Fred Hersch Trio: Trio ‘97 @ The Village Vanguard

Drew Gress | Fred Hersch | Tom Rainey

It took pianist Fred Hersch 18 years to headline at the Village Vanguard after arriving on the New York jazz...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: March/2019

The Heavy Hitters

Eric Alexander | Jeremy Pelt | Kenny Washington | Mike LeDonne | Peter Washington | Rale Micic | Vincent Herring

This record's title sounds like it might adorn the kind of all-star session that Pablo specialised in during the 1970s,...

Reviewed by Eddie Myer in issue: April/2023

James P Johnson: Classic James P Johnson Sessions (1921-1943)

Al Casey | Andy Razaf | Arthur Whetsel | Bessie Smith | Cecil Scott | Charlie Christian | Clara Smith | Clarence Williams | Cootie Williams | Ed Hall

The granddaddy of jazz piano – mentor of Fats Waller and hero to Thelonious Monk – has received a worthy...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: April/2016

Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson: With the Cannonball Adderley Quintet

The celebrated summit meeting between Vinson and the Adderley brothers is blues-drenched, but equally full of sparkling jazz from the...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: June/2014

Steve Smith and Vital Information: The Complete Columbia Recordings

Andy Narell | Armando Peraza | Barry Finnerty | Brad Dutz | Corrado Rustici | Dave Wilczewski | Dean Brown | Eef Albers | Frank Gambale | Jay Oliver

Smith could hardly have predicted the longevity of Vital Information when Columbia signed him as a solo artist after he’d...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: Dec/Jan/2022/2023

Pharez Whitted: For the People

Bobby Broom | Dennie Carroll | Eddie Bayard | Greg Artry | Pharez Whitted | Ron Perrillo

We often hear of musicians coming from a ‘musical background’, but Chicago trumpeter Pharez Whitted probably takes the prize....

Reviewed by Tony Hall in issue: March/2013

René von Grünig/Mark Wingfield: Cinema Obscura

The idea of making ‘imaginary soundtracks’ is one of the most enduring clichés in music – but people will insist...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: May/2013

John Russell: With…

Evan Parker | Henry Lowther | John Edwards | John Russell | Phil Minton | Thurston Moore

Through his monthly Mopomoso concert series, guitarist John Russell has long been a busy presence in London's Improv community, but...

Reviewed by Daniel Spicer in issue: September/2015

R+R=NOW: Collagically Speaking

Christian Scott | Derrick Hodge | Justin Tyson | Robert Glasper | Taylor McFerrin | Terrace Martin

An all star-group such as this comes with a certain amount of expectation, which was not duly fulfilled on stage...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: September/2018

Sam Pilnick Nonet: The Adler Suite

Saxophonist-composer Pilnick's programmatic suite for large ensemble is inspired by the exhibits in Chicago's Adler Planetarium but fails to hit...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: August/2021