John Minnock: Simplicity

Carlos Mena | Dave Liebman | John Minnock | Mark Lewandowski | Mathis Pickard | Pablo Eluchans | Sean Mason

John Minnock began his career singing in the Boston area, but has now become a regular on the jazz and...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: August/2022

Steps Ahead: Magnetic

Drool as we may over that line up (ah, that it could be recreated now!), it's the 1986 bit that's...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: August/2017

Ray Barretto: Can You Feel It

Guitar-heavy funk-infuenced Latin jazz with Barretto's grooving congas, but a paltry reissue compared to the twofer on Expansion reviewed in...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: February/2015

Bud Shank: Four Classic Albums

A second set of Shank’s Pacific Jazz albums usefully compiled into a 2CD package, this has high points in the...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: February/2020

Ivar Grydland/Henry Kaiser: In the Arctic Dreamtime

Henry Kaiser | Ivar Grydland

One might not think that a 1925 silent film documentary made by polar explorer Roald Amundsen would be the most...

Reviewed by Kevin Whitlock in issue: May/2020

Wickihalder-Guy-Niggli: Beyond

Barry Guy | Jürg Wickihalder | Lucas Niggli

Using compositional form as a way to prise open space for improvisation is, of course, second nature to the British...

Reviewed by Philip Clark in issue: June/2017

Enrico Pieranunzi: Deep Down

Enrico Pieranunzi | Joey Baron | Marc Johnson

When this album was recorded in the mid-1980s and in the two decades that followed, in terms of audience perception...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: July/2017

Steve Turre: The Bones of Art

Frank Lacy | Kenny Davis | Pedro Martinez | Peter Washington | Robin Eubanks | Steve Davis | Steve Turre | Willie Jones III | Xavier Davis

Here's a masterclass for trombonists everywhere. The album title means not only ‘we're artists of the trombone’, but is also...

Reviewed by Tony Hall in issue: Dec/Jan/2013/2014

Count Basie: Afrique

Bill Adkins | Bill Hughes | Bob Ashton | Bobby Plater | Buddy Lucas | Cecil Payne | Count Basie | Eric Dixon | Freddy Green | Harold Jones

A curiosity that probably should be credited to Bob Thiele rather than either Basie or Oliver Nelson, on a par...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: May/2014

1982: Pintura

Nils Økland | Øyvind Skarbø | Sigbjørn Apeland

If anyone can think of another trio that make folk-inflected improv using drums, harmonium and the traditional Norwegian Hardanger fiddle,...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: April/2012