Gaz Hughes trio, Beboptical Illusion, gazhughesmusic.com ***

If you are into Steve Brown - in other words swinging, no messing hard bop rooted jazz where drums matter and that sounds as if it was made in the 1950s (whether you think that's a good thing or not that's entirely a personal call) - then Gaz …

Published: 3 Jan 2023. Updated: 15 months.

If you are into Steve Brown - in other words swinging, no messing hard bop rooted jazz where drums matter and that sounds as if it was made in the 1950s (whether you think that's a good thing or not that's entirely a personal call) - then Gaz Hughes here on a trio recording is apropos. Hughes is with double bassist Ed Harrison and pianist Andrzej Baranek. Originals of the drummer's figure and there's a stately cover of Duke Ellington's 'Sophisticated Lady' among the selections. Baranek is quite an ornate player and the robust piano sound and overall band effect are very brightly captured. Out on 3 February

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Carmen Souza, Interconnectedness, Galileo ***1/2

Full of zest but not at all complacent Cape Verdean and creole jazz rooted crossover sounds from Lisbon world jazz singer Carmen Souza produced with bassist Theo Pas'cal cross boundaries seamlessly. Twists arrive in considerable number. Against the …

Published: 3 Jan 2023. Updated: 15 months.

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Full of zest but not at all complacent Cape Verdean and creole jazz rooted crossover sounds from Lisbon world jazz singer Carmen Souza produced with bassist Theo Pas'cal cross boundaries seamlessly. Twists arrive in considerable number. Against the odds given its familiarity the very original take on a song more identified with Nina Simone 'My Baby Just Cares For Me' proves zany and far more preferable to the title track, a credit to the production craft and arranging ideas exhibited throughout this feelgood album.

The Cape Verdean link to the music that underpins a strand of hard bop pioneer Horace Silver's unique sound is also interestingly explored on 'Silver Blues' while a cover of Miriam Makeba and Jerry Ragovoy's 'Pata Pata' is always welcome

Carmen Souza, top, appears at Ronnie Scott's (with Deschanel Gordon in the Souza band The Silver Messengers steered by Pas'cal) on 18 January

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