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Norma Winstone and Kit Downes: Outpost of Dreams review – bonded by jazz tradition

The esteemed vocalist and prolific pianist weave their sounds together in an album of exquisite songs and extraordinary empathy

Nduduzo Makhathini: uNomkhubulwane review – entrancing South African jazz

This three-movement album from pianist and shaman Nduduzo Makhathini’s trio combines blues, bop and folk song to transcendental effect

Malcolm Jiyane Tree-O: True Story review – emotive South African jazz with a bite

The latest album by Jiyane, of collective Spaza, wades into darker territory to reflect the reality of poverty in the country

Zara McFarlane: Sweet Whispers: Celebrating Sarah Vaughan review – terrific tribute to a jazz legend

The British jazz singer pays homage to Vaughan with earthiness and spontaneity: an animated reinvention of these classics

Jake Long: City Swamp review – mesmerising spiritual jazz channels Miles Davis and William Blake

rBilled as ‘a dystopian suite’, the drummer-composer’s debut solo album is an intense affair, with a stellar lineup that includes Nubya Garcia and Shirley Tetteh

Arooj Aftab: Night Reign review – all the heat and mystery of nocturnal life

Mercurial and moody soundscapes are infused with wistful romance in one of the Grammy-winning singer and composer’s most spirited records to date

Sean Khan: Sean Khan Presents the Modern Jazz and Folk Ensemble review – classics reinvigorated

A collective of genre-straddling talents give new life to songs by Nick Drake, John Martyn and Sandy Denny

Wadada Leo Smith and Amina Claudine Myers review – an elegiac homage to New York’s green lung

In their album Central Park’s Mosaics of Reservoir, Lake, Paths and Gardens the two musical soulmates impressionistically reflect on John Lennon, Albert Ayler and more

Grégoire Maret/Romain Collin: Ennio review – emotional, ecstatic Morricone homage

Harmonica star Maret and pianist/composer Collin pay homage to Ennio Morricone with drifting church-echo and trancelike sounds

Charlie Pyne Quartet: Nature Is a Mother review – soaring, effervescent jazz

A punchy set of originals from bassist/vocalist Charlie Pyne and her crew, celebrating the ups and downs of motherhood

Julie Abbé: Out of the Ashes review – a beautiful expression of the grieving process

The UK-based French folk singer embellishes her trad leanings with sultry blues and upbeat swing on a poignant and poetic second album

Ganavya: Like the Sky, I’ve Been Too Quiet review – ornate Tamil vocals, flutes and Floating Points

The latest album in an exciting wave of experimental north Indian classical music enlists Shabaka Hutchings and Leafcutter John in its downtempo quietude

Charles Lloyd: The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow review – sax legend shows no sign of slowing down

The octogenarian joyfully whispers and warbles his way through sublime tone poems, impassioned tributes and traditional spirituals with an all-star band

Amaro Freitas: Y’Y review – transcendent sounds inspired by the Amazon

The Brazilian jazz experimentalist draws on the atmosphere of the rainforest and its mythical beings to create his most explosive, explorative LP yet

Vijay Iyer/Linda May Han Oh/Tyshawn Sorey: Compassion review – a trio of rare intuition

Improvising around Iyer compositions and numbers by Stevie Wonder, Roscoe Mitchell and more, these musicians foreground openness and receptivity

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