Mads Vinding/Jean- Michel Pile/Marilyn Mazur: Composing

Jean-Michel Pilc | Marilyn Mazur | Mads Vinding

Jazzers (or jazz commentators at any rate) like to talk about empathy between players: that instinctual feeling musicians have for...

Reviewed by Robert Shore in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

Sarah Vaughan: Mean To Me

Another Jazz Characters triple, this surveys Sarah's work from the 1940s to the 60s, but there's a bit too much...

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

Pepi Lemer: Back2front

The singer Pepi Lemer was a former session vocalist to the stars during the 1960s-70s and an ex-member of the...

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

Various Artists: I Love You Cole Porter

An assemblage of Porter songs, by artists as varied as Dirk Bogarde and Cecil Taylor, the main idea is to...

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

Lisa Bassenge: Canyon Songs

Lisa Bassenge | Dan Lutz | Pete Kuzma | Freddy Koella | Larry Klein | Steve Tavaglione | Till Bronner | Vinnie Colaiuta

This latest album from the Berlin- based jazz vocalist Lisa Bassenge is a paean to the landscape and atmosphere of...

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

Youssou N'Dour Et Le Super Étoile de Dakar: Fatteliku: Live In Athens 1987

Thierno Koite | Assane Thiam | Ousseynou Ndiaye | Habib Faye | Falilou Niang Galass | Youssou N'Dour | Mamdou ‘Jimi’ Mbaye | Pape Oumar Ngom | Babacar Mbaye Dieye Faye

What with the ‘world music’ label having outlived its usefulness, and Youssou N'Dour now a household name, it's easy to...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: Dec/Jan/2015/2016

Kendrick Scott Oracle: We Are The Drum

Lizz Wright | John Ellis | Mike Moreno | Kendrick Scott | Taylor Eigisti | Joe Sanders

If good sidemen affect the music of leaders then the converse may also hold true. In some ways this enjoyable...

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

Oscar Peterson: Nameless

Another 3CD Jazz Characters set, this is a bird's eye view of Oscar's career from early duos through the trios...

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

The Hot 8 Brass Band: Vicennial – 20 Years Of The Hot 8 Brass Band

With a similar setup and stomping party sound as the Soul Rebel Band, The Hot 8 celebrate two decades together...

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

Candido: Latin Fire/In Indigo/The Volcanic/Featuring Al Cohn

Four of the conga-player's sessions as leader, including big bands directed by Manny Albam and Ernie Wilkins, of which the...

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