Floating Circles Quartet Eleven Yesterdays Ago (self-released EP) Floating Circles Quartet is essentially a vehicle for composer and clarinetist Aidan Pearson, a student of Tomorrow’s Warriors and the Guildhall School who has self-released this new EP. Whilst Pearson cites Brian Eno as an influence and describes the band as ‘jazz/ambient’ the band is […]
Dave Holdsworth’s New Brew Wodgi (Capton Records 01) Dave Holdsworth will be a familiar name to many jazz fans around the Brighton area as he regularly performed with Charlotte Glasson and Liane Carroll, as well as having his own quartet with Joe Robinson, Nigel Thomas and Dave Trigwell. Now relocated to Devon, his […]
Mark Kavuma Kavuma (UBUNTU – UBU0007) As the rising generation of young British jazz musicians continues to attract the attention of the wider world, Mark Kavuma arrives to add his voice to the chorus with this debut release. It features many of the stalwarts of London’s late-night blowing scene; closing track The Church […]
Alycona Mick & Tori Freestone Criss Cross (Whirlwind Recordings WR4722) Freestone is one of the UK’s most intriguing and creative musicians, exploring the space where jazz, improv, folk music and contemporary classical intersect. Alcyona Mick has a similarly diverse artistic portfolio that encompasses film scores, her own duo/trio Blink and work with international […]
Cloudmakers 5 Traveling Pulse (Whirlwind Recordings) Jim Hart is one of a select group of UK musicians who’s as well established in Europe as his original homeland (he’s lived in France since 2014) and as comfortable in the role of sideman (for Marius Neset, Ivo Neame, Stan Sulzmann and Vula Viel to name […]
Martin Speake Intention (Ubuntu Music UBU0009) Martin Speake is a significant figure in contemporary British jazz, with 18 albums under his belt, including a notable collaboration with Paul Motian, and a long-standing and pivotal teaching post at Trinity Laban. Ethan Iverson has an established international reputation, and presumably more time on his hands […]
Jeff Williams Lifelike (Whirlwind WR4721) Jeff William’s contribution to jazz history stretches back to his epochal 1970s collaboration with Dave Liebman and Richie Beirach’s Lookout Farm, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down. This recording follows on from 2016s well-received Outlier; in a kind of trans-atlantic talent swap, guitarist Phil Robson has […]
Lou Beckerman reviews Heart of Oak by Terry Pack’s Trees. An ‘unfeasibly large ensemble ’ delivers a most feasibly fine album. Terry Pack’s Trees Heart of Oak (Symbol Records) I can recall Trees as a freshly-planted seedling concept. It swiftly found fertile ground for robust growth in the musicianship, dedication, diversity and […]
Gregory Porter Nat “King” Cole & Me (Decca/Blue Note) Recorded in London with a 70-piece orchestra and arrangements by Vince Mendoza, this album features some of Nat ‘King’ Cole’s most famous hits such as Mona Lisa, Smile, Nature Boy and Porter’s latest single Quizas, Quizas, Quizas. All the tracks are a radio-friendly 4 […]
Gilad Atzmon and the Orient House Ensemble The Spirit of Trane (Freshfield) What Atzmon does best is intensity and this is in abundance on his latest album. Beginning with the Coltrane/Ellington version of In a Sentimental Mood, the string arrangements of Ros Stephen are gentle and unintrusive with Atzmon inevitably letting rip over […]