Emil Mangelsdorff has died

German jazz icon Emil Mangelsdorff has died at the age of 96. The Hessian State Chancellery paid tribute to the saxophonist and clarinettist, who was the brother of famed German trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff, with prime minister Volker Bouffier writing on Twitter commenting that Mangelsdorff ''not only rendered outstanding services to culture in Hesse, but as a witness to the darkest hours of German history he has also done valuable work to commemorate it". Mangelsdorff was born in Frankfurt in 1925 and played in an illegal swing group during the Third Reich. In the 1950s he was one of the founders of the Hessian Radio Jazz Ensemble and did much in later life to educate new generations about the horrors of the Nazi era.

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There's really only one record at the moment that we have been returning to again and again and that's The 7th Hand out next week from Immanuel Wilkins whether it's the bustling 'Emanation' that introduces the album or the epic 'Lift' that goes into experimental territory at the end.

In the last few years Wilkins has emerged as a natural heir stylistically to Kenny Garrett and here again with the main core of the personnel on this new biblically charged album of revival and rebirth drawn from his earlier tour de force Omega plus the flautist Elena Pinderhughes certainly making her presence felt in some very well-arranged passages as do the crisp Farafina Kan percussion ensemble in the rhythm section. The track to turn to first includes the velvety textures and voicings that Wilkins draws on beautifully in the tender 'Fugitive Ritual, Selah' inspired by the energy of places where Black people gather in celebration, praise and refuge.

Released on Friday. Touring plans include Ronnie Scott's on 14 March

Emil Mangelsdorff has died

Immanuel Wilkins, The 7th Hand, Blue Note ****