Andy Laverne: Faith

Andy Laverne | Alex Sipiagin | Mike Richmond | Jason Tiemann

Pianist-composer Laverne's main claim to fame seems to have been a lengthy spell (along with friend and bassist Mike Richmond)...

Reviewed by Tony Hall in issue: May/2018

Nick Millevoi's Desertion Trio: Midtown Tilt

This Philly-based guitar trio's rocking spirit is infectious, if a little wearing, over a whole CD. Special guest, the idiosyncratic...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: May/2018

Slagr: DIRR

The Norwegian trio Slagr's floaty, ethereal folky sound evokes the detached tranquillity of desolate Nordic rural landscapes, yet there's a...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: May/2018

Zoe Francis: Remembering Blossom Dearie

Though she has a rather quaint kittenish tone, this jazz vocalist isn't short of character and makes up for what...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: May/2018

Al Di Meola: Opus

Al Di Meola | Kemuel Roig

Di Meola gets some fearful stick, usually from a press that is more stuck in the 1970s than he allegedly...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: May/2018

Gael Horellou Quintet featuring Jeremy Pelt: Coup de Vent

Antoine Paganotti | Jeremy Pelt | Viktor Nyberg | Etienne Deconfin | Gael Horellou

Here's a nice surprise. Real hard-bop fans aren't catered for too well these days, but you really will enjoy this...

Reviewed by Tony Hall in issue: May/2018

Nicolas Masson: Travelers

Nicolas Masson | Lionel Friedli | Patrice Moret | Colin Vallon

Delicately, thoughtfully flows the musical stream in Nicolas Masson's Travelers. But the surface is always noticeably rippled with perturbation and...

Reviewed by Robert Shore in issue: May/2018

Samuel Blaser Trio: Taktlos Zürich 2017

The versatile experimental Swiss trombonist Blaser shares writing credits with Tim Berne henchman/French jazz-rock axe Marc Ducret and on this...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: May/2018

Mathias Eick: Ravensburg

Helge Andreas Norbakken | Torstein Lofthus | Audun Erlien | Andreas Ulvo | Mathias Eick | Håkon Aase

Norwegian trumpeter Mathias Eick's blend of voice-like long-tone tremors and supple jazz phrasing links him with such atmospheric brass-playing relatives...

Reviewed by John Fordham in issue: May/2018

Nina Simone: The Colpix Singles

Nina Simone

Marking the 80th anniversary of Nina Simone's birth, this exceptional 2CD set contains all of the singles which Simone recorded...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: May/2018