Tag: Spiritual Jazz
Formed a few years ago in response to the ongoing police brutality that was happening in the U.S., Irreversible Entanglements are one of the most thought-provoking and forward-thinking jazz collectives. Following their 2017 breakthrough self-titled debut, the quintet returns with an incredible new album, titled Who Sent You?, released jointly by International Anthem and Don Giovanni Records.
The Munich-based quartet Web Web continues to make their mark on the scene, following the release of two stellar recordings in Oracle (2017) and Dance Of The Demon (2018), with a brilliant new album, titled Worshippers, their third on the highly-acclaimed German label, Compost Records.
The stellar London-based trio, featuring bassist and founding member of Ill Considered Leon Brichard, saxophonist and reeds player Idris Rahman (also of Soothsayers), and drummer Tom Skinner of both Sons of Kemet and Hello Skinny, have released a great new album, titled Season 2 through Ill Considered’s very much DIY label.
Even though some regions have been dealing with COVID-19 for over two months, for many of us, it seems like the world has changed over night. With many of us now (as we should) “sheltering in place,” and working from home, I thought I would put together a curated an uplifting jazz-focused playlist designed to help spark creativity throughout the day.
Over the past half decade, Shabaka Hutchings has been one of the most breakthrough artists to come out of the resurgent London jazz scene. Over the past couple of years, the composer and saxophonist’s other two groups, Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming, have released a number of incredible recording via the legendary Impulse! label. Following up on the ensemble’s 2016 Brownswood debut, Wisdom of Elders, Hutchings reunites with his South African collective The Ancestors on a brilliant new conceptual album, titled We Are Sent Here By History.
On March 6th, we sadly lost innovative composer, bandleader and pianist McCoy Tyner. For over 60 years, he has been one of the greatest jazz artists of our time, beginning in the sixties with his longtime stint in John Coltrane’s legendary quartet with Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones, as well as his time leading his own groups featuring jazz greats like Bobby Hutcherson, Gary Bartz, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and many others.
Manchester-born, London-based composer, saxophonist and visionary Alabaster DePlume follows-up his breakthrough 2018 album The Corner Of A Sphere on Lost Map Records, with a brilliant new full-length recording, titled To Cy & Lee: Instruments Vol. 1. This new record is a co-release between Lost Map, International Anthem Recordings, and Total Refreshment Centre Records.
Due to popular demand, the Portuguese-based Mad About Records has reissued, for a second time, Reggie Andrews and The Fellowship’s highly obscure 1969 spiritual jazz masterpiece Mystic Beauty. The first pressing of this reissue sold out very quickly last year, following it’s late July release.
Since releasing their breakthrough debut album Instead in 2014, Collocutor has become one of the most dynamic jazz groups to emerge out of London. Led by baritone saxophonist Tamar Osborn, who has also been a key contributor over the past half-decade on numerous genre-defying recording projects, collaborating with artists like Emanative, Sarathy Korwar, Khalab, Jessica Lauren, Tenesha The WordSmith, Penya, Siti Muharam and many others. A newly re-vamped ensemble returns with their highly-anticipated third album Continuation.
Composer, trumpeter, and member of the UK-based jazz quartet Ruby Rushton, Nick Walters has recently released an explosive new jazz album, titled Active Imagination on Tenderlonious label 22a.
