandana: Alivemutherforya was a classic even before you lowered the vinyl on to your music centre...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: June/2018

Wes Montgomery: The NDR Hamburg Studio Recordings

Hans Koller | Johnny Griffin | Martial Solal | Michel Gaudry | Ronnie Ross | Ronnie Scott | Ronnie Stephenson | Wes Montgomery

This is the kind of reissue that will delight jazz enthusiasts and discographical anoraks alike. Montgomery's participation in [West] German...

Reviewed by Simon Spillett in issue: May/2021

Olegario Diaz: Basquiat By Night/Day

Alex Sipiagin | Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts | Olegario Diaz | Scott Colley | Seamus Blake

Diaz is an excellent Venezuelan modern pianist who divides his time between his birth country and New York, leading different...

Reviewed by Tony Hall in issue: July/2014

Ron Carter: Finding The Right Notes

Bill Frisell | Christian McBride | Jimmy Greene | Jon Batiste | Koln | Payton Crossley | Renee Rosnes | Ron Carter | Ronald Vega | Russell Malone

This is the soundtrack album to Peter Schnell's PBS documentary of the same name – first aired in October –...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: Dec/Jan/2022/2023

Benny Goodman: Small Bands Collection 1935-45

Artie Bernstein | Benny Goodman | Buddy Schutz | Charlie Christian | Cootie Williams | Count Basie | Dave Tough | Dudley Brooks | Fletcher Henderson | Gene Krupa

On one level, this compilation gives a very informative bird's eye view of the Benny Goodman small groups over their...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: April/2021