Reviews

Timo Lassy: Trio

Budapest Art Orchestra on four tracks | Timo Lassy | Ville Herrala | Jaska Lukkarinen

We Jazz Records

Rating: ★★★

The hard-throttle energy of Timo Lassy exalts and cusses with funky aplomb with a tone so broad it causes cross...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: September/2021

Theo Travis: Songs From The Apricot Tree

Ethersounds

Rating: ★★★

Having already established himself in jazz, prog, rock and ambient music, multi-instrumentalist Theo Travis now seems to be planting his...

Reviewed by Tony Benjamin in issue: September/2021

Alban Claret & Evan Clegg: The Collection

Alban Claret | Luke Fowler | Kuba Miazga | Duncan Eagles | Evan Clegg

Elsden Music

Rating: ★★★

This is an interesting and creative journey into post-bopland. Although the publicity notes that accompany this release suggest influences such...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: September/2021

John Stein: Serendipity

Mike Connors | Ed Lucie | John Stein

Whaling City Sound

Rating: ★★★

Although a new name to me, Stein has already issued an array of albums, many on the Whaling City Sound...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: September/2021

Fapy Lafertin: New Quartet

Cédric Raymond | Fapy Lafertin | Renaud Dardenne | Alexandre Tripodi

Frémeaux & Associés

Rating: ★★★

Manouche guitarist Lafertin came to fame in the 1980s with WASO, a touring group which broadly followed the gypsy jazz...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: September/2021

Ahmad Jamal: Naked City Theme

Ahmad Jamal | Chuck Lampkin | Jamil Nasser | Vernell Fournier

American Jazz Classics

Rating: ★★★

This makes for an interesting contrast with the Art Tatum (who I would guess was an influence on Jamal, even...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: September/2021

Benjamin Croft: Far And Distant Things

Ubuntu Music

Rating: ★★★

Versatile British keyboardist and composer Benjamin Croft likes big-concept ventures, and his 2019 recording 10 Reasons To… was a painstakingly-executed...

Reviewed by John Fordham in issue: September/2021

Mark Masters Ensemble: Masters & Baron Meet Blanton & Webster

Capri

Rating: ★★★★

The California-based arranger Masters has addressed Ellingtonia before. Now his expanded Ensemble is tackling the compositions recorded when that marvellous...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: September/2021