John Martin: The Hidden Notes/Spirit of Adventure

John Martin | Ralph Wyld | Rob Updegraff | Tim Fairhall | Tim Giles

For the past decade the London-based tenor saxophonist John Martin has trodden his own personal path, wary of fashionably hip...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: August/2016

Billy Childs: Rebirth

Alicia Olatuja | Billy Childs | Claudia Acuña | Eric Harland | Hans Glawischnig | Ido Meshulam | Rogerio Boccato | Steve Wilson

Childs, who turned 60 in March, got off to an early start with J.J. Johnson and then Freddie Hubbard, and...

Reviewed by Brian Priestley in issue: May/2017

Vincent Herring: Night and Day

Brandi Disterheft | Jeremy Pelt | Joe Farnsworth | Mike LeDonne | Vincent Herring

Another strong Paul Stache production for Smoke. Herring is at his most assertive throughout 10 tracks – six as a...

Reviewed by Tony Hall in issue: September/2015

Bobby Watson: Back Home in Kansas City

Bobby Watson | Carmen Lundy | Curtis Lundy | Cyrus Chestnut | Jeremy Pelt | Victor Jones

The alto saxophone of Bobby Watson can turn from fiery to tender in a moment, but this album shows both...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: November/2022

Natalie Williams: Where You Are

Al Cherry | Chris Higginbottom | Natalie Williams | Phil Peskett | Robin Mullarkey

Drawing on influences from soul, gospel and jazz, this latest album from MOBO nominated vocalist Natalie Williams sees her unveiling...

Reviewed by Peter Quinn in issue: February/2014

John Leighton: Dramatic Life

The Irish pianist plays and composes alongside vocalist Anna Stott and guitarist Mark McKnight presenting a set of acid jazz-like...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: March/2012

Binker & Moses: Journey To The Mountain Of Forever

Binker Golding | Byron Wallen | Evan Parker | Moses Boyd | Sarathy Korwar | Tori Handsley | Youssef Dayes

Following the critical acclaim lavished on their 2015 debut Dem Ones, Binker and Moses consolidate and expand, both in ideas...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: April/2017

Mikrokolektyw: Absent Minded

More creative Chicago-based eclecticism with Artur Majewski and Kuba Suchar, on trumpet and drums respectively, and an imaginative brew of...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: August/2013

Jimmy Heath: The Quota/Triple Threat/The Thumper/Really Big!

Albert ‘Tootie’ Heath | Cannonball Adderley | Cedar Walton | Curtis Fuller | Freddie Hubbard | Jimmy Heath | Julius Watkins | Nat Adderley | Pat Patrick | Paul Chambers

Jimmy Heath was three years younger than his bass playing brother Percy and nine years older than his drumming sibling...

Reviewed by Roy Carr in issue: August/2015

Raoul Bjorkenheim eCsTaSy: Out of the Blue

Gene Tyranny | Jane Sharp | Kathy Morton | Lynne Morrow | Maggie Payne | Patrice Manget | Peter Gordon | Steve Bartek

Bursting out of the Helsinki avant-jazz scene, the guitarist Bjorkenheim and his band eCsTaSy has Pauli Lyytinen's Brötzmann-like feral tenor...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: September/2019