Abdullah Ibrahim: Dream Time

Abdullah Ibrahim

There have been times in recent Ekaya concerts where it's seemed that Abdullah Ibrahim has taken a bit of a...

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

Todd Marcus: Trio +

Marcus’ bass clarinet-led ensemble takes Sonny Rollins’ Freedom Suite as its main inspiration in a band featuring Ralph Peterson and...

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

Vasilis Xenopoulos: Dexterity – The Music of Dexter Gordon

Dario Di Lecce | Vasilis Xenopoulos | Ross Stanley | Quentin Collins | Steve Brown

Star tenorist Vasilis Xenopoulos has never concealed his admiration for Dexter Gordon, channelling this formative influence into a vigorous and...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Michael Formanek Very Practical Trio: Even Better

Master bassist Formanek leads a drum-less group featuring Tim Berne and Mary Halvorson. Following some song-like conventions, they each daub...

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

George Garzone/Alan Pasqua/Derek Oles/Peter Erskine: 3 Nights In LA

Alan Pasqua | George Garzone | Peter Erskine | Derek Oles

If proof were needed that bebop-rooted, standard-songform jazzmaking can feel as contemporary as today's headlines, this live set – captured...

Reviewed by John Fordham in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

J. Pavone String Ensemble: Brick and Mortar

Angela Morris | Erica Dicker | Joanna Mattrey | Jessica Pavone

New York-based violist, composer and improviser Jessica Pavone has made a speciality of writing for string quartet, though Pavone string...

Reviewed by Philip Clark in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Tonbruket: Masters of Fog

Andreas Werliin | Johan Lindström | Martin Hederos | Dan Berglund

Bassist Dan Berglund takes five from recently formed supergroup RYMDEN to record his post-jazz Swedish power quartet Tonbruket's sixth studio...

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

Bill Laurance: Live At The Philharmonie Cologne

Olivier Peters | Rob Bruynen | Karolina Strassmayer | Wim Both | Johan Hörlen | Jens Neufang | Paul Heller | Hans Dekker | Bodek Janke | Paul Shigihara

Orchestral and big band embellishments can neuter as much as they add, the original musicians flattened into familiar shapes, and...

Reviewed by Nick Hasted in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Chris Barber: Memories of My Trip

Van Morrison | Edmond Hall | Albert Nicholas | Eric Clapton | Sammy Price | Mark Knopfler | Jools Holland | Chris Barber | Joe Darensbourg

Barber's recent retirement as a performer and bandleader has prompted the re-release of this 2010 double-CD compilation of selected recordings,...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020

Joshua Redman & Brooklyn Rider: Sun On Sand

Satoshi Takeishi | Nicholas Cords | Johnny Gandelsman | Eric Jacobsen | Joshua Redman | Patrick Zimmerli | Scott Colley | Colin Jacobsen

Saxophonist Redman and composer-arranger Patrick Zimmerli collaborate again following 2014's Walking Shadows, and this new work foregrounds the latter since...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: Dec/Jan/2019/2020