Sandra Nkake: Nothing for Granted

This soulful French-Cameroonian singersongwriter lands somewhere between Grace Jones and Nina Simone, and her English lyrics have a social conscience....

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: May/2012

The Andrew Linham Orchestra: Weapons of Mass Distraction

This London-based saxophonist-composer open-mindedly draws from a traditional big-band lineage from Kansas City and Thad Jones through to more recent...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: February/2018

Blossom Dearie: The Early Years Collection 1948-60

Al Haig | Allen Eager | Bennie Green | Benoit Quersin | Bernard Planchenaud | Blossom Dearie | Bob Martin | Bobby Jaspar | Buddy Stewart | Cecil Payne

There have been various box sets of Blossom Dearie’s material, including a slightly scattershot portfolio of her early work on...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: November/2022

Maynard Ferguson: Live and Well In London

Bob Sydor | Dave Lynanne | Jeff Daly | John Holbrook | Martin Drover | Maynard Ferguson | Pete Jackson | Randy Jones | Stan Robinson

I think this is what they call a near miss. A limited edition with a run of just 500 copies,...

Reviewed by Simon Spillett in issue: April/2021

Milt Jackson: Four Classic Albums – Second Set

Art Taylor | Billy Mitchell | Connie Kay | Hank Jones | John Lewis | Lucky Thompson | Milt Hinton | Milt Jackson | Oscar Pettiford | Percy Heath

Here's another of Avid's compilations of classic vinyl albums, the second such Jackson collection, taking in his Ballads and Blues,...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: August/2019

Ella Fitzgerald: Complete 1950-60 Piano Duets

Barney Kessel | Charlie Smith | Clyde Lombardi | Ella Fitzgerald | Ellis Larkins | Hank Jones | Jimmy Crawford | Nelson Boyd | Oscar Peterson | Paul Smith

The 20 tracks that Ella Fitzgerald recorded with pianist Ellis Larkins in 1950 and 1954 are arguably the best duets...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: February/2018

Dexter Gordon: The Resurgence Of Dexter Gordon: From Los Angeles to New York

Al Harewood | Charles Green | Dexter Gordon | Dolo Coker | Freddy Hubbard | George Tucker | Horace Parlan | Kenny Drew | Laurence Marable | Martin Banks

The three albums that make up this 2CD compilation capture Dexter Gordon confidently claiming his place in the tenor sax...

Reviewed by Mike Hobart in issue: April/2018

Bud Shank: Quintet and Sextet

Early–1960s collaborations between Shank and trumpeter Carmell Jones including some fine playing and some fine extended soloing from Shank, mainly...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: Dec/Jan/2012/2013

Barbara Long: Soul: The Voice of Barbara Long

Two sessions by this most fleet-voiced of 1960s jazz vocalists, blending perfectly with ensembles featuring respectively Booker Ervin and the...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: February/2013

Ben Webster/Harry Edison: Complete Quintet Studio Sessions

Sister album to the same label’s complete collection of sextet sides by Ben and Sweets, this is slightly looser in...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: August/2013