Alcyona Mick and Liam Noble, Distant Plains: The Planets Revisited, Caliban Sounds/One Little Independent ***1/2
Two become one in the moment
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John Beasley with the SWR Big Band, Invisible Piano, O-tone music ****
Currently performing through until Saturday - as a member of Unlimited Miles at the Birdland jazz club in New York along with Sean Jones, Marcus Strickland, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ben Williams and Terreon Gully - John Beasley on Invisible Piano is here in a big band album incarnation to be released in May which features originals as well as James Taylor and Earth, Wind & Fire material on an album that takes its name from the visual cue of a 1920s Max Ernst proto-surrealist painting.
2 April 2026
Shalosh, What We Are Made Of, ACT ***
Covering Oasis, Muse and Aqua is not only a bit but a lot gimmicky. Otherwise beyond the purist baiting the trio continue doing what they have been accomplishing for a while. That is delivering accessible contemporary piano trio sounds as "invented" back in the late 1990s by the likes of e.s.t, The Bad Plus and Brad Mehldau.
1 April 2026
The Bad Plus, Chris Potter, Craig Taborn, Barbican, City of London ****
Playing the music of the Keith Jarrett American Quartet on their farewell tour, The Bad Plus were on uncompromising kickass form.
31 March 2026
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Alexander Claffy, Alive in Philadelphia, Vol. 1 (At Chris’ Jazz Cafe), Cellar Music ****
Leaps out of the speakers: what a very happening live album from a stellar US band playing a Coltrane tune you rarely hear on a record these days among other gems. Includes formidable sax playing from Seamus Blake and Jaleel Shaw.
30 March 2026
Paul Carrack, For One Night Only – Live in London, Carrack UK ***1/2
"Say it loud, say it clear: You can listen as well as you hear" - a joy as so often from Paul Carrack jazzed up with some still game Germans and a cracking choir later delivering a touching communal experience of a treatment of 'The Living Years.’
29 March 2026
Steve White trio, Soul Drums: The Jazz Sessions Vol. 1, Acid Jazz ****
One for the Modfather fan in your life, toned down welly delivered at an arm’s length hell for leather jazz distance, direct from a valuable Weller fella and estimable chums.
29 March 2026
Stefano Bollani All Stars, Tutta Vita Live, Ponderosa ***1/2
Sprawling and as so often with the ever puckish Italian pianist Stefano Bollani riotously creative. While it's not up there with his greatest work like Joy In Spite of Everything or his mighty Zappa homage Sheik Yer Zappa, nevertheless Tutta Vita Live is still worth a spin.
27 March 2026
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, We The People, Blue Engine **** recommended
State of the art big band jazz couched in Ellingtonia and the classic traditions of jazz as reimagined by an orchestra that is an institution in America and globally renowned.
25 March 2026
Harvie S, Bright Dawn, Origin ***1/2
Originals and a super cover of Chick Corea's 'Humpty Dumpty' work well. For the jazz double bass lover in your life.
25 March 2026
Aubrey Johnson, The Lively Air, Greenleaf *****
Keeper of the Lyle Mays flame and more - so much more so remarkably - new from singer-composer Aubrey Johnson.
24 March 2026
Jasper Somsen, Carsten Lindholm, Jan Gunnar Hoff, Human Vibe, Challenge ****
Delicious Eurojazz from this sensitive trio. While Dutch bass master Jasper Somsen's album featuring Dutch guitarist Anton Goudsmit released last year also appeals Human Vibe is even better especially for the inclusion of a brace of Vince Mendoza tunes.
23 March 2026
Joshua Burnside, It’s Not Going to Be Okay, Nettwerk ****
Quite the homespun folk masterpiece from the widely regarded Northern Irish folk musician on his most heartfelt and humane album yet.
23 March 2026
Noa Levy and Paul Edis Trio, Portrait in Evans, Dot Time Records **** recommended
Unveiling their swinging new "modern jazz" album together inspired by the hugely influential Miles Davis Kind of Blue pianist Bill Evans, Noa Levy and Paul Edis go on an English road trip this spring.
23 March 2026
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."
19 March 2026
Tina Carr: Moon Over Mildmay ***1/2
A delightful sense of saudade, classic movie noir and more from singer Tina Carr whose lyrics also fit in seamlessly.
19 March 2026
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.
16 March 2026
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.
16 March 2026
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.
15 March 2026