Ray Charles: True Genius

Al Grey | Albert McQueen | Andy Ennis | Ben Martin | Bennie Powell | Betty Carter | Budd Johnson | Chaka Kahn | Clark Terry | Cleo Laine

When Ray Charles left Atlantic Records in 1960 and set up his own label Tangerine in partnership with ABC Paramount,...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: November/2021

Count Basie: Basic Basie

The 1969 Basie band recorded for MPS has a looser rhythm section than heretofore (with Norman Keenan and Harold Jones)...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: May/2015

Jen Kearney: To The Moon

This singer-songwriter and her backing band has a retro 1970s jazzy R&B vibe, and is on similar ground musically to...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: Dec/Jan/2011/2012

Charlie Parker: Integrale Vol 8: Laura

The estimable plan to present all of Bird in chronological order reaches 1950, with the Hank Jones quartet, the Granz...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: February/2015

Peggy Lee: Four Classic Albums

This is music from Peggy's great period, 1956-61, topped off with Quincy Jones' peerless arrangements for Blues Cross Country, but...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: February/2020

Forrest Westbrook: The Remarkable Forrest Westbrook: His Trio and Quartet

Remarkable is the word, as Fresh Sound brings back yet another artist from obscurity, in this case a dazzlingly inventive...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: August/2016

Jesper Thilo Quartet: Swing is the Thing

Danish saxophone legend who has recorded with swing giants such as Hank Jones and Clark Terry both growls and purrs...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: September/2020

Herb Geller: Four Classic Albums

Gems from Geller's early (1955-59) career, two by his quartet with wife Lorraine, one by a bebop band with Kenny...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: February/2020

The Stryker/Slagle Band (Expanded): Routes

Saxophonist Steve Slagle is a leading member of the Mingus Big Band and co-leads this post-bop big band with the...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: April/2016

James Moody: Four Classic Albums

The surprise of these 1955-57 sessions is that they are essentially small band swing, plus a bit of bebop phrasing...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: February/2020