Jeremy Pelt: Griot: This Is Important!

Allan Mednard | Vicente Archer | Jeremy Pelt | Chien Chien Lu | Victor Gould | Brandee Younger | Ismel Wignall

In 1977, the American drummer Art Taylor's candid book Notes and Tones: Musician-to-Musician Interviews made waves for its mix of...

Reviewed by John Fordham in issue: May/2021

Peter Jensen & Morten Büchert & The DR Big Band: Light Through Leaves – Carl Nielson Recontextualized

As an unusual alternative to jazz interpretation of classical works, Peter Jensen, a frequent composer-arranger for the Danish DR Big...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: May/2021

James Brandon Lewis: Jesup Wagon

William Parker | Kirk Knuffe | Chris Hoffman | James Brandon Lewis | Chad Taylor

Following 2020's excellent quartet album, Molecular, saxophonist James Brandon Lewis returns with a very different ensemble, the Red Lily quintet,...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: May/2021

Jef Neve: Mysterium

Pieter Kindt | Jasper Høiby | Nicolas Kummert | Andy Dhondt | Jef Neve | Bruno Van der Haegen | Teus Nobel

The intriguingly titled ‘Nothing Like A Casablanca Turtle Slideshow Dinner’ on Neve's major label debut in 2006, Nobody's Illegal(EmArcy), suggested...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: May/2021

Chad LB: Quartet Sessions

Chad Lefkowitz-Brown AKA Chad LB is a big-toned, brawny tenor saxophonist with clear affiliations to Sonny Rollins, and here with...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: May/2021

Wes Montgomery: The NDR Hamburg Studio Recordings

Ronnie Ross | Wes Montgomery | Ronnie Stephenson | Michel Gaudry | Martial Solal | Ronnie Scott | Hans Koller | Johnny Griffin

This is the kind of reissue that will delight jazz enthusiasts and discographical anoraks alike. Montgomery's participation in [West] German...

Reviewed by Simon Spillett in issue: May/2021

Håkon Kornstad: Out of the Loop

Håkon Kornstad

Håkon Kornstad was once a member of Wibutee, one of the best bands to follow into the space opened up...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: May/2021

Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas – Sound Prints: Other Worlds

Dave Douglas | Lawrence Fields | Joey Baron | Linda May Han Oh | Joe Lovano

Other Worlds is the third release by the Sound Prints quintet – the A-list postbop ensemble co-led by Joe Lovano...

Reviewed by John Fordham in issue: May/2021

Tommy Smith: SoLow

Tommy Smith

Another example of Tommy Smith at the top of his game. Described by Smith as “five short solo saxophone tracks...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: May/2021

Dexter Gordon: Homecoming: Live at the Village Vanguard

Woody Shaw | Dexter Gordon | Ronnie Matthews | Louis Hayes | Stafford James

Dexter Gordon moved to Copenhagen in 1962. He sent back a couple of musical postcards from Paris, one in 1963,...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: May/2021