Reviews
Picking out a range of the essentials
Booker Stardrum, Close-up On The Outside, We Jazz ***
Still seems a bit work in progress but intellectually stimulating electro-acoustic nevertheless from a production point of view.
Red Kite, Popludium, Babel ****
The Babel label renaissance that began with Riversphere last year continues at pace with this dreamy multinational Eurojazz group release from Red Kite...
 Eric Bibb, One Mississippi, Repute Records **** recommended
So many great songs ring out from blues legend Eric Bibb on One Mississippi - and the bluesman is touring in England, Scotland...
Bob Reynolds, Eddie Told Me So, Nosahu Records ****
Compared to what? Feelgood no nonsense sax sounds empathetically accompanied from the Snarky Puppy sax honcho, paying tribute intelligently even while sidestepping core...
Malene Mortensen & Christian Sands – Malene and Christian (Stunt Records) Album Review (2026)
Peace loving: Not an album for cynics or war mongers. There's more to applaud than to denigrate on this vocals and piano shaped...
Aadal, Aggressive Hymns, Energetic Ballads, Losen ***
A more than decent heart on sleeve affair with strong tunes by guitarist Michael Aadal and an agreeable Bill Frisell-like sound world. It's...
Dave Holland, Norma Winstone, London Vocal Project, Vital Spark (Music of Kenny Wheeler), Edition ****
Modest reflection, tender, lost moments and even love in myriad forms, Vital Spark is apt and perfect. The recording includes, according to Edition,...
Omar RÃos Meléndez and Alex Wilson, The Art of Deep Connection, Alex Wilson Music ****
Appealing Nicaraguan flavoured piano and guitar duets.
When I Return, The Weight of Bloom, Jazzland ***1/2
Nordic lightning in a bottle: The 7 secrete a vibrant, reedy ready to blossom collective sound that involves members of the Lightning Trio...
Viktoria Tolstoy, Jacob Karlzon, Who We Are, ACT ***
A bit too bland for my taste - a vocals-piano album at its core that includes originals and treatments of well worn Billy...
Niklas Lukassen, Still Waters, Heartcore **** recommended
Extremely impressive debut from imaginative bassist and singer Niklas Lukassen
Melissa Aldana, Filin, Blue Note ****
Will it do for Filin what the Buena Vista Social Club did for son?
Tigran Hamasyan, Manifeste, Naïve Records ****
Mind blowing virtuosity, Armenian spiritualism, prog intensity. It can only be Tigran.
David Friedman and Tony Miceli, Glow: a Tribute to Dave Samuels, SteepleChase ****
Two massively skilled vibists pay tribute to another master of fond regard, in the process shining a welcome light on neglected gems from...
Airelle Besson and Lionel Suarez, Blossom, Bretelles/Papillon Jaune **** recommended
Charming trumpet and accordion settings.
Trish Clowes and Louise McMonagle, Colour Fields, Stoney Lane ****
Dark avant-garde reveries that prove very hypnotic.
Nils Wülker, Zuversicht, Warner Music Central Europe **** recommended
Instantly appealing. Tunes that steal a little piece of your heart.
Antonio Faraò and Stéphane Belmondo Quartet, Do It! Notes Around ****
Containing an intuitive grip on style and substance. The mood is perfectly pitched, the means of expressing it suitably kind of blue in...
- Finn Carter, Finding Home, Whirlwind **** recommended
- Gary Crosby Quartet featuring Cherise Adams-Burnett + Maddy Coombs trio, Blue Note, London ****
- Michael Kanan, Horacio Fumero and Guillem Arnedo, The Sweetest Sounds, Fresh Sound ***
- Jo Harrop, Love Now Pay Later, Lateralize ****
- The very best jazz vocals of 2026
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