Jazz Reviews
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Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out
24th Oct 2024
The landmark 1959 jazz album by the Dave Brubeck Quartet is renowned for its innovative yet tuneful use of unusual time signatures. Featuring the iconic title-track the album blends jazz and classical elements, challenging rhythmic norms.
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Miles Davis - Sketches of Spain
17th Oct 2024
The third collaboration between Miles Davis and Gil Evans produced the masterly Sketches of Spain, an expansive album with flavours of flamenco and classical orchestration, and still regarded as a transformative album in jazz history.
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Jazz at Massey Hall with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Max Roach, & Charles Mingus
10th Oct 2024
Billed as ‘The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever’ Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus and Max Roach came together for one night only. Recorded live in Toronto at Massey Hall, on May 15th 1953, the quintet were captured into jazz folklore. A historic performance that featured titans of the jazz world, it would be the first and last time this quintet shared the stage.
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Art Blakey - Moanin'
3rd Oct 2024
The passing of saxophonist Benny Golson, who was the last surviving musician to play on Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers’ iconic recording Moanin’ in 1958, invites us to reflect on his masterful role in shaping the group’s timeless sound.
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Sonny Rollins, 'A Night At The "Village Vanguard"'
24th Apr 2024
Following a reissue of this exemplary live date in all its glory, we examine the recording which features the great saxophonist during one of the most dynamic and powerful stages of his improvisational development.
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Jimmy Giuffre, 'Music For People, Birds, Butterflies & Mosquitoes'
8th Nov 2023
In many ways ahead of its time, this underappreciated mid-career gem from the late master of mult-instrumental freeness is well worth a re-examination.
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Sarah Webster Fabio, 'Jujus/Alchemy of the Blues' & 'Together to the Tune of Coltrane's “Equinox”'
20th Sep 2023
Following the reissue of two long out-of-print recordings of her poetry set to a killer funk accompaniment, we take a closer look at the life and career of the pivotal Black writer and activist.
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John Coltrane, 'Africa/Brass'
24th Aug 2023
Whilst underappreciated upon its release, Trane's bombastic first album for Impulse! from 1961 would seal his fate as one of the label's most iconoclastic artists and performers.
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John Coltrane Quartet, Garvin Bushell (piccolo), Bill Barber (tuba), Charles Greenlee (euphonium), Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone), Julian Priester (euphonium), Eric Dolphy (flute), Elvin Jones (drums), Reggie Workman (upright bass), Pat Patrick (baritone saxophone), Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet), Julius Watkins (french horn), Robert Swisshelm (french horn), McCoy Tyner (piano), Donald Corrado (french horn), Jimmy Buffington (french horn), Booker Little (trumpet), Freddie Hubbard (trumpet), Bob Northern (french horn)
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Stan Tracey Quartet, 'Jazz Suite Inspired by Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood'
10th May 2023
In light of a new vinyl reissue of this seminal British jazz release, we take a look at how the 1965 recording captures the Welsh poet's imaginative genius.
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Ahmad Jamal Trio, 'The Awakening'
26th Apr 2023
Underrated at the time of its release but having since gone on to be adored by jazz cats and hip-hop producers alike, this album reveals the late pianist at his most joyously creative.
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Dexter Gordon, 'Go!'
2nd Mar 2023
On the influential saxophonist's centenary, we revisit the much acclaimed Go!, released during his 'New York Renaissance' period.
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Bill Evans & Jim Hall, 'Undercurrent'
25th Oct 2022
Following a long period of mourning, Bill Evans returned to music with a slew of new projects, one of which being this classic duo session with guitarist Jim Hall.
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Weather Report, 'Heavy Weather'
19th Jul 2022
At a time when jazz fusion was beginning to fall out of favour, Weather Report's now-seminal seventh album rejuvenated the style by embracing popular music, making it one of the most commercially-successful fusion records of the time but also one of the most fun to revisit.
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Weather Report
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Kamasi Washington, 'The Epic'
27th Feb 2022
American saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington's 2015 breakout record is a gargantuan work, and though it hasn't had the time to develop the long-enduring status of the records we usually cover, we reckon it's worthy of the title of a modern classic.
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Sonny Rollins, 'Saxophone Colossus'
8th Feb 2022
The highlight of Sonny Rollins' mid-50s sessions deservingly remains one of his most long-enduring recordings, as well as an essential listen of the hard bop era.
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Sonny Rollins
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The Bad Plus, 'These Are the Vistas'
18th Jan 2022
With contemporary rock covers and a similarly punkish attitude, These Are the Vistas was the record that put jazz trio The Bad Plus on the map.
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Pharoah Sanders, 'Karma'
27th Dec 2021
The saxophonist's 1969 album distilled much of the knowledge gained from his time playing with John Coltrane, furthering the sounds of avant-garde jazz to spiritual new territories.
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Pharoah Sanders
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Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucía - Friday Night in San Francisco
26th Oct 2021
Matt wishes he could be transported back to The Warfield Theatre, 5 December, 1980, as he looks back on one of his favourite records, Friday Night in San Francisco, featuring three of the great guitar maestros on top of their game, making for a breath-taking live record.
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Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section
11th Oct 2021
Fighting against drug addiction and a battered saxophone, Art Pepper entered the studio in 1957 with Miles Davis's rhythm section and recorded one of the finest albums in his catalogue.
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Buena Vista Social Club
20th Sep 2021
The Cuban jazz classic turns 25 next year, with a deluxe reissue out now on World Circuit records. We take a look back at the formation and legacy of this essential album, and the people behind it.
