marlbank

Sarah Jane Morris, The Sisterhood 2, Fallen Angel ***1/2

Eminently listenable. The most jazz relevant track is the convincing Amy Winehouse tribute 'The Edge Is Where The Magic Is Found' - as the lyrics have it: "the urchin with the razzmatazz."

Michael Buckley Quartet and Hayley Kavanagh to play the 2026 Kildare Jazz Festival

The Newbridge festival books one of Ireland's biggest jazz stars for its annual Kildare jazz gathering. Highlights include an appearance by said icon of the scene Michael Buckley and his Quartet, Origin Story and the quintet of Venezuelan guitarist Orlando Molina. Buckley delivered one of his best albums in years recently, the formidable Ebb and Flow.

Hetta Falzon, Henrietta, Last Recordings on Earth ****

The extended version of 'Sobering' with its rococo introduction and exquisite melody is one of many highlights on an EP that counts as an album and is far more than a demo.

Mark Turner, Patternmaster, ECM ****

Bass rich quartet studio sounds from tender modernist the poet of the saxophone, Mark Turner. The American tangles up in blue meaningfully with trumpeter Jason Palmer in the top lines.

Edgar Knecht, Colours of Europe, GLM ***1/2

'Beautiful Countries' stands out - it's a gem of a tune on this delightful chamber jazz outing shaped around piano & modular synth, accordion, double bass and drums.

Introducing Kind of Now new soon from Gregory Hutchinson

A Miles Davis centennial spring is in store. 'Orbits' from a must hear new tribute album streaming proves a fillip for the senses introducing Kind of Now. It's the work of Gregory Hutchinson and a stellar collection of mainly US jazzers.

Where would we be without Adolphe Sax – a tomb with a view

A safely long dead inventor of the saxophone is ripe to be praised. The neglect of the accident prone pretty famous to be fair Belgian’s tomb is properly causing dismay in this evocative piece. Pity, and the irony is inescapable, that The Times is less keen on running album reviews of new jazz, overnight reviews of top live performances, or meaty features on the topic much. It's a different kind of neglect of the living that’s just as parlous.

John Hart, New Mantra, SteepleChase **** recommended

The new mantra is the same as the old one. Strum and hum along. Pleasurable originals, Monk, Leonard Bernstein and a whole lot more.

Julian Joseph, Voyage of the Faithful, Rivetation Records *****

An event release. A giant of British jazz piano returns with a bangingly swinging trio exhibition, on what is blindingly obviously a milestone recording.

Robin Katz tipped

The nylon string guitar sounds of Robin Katz act like a charm.

Marius Neset, Time To Live, ACT ****

Impeccable, imaginative big band writing from the greatest Norwegian saxophonist since Jan Garbarek - pride of the great city of Bergen, Marius Neset.

Metropole Orkest, Arakatak, V2 Records **** recommended

Bursting with great writing, energy and vitality that snaps all notions of what a contemporary big band & crucially strings together should sound like, Arakatak is a clear candidate to become the recipient of a hatful of awards, surely. It's big tent cinematic jazz that's brimful of passion.