Lester Young Quartet: Collates

Hank Jones | Lester Young | Ray Brown | John Lewis | Buddy Rich | Jo Jones | Bill Clark | Gene Ramey | Joe Shulman

This is the most delightful album to have come my way in an age. Usefully uniting all of Young's 1949-51...

Reviewed by Simon Spillett in issue: September/2021

Kiefer: When There's Love Around

Josh Johnson | Simon Martinez | Andy McCauley | Jonathan Pinson | Blank For.ms | Will Logan | Andrew Randazzo | Kiefer Shackelford | DJ Harrison | Sam Wilkes

Pianist/producer Kiefer Shackelford, or just plain Kiefer to his many fans and followers, is a great example of what happens...

Reviewed by Mike Flynn in issue: September/2021

Maridalen

Jonas Kilmork Vemoy | Andreas Rodland Haga | Anders Hefre

Another song of Norway to relish. The trio take their name from the valley by Lake Maridal, and the band...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: September/2021

Carmen McRae: The Singles & Albums Collection 1946-58

Carmen McRae

This superb 4CD set from Acrobat Music chronicles the first decade and more of Carmen McRae's recording career, packing in...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: September/2021

ESINAM: Shapes in Twilights of Infinity

The Brussels-based Ghanaian flautist-percussionist-vocalist Esinam Dogbatse's music on her debut longplayer is a infectiously upbeat blend of electronica, spoken word,...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: September/2021

Dave Liebman and Richie Beirach: Empathy

Jack DeJohnette | Leo Hendrichs | Richie Beirach | Dave Liebman | Florian Van Volxem

This five CD box set comes with liner notes by Ashley Kahn (no less) and is in essence a celebration...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: September/2021

Art Tatum: The Art Tatum Collection 1932-47

Slam Stewart | Joe Turner | Edmond Hall | Barney Bigard | Oscar Pettiford | Joe Thomas | Cootie Williams | Frankie Newton | Sid Catlett | Al Casey

The first thing to underline is that Tatum's amazing two-handed technical ability, absorbing everything from ‘classical’ to ‘stride’, always journeys...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: September/2021

Ishmael Ensemble: Visions Of Light

Rory O'Gorman | Chris Hillier | Pete Cunningham | Lydia Clews | Rich Allen | STANLÆY | Harry Stoneham | Jake Spurgeon | Tiny Chapter | Bethany M Roberts

Pete Cunningham's urban big band emerge from their Bristol habitat with a follow up to their highly acclaimed 2019 debut....

Reviewed by Eddie Myer in issue: September/2021

Alister Spence Trio with Ed Kuepper: Asteroid Ekosystem

Toby Hall | Ed Kuepper | Lloyd Swanton | Alister Spence

Antipodean guitar wizard and songwriter Ed Kuepper is best-known for fronting punk and rock groups such as the Saints, the...

Reviewed by Kevin Whitlock in issue: September/2021

Beverley Beirne: Dream Dancer

Romero Lubambo | Sam Watts | Rob Hughes | Ben Brown | Flo Moore | Jason Miles | Duncan Lamont | Cyro Baptista

A spotlight, please, for Beverley Beirne, the Yorkshire-based songstress whose superb alto voice has wowed punters everywhere from Rome to...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: September/2021