Dizzy Gillespie: Have Trumpet, Will Excite!

One of Gillespie's most celebrated Verve albums with Junior Mance and Les Spann, this new incarnation includes alternate takes and...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

Gerald Trimble: Uncharted

Gerald Trimble makes pioneering use of the Viola da Gamba, an instrument with Moorish and medieval origins, retracing its roots...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

National Youth Jazz Orchestra: NYJO FIFTY

Sam Glaser | Zoe Rahman | Maddie Dowdeswell | Mark Nightingale | Julien Siegel | Nick Fitch | Jake Labazzi | Matthew Yardley | Mark Armstrong | Tom Dunnett

This well-wrought double CD – the first NYJO release on Whirlwind – marks a milestone. It's 50 years since visionary...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

Johnny Williams: Rhythm In Motion/So Nice

The makeweight So Nice album with singer Johnny Desmond does not detract from the excellence of Star Wars composer Williams’...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

Santa Diver

A Hungarian ensemble of violin, bass and drums mix up improv, jazz rock and native/eastern folk elements for a live...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

Carmell Jones: Quartet

This is a new release of material originally recorded in 1960 as Jones made his West Coast debut, and is...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

The Kofi/Barnes Aggregation

Rod Youngs | Adam King | John Turville | Tony Kofi | Alan Barnes

I can't think of many recordings with a twin alto-sax front line, let alone a permanent band. But on the...

Reviewed by Mike Hobart in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

Mike Holober: Balancing Act

The New York pianist-composer Mike Holober keeps his large ensemble aesthetics intact (a long-running ex guest director of HR Frankfurt...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

Sullivan Fortner: Aria

Joe Dyson | Aidan Caroll | Tivon Pennicott | Sullivan Fortner

Pianist Fortner ticks all the boxes that a well-trained contemporary player should – impressive harmonic base; skilful improvising; mostly original...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

Oscar Peterson: Exclusively For My Friends

Oscar Peterson | Bobby Durham | Sam Jones | Ray Brown | Louis Hayes | Ed Thigpen

The six-volume Exclusively For My Friends set forged new standards of sound recording when it was originally released on vinyl...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016