Mark Lockheart: Days on Earth review – brightest recording of a glittering career
Lockheart hitches a jazz group to a classical orchestra for this fine, ambitious recording
Mare Nostrum: Mare Nostrum III review – a perfect hybrid from Fresu, Galliano and Lundgren
Ever since the 1920s, composers have tried combining jazz and classical music. At best, their efforts met with only moderate success. Then, suddenly and spontaneously, about 15 years ago, a new form of European jazz appeared, and there it was. … Continue reading
Ben LaMar Gay: Downtown Castles Can Never Block the Sun review – immersive jazz innovator
Working with funk, jazz and synth collaborators adds rich depths to the work of this musical polymath
The best jazz of 2018: new heights scaled and legends revisited
John Coltrane’s previously unreleased 1963 recordings dominated, but Myra Melford took improv to new places, and the UK had its most diverse scene in years
Jivin’ Miss Daisy: Whoop-De-Doo Songs review – a fun night in
There was a time, believe it or not, when people went to jazz clubs for a fun night out, and every venue, including the original Ronnie Scott’s, had a space for dancing. It’s less lively now, but no one’s smoking, … Continue reading
The 50 best albums of 2018, No 7: Kamasi Washington – Heaven and Earth
The saxophonist achieved a maximal sound of choral harmonies, sweeping orchestration and his own raging intensity
Jacob Collier: Djesse Vol 1 review – undoubted but intermittent magic
Related: Jazz prodigy Jacob Collier: ‘Quincy Jones told me jazz is the classical music of pop’ Pop boasts few ascents more mercurial than that of Jacob Collier, the north London wunderkind whisked from YouTube videos to the care of legend … Continue reading
Nils Landgren: Christmas With My Friends review – cool yule fare
Nils Landgren is a Swedish trombonist and bandleader who has played with everyone from Herbie Hancock to Abba. His Christmas albums are something of an institution in Scandinavia and Germany. They have appeared roughly every other year since 2005, when … Continue reading
Phronesis / Supersilent review – adventurous jazz turned up to 11
UK-based piano trio Phronesis had some effervescent improv to offer, though the ferocious noise made by Norwegian trio Supersilent had already driven some audience members away
Makaya McCraven / Nubya Garcia review – magnificent sax freakouts
Two leading lights of the latest jazz revival took very different approaches in this atmospheric but difficult gig that was more for the head than the feet
Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band: Presence review – hooky grooves and improv charm
What this live recording lacks in ensemble polish it makes up for with riffing swingers, strong solos and party spirit
Leyla McCalla & Mélissa Laveaux review – inspired double act draw on Haitian roots
Multi-instrumentalist McCalla delivered a powerful set and deserves to follow Carolina Chocolate Drops bandmate Rhiannon Giddens to stardom
Archie Shepp review – soul, skronk and hot gospel organ
The veteran sax player celebrates the art song with yelps, screeches and a fine quintet showcasing vocalist Amina Claudine Myers at the Hammond
Ethan Iverson review – Bad Plus’s populist celebrates Britain
Over three diverting and unexpected shows, the pianist and friends reimagined music, from Henry Purcell to Courtney Pine
Windrush: A Celebration review – a devastating carnival of black music
Curated by Anthony Joseph, this London jazz festival event offered a powerful mix of reggae, soca, Afrobeat, soul, jazz and the written word, with a strong undercurrent of righteous anger