Directions In Jazz Unit directed by Bill Le Sage: New Directions in Jazz

Bill Le Sage | Bob Burns | Johnny Scott | Ronnie Ross | Spike Heatley | the Freddie Alexander Cello Ensemble | Tony Carr | Vic Ash

This is a valuable addition to the three albums the Directions in Jazz Unit made, two under their own name...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: Dec/Jan/2022/2023

Ron Carter: Finding The Right Notes

Bill Frisell | Christian McBride | Jimmy Greene | Jon Batiste | Koln | Payton Crossley | Renee Rosnes | Ron Carter | Ronald Vega | Russell Malone

This is the soundtrack album to Peter Schnell's PBS documentary of the same name – first aired in October –...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: Dec/Jan/2022/2023

Various Artists: Relief: A Benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America’s Musician’s Emergency Fund

Hiromi | Cécile McLorin Salvant | Charles Lloyd | Christian McBride | Esperanza Spalding | Herbie Hancock | Jon Batiste | Joshua Redman | Kenny Garrett | Kindred Spirits

In March 2020, a consortium of record labels – Blue Note, Concord Music Group, Mack Avenue Music Group, Nonesuch Records,...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: October/2021

Delfeayo Marsalis: Uptown on Mardi Gras Day

Alexi Marti | Amari Ansari | Andrew Baham | Arnold Little III | Branford Marsalis | Brice Miller | Chris Severin | Davell Crawford | David Pulphus | Delfeayo Marsalis

The concept behind this album is an interesting one, aiming to fuse the big band tradition with both the New...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: May/2023

Benny Goodman: Small Bands Collection 1935-45

Artie Bernstein | Benny Goodman | Buddy Schutz | Charlie Christian | Cootie Williams | Count Basie | Dave Tough | Dudley Brooks | Fletcher Henderson | Gene Krupa

On one level, this compilation gives a very informative bird's eye view of the Benny Goodman small groups over their...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: April/2021

Nick Vayenas

A Michael Buble sideman, this brass specialist croons Chet-style as well, on originals/standards and has a band of young aces,...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: October/2012

Pacific Mambo Orchestra: The III Side

Aaron Lington | Alex Britti | Anthony Blea | Armando Cordoba | Benny Torres | Braulio Barrera | Carlos Caro | Christelle Durandy | Christian Tumalan | Dafnis Prieto

Pacific Mambo Orchestra is the sort of wish-list outfit Latinophiles dream about. On this third album, the West Coast juggernaut...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: June/2020

Various Artists: Bebop: Pioneers and Classic Performances 1941-49

Bud Powell | Charlie Christian | Charlie Parker | Coleman Hawkins | Dexter Gordon | Dizzy Gillespie | Django Reinhardt | Don Byas | Ella Fitzgerald | Fats Navarro

We are regularly reminded that bebop was a stylistic revolution in jazz but also that, from the viewpoint of later...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: December/January/2021/2022

Michael Dease: Coming Home

This 30-year-old Wycliffe Gordon-mentored ’bonist has a quintet of Christian McBride (Dease plays in his big band), performing a post-bop...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: March/2018

Various Artists: Soho Scene ’57: Jazz Goes Mod

Art Blakey | Art Pepper | Barney Kessel | Carl Perkins | Charles Mingus | Dave Lee | Derek Smith | Dick Heckstall-Smith | Dizzy Reece | Don Rendell

In the latest of these valuable compilations, the focus is on the contrasting UK and US modern jazz scenes as...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: December/January/2023/2024