Nubya Garcia

Source

(Concord Jazz)

Nubya Garcia (ts), Joe Armon-Jones (p, ky), Daniel Casimir (b) and Sam Jones (d) plus guests

Saxophonist Nubya Garcia has taken the London jazz scene by storm in the last few years. She has a gift for self-expression and for channeling raw energy in her playing. Her debut album, which follows two EPs and albums with Maisha and the septet Nérija, is a sonic self-portrait that reflects her Afro-Carribean heritage and her expanding musical horizons... Thomas Rees

Read the full review in the September issue of Jazzwise

Pasquale Grasso

Solo Bud Powell

(Sony Masterworks)

Pasquale Grasso (g)

It should come as no surprise that the Italian-born, New York-based guitarist Pasquale Grasso should devote an entire solo album to repertoire either by or associated with Bud Powell, as he has always cited Powell as a major influence. Hailed by Pat Metheny as ‘the best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life’, the 31-year-old Grasso does not ignore the guitar tradition, but he has worked tirelessly at bringing subtle nuances of jazz piano technique to the guitar, as evidenced by last year’s album devoted to Thelonious Monk... Alyn Shipton

Read the full review in the September issue of Jazzwise

Tigran Hamasyan

The Call Within

(Nonesuch)

Tigran Hamasyan (p, ky, v), Evan Marien (b), Arthur Hnatek (d), plus guests: Tosin Abasi (g), Areni Agbabian (v) and Artyom Manukyan (clo)

On his third trio album, the 33-year-old Armenian-born, LA-based pianist-composer Tigran Hamasyan intensifies the uniquely personal soundworld he developed on previous Nonesuch trio releases 2013’s Shadow Theatre and 2015’s Mockroot. The Call Within marks a more daring interplay of extremes where the slamming intensity of high energy contemporary groove-metal meets the celestial-bound melodies and metrically-complex folk music traditions largely sourced from his Armenian heritage... Selwyn Harris

Read the full review in the September issue of Jazzwise

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

Black, Brown and Beige

(Blue Engine)

Duke Ellington (comp), Ryan Kisor, Marcus Printup, Kenny Rampton, Wynton Marsalis, Jonah Ross (t), Elliot Mason, Kasperi Sarikoski, Sam Chess (tb), Sherman Irby, Ted Nash (as), Victor Goines (ts, cl), Julian Lee (ts), Paul Nedzela (bs), Dan Nimmer (p, perc), James Chirillo (g), Carlos Henriquez (b), Marion Felder (d), Chris Crenshaw (cond) plus (one track each) Eli Bishop (vln) and Brianna Thomas (v)

The Lincoln Center band’s live interpretation brings the music to vibrant life. Handing conducting duties to trombonist Crenshaw, Wynton plays in the ensemble and is just one of many soloists, making short appearances in two buoyant dance numbers from the ‘Brown’ section of the work. The most memorable section, and the most densely composed, is the 20-minute ‘Black’, which is dominated by the themes of ‘Come Sunday’ and ‘Work Song’ and which Ellington himself later revived as a separate entity... Brian Priestley

Read the full review in the September issue of Jazzwise

Somi

Holy Room – Live at Alte Oper with Frankfurt Radio Big Band

Somi (v), Hervé Samb (g), Toru Dodo (p), plus Frankfurt Radio Big Band and John Beasley (a, cond)

Exploring music from her previous two releases, The Lagos Music Salon (2014) and the award-winning Petite Afrique (2017), from the atmospheric album opener ‘Kadiatou the Beautiful’ to the almost hymnic incantations of the concluding title track, the way in which Somi pours her entire heart and soul into the performance with such a profound depth of feeling ensures that the music pours forth with a rich arterial force... Peter Quinn

Read the full review in the September issue of Jazzwise

Charles Tolliver

Connect

(Gearbox)

Charles Tolliver (t), Jesse Davis (as), Binker Golding (ts), Keith Brown (p), Buster Williams (b) and Lenny White (d)

Veteran trumpeter Charles Tolliver came to London in the 1960s as a member of Max Roach’s group, but he was leading the band himself last winter at the Jazz Café. This studio session was done in the days that followed, showing the pedigree of musicians whose wealth of experience is simply mouthwatering... Kevin Le Gendre

Read the full review in the September issue of Jazzwise