CHRIS LLOYD – THE SKY WILL STILL BE THERE TOMORROW (Blue Note) (2 CD, 2 LP, DL) (2024)
Anyone evenly remotely into Jazz should check out the indefatigable sax and woodwinds maestro CHARLES LLOYD, 85-years young and composing...
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Feb 122 min read
MATTHEW HALSALL – AN EVER CHANGING VIEW (2023) (Gondwana)
This is one album that I keep returning to it and certainly one of 2023’s best in the ‘Jazz’ category. There are two brief field...
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Feb 122 min read
MARY HALVORSON – CLOUDWARD (2024) (Nonesuch)
‘The Gate’ is a powerful opener, Patricia Brennan’s vibes coming to the fore; trombonist Jacob Garchik also contributing grandly;...
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Feb 121 min read
AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE – OWL SONG (2023) (Nonesuch Records)
At the tail-end of last year, Akinmusire released this intimate and soul-enhancing album: just a trio with his trumpet playing alongside...
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Feb 121 min read
LA LA LARS IV (2023) (Bandcamp)
One of Bandcamp’s recommended albums of 2023 is the fourth by LA LA LARS , a Swedish jazz group led by drummer Lars Skoglund, who also...
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Feb 22 min read
FORGAS BAND PHENOMENA – EXTRA-LUCIDE (1999/ 2023) (Cuneiform Records)
It was back in 1999, I think, when I reviewed this band’s “Soleil” album for ACID DRAGON, quoting, “For fans of SOFT MACHINE, GONG,...
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Dec 28, 20231 min read
SOFT MACHINE – OTHER DOORS (2003) (Cuneiform Records)
It has been five years since the Softs’ last studio album “Hidden Details”. The line-up is John Ethridge (guitar), Theo Travis (saxes,...
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Dec 2, 20232 min read
I.P.A. – GRIMSTA (2022) (Cuneiform Records)
I.P.A. might be considered is something of a Scandinavian jazz supergroup, with Atle Nymo on tenor saxophone, Magnus Broo on trumpet,...
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Dec 2, 20239 min read
A REVIEW AND INTERVIEW WITH STEVEN Mc CABE discussing “Kicking the Olive Branch” and a Christmas CD
When originally released as a digi-pak, “Kicking the Olive Branch” sold out within two weeks. It was recorded in the studio and on...
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Nov 21, 20232 min read
DUKE ELLINGTON: A JAZZER SUPREME: STEELY DAN WOULD AGREE!
Tributes have been flowing in to mark the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Duke Ellington Jazz Orchestra. Ellington was a force...
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Nov 21, 20231 min read
SHAULI EINAV – LIVING ORGANS (2023) (Bandcamp)
A band of four soloists: Einav on alto, soprano and tenor sax and flute; Laurent Coulondre on piano, organ and synth; Evan Har Ever on...
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Nov 21, 20231 min read
MIKE STERN/BOB BERG BAND – ESTEVAL JAZZ (Kipepeo publishing, 2023)
I discovered this label through Bandcamp: the releases I’ve seen curate jazz concerts of old at the affordable price of £3 for a...
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Nov 21, 20232 min read
JANEL LEPPIN – ENSEMBLE VOLCANIC ASH (2022) (Cuneiform Records)
Janel Leppin’s formidable body of work is difficult to categorise: is it Chamber Jazz with touches of Rock in Opposition and Punk ethic...
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Nov 15, 20231 min read
SOFT MACHINE – THE DUTCH LESSON (1973/2023) (Cuneiform Records)
First of all: an audiophile warning- this album was recorded on a portable tape recorder at De Lantaren in the Netherlands on 26thy...
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Nov 13, 20233 min read
THUMBSCREW – MULTICOLORED MIDNIGHT (2022)/ NEVER IS ENOUGH (2023)/ MARY HALVORSON – AMARYLLIS / BELL
Cuneiform press releases are unfailingly helpful, and the description of Thumbscrew’s music as “like a reverse black hole radiating...
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Nov 13, 20232 min read
DIVERGENT CONNECTIONS ORCHESTRA – TRANSCEND (2023)
First of all, some basic information: described as “music beyond normality” and “controlled improvisation”, TRANSCEND is an edited (to 93...
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Oct 27, 20231 min read
ELVIND AARSET AND JAN BANG – LAST TWO INCHES OF SKY (2023) (Jazzland)
This Norwegian duo has carved a niche in the jazz electronica field; Bang works more on the electronics side with field recordings, found...
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Oct 9, 20231 min read
BRIAN AUGER’S OBLIVION EXPRESS – THE COMPLETE WORKS ON LP AND CD
I am somewhat confused about the announcement of all of the Oblivion Express LPs in a boxset as I see no mention of it on the Soul Bank...
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Oct 9, 20239 min read
BILLIE HOLIDAY (part two)
Please read in conjunction with BILLIE HOLIDAY PART ONE on this website. This is part of a projected follow-up book to ‘Within You,...
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Oct 9, 20232 min read
ECLECTIC MAYBE BAND – BARS WITHOUT MEASURES (2023)
Guy Segers of UNIVERS ZERO is the mastermind behind this project. The press release suggests that Guy “takes the improvisations as raw...
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