Scott Hamilton, In the Still of the Night, GLM Music ****
The use of vibes against sax and the choice of tunes are some of the reasons to like this swinging latest from Scott...
13 May 2026
Full Circle Quartet, Same Sky, No label ***
A south coast of England sound that is big on mindfulness and gentle melodic development.
11 May 2026
Matthew Stevens, Matthew Stevens, Candid ****
An ambient, late night kind of listen factoring in originals of Canada born guitarist Matthew Stevens plus Leadbelly and Sonny Sharrock numbers
11 May 2026
John Beasley with the SWR Big Band, Invisible Piano, O-tone music ****
The SWR has had a good year for releases. I liked the collab with Paul Carrrack. Even better is this from John Beasley....
8 May 2026
Knats, A Great Day in Newcastle, Fontana **1/2
This homage to the north east is certainly about local pride. Its appeal if you are not from there is more debatable.
5 May 2026
Lorikeet, Woven, Babel ***1/2
Jaunty, rather lovely, English folk and some Americana and improv directions figure on newly surfacing Somerset band Lorikeet's Woven.
5 May 2026
Jarrod Lawson, Just Let it, Dome ***1/2
Laugh at Yourself stands out most, where Eric Roberson duets winningly.
4 May 2026
Wynton Marsalis and Vince Giordano, The Wonderful World of Louis Armstrong, Blue Engine **** recommended
Vibrant trad jazz intimations of Satch wail, smear and ache.
4 May 2026
Alcyona Mick and Liam Noble, Distant Plains: The Planets Revisited, Caliban Sounds/One Little Independent ***1/2
Two become one in the moment
30 April 2026
Alex Ho and Donovan Haffner, Serendipity, No label ***1/2
A meeting of hearts and minds.
30 April 2026
Billy Childs, Triumvirate, Mack Avenue ****
Originals win the day
27 April 2026
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...
26 April 2026
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...
25 April 2026
Barbican adds Moses Boyd Pan-African drums night and Ben LaMar Gay date to Project a Black Planet
Diasporic summer sounds ingeniously curated
24 April 2026
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
23 April 2026
Glasgow Jazz Festival 2026: 10-14 June
Mario Biondi, Courtney Pine, Martin Taylor and more booked to play Glasgow Jazzfest in June.
22 April 2026
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.
20 April 2026
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...
20 April 2026
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