The Le Coq All Stars, The Jazz All Stars Vol. 2, Le Coq ***

Stuffed with big names and a sense of effortless mastery everywhere you look this is a laidback middle of the road outing from this accurately titled collection of ''All Stars''. Drummer Marcus Gilmore is in a much more swinging guise than you'll …

Published: 8 Feb 2022. Updated: 2 years.

Stuffed with big names and a sense of effortless mastery everywhere you look this is a laidback middle of the road outing from this accurately titled collection of ''All Stars''. Drummer Marcus Gilmore is in a much more swinging guise than you'll usually hear him and Chris Potter sounds relaxed as he shares lead horn soloing duties at times with trumpeter Terell Stafford. Singer Andy James does a nice version of 'Doodlin' but everywhere you look you'll find some little detail to engage you whether it is in the arrangements or the sheer flow the band generate even when the musical chairs are changed around to bring in new players. Perhaps it's a little too comfortable in places but there's a lot to like here and certainly catnip for anyone into modern mainstream retro-inclined jazz where musicianship really counts.

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Watford Jazz Junction line-up for 2022

Taking place in May this year Watford's Jazz Junction festival line-up includes: Shri Sriram and Dennis Rollins, NYJO feat. Tim Garland, Emma Smith Quartet, Ilario Ferrari trio, Georgina Jackson, John Etheridge trio, Archipelago, Samuel Sharp, Jelly …

Published: 8 Feb 2022. Updated: 2 years.

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Taking place in May this year Watford's Jazz Junction festival line-up includes:

Shri Sriram and Dennis Rollins, NYJO feat. Tim Garland, Emma Smith Quartet, Ilario Ferrari trio, Georgina Jackson, John Etheridge trio, Archipelago, Samuel Sharp, Jelly Cleaver, Beatmakers Percussion Workshop with George Double, John Watson, Sultan Stevenson, Mark Kavuma, Jo Harrop, Pete and Immy Churchill. Dates are 19-22 May. The festival website is here