Monty Alexander: Harlem-Kingston Express Vol. 2: The River Rolls On

Andy Bassford | Caterina Zapponi | Courtney Panton | Earl Appleton | Frits Landersbergen | Hassan Shakur | Karl Wright | Monty Alexander | Obed Calvaire | Wendel Ferraro

“I'm a Jamaican. I'm an American. I'm a proud Jamerican. Identity crisis? No – identities embraced!” So declares Monty Alexander...

Reviewed by Jack Massarik in issue: July/2014

Tord Gustavsen Trio: Opening

Jarle Vespestad | Steinar Raknes | Tord Gustavsen

This latest trio offering from Tord Gustavsen, which welcomes bassist Steinar Raknes into the fold, vibrates between the introspective and...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: May/2022

The Blue Notes: Before The Wind Changes

Chris McGregor | Dudu Pukwana | Johnny Dyani | Louis Moholo-Moholo

Even relatively ropey engineering – Dyani's bass is reduced to little more than a whisper when the ensemble is at...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: April/2012

Chad Lefkowitz-Brown: Onward

Having had diverse tour experience with the likes of Dave Brubeck and, er, Taylor Swift, the 27-year-old New Yorker proves...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: July/2017

Jamie Reynolds: Grey Mirror

The New York-based Canadian pianist-composer pitches concise choir-like arrangements for brass quartet The Westerlies against a minimalist chamber jazz trio,...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: November/2017

Tommy Smith: SoLow

Tommy Smith

Another example of Tommy Smith at the top of his game. Described by Smith as “five short solo saxophone tracks...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: May/2021

Theo Jackson: Shoeless and the Girl

A debut from a jazz-ish singer-songwriter from Kent (plus trio and guest soloist Nathaniel Facey) with a sensitive vocal that...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: July/2015

Micah Thomas: Tide

Pianist Micah Thomas has already impressed this writer on Matthew Stevens/Walter Smith Ill's In Common II CD, and his debut...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: July/2020

‘Blue’ Gene Tyranny and Peter Gordon: Trust In Rock

Gene Reffkin | Gene Tyranny | Janet Cuniberti | Karl Young | Patrice Manget | Paul Dresher | Peter Gordon | Steve Barket

A cat-flap view of the curiously privileged world of Californian new musics, composed in and listened to largely by a...

Reviewed by Andy Robson in issue: September/2019

John Coltrane: “Live” At The Village Vanguard

Elvin Jones | Eric Dolphy | Jimmy Garrison | John Coltrane | McCoy Tyner | Reggie Workman

If you want to be reminded that 1961 was a great year for jazz, you only have to look at...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: May/2012