Mike De Souza: Slow Burn

Jay Davis | Huw V. Williams | Mike De Souza

Guitarist Mike de Souza is best known as one third of Big Bad Wolf, a young British group exploring the...

Reviewed by Thomas Rees in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Jonathan Zwartz: Animarum

Fabian Hevia | Steve Magnusson | Jonathan Zwartz | Julien Wilson | Barney McCall | Richard Maegraith | Phil Slater | Hamish Stuart

This self-produced, well-packaged album provides a window into one of the best kept secrets in the Northern Hemisphere – the...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Finger Fusion Project

Andrea Cocilovo | Eric Marienthal | Jimmy Haslip | Gabor Lesko | Chad Wackerman | Mario Guarini | Oscar Trabucch | Simon Phillips

It shouldn't work: recorded at different times across different continents, stitched together like a duff Frankenstein, FFP explores a sound,...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Lynne Arriale Trio: Give Us These Days

For album number 14 this pianist is in high spirits, her classically mellifluous lines supported by her Dutch trio through...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Portico Quartet: Memory Streams

From acoustic street buskers to chill-out electronica stars, Portico's Hang drum sonic has been a constant from day one; disappointingly,...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Hiromi: Spectrum

Hiromi

Hiromi has promised a solo release every decade, so here's the follow-up to Place to Be. Then, as now, her...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

The Bad Plus: Activate Infinity

Dave King | Orrin Evans | Reid Anderson

Few jazz ensembles can be identified as instantaneously as The Bad Plus. There are even fewer that can replace a...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Bill Bruford: Earthworks Complete

Django Bates | Patrick Clahar | Laurence Cottle | Steve Hamilton | Tim Harries | Gwilym Simcock | Bill Bruford | Mark Hodgson | Mick Hutton | Dave Stewart

This is how you tell the story of a band. Bruford has curated this box set with a diligence and...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Ella Fitzgerald: Ella In Berlin – Mack The Knife

Frank DeVol | Ella Fitzgerald | Leroy Vinnegar | Stan Getz | Ted Nash | Lou Levy | Stan Levey

These two albums show the opposite extremes of Ella's talent – the consummate live performer, and the fine interpreter of...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Kodian Trio: III

Colin Webster | Dirk Serries | Andrew Lisle

It wouldn't necessarily be doing them a disservice to suggest that on this, their third album proper, Kodian Trio deliver...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020