Altin Sencalar, In Good Standing, Posi-Tone ***

None of the indie UK jazz labels - most far less strictly attached to orthodox retro bop manifesto approaches apart from Clark Tracey's Trio Records or Alan Barnes' Woodville - are as laser focused resolutely on straightahead and redolent of the …

Published: 25 Apr 2023. Updated: 40 days.

None of the indie UK jazz labels - most far less strictly attached to orthodox retro bop manifesto approaches apart from Clark Tracey's Trio Records or Alan Barnes' Woodville - are as laser focused resolutely on straightahead and redolent of the ''Golden Age Blue Note classic 1950s and 60s'' sound as North American labels Posi-Tone, Cellar Live and Smoke Sessions.

Here's another case m'lud in evidence for the proposition from Posi-Tone. Point yourself firmly to The Cape Verdean Blues given that there is a version of the always thrilling 'Nutville'.

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The trombonist leader Altin Sencalar and JJ Johnson head, who even has a family hound called JJ - still making his way but certainly on a fast train - UK readers think these days Mark Nightingale stylistically as a shortcut to what the American does - folds in a version of Silver classic 'Nutville' which while nicely chiming and enjoyable doesn't quite have the punch in the sonic production of the original. You need more punch and period touches to go the whole nine yards for extra appreciation and full welly. But certainly subliminally you are partying like it's 1965.

That said because the label relies on such faithful and listenable to stalwarts as Art Hirahara, Boris Kozlov and Rudy Royston there is a sense to the overall sound that isn't the same as a modern 21st century Blue Note sound because if anything Blue Note under Don Was itself is far less stuck in the past given that their great alto signing Immanuel Wilkins just for one example is far more a Kenny Garrett lover (a much later period and not Blue Note) than a Jackie McLean head. Also good here is a version of Jack Wilson, bugalú-suggesting, 'Do It' which you never really hear covers of.

Out on 9 June - indulge yourself Golden Age head. US player Sencalar is off to a flying start. Saxophonists Diego Rivera and Patrick Cornelius also appear on this upcoming recording catnip for collectors of everything on Marc Free's estimable label.

Altin Sencalar, photo: Anna Yatskevich

Tags: reviews

Jef Neve, That Old Feeling, Universal Music Belgium ****

''Everybody wants somebody to be their own piece of clay'': What a treat of a late night listen from Jef Neve. The solo piano piece 'Merlot', as intimate as any Ellingtonia, ironically at the end is your first port of call for the ''famous jazz …

Published: 25 Apr 2023. Updated: 31 days.

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''Everybody wants somebody to be their own piece of clay'': What a treat of a late night listen from Jef Neve. The solo piano piece 'Merlot', as intimate as any Ellingtonia, ironically at the end is your first port of call for the ''famous jazz Belgian'' pianist's study of touch. But look what else there is and the substantial parade of guests does not diminish the album in terms of consistency or impact at all. There are some great songs here after all from a wide variety of sources and the whole thing is jazz arranged.

Not at all, however archly, a case of ''nostalgia ain't what it used to be,'' Madeleine Peyroux is all croaky and fragile like a singer in an old western saloon on the Sammy Fain and Lew Brown written title track that goes back to the late-1930s delivered up by the cheeky chappies Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm consigned such is the way the cookie crumbles as history mostly fails to remember, to the music hall of non-fame. The melody of the song, however, is still instantly familiar and the words best of which include ''once again, I seemed to feel that old yearning'' radiate and linger long however exasperatingly.

UK singer Sam Merrick (Nick Ross Orchestra) is so creamy and complete and contemporary by contrast on 'Something So Right,' and Sam ''Black and Gold'' - what a wonderful song from 2008 - Sparro goes on a dive into the 1980s. But was covering the Eurythmics' 'Here Comes The Rain Again' such a splendid idea? Hmmm, the jury's still out.

Dutch hip hopper Typhoon provides some more ace moments on 'The Nearness of You' where Neve's accompaniment is discreet but top drawer. Dutch singer Trijntje Oosterhuis is on the highly arranged 'Here's To Life', while soulstress Robin McKelle on 'Cheek to Cheek' is when the band get a chance to blow. Also on the album are America's Got Talent singer Johnny Manuel and on here too is Monique ''Mo'' Harcum on the lit up inside 'Piece of Clay'. Harcum started in the States as a dancer and was in Spike Lee's Malcolm X. If you are a fan of the great Carleen Anderson who covered the gospelly number this certainly will make your day and quite probably your week.

Manuel is moving and does justice to the Damien Rice tearjerker from the earlier noughties 'The Blower's Daughter'. Harcum on the Marvin Gaye and Anderson associated 'Piece of Clay' written by Gloria Jones and Pam Sawyer sticking close to Carleen's template on the glorious anti victim-blaming song is simply phenomenal.

That Old Feeling is cleverly knitted together because it merges the super vintage with some recent choices that update the balladic sensibility and there is a certain witchcraft in the strength of the A&R choices. It takes us back to hearing Neve with José James on what was a marvellous night for a moondance at Ronnie Scott's in 2010. SG

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Jef Neve, photo: cover art detail. Neve is touring in Belgium with Harcum, Merrick, bassist Nathan Wouters, drummer Jens Bouttery and trumpeter Teus Nobel.