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 […]
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 […]