Schnellertollermeier: Rights

Andi Schnellmann | David Meier | Manuel Troller

Schnell means ‘fast’, toll ‘amazing’ or ‘wild’, and meier, at a pinch, can mean ‘mayor’. This German-Swiss trio's punning on...

Reviewed by Nick Hasted in issue: November/2017

Michael Wollny's [em]: Wasted & Wanted

Eric Schaefer | Eva Kruse | Michael Wollny

It's no longer [em], but Michael Wollny's [em] (pictured, below, left), but don't read anything into that. “A lot of...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: March/2012

Tarus Mateen: Black Solo Sonnets

Crudely recorded with unremoved background noise over a four year period on some dodgy pianos (bass came later) while on...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: December/2020

Shorty Rogers: Four Classic Albums

A first rate cross section of Rogers' big band and small group sides from 1953-58 with star collaborators including Art...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: February/2020

Tommy Smith: Embodying The Light: A Dedication To John Coltrane

Calum Gourlay | Pete Johnstone | Sebastian de Krom | Tommy Smith

In the 1980s, Bob Brookmeyer controversially posited the question: “Was Charlie Parker Good for Jazz?” He argued that he wasn't,...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: August/2017

Frank Butler: The Stepper

Dolo Coker | Frank Butler | Jack Montrose | Monty Budwig

Xanadu’s chronicle of mid 1970s West coast jazz continues apace and this is an interesting new installment. As has been...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: June/2016

Thena Alexa: Ona

Singer-songwriter Thena Alexa has recorded with hubby Antonio Sanchez’ Migration band and who drums on her quite intriguing, slightly leftfield...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: May/2020

Jane Monheit: The Songbook Sessions: Ella Fitzgerald

Daniel Sadownick | Jane Monheit | Michael Kanan | Neal Miner | Nicholas Payton | Rick Montalbano

Beginning with a luxuriant reading of the Duke Ellington/Carl Sigman song, ‘All Too Soon’, this exceptional tribute to Ella Fitzgerald...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: July/2016

Gary Lucas: Fleischerei

A maverick guitarist and former Captain Beefheart/Jeff Beck sideman, Gary Lucas takes on the songs from Max Fleicher's Betty Boop...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: October/2016

Herbie Hancock: The Warner Bros. Years (1969-72)

Benny Maupin | Billy Hart | Buster Williams | Eddie Henderson | Herbie Hancock | Julian Priester | Patrick Gleeson

The Warner Bros. Years represent perhaps the most enigmatic period of Hancock's career, his post-Miles response to the changing musical...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: October/2014