One of the hottest new names on the jazz scene is AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE. His Blue Note debut is the wonderfully-titled ‘When The Heart Emerges Glistening‘ and has been getting rave reviews in the USA, where Akinmusire hails from. Catch him live in the UK at Ronnie Scott’s on May 18th.
Look out for SJF’s interview with him coming soon.
Former Miles Davis sideman, guitarist JOHN SCOFIELD, shows his mellow side on a new album ‘A Moment’s Peace‘ just out on Emarcy. A tasteful blend of covers and original material, it finds the Ohio-born fretboardist leading a quartet comprising keyboardist Larry Goldings, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade.
‘Forever‘ is a the first album by COREA, CLARKE & WHITE, a trio version of the legendary fusion quartet, Return To Forever. The first disc of this 2-CD set is devoted to acoustic versions of songs that influenced the group, including Bill Evans’ ‘Waltz For Debby’ and Thelonious Monk’s ‘Hackensack.’ The second disc finds the trio performing some of their classic material – including ‘Senor Mouse’ and ‘500 Miles High’ – augmented by original RTF guitar player, BILL CONNORS, violinist JEAN-LUC PONTY and singer CHAKA KHAN.
Bassist/film composer KYLE EASTWOOD also has an excellent new set out. Entitled ‘Songs From the Chateau‘, it’s the Californian musician’s fifth album to date and is released by the UK-based Candid label. Its title refers to the fact that it was recorded at a 15th century French chateau. The opening cut ‘Marciac’ – which despite its Gallic title melds funk and hard bop – is already causing ripples in the jazz community.
US trumpeter SEAN JONES, who has played with Nancy Wilson, Joe Lovano and Frank Foster and until recently was the lead trumpeter in Wynton Marsalis’s Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra, releases his sixth album as leader called ‘No Need For Words‘ on Mack Avenue in May. This new set is a straight ahead offering devoted to love songs and demonstrates why the 32-year-old Ohio horn man is considered by many as one of jazz’s rising stars.
JAMES FARM is a new jazz supergroup combining the formidable talents of saxophonist Joshua Redman, pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Matt Penman and drummer Eric Harland. Their self-titled debut is released on Nonesuch this month and proves to be an exciting affair, mixing breathtaking improvisation with strong compositional foundations.
Mancunian DJ and trumpet maestro, MATTHEW HALSALL, is back with a scintillating new album on the Gondwana label called ‘On The Go.’ It pays tribute to both modal and spiritual jazz of the 1960s with a series of fine compositions that reference the past yet are fully plugged into the present day.
