David Wertman at U Mass - first time Lynne heard him play April 1980

David Wertman & Sun Ensemble 'Wide Eye Culture' (BBE) - a preview

February 14, 2022

The great bassist David Wertman left the free jazz loft scene of 70s New York to live a life of spiritual harmony in the rural charms of the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts with his wife and musical partner Lynne Meryl but they never stopped making sublime music. BBE have compiled some exceptional (and rare) recordings from the early 80s into a superb new release called ‘Wide Eye Culture’. Here we offer excerpts from the in depth liner notes, in particular from the revealing interviews between Lynne and BBE’s Will Sumsuch. Read here…

Isaac Sasson 'Canciones de Isaac' (Olindo Records) - a review

February 9, 2022

Isaac Sasson has released an album of perfectly poised gentleness containing thirteen evocative folky vignettes of life and family in Venezuela and Barcelona. Field recordings of nature accompany his tender voice, exquisite songwriting and light touch multi-instrumentalism. It’s a stunning record. Read / Listen

Jazzanova and DJ Amir - photo credit Braden Harris

'Strata Records - The Sound Of Detroit - Reimagined By Jazzanova’ (BBE/180 Proof) - first single alert!

January 12, 2022

Finally…the first fruits from DJ Amir’s invitation to Jazzanova to reimagine, rework and revitalise some of the revolutionary Detroit label Strata Records’ brilliant but outrageously underexposed catalogue of music are here! With tracks and remixes from Jazzanova, Waajeed and Henrik Schwarz, this is essential… Read / Listen here

corto.alto 'Not For Now' (Worm Discs) - a review

January 10, 2022

Released late last year, Glaswegian trombonist and composer Liam Shortall’s corto.alto outfit released one of the strongest EPs of funky, expressive jazz of 2021 on Worm Discs. With nods to hip hop, Detroit jazz-funk and with arrangements so tight that they should be illegal for one so young, Liam is a talent to be bookmarked whether you regard yourself as a jazz connoisseur or just have a passing interest. Read / Listen here

New Regency Orchestra live at Earth (Theatre) (EFG London Jazz Festival 2021) - a review

December 17, 2021

The New Regency Orchestra is a twenty-piece Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble made up of some of London’s hottest jazz musicians and our good friend Oli Brunetti (Olindo Records / Colectivo Futuro) was lucky enough to catch them live as part of this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival. Check out his excellent review here…

Omar Sosa & Seckou Keita - EFG London Jazz Festival Photo by John Reed

Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita live at Lakeside Arts (24 Nov 2021) - a review

December 1, 2021

Omar Sosa is a Grammy nominated Cuban pianist, Seckou Keita, a Senegalese kora master and recent BBC Radio 2 Folk Musician of the Year and Gustavo Ovalles, a Venezuelan percussionist and the world class trio have been stunning audiences everywhere on their recent ‘Suba’ tour. Tim Hills caught them at their date at Lakeside Arts in Nottingham and wrote us a review. Read / Listen here

Damon Locks - Black Monument Ensemble + Angel Bat Dawid live at EartH (Theatre) (EFG London Jazz Festival 2021) - A review

November 17, 2021

The EartH (Theatre) in Hackney hosted a double bill of extraordinary power and artistry with Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble and Angel Bat Dawid taking us to the outer edges and back again for this Monday night gig for the EFG London Jazz Festival. Read our review here

Aynur - Live at Barbican Centre (EFG London Jazz Festival 2021) - a review

November 15, 2021

Being invited to review this show by the great Kurdish-Turkish singer Aynur as part of the 2021 edition of the EFG London Jazz Festival turned out to be a gift for the ages as the great wood-panelled hall of the Barbican Centre became a triumphant celebration of Kurdish song and culture. Read our review of this spectacular event

Kinkajous 'Being Waves' (Running Circle) - a review

November 15, 2021

On the eve of a much awaited Kinkajous UK tour, Mauro Ferreiro reviews their brilliant second album ‘Being Waves’ that was released in September on Nottingham’s fine Running Circle imprint. Read / Listen here

Dave De Rose & Dan Nicholls 'Plants Heal' (DDR) - a review

November 12, 2021

‘Plants Heal’ is released today and is a short, beautifully weighted album of natural ambience and surprising moments of electro-acoustic tension culled from two days of constant improvisation. Meditative and impressionistic, the record is both relaxing and confrontational in the most calming way from two of the leading lights of the experimental scene. Read / Listen here

Nilza Costa - an interview

November 3, 2021

Nilza Costa is a singer/songwriter from Salvador de Bahia living in Italy and her new album ‘Le notti di San Patrizio’ is an uncommon combination of traditional Brazilian rhythms and melodies and European jazz forms. It’s a beautiful thing so I pinged her a few questions.. Listen / Read here

Penya 'False Prophets' (Liminal Recordings) - video and Cuba Solidarity Campaign

November 1, 2021

The genre-busting Penya have a brand new remix EP on the way and for the first three months, all the Bandcamp sales raised from their brilliant new single ‘False Prophets’ will be going towards the COVID-19 Medical Appeal for Cuba via the Cuba Solidarity Campaign. Afro-latino rhythms from the past hurtling into the future is their game and we’re big fans. Check the superb video and order the remix pack here

Jan Van 'Streams' (Teranga Beat) - a review

October 21, 2021

‘Streams’ is an excellent album of cinematic noir created live by rhythmic maestro Jan Van aka Yannis Angelolopoulos and the cream of Athens’ jazz and improvisational musicians. Funky, spacious and reflective, their unique fusion of contemporary improv jazz and laïkodimotiko (local, popular music) is a fine blend indeed. Read / Listen here

Howald 'Amnis Alsace' (BlauBlau Records) - a review

October 4, 2021

A touching and poetic soundtrack to a filmic diary that was made in response to the music from Swiss multi-instrumentalist Dimitri Howald. Touching on Afro-Brazilian, jazz, post-rock and 80s New Wave flavours. Read / Listen / Watch the film here

Atakora Manu 'AFRO HIGHLIFE' / 'OMINTIMINIM' (BBE) - a review

September 28, 2021

In celebration of 100 years of recorded Ghanaian Highlife, BBE release this gorgeous double pack of mid-80s albums by the underappreciated but wonderful Atakora Manu. A brilliant melding of ‘palmwine’ blues and eccentric synth work that stands it out from most Highlife that we are usually exposed to. Read / Listen

Ballaké Sissoko 'A Touma' (NØ FØRMAT!) - a review

September 14, 2021

For his second album of 2021, the master kora player Ballaké Sissoko recorded eight solo compositions in one day inside a chapel in Belgium. It is a stunning journey of emotion, virtuosity and West African folk-blues and as good as any kora recordings that I have been lucky enough to discover. Read / Listen

Blue Dream 'Trip To LA' (Tangential Music) - a review

September 10, 2021

Andy Compton and friends have created a woozy, sunshine album of Californian sunset music utilising vintage synths and drum machines, warm guitars and the cool soulful voice of Irantzu Pujadas. The sound of a white isle bar or of falling in love, this is a must for fans of Eddie Chacon, Shuggie Otis or A Man Called Adam. Pure vibes. Read / Listen

Dolenz 'Kuntur EP' (Exit Records) - a review

September 2, 2021

At times full of menace, at others deeply soulful, Dolenz’ forthcoming EP for the always groundbreaking Exit Records is a must for fans of experimental beatmaking. Deep and tough electronica collides with the odd end of hip hop with top shelf results - including collaborations with underground legend Steve Spacek and UK rapper Sonnyjim. Read / Listen

Awkward Corners 'Amateur Dramatics' (Shapes Of Rhythm) - a review

August 26, 2021

The brand new LP from Chris Menist’s ‘Awkward Corners’ project unfolds like an old book of tales, personal reflections and feelings gently whispering into your chest. Deep electronics, lush live instrumentation and the otherworldly reed work of Tamar Collocutor make this an essential immersive experience. Read / Listen

Awkward Corners 'Marshland Lullaby' (Shapes Of Rhythm) - 'single' preview

August 2, 2021

We are very pleased to reveal the second ‘single’ from the brilliant new album from Awkward Corners. ‘Marshland Lullaby’ is a dreamlike wandering of emotional depth with a hypnotic double bass and the heavenly voice of Kitty Whitelaw as your spirit guides. Read / Listen here