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Recorded in concert at Munich’s Muffathalle in September 2004, ‘September Night’ represents the great Polish trumpeter Stanko’s classic quartet with pianist Marcin Wasilewski, bassist Slawomir Kurkiewicz and drummer Michal Miskiewicz, at the absolute top of its form. It was a [...]
No one could say that the great English composer and bandleader Mike Westbrook has settled into pipe-and-slippers mode for his late career. Although he was 87 when this was recorded and is 88 now, his latest ensemble Band of Bands [...]
Angel Song The esteem in which the late composer and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler is held is evident from his several appearances in the opening releases of the ECM label’s audiophile vinyl series, Luminessence. His own 1975 debut for the label, [...]
Starting with their critically-acclaimed debut, ‘Zero, released in the year 2000, the duo of pianist Carolyn Hume and drummer Paul May has produced seven albums on Leo Records, mixing unusually sensitive, rhapsodic even, free improv with intensely percussive, often drum [...]
I suppose there must have been other moments in life when I felt as giddily happy as seeing Sonny Rollins dive head first into a heroic opening solo on “Falling in Love with Love” at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in [...]
A seven-day festival across six venues in London… stars from the ‘gypsy jazz’ scene such as violinist Tcha Limberger and guitarist Stochelo Rozenberg – “second to none, a phenomenal guitarist who’s a joy to watch,”… the fourth Gypsy Jazz Festival [...]
The vinyl edition of Shabaka Hutchings’ album is a thing of beauty. Thick cardboard gatefold sleeve, satisfyingly heavy platter, interesting artwork, and that iconic orange Impulse! logo, familiar from LPs by John and Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders et al, and [...]
Saxophonist and composer Julian Siegel follows up his acclaimed big band project, “Tales From The Jacquard”, with a tour of selected dates in Ireland and England – including a Ronnie Scott’s show on 17 May – for his all-star quartet [...]
The vinyl revival is helping to unearth some real treasures. I was previously unaware of the existence of this album first released in 2009, recorded in New York with a rhythm section of George Colligan, Steve LaSpina and Billy Drummond, [...]
As you would probably expect, pianist Fred Hersch’s first solo album for ECM, recorded in May last year, is a quiet triumph. Following his recent duo recording for the label with trumpeter Enrico Rava, ‘The Song is You’, and using [...]
