Daymé Arocena: Cubafonia

Dayme Arocena

The strum of a tres. A crash of cymbals. Swelling horns. Spoken-word incantations. A revving rhythm section, soaring massed-voice choir...

Reviewed in issue April/2017

Shabaka & The Ancestors: Wisdom Of Elders

Mandla Mlangeni | Siyabonga Mthembu | Gontse Makhene | Mthunzi | Nduduzo Makhathini | Shabaka Hutchings | Ariel Zomonsky

Given the substantial amount of time he spends in South Africa it was inevitable that British saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings would...

Reviewed in issue Dec/Jan/2016/2017

Yussef Kamaal: Black Focus

Yussef Dayes | Henry Williams

South Londoners Yussef Dayes and Henry Williams draw inspiration from 1970s fusion trademarked by the likes of Herbie, Zawinul and...

Reviewed in issue Dec/Jan/2016/2017

LV: Ancient Mechanisms

The Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan is the guest on the London production duo LV's fourth album to date, exploring what...

Reviewed in issue November/2015

Interstatic: Arise

Zara McFarlane | Moses Boyd | Shabaka Hutchings | Peter Edwards

There remains something splendidly old school about this still young trio. They play with a raw toned directness rare among...

Reviewed in issue October/2017

Zara McFarlane: If You Knew Her

Manu Delago | Gavin Barras | Zara McFarlane | Peter Edwards | Max Luthert

This follow-up to Zara McFarlane's critically acclaimed, MOBO award-nominated debut Until Tomorrow (2011) is beautifully crafted and brilliantly performed, and...

Reviewed in issue February/2014

Various Artists: Gilles Peterson Presents… Havana Cultura: The Search Continues

Danay Danay | Roberto Fonseca | Los Aldeanos | Arema Arega | El Micha | Roberto Carcasses | Vince Vella | Osdalgia | Silvito Sentido | Obsesion

The thinking hipster's Andy Kershaw, DJ Gilles Peterson has popped back to Havana in the wake of the success of...

Reviewed in issue February/2012

Half Seas Over

Bringing together the art of folky singer-songwriting and jazz can often bear fruit. But this union of Brooklyn-based pianist Elan...

Reviewed in issue June/2010

Soil And Pimp Sessions: 6

DJ Kentaro | Ringo Sheena | Jamie Cullum

Welcome to Planet Pimp for their (you'll never guess) sixth outing. The formula remains as predictable as that title: hi-energy...

Reviewed in issue June/2010