Top in 20: US jazz album of the year IMMANUEL WILKINS, OMEGA, BLUE NOTE

US jazz album of the year. Also best jazz album of the year from anywhere led by a saxophonist: alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins makes quite an impact. Produced by Jason Moran pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Daryl Johns, and drummer Kweku Sumbry are …

Published: 26 Nov 2020. Updated: 3 years.

US jazz album of the year. Also best jazz album of the year from anywhere led by a saxophonist: alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins makes quite an impact. Produced by Jason Moran pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Daryl Johns, and drummer Kweku Sumbry are with their fellow American on this socially conscious black lives matter-relevant record. Highlights include the bass grounded track 'The Dreamer' where there is a real subtlety in the group interplay. Wilkins has a delicately sinuous, expressive tone, a little reminiscent of Greg Osby's, and the record overall owes something in common with the approach of trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire. A record that anyone interested in jazz today needs to hear. Read an interview with Immanuel here

marlbank albums of the year will be published on Thursday 31 December round midnight

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Top in 20: UK jazz album of the year BYRON WALLEN, PORTRAIT: REFLECTIONS ON BELONGING, TWILIGHT JAGUAR

I heard some of these tunes live and they were certainly smokin' in Old Holborn. Portrait is an engrossing homage to the multiculturalism of suburban Woolwich not a million miles away and is completely in keeping with trumpeter Byron Wallen's long …

Published: 26 Nov 2020. Updated: 3 years.

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I heard some of these tunes live and they were certainly smokin' in Old Holborn. Portrait is an engrossing homage to the multiculturalism of suburban Woolwich not a million miles away and is completely in keeping with trumpeter Byron Wallen's long time approach of restless and eloquent global exploration. The Wallen compositions have strong structures and are played by the same quartet that I heard that night (Byron Wallen trumpet, flugelhorn, shells, piano and percussion; Rob Luft electric guitar; Paul Michael electric bass guitar; Rod Youngs drums) plus on the album additionally Richard 'Olatunde‘ Baker playing congas and talking drums on three tracks and a primary school choir.

A triumph.

marlbank albums of the year will be published on Thursday 31 December round midnight