Polar Bear: Same As You

Mark Lockheart | Leafcutter John | Hannah Darling | Asar Mikael | Seb Rochford | Shabaka Hutchings | Pete Wareham | Tom Herbert

Polar Bear's sixth album is the most emotionally engaging music I've heard from them. Though recorded in London, Seb Rochford's...

Reviewed by Nick Hasted in issue: April/2015

Sophie Bancroft with Louis Durra: Songs

The Scottish singer-songwriter relays a heartfelt, raw vulnerability in her voice on her seventh CD release alongside LA-based pianist Louis...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: April/2015

Snarky Puppy and Metropole Orkest: Sylva

Chris Bullock | Michael League | the Metropole Orkest | Jay Jennings | Cory Henry | Bill Laurance | Robert ‘Sput’ Searight | Mark Lettieri | Mike ‘Maz’ Maher | Justin Stanton

When does Snarky Puppy bassist/bandleader/composer in chief Michael League sleep? It's something to ponder while listening to their latest studio...

Reviewed by Mike Flynn in issue: April/2015

Various Artists: West Side Story – Jazz Impressions

Musicians from André Previn to Dave Brubeck and from Annie Ross to Marian McPartland interpret the Bernstein score for West...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: April/2015

Eberhard Weber: Encore

Ack van Rooyen | Eberhard Weber

Smoke and mirrors? Or an intriguing re-creation of past musics? Either way this is a significant release, not least because...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: April/2015

Marc Schmolling: Ticho

This Berlin jazz collective pianist leads a trio that features an engaging dialogue between Berlin-based British trumpeter Tom Arthurs and...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: April/2015

Cymin Samawatie & Cyminology: Phoenix

While deep-rooted in Persian and Sufi poetry, this German-born Iranian vocalist has a quintet well versed in coolly improvised chamber...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: April/2015

Louis Armstrong: A Rare Batch of Satch

An odd choice to reissue, this, as it's a clone of a 1962 LP compilation of Louis' 1930s big band...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: April/2015

Jimmy Lyons: Complete Remastered Recordings On Black Saint And Soul Note

Andrew Cyrille | Paul Murphy | Karen Borca | Jimmy Lyons | William Parker | Enrico Rava | Raphe Malik

Largely unheralded in his lifetime, alto saxophonist Lyons made essential contributions to the music of Eddie Gale and above all...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: April/2015

Fred Frith & Barry Guy: Backscatter Bright Blue

Barry Guy | Fred Frith

Fred Frith has dedicated a good part of his energies over the last few decades to extending the possibilities of...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: April/2015