ArrayThis feels like a transition disc. The singer, who overhauled her sound in 1993 to create one of the freshest new aesthetics in jazz, one anchored in the blues, is nudging at another sonic space here. 20.04.06

ECM 175 4811     ****
Charles Lloyd (ts, alto f, tarogato), Jason Moran (p), Reuben Rogers (b) and Eric Harland (d, perc).
Rec. 24 April 2007

01.05.08

EmArcy 984275-9 (2 CDs)    ***
Mingus (b, p, narr), Hobart Dotson, Jimmy Owens, Lonnie Hillyer (t), Julius Watkins (Fr hn), Howard Johnson (tu), Charles McPherson (as) and Dannie Richmond (d). Rec. 25 Sep 1965
17.04.07

The spirit of the original acoustic Return to Forever is writ large on these sessions, which despite the revolving cast of musicians on each track, were all recorded live at the Mad Hatter Studios in California with a minimum of overdubs. They reveal Corea’s love of Spanish and Latin rhythms which are far more explicit than the delicate Brazilian feel of the original band. 08.03.06

Destin-e 777 25 3 1807     ****
Courtney Pine (alto fl, b ct, ts, shaker), Nathaniel Facey (as, cymb), Shabaka Hutchings (clt, b clt, ts, cymb), Jason Yarde (ss, bar s, wind shaker), Harry Brown (tb, cabasa), Chris Storr (t, flhn, tambourine), Byron Wallen (t, flhn, tambourine), Jay Phelps (t, flhn, shekere), Samuel Dubois (as, steel pan, cabasa), Ayanna Witter Johnson (clo, v), Omar Puente (el v), Femi Temowo (g), Alex Wilson (p), Darren Taylor (b), Robert Fordjour (d, Egyptian tabla). Rec.6 October 2007

01.05.08