Best things here and the bar is set very high are a tender version of Metheny classic 'Bright Size Life' and the remarkable 'Lodger' led off by the ex-Vijay Iyer drummer Marcus Gilmore chopping out a rhythm and then an incredible line from Metheny cuts the air and what develops especially the passage hard against James Francies' organ is sheer ecstasy bursting through. All partly why this is Metheny's best album since 2012's Unity Band. Out this coming Friday
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1 Maria Chiara Argirò, Pizza Express Jazz Club, London 14 September
2 Kurt Elling, Ronnie Scott's, London 18-21 Sept
3 Mark Lockheart, Dreamers, the Yard, Manchester 20 Sept
4 Seed Ensemble, Hare & Hounds, Birmingham 5 October
5 Courtney Pine and Zoe Rahman, St George's, Bristol 21 Oct
6 Black String & Nguyên Lê, Grand Junction, London 28 Oct
7 Sebastian Rochford and Theon Cross, Servant Jazz Quarters, London 8 November
8 Madeleine Peyroux, Sage, Gateshead 10 Nov
9 Archie Shepp and Jason Moran, Barbican, London 12 Nov
10 Alfa Mist, St Luke's & The Winged Ox, Glasgow 23 Nov
Kurt Elling, top