Peter Apfelbaum and the Hieroglyphics Ensemble: Signs of Life

Andrew Cleyndert | Graeme Flowers | Kitty Whitelaw | Nick Mills | Peter Jones | Rob Luft | Ross Stanley | Sophie Alloway | Vasilis Xenopoulos | Will Fry

Multi-instrumentalist and former teenage prodigy Peter Apfelbaum’s Hieroglyphics Ensemble had been around for several years before the leader landed a...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: June/2020

Anders Koppel & Kenny Werner: Breaking Borders # 1

An unusual sounding improvising duo of Hammond organ and piano develop eerie, harmonically impressionistic soundscapes that touch on things like...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: September/2014

Ben Davis/Fred Thomas/Zac Gvirtzman: Monk Spent Youth

Ben Davis | Fred Thomas | Zac Gvirtzman

Davis and Thomas are reliable cornerstones of the London scene, while the lesser-known pianist and producer Gvirtzman (aka Zac Gvi)...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: October/2019

Will Gibson: Facets

The ex-Trinity saxophonist-clarinettist leads a lyrical mainstream young contemporary fusion septet that includes a promising array of musicians, including guitarist...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: February/2017

The Mike Westbrook Concert Band: Last Night at the Old Place

Alan Jackson | Bernie Living | Dave Holdsworth | George Khan | Harry Miller | John Surman | Malcolm Griffiths | Mike Osborne | Mike Westbrook | Paul Rutherford

It may seem amazing that such an important document of British jazz history, the last night at Ronnie Scott’s ‘Old...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: August/2018

Various Artists: Horn Rock & Funky Guitar Grooves 1968-1974

Al Kooper | Bill Chase | Bonnie Bramlett | Buddy Miles | Delaney Bramlett | Donnie Brooks | Harvey Brooks | Jerry Fisher | Jerry Goodman | John De Roberts

A reasonable notion – to gather together bands that were influenced by jazz and R&B soul roadshows, like the Stax...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: November/2019

Manuel Valera And New Cuban Express: In Motion

David Bowden | Joe Williamson | Peter Johnstone | Stephen Henderson

Valera is yet another outstanding Cuban-born NYC-based pianist, who has worked with groups led by the great drummer Dafnis Prieto,...

Reviewed by Tony Hall in issue: February/2017

Monty Alexander: Harlem-Kingston Express

Alexander | Andy Bassford | Bernard Montgomery | Glen Browne | Hassan Shakur | Hoova Simpson | Obed Calvaire | Robert Browne | Robert Thomas | Yotem Silberstein

Subtitled “Live at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola NYC” but also taped in Jamaica and several European venues, this is Monty’s reggae-meets-jazz...

Reviewed by Jack Massarik in issue: October/2011

Jowee Omicil: Let's BasH!

The Parisian-based Miles-ish multi-reedist-cornetist draws from the creole sauce of his Haitian background for an album that has a mellow...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: May/2017

Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra: The Duke at Fargo 1940

Barney Bigard | Duke Ellington | Fred Guy | Harry Carney | Herb Jeffries | Ivie Anderson | Jimmy Blanton | Joe ‘Tricky Sam’ Nanton | Johnny Hodges | Juan Tizol

Danish label Storyville last issued their double-CD of this legendary ‘live’ Ellington dance date in 2000, labelled reasonably enough as...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: October/2013