Sheer Sound SLCD 089    ****
Bheki Mseleku (p, ts) and many others including Courtney Pine (ss), Graham Haynes (ct), Ravi Coltrane (ts), Michael Bowie (b), Elvin Jones (d), James Spaulding (f) and Sibongile Khumalo (v). Rec. 1991-2003

17.01.07

In + Out Records IOR CD 77086-2    ****
Billy Cobham (d) and Colin Towns (arr) with the HR Big Band. Rec. date not given

It’s fair to say that there has been no shortage of bad press for jazz-rock fusion over the last two decades in a classic case of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. As a result, the achievements of the Mahavishnu Orchestra have been diminished with the passage of time to the point it now seems like a footnote in the pages of history. Yet the Mahavishnu Orchestra was the next major step in jazz rock after Bitches Brew. OK, it may have triggered the guitar Olympics, where every guitarist wanted to play faster than McLaughlin, but here was the visceral marriage of Hendrix’ guitar sound and blistering jazz improvisation taken to a level of excellence that is now a benchmark in the music.
19.02.07

Kind of Blue 10020        ****
Hutcherson (vb), Renée Rosnes (p), Dwayne Burno (b) and Al Foster (d). Rec. 2006

27.07.07

Brad Mehldau (p), Larry Grenadier (b) and Jorge Rossy (d) 09.08.06

Marsalis Music 460 0042     | *****
Branford Marsalis (ss, ts), Joey Calderazzo (p), Eric Revis (b) and Jeff “Tain” Watts (d). Rec. 2006

17.01.07

Grand Central Records|GCCD 140|*****
Daniel Berridge (comp; arr; prod), Christophe De Bezemac (saxes), Rohan Kriwaczek (fl), Matthew Bourne (p), James White (g), Riaan Vosloo (b) and Julie Sharpe (strings). Rec. date not given

This is the third album by Broadway Project, and without doubt I will be checking out the other two. The brain child of Dan Berridge, who has scored for film, Channel 4 and the BBC, In Finite is a compelling left-of-field mix of electronic sounds, beats, jazz improv on an impressively grand scale. 22.07.05