Gigs this week

Isaiah Collier and the Chosen Few Ronnie Scott's, London Tonight

Edgar Macias/Tom Hill Latin Jazz Quintet The Irving Studio, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham Tonight

Trio Grande Vortex, London Tomorrow

Greg Abate and Alan Barnes Marlow Jazz Club, Marlow Tomorrow

Jonny Mansfield Quintet Watermill, Dorking Tomorrow

Josh Kemp quartet Stoke By Nayland Hotel, near Colchester Wednesday

Get the Blessing Moth Club, London Wednesday

Nils Kavanagh trio Flute and Tankard, Cardiff Wednesday

Split Tone St George's, Bristol Wednesday

Incognito Concorde, Eastleigh Wednesday

Emily Saunders Band Tap Social, Botley Thursday

Hamish Stuart Band Maritime Room, Cliffs Pavilion, Southend Thursday

Nigel Price Organ Trio 7 Arts, Leeds Thursday

Reuben James Turner Sims, Southampton Thursday

Dave Jones Quartet Hen and Chicken, Bristol Thursday

Enemy East Side, Birmingham Thursday

Kurt Elling, Macy Gray, Matthew Halsall, Brandee Younger, Corinne Bailey Rae and many more Cork Jazz Festival, Cork Thursday-Monday

Umezu Kazutoki Kiki Band Blue Lamp, Aberdeen Thursday

Nigel Price Organ Trio Crookes Social Club, Sheffield Friday

Jo Harrop Quartet The Verdict, Brighton Friday

Andy Panayi Jazz at the Hunter, Bury St Edmunds Friday

Dave O'Higgins and Rob Luft Quintet Lighthouse, Poole Friday

Umezu Kazutoki Kiki Band Scott's, Belfast Friday

Happenstance 1000 Trades, Birmingham Friday

Claire Martin The Pheasantry, London Friday and Saturday

Incognito Band on the Wall, Manchester Saturday

Reuben James, photo: press, plays Turner Sims, Southampton on Thursday

Tags:

A thought provoking and highly abstract double CD comprising mostly long pieces from avant pianist Sylvie Courvoisier's Chimaera ensemble of Wadada Leo Smith, stark and compelling on 'Annâo', Nate Wooley, Drew Gress (brilliant on opener 'Le pavot rouge'), Kenny Wollesen and Christian Fennesz, inspired by the symbolist painter Odilon Redons.

Compositions are by Courvoisier - Chimaera was recorded last year in New York. Wadada's contribution speaks volumes on 'Le sabot de Venus' in a setting that provides a whole lot of space and a sound that is so genreless you could hear this album on a classical radio station as easily as a jazz one. Often unsettling and mysterious in its progress the ensemble creates a sound that seems bigger than it is and paints sound imagery that remains vivid throughout.