“But is it jazz?” is a question that one is often tempted to ask, especially when listening to albums for review in Jazzwise. Well, on Lonely Whales, vocalist Mina Agossi and her collaborators, the trio AGE7, produce the perfect riposte in the form of second track ‘All Music Is Jazz Music’, which deploys interview clips of the likes of Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone as Agossi, beginning from a tone of gentle reminiscence, builds the tune to a bold and stirring climax. AGE7, featuring keyboardist and sound designer Marc Charrière, whose previous credits include working with Peter Gabriel, provide variously dreamy, steamy, haunted soundscapes. Agossi, of course, also has a distinguished CV, having worked with the likes of Archie Shepp and Ahmad Jamal (who declared her a true "diva"). She sings for the most part in English but performs in French on the charming ‘Paris Fantaisie’ and in both on the groovy ‘I Am “La Voyageuse”’. From the poised, hypnotic electric chiaroscuro of the title track (slightly reminiscent of Portishead) to the more gossamer ‘I’ll Be There’ (closer in sound to French duo Air), this is deftly sculpted electro-jazz. It’s a great mood disc.