Dave Burrell Casa Del Jazz, Rome Saturday 16 March
Furian, Malaman, Dalla Cort feat. Rosario Giuliani Blue Note, Milan Sunday 17 Mar - St Patrick's Day
Bartłomiej Longosz Quartet Harris Piano Jazz Bar, Kraków Sun 17 Mar - St Patrick's Day
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble Sugar Club, Dublin Sun 17 Mar - St Patrick's Day
Christian Wallumrød Ensemble Bimhuis, Amsterdam Sun 17 Mar - St Patrick's Day
Sean Mason Quartet Zig Zag, Berlin Monday 18 Mar
Leo Sidran The Music Village, Brussels Mon 18 Mar
Takuya Kuroda Porgy & Bess, Vienna Tuesday 19 Mar
Adam Ben Ezra feat. Michael Olivera Fasching, Stockholm Tues 19 Mar
Nduduzo Makhathini Moods, Zurich Tues 19 Mar
The most exciting pianist to emerge from the South African scene since Bheki Mseleku? Yes! Pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini's Blue Note debut Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworlds in 2020 was one of the most significant albums of that year. Check the McCoy Tyner-esque driving fervour of 'Indawu' drawn from it - the single pays tribute to the spirits of the Nguni people that live in and underneath water and features Logan Richardson on sax among the personnel and in their rapport recalls Mseleku's understanding with Joe Henderson.
Gabriele Mitelli's Three Tsuru Origami Stadtgarten, Cologne Wednesday 20 Mar
Kestutis Vaiginis & Joonas Haavisto Koko, Helsinki Thursday 21 Mar
Jeremy Pelt Quintet Sunset, Paris Thurs 21 and Friday 22 Mar
Enrico Pieranunzi & Thomas Fonnesbæk Jazzhus Montmartre, Copenhagen Saturday 23 Mar
Trio Grande: Gilad Hekselman, Will Vinson, Nate Wood Unterfahrt, Munich Sat 23 Mar
2023's Urban Myth saw the muscular no-nonsense jazz-rock fusion of Nate Wood, Will Vinson and Gilad Hekselman back again with a fiery studio album. Guitarist Hekselman provided plenty of meaty soloing and we also liked the additional squelch of synth that saxist Vinson dubbed in every so often. Best track is 'Dancing Girls' that has a funky helterskelter feel to it, drummer Wood at his best. All three players are up to the task of pushing the pace on. Vinson should be better known as a saxist and writer (the tunes were written by either Vinson or Hekselman) and can just as easily cook as show plenty of tenderness as happens winningly on another standout, 'In My Head.'
Takuya Kuroda, pictured, plays Vienna on Tues 19th