Peckham’s spearhead of the London-based jazz revival Kamaal Williams conjures fiery intensity and cosmic menace in a breathless and unassailable concoction of past-present-future jazz that flows like poetry in motion. On his new album, the keyboardist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Henry ‘Kamaal’ Williams slips back into the sleek retro-futurist territory informing … [Read more...] about Kamaal Williams: Wu Hen – Review
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Nat Birchall: Mysticism Of Sound – Review
British jazz hero Nat Birchall releases a lockdown masterwork is a Sun Ra-inspired cosmic blast of psychedelic sci-fi jazz that caresses and enchants. For a number of years the saxophonist, composer, arranger and band leader Nat Birchall has steadily and quietly garnered an impassioned cult following and a sturdy reputation as a skilful purveyor of exotic, spiritually … [Read more...] about Nat Birchall: Mysticism Of Sound – Review
Greg Foat: Symphonie Pacifique – Review
British pianist, composer and keyboardist Greg Foat assembles a richly rewarding, subtly constructed and sterling musical hybrid from a conveyor belt of cosmic, modal and pastoral influences; Symphonie Pacifique is a lush and forward-thinking release that will appeal to open ears from beyond the world of jazz. The Isle of Wight-born, London-based jazz musician Greg Foat has … [Read more...] about Greg Foat: Symphonie Pacifique – Review
Ego Ella May: Honey For Wounds – Review
Honey For Wounds, the latest release from Ego Ella May, is an intriguing and thoughtful combination of Jazz, R&B and Neo-Soul. Released via John Boyega’s UpperRoom Records, Ego Ella May describes Honey For Wounds as “music to heal to”. This is a fantastic concept for an album and it's great to feel the positivity in the statement. While certain tracks do have a political … [Read more...] about Ego Ella May: Honey For Wounds – Review
Khruangbin: Mordechai – Album Review
On the third Khruangbin album proper, the Texan trio’s incorporation of prominent vocal textures articulates rather than intimates, making for a triumph of globe-trotting songcraft. Over the last seven years, Houston’s purveyors of dubby, downtempo Mediterranean funk, Khruangbin, have built a considerable following that’s enabled them to tour almost constantly. Initially … [Read more...] about Khruangbin: Mordechai – Album Review
Archie Shepp, Damu The Fudgemunk and Raw Poetic: Ocean Bridges – Review
Archie Shepp, the 82-year-old jazz icon, shines on an edifying, fluid and thrilling maelstrom of jagged jazz and booming hip-hop that transcends the dilution, novelty value and timidity of crossover records. Ever since emerging in the turbulent 1960’s as a consummate free jazz trailblazer, passionate educator, ‘New Thing’ progenitor and guiding light of Afro-centric black … [Read more...] about Archie Shepp, Damu The Fudgemunk and Raw Poetic: Ocean Bridges – Review