Review: An extraordinary achievement by pianist/multi-instrumentalist/auteur Adrian Younge. I could pick any number of tracks here to highlight. I'm going for Sam Dew on 'Light on the Horizon' as one point of entry and also to mention Moonlight Fools brand new from Dew also a must for different reasons that draws on classic Gamble and Huff and so much more. The American Negro overall is uncompromising, intellectual, full of candour in words and music. The big takeaway I glean from the record is that racism isn't just for the past it's still around however uncomfortable that is for those who think, whether deluded or not, that it has been eradicated. In terms of message music jazz has always been the messenger even to the point of changing its stylistic means of communication or being strict to its traditions or even not. And this is today's express delivery and big sky thinking via a blissed out soul/orchestral lens and formidable groove to take the music forward. Stephen Graham

Out now on Jazz is Dead. Adrian Younge, top. Photo: via Bandcamp