Lizz Wright Grace (Concord Records) Each of the songs on this album is composed by a different songwriter, ranging from Sister Rosetta Tharpe to Bob Dylan and k.d. lang. But all of them have the common theme of the American South. Georgian native Lizz Wright is the perfect vocalist for this project, […]
Geoff Simkins Trio In A Quiet Way (Symbol Records) Geoff Simkins’ love of more obscure (but beautiful) repertoire shines through on this album, beginning with Make Someone Happy, which opens with a lovely solo piano intro by Nikki Iles. The gently played waltz Elsa is one of two compositions by Earl Zindars […]
Remi Harris In On The 2 Remi Harris is in an enviable position, having both youth on his side and talent in abundance, and the goodwill of both the jazz scene and the more commercial crossover market that opens up as a consequence of support from Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. He […]
Eddie Myer 5tet Finders Keepers Bassist and SJM columnist Eddie Myer has already made a name for himself on the local jazz scene with his previous album, Why Worry, released back in 2015 and featuring Frank Harrison and the late Ian Price. Rather than just an album solely of Eddie’s originals, this […]
Annie Lightly Lightly Does It/Now and Again With an array of local talent, this double CD comprises two albums of nine tracks each. Musicians include Geoff Simkins, Mark Bassey, Jack Kendon, James McMillan and Greg Heath with a fabulous rhythm section of pianist Tom Phelan with bassist Terry Pack and drummer Milo Fell. […]
Nigel Price Organ Trio Heads & Tales Volume 2 Whirlwind WR4695 The term ‘journeyman’ is often employed by jazz critics as a means of damning with faint praise, implying a musician who has achieved basic competence but is unable to inspire any higher feelings in his audience. In its original sense, it referred […]
The Bopped and The Bopless Benet McLean McLean is a true polymath; pianist, guitarist, vocalist, violinist, writer, arranger and producer, he’s on a musical journey that’s included such diverse adventures as receiving mentoring from Yehudi Menuhin at the Royal College of Music and touring with Brit-soul legend Omar. This album presents him unleashing […]
Dream Maps Philip Clemo Scottish born and Sussex resident Clemo has a truly international CV, having lived and worked across Europe and as far afield as Sydney, and his musical horizons are equally broad. This album presents a series of highly evocative soundscapes, built up from layers of processed or natural sounds from […]
Peter Fraize Facts & Figures Peter Fraize, tenor saxophone; Paul Pieper, guitar; Jon Ozment, piano; Nathan Kawaller, bass; Leland Nakamura, drums Union Records URCD -11 Washington DC-based tenorman Fraize turned some heads on his recent visit to the UK’s South Coast, especially with his appearance at Love Supreme Festival, but his name […]
Tori Freestone Trio El Barranco Tori Freestone, tenor sax, violin and vocals; Dave Manington, bass; Tim Giles, drums. Whirlwind Recordings WR4689 Freestone is rapidly carving out a career as an original voice on tenor, taking a highly personal pathway that skirts around such mutually exclusive territories as folk, free improv and the […]