Walter Smith III: Return to Casual review – a tenor sax player for our times
By turns elegant and mile-a-minute, the Texan makes his collaborative Blue Note debut with this classy set of originals – and a Kate Bush cover
Sissoko/Segal/Parisien/Peirani: Les Égarés review – genre-hoppers stray towards surprise
Émile Parisien’s soprano sax is the standout on this diverse and inventive set, which blends kora with Anatolian shindigs, klezmer with agile accordion
Julian Lage: The Layers review – otherworldly jazz guitar
The American guitarist’s sparse, largely acoustic companion piece to last year’s acclaimed View With a Room is another captivating creation
Yazmin Lacey: Voice Notes review – songs to love and savour
The Nottingham-based artist’s debut album delivers a seamless mix of jazz, soul and electronica
Masego: Masego review – behold a wizard at work
The multitalented Micah Davis returns with a signature blend of trap, house and jazz that is nothing short of magical
The Comet Is Coming review – a blast of jazz from another world
Hang on to your internal organs as saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings and friends whip up the loudest free jazz frenzy you’ll hear all year
Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer and Shahzad Ismaily: Love in Exile review – a trio in striking harmony
The Pakistani American singer’s follow-up to breakthrough album Vulture Prince is a tender, softly triumphant reunion with her former collaborators
Terence Blanchard and the E-Collective review – searching grooves and scorching solos
The US trumpeter and composer is a confident and generous leader during this night with his E-Collective group and the jazz-classical Turtle Island String Quartet
Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays the Beatles review – classy jazz homage
In a powerful live recording, the piano virtuoso brings out the boogie, blues and gospel in the Fab Four’s songs
Don Rendell/Ian Carr Quintet: Warm Up: The Complete Live at the Highwayman 1965 – review
This rare live recording captures all that was best about the old jazz pub circuit, with a great band on top form
Peter Brötzmann review – free-jazz saxophonist on fiercely good form
The veteran avant gardist has lost none of his intensity with two sets showcasing the full light and shade of his fearsome improvisational playing
Art Ensemble of Chicago: The Sixth Decade: From Paris to Paris review – devoted heirs carry the torch
A live set celebrating the group’s 50th anniversary loops in a 20-piece orchestra, rousing poetry and new improvisers among the hardcore veterans
Houston Person: Reminiscing at Rudy’s review – a melody masterclass
The saxophonist and his top band eschew improvisation in favour of faithful renditions of classic tunes, from Cole Porter to Paul Anka
Vince Guaraldi Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas (Super Deluxe Edition) review – a festive classic
No one expected these songs of off-key melancholy, imperfect singing and seasonal disappointment to succeed, but nearly 60 years on, the jazz pianist’s masterpiece endures
Esbjörn Svensson: HOME.S. review – buoyant, capricious, sweepingly melodic
This recently discovered piano meditation from the modest maestro behind the Esbjörn Svensson Trio will entrance fans and fascinate newcomers