Wynton Marsalis and Vince Giordano, The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Blue Engine **** recommended
Vibrant trad jazz intimations of Satch wail, smear and ache.
Miho Hazama and the Danish Radio Big Band, Frames, Edition **** recommended
Mellow writing, cleanly voiced, strong melodies, big band backing that isn’t like an overkill at all. All these factors are part of the spell the sound achieves. Miho Hazama reaches new heights
Eivind Aarset, Strange Hands, Jazzland ***1/2
Appealing electro ambient Nordic future jazz from Eivind Aarset, violin and ancient Indian bamboo flute contribute an additional dimension to the existing group sound
Anthony Joseph, The Ark, Heavenly Sweetness ****
Another strong showing from London scene British Trinidadian poet, vocalist, singer-songwriter Anthony Joseph and his kicking band
Barbican adds Moses Boyd Pan-African drums night and Ben LaMar Gay date to Project a Black Planet
Diasporic summer sounds ingeniously curated
Blue Moods, Directions & Expressions, Posi-Tone ***1/2
Miles Davis themed – easy going middle of the road swinging routines on this new studio album from Blue Moods
Glasgow Jazz Festival 2026: 40th Edition Line-Up Announced
Mario Biondi, Courtney Pine, Martin Taylor and more booked to play Glasgow Jazzfest in June.
The W, Mikrokosmos, TYZart**** recommended
Following the example of Chick Corea, Bruno Heinen’s The W for Mikrokosmos zones in specifically on Book 6. What a pick-me-up.
Let Spin, I Am Alien, Discus ****
I have no idea what “post jazz” means, a term sometimes trotted out to describe Let Spin. It trips off the tongue easily enough.
Talkline, Growing Pains, Milk Man EP ***1/2
Words matter. Experiencing the fuller Talkline further joins the dots between poignant 1970s-like singer-songwritery that’s rooted in a liking for John Martyn and Labi Siffre and a more up to the minute jazz sensibility. Growing Pains is quite touching especially ‘I Can See.’
The “art of the prompt”
“My arse” – Jim Royle would have responded. But the jig will be well and truly up come that *happy day* when opinion itself can be faked by AI.
Peter Erskine, Peregrine, Hard Wag Records **** highly recommended
A winning array of Keith Jarrett, Phoebe Snow, Alan Pasqua, Peter Erskine, Brian Wilson and Jimmy Webb material contained within what’s crafted as carefully as a choice artisanal blend.
People in Orbit, Viewpoint, April ***
You won’t have just glimpsed the dark side of the moon unlike some other People in Orbit making all the news.
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.
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