Steve Barry: In The Waves

Eric Harland | Will Vinson | Thomas Botting | Steve Barry

Steve Barry’s recent projects span classy organ trio jazz with guitarist Hamish Stuart, chamber works and free improv with koto...

Reviewed by Mike Hobart in issue: June/2023

George Coleman: Live at Smalls Jazz Club

Joe Farnsworth | Peter Washington | Spike Wilner | George Coleman

This is the fifth album in Smalls’ Living Masters series, and the latest to receive this encomium is the venerable...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: June/2023

Kenny Wheeler: Gnu High

These two facsimile releases of original ECM vinyl, recorded in 1975 and 1979, announce the launch of Luminessence, ECM’s prestigious...

Reviewed by Stuart Nicholson in issue: June/2023

Aja Monet with the Christian Scott Band: when the poems do what they do

Weedie Braimah | Marcus Gilmore | Luques Curtis | Elena Pinderhughes | Aja Monet | Christian Scott | Samora Pinderhughes | plus Lonnie Holley

Aja Monet is a chronicler, a Brooklyn griot, a freedom fighter with fire in her veins and a way with...

Reviewed by Jane Cornwell in issue: June/2023

Donny McCaslin: I Want More

Lois Martin | Mark Guiliana | Tim Lefebvre | Joyce Hammann | Sara Caswell | Jody Redhage Ferber | Jason Lindner | Jannek Zechner | Donny McCaslin | Chris Bullock

The hyphenated word ‘boundary-breaking’ is often thrown around so casually as a description of a band’s music these days that...

Reviewed by Selwyn Harris in issue: June/2023

Joshua Jaswon Octet: Polar Waters

Joshua Jaswon | Marc Doffey | Aarón Castrillo | Sidney Werner | Jan Kaiser | Andrej Ugoljew | Anna Serierse | Johannes Mann

It’s refreshing to hear this band, led by British-born, Berlin-based Jaswon, that has both created a very distinct and individual...

Reviewed by Alyn Shipton in issue: June/2023

Lucian Ban & Mat Maneri: Oedipe Redux

Mat Maneri | Tom Rainey | Ralph Alessi | John Hébert | Lucian Ban | Theo Bleckmann | Jen Shyu | Louis Sclavis

Romanian pianist Lucian Ban and American viola player Mat Maneri have produced consistently interesting work in their respective careers, during...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: June/2023

Bokani Dyer: Radio Sechaba

Ndabo Zulu | Keenan Ahrends | Linda Sikhakhane | Sthembiso Bhengu | Tendai Shoko | Lwanda Gogwana | Bokani Dyer | Al Dirt Du Toit | Shane Cooper | Steve Dyer

Bokani Dyer has been an important part of the newest wave of South African artists to add to the country’s...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: June/2023

Fraser Smith Quartet: Tip Top!

Simon Read | Rob Barron | Steve Brown | Fraser Smith

Birmingham-born but a Londoner now, young Smith has found a tenor style that suits him, taking his inspiration from the...

Reviewed by Peter Vacher in issue: June/2023

Rudy Royston: Day

Rudy Royston | Hank Roberts | Gary Versace | Joe Martin | John Ellis

Highly respected for his sterling work with the likes of JD Allen, Dave Douglas and Ron Miles, Rudy Royston is...

Reviewed by Kevin Le Gendre in issue: June/2023