Mulgrew Miller, Solo in Barcelona, Storyville *****

Pianist Mulgrew Miller who died a decade ago remains a strong influence on a range of pianists including our own Julian Joseph, Trevor Watkis and newcomers such as Sultan Stevenson. The American's style was expansive as it was imaginative, at home …

Published: 17 Aug 2023. Updated: 40 days.

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Pianist Mulgrew Miller who died a decade ago remains a strong influence on a range of pianists including our own Julian Joseph, Trevor Watkis and newcomers such as Sultan Stevenson. The American's style was expansive as it was imaginative, at home with standards from decades before just as much as he was with the developments in the jazz piano canon ushered in by among others McCoy Tyner in the 1960s. This exemplary solo piano set - certainly high up among the bes solo piano releases in 2023 - from the Jordi Suñol archives was recorded at the Lliure theatre in Barcelona in 2004 and includes Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Cole Porter repertoire. Highlights include a sumptuous take on 'It Never Entered My Mind'. A must for piano jazz lovers. Out tomorrow

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Tenderlonious, You Know I Care, 22a ****

Deeply felt spiritual jazz here with spacious vamps, chunky grooves and a searching, yearning quality throughout. Altoist-flautist Tenderlonious is here with pianist Hamish Balfour, bassist Pete Martin and drummer Tim Carnegie and together the …

Published: 16 Aug 2023. Updated: 40 days.

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Deeply felt spiritual jazz here with spacious vamps, chunky grooves and a searching, yearning quality throughout. Altoist-flautist Tenderlonious is here with pianist Hamish Balfour, bassist Pete Martin and drummer Tim Carnegie and together the quartet immerse themselves in the sort of sounds championed by Eric Dolphy, Archie Shepp and John Coltrane in the 1960s. You gain a sense of deep study and reflection as solo lines delve ever more deeply into new possibilities and directions as well as a certain momentousness in the group play. You Know I Care includes a tender flute-led treatment of Wayne Shorter classic 'Infant Eyes'. Out on 25 August. 'Maimoun' from the album is streaming.