Booker Stardrum, Close-up On The Outside, We Jazz ***
Still seems a bit work in progress but intellectually stimulating electro-acoustic nevertheless from a production point of view.
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Mavis Staples, Donovan Haffner and Linda May Han Oh are Jazz FM award nominated for ’26
Up for awards at this April's Jazz FM awards ceremony.
Red Kite, Popludium, Babel ****
The Babel label renaissance that began with Riversphere last year continues at pace with this dreamy multinational Eurojazz group release from Red Kite that has roots in London jazz. One of 2026's best albums so far, clearly, there's plenty in the pot, no jarring sense of a postlude at all to burden the sound nor repetitive noodle evident anywhere in play.
Eric Bibb, One Mississippi, Repute Records **** recommended
So many great songs ring out from blues legend Eric Bibb on One Mississippi - and the bluesman is touring in England, Scotland and Wales during March.
‘Kiss and Run’: standout new release jazz vocals from Marianne Solivan
Track of the day new from Marianne Solivan
Julian Joseph, Voyage of the Faithful, Rivetation Records *****
An event release. A giant of British jazz piano returns with a bangingly swinging trio exhibition, on what is blindingly obviously a milestone recording.
Noel McCalla & Derek Nash tour
Lots of dates sprinkled throughout the year.
Latest Walking Distance tracks from lounge jazz trumpeter Peter Somuah are a big step forward
I like the latest tracks from Peter Somuah far more than 2023’s Letter to the Universe.
On the rise – Hetta Falzon
Write it in nadsat if you prefer. But Alex and his droogs won’t get the music of Henrietta - mercifully. Fact rather than dystopian fiction. There’s an International Anthony Burgess Foundation Hetta Falzon show in Manchester in March marking the full release.
Bob Reynolds, Eddie Told Me So, Nosahu Records ALBUM OF THE WEEK ****
Compared to what? Feelgood no nonsense sax sounds empathetically accompanied from the Snarky Puppy sax honcho, paying tribute intelligently even while sidestepping core Eddie Harris material. Reader it works.
Malene Mortensen & Christian Sands – Malene and Christian (Stunt Records) Album Review (2026)
Peace loving: Not an album for cynics or war mongers. There's more to applaud than to denigrate on this vocals and piano shaped Danish and American collaboration of originals and standards like Gerry Goffin and Carole King's 'Go Away Little Boy' and Rodgers and Hart's 'I Didn't Know What Time It Was.'
Aadal, Aggressive Hymns, Energetic Ballads, Losen ***
A more than decent heart on sleeve affair with strong tunes by guitarist Michael Aadal and an agreeable Bill Frisell-like sound world. It's playing that isn't afraid to be melodic or give the tunes space when they need it.
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