Eurojazz clubbing 16-23 March big ups

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

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The US based French singer of Dominican descent Cyrille Aimée's most personal album to date given that the songs are largely originals. The ratio of killer to filler lands just about in the favour of the former. Larry Goldings collaborator Jake Sherman worked closely with the singer on the production side. À Fleur de Peau - an idiomatic French expression that can mean something like being very sensitive, on edge - created between 2018 and last year was recorded chez Sherman. Aimée's emphasis is on positivity particularly on the smiles everywhere New Orleans paean found on 'Beautiful Way'. The piercing 'Here' is harder to like although probably even easier to admire. But who couldn't love the pacey cover of the Isley Brothers' The Heat Is On (1975) song ‘For the Love of You’ covered down the years by Whitney Houston, Joss Stone and George Michael. 'Again Again' we wrote about back at the end of last year when À Fleur de Peau was first teased. Listening to it again today that song's appeal remains vivid. SG

Eurojazz clubbing 16-23 March big ups

Cyrille Aimée, À Fleur de Peau, Whirlwind ***