In Common: Walter Smith III, Matthew Stevens, Joel Ross, Harish Raghavan and Marcus Gilmore

Marcus Gilmore | Harish Raghavan | Walter Smith III | Matthew Stevens | Joel Ross

Saxophonist Walter Smith III’s evocative low-lights tenor sound and drily quixotic irregularities of phrasing have already graced a fine album...

Reviewed by John Fordham in issue: Dec/Jan/2018/2019

Joe Farrell: Penny Arcade/Upon This Rock/Canned Funk

Herb Bushier | Don Alias | Herbie Hancock | Steve Gadd | Joe Beck | Jim Madison | Ray Mantilla | Joe Farrell

When Corea replaced Joe Farrell in Return to Forever with Bill Connors’ rock-angled guitar, it changed not only jazz (fusion)...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: Dec/Jan/2018/2019

Charles Mingus: Jazz In Detroit/Strata Concert Gallery/46 Selden

Don Pullen | Charles Mingus | John Stubblefield | Roy Brooks | Joe Gardner

Well, this is a pleasantly unexpected Christmas present, and no mistake. Not merely because of its musical quality, but also...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: Dec/Jan/2018/2019

Lambert, Hendricks & Ross: Four Classic Albums

This group has Marmite qualities, but if you’re in the community who like it, then these albums lie at the...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: February/2020

Archipelago: Weightless

Christian Alderson | Faye MacCalman | John Pope

As Archipelago begin recording their second album, this 2017 debut is only just surfacing nationally. The Newcastle trio list Don...

Reviewed by Nick Hasted in issue: Dec/Jan/2018/2019

Clark Tracey Quintet: No Doubt

James Owston | Alexandra Ridout | Elliott Samson | Sean Payne | Clark Tracey

It’s Clark’s 40th year in jazz and this is the latest in his succession of groups which introduce exceptionally talented...

Reviewed by Tony Hall in issue: Dec/Jan/2018/2019

NYSQ: Heaven Steps to Seven

David Berkman | Ugonna Okegwo | Gene Jackson | Tim Armacost

This is NYSQ’s seventh album, and the fourth on Mike Janisch’s Whirlwind Recordings label. Their constancy as a group, 13...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: Dec/Jan/2018/2019

Makaya McCraven: Universal Beings

Tomeka Reid | Carlos Niño | Junius Paul | Nubya Garcia | Daniel Casimir | Anna Butterss | Josh Johnson | Dezron Douglas | Brandee Younger | Shabaka Hutchings

McCraven’s second album proper of ‘organic beats music’ almost incidentally internationalises the new London scene, bringing its figureheads into a...

Reviewed by Nick Hasted in issue: Dec/Jan/2018/2019

Amaro Freitas: Rasif

Jean Elton | Amaro Freitas | Huge Medeiros | Henrique Albino

A real find, this; Amaro Freitas is a pianist from the tropical northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco with a chewy,...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: Dec/Jan/2018/2019

Laura Cole: Enough

Cole, a Leeds-based pianist-composer best known for her Metamorphic ensemble, is in introverted mood nearly all the way through these...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: Dec/Jan/2018/2019