Ricky Alexander (soprano sax, clarinet, vocals, arrangements); Jon-Erik Kellso (cornet); Dalton Ridenhour (piano); Jon Thomas (piano tks 1,3,4,6,7,11); Brennen Ernst (guitar tks 2,4,8,9,10,12); Rob Atkins (bass); Kevin Dorn (drums) + Vanisha Gould (vocals tks 2,5,8,10).Despite being basically a quintet, the overall feeling I get from my first listen is of those 1940 recordings by the ..read more

George Shearing Quintet: I'll Remember April.Charlie Parker w. strings: April in Paris.Gene Ammons All-Stars: Jim Dog. Mel Tormé: Body and Soul.Billy Taylor: Easy Like.Lester Young w. Count Basie: Polka Dots and Moonbeams. Four Freshmen and 5 Saxes: This Love of Mine.Buddy Rich w. Harry Edison: You're Getting to be a Habit With me.Ella Fitzgerald: I Wished on the Moon.Joe Pass: Sweet ..read more

(© Ken Drew)The knockout concert by Art Themen (pictured) at the Globe last Sunday got me to thinking as to how a lot of great jazz musicians were called by, or adopted, that first name. It also had me imagining what if the 'Great Reaper' had worked his wonders to perform and reincarnated those 'Arts' that were no longer with us to join those that were still around. Imagine this line-up (and ..read more

Julian Costello (tenor/soprano saxes); John Turville (pianos); Andy Hamill (double bass, harmonica); Tom Hooper (drums) + Georgia Mancio (vocals). This album is definitely a grower. It has moved from acceptable background music to the front of the stage with every listening. There is some very fine playing, especially from Julian Costello and John Turville and it was nice to ‘catch up’ with ..read more

Multi saxophonist, composer and arranger, Ted Nash collaborates with his partner in life and song, Kristen Lee Sergeant on Holidays, released in November 2023. Despite the title, Holidays delivers a much deeper and broader remit than a token collection of Yule melodies that are attractive to the refined chattering classes for its jazzifying of this great trove of 19/20th&nbsp ..read more

We're very sorry to have to tell you that our friend and Classic Jazz Party music director Claus Jacobi has died after a brief illness. Jonathan Holmes (Mike Durham's International Classic Jazz Party) continues: The Jazz Party will not be the same without him. Claus was responsible for so many concert themes and ideas over the last 10 years. He inspired the musicians that he played ..read more

Cornelia Nilsson (drums); Daniel Franck (bass); + Aaron Parks (piano on tks 1,2,4,6,8,9); Gabor Bolla (tenor sax on tks 3,5,7,10)I posted a clip of this fine album back in March with the promise of a 'proper' review to follow and then one thing led to another ad it slipped my mind which is unforgivable as it really is worth checking out. So, only one month after its March release date, here it ..read more

(© Jeff Pritchard)Sam Lightwing (tenor sax); Max Rosen (piano); Steve Berry (bass); Calum Montgomery (drums). Tonight the train I usually take arrived on time so I anticipated arriving at Stockport Station around about 7:00pm ready for a 20 minute stroll to the Railway, but, guess what happened? Nothing! Even though I'd pressed the green button on the doors - nothing!I hobbled along to the ..read more

(© Russell)Jamie Toms (tenor sax, soprano sax); Graham Don (keyboards); Ian Paterson (double bass); John Bradford (drums)An audience turned out in the library located within Queen's Hall to listen to a new quartet with all of the material heard over the course of two sets composed by bandleader Jamie Toms. Blue Note and ECM informed the performance, the opening number very much a bop-inspired ..read more

(© Russell)Art Themen (tenor/soprano sax); Dean Stockdale (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax).In the ten years of its existence the Jazz Co.op - often, like tonight, in conjunction with Jazz North East - has put on many great gigs at the Globe to the extent that it's impossible to draw up a league table. However, if I was foolish enough to attempt that ..read more