Michael Sumsion

Imperious lynchpin of British jazz Matthew Halsall returns with an eighth album that anchors his yearning, meditative and organic improvisations to heartfelt themes of ecology, nature, stars and rainforests. The Mancunian trumpeter, composer, DJ and label owner Matthew Halsall has long resided at the vanguard of the thriving UK modern jazz scene, issuing a slew of critically … [Read more...] about Matthew Halsall: Salute To The Sun – Review

Spanning five decades, the ambient master and ex-glammer rounds up killer songs and themes from classic films such as Trainspotting, Dune, Beyond The Clouds and Heat for the first ever compilation of his film and television soundtrack work. Brian Eno could never be accused of resting on his laurels, playing it safe and disengaging with the modern world. Hot on the heels of … [Read more...] about Brian Eno: Film Music 1976-2020 – Review

The legendary cosmic explorers’ first outing in two decades is an intoxicating, vital and welcome addition to the canon of astral jazz; space still is the place. Ever since the demise of outsize Afro-futurist visionary and bandleader Herman ‘Sonny’ Blount’ aka Sun Ra in 1993, his sprawling Arkestra has continued to honour his legacy, even weathering the loss of integral … [Read more...] about Sun Ra Arkestra: Swirling – Review

London-based pianist Rick Simpson honours the twentieth anniversary of Radiohead’s landmark album, Kid A, with his own interpretation of the entire disc, reimagining their acclaimed opus through a modernist jazz lens.  The award-winning pianist and composer Rick Simpson is a graduate from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and a gilded exponent of contemporary jazz who … [Read more...] about Rick Simpson: Everything All Of The Time: Kid A Revisited – Review

Boston-based indie-folkie Anjimile delivers pride, contentment and self-assurance in spades on their official full-length debut, a cohesive and finely engineered opus which cultivates strength from grief and self-discovery. The Boston-based, Texas-raised singer-songwriter Anjimile Chithambo’s sumptuous album, Giver Taker, was constructed in the wake of emotional torment … [Read more...] about Anjimile: Giver Taker – Album Review

Dylan Khotin-Foote’s woozy fourth album is a masterclass in muted, less-is-more beat-making; his expressive and smouldering soundscapes make for a quietly seductive and captivating ear massage. The Canadian producer Dylan Khotin-Foote alerted the world to his talents with his 2014 debut, Hello World, a gauzy slice of lo-fi electronica which flirted with the more melodic side … [Read more...] about Khotin: Finds You Well – Album Review