Tristan Banks, View From Above, Ubuntu ****

Contrapuntalism studded with cross rhythms are rife on the title track here on drummer Tristan Banks' latin jazz-soaked stormer. Blessed with some fine woodwind textures and gritty sax playing from the great Paul Booth (known for his work with …

Published: 16 Mar 2023. Updated: 6 months.

Contrapuntalism studded with cross rhythms are rife on the title track here on drummer Tristan Banks' latin jazz-soaked stormer. Blessed with some fine woodwind textures and gritty sax playing from the great Paul Booth (known for his work with Steve Winwood and The Eagles) and who Banks has worked with in Trypl, Booth is most superb when he goes into a Michael Brecker type space on 'Ex Machina'. Banks also has bassist Davide Mantovani (known for his work with Alex Wilson) and pianist John Crawford who has played in Isq on the record and the unit gels big time.

If you are a Booth fan there is a helluva lot to savour. His flute playing on 'Capelinha' is a must. As for Banks he has mega chops - think Steve Gadd probably quite a bit when it goes down to rudiments and which is no mean feat if you even get half way there and he more than does. Tunes are Banks' and mighty fine they are too - the whole thing laid down at Steve Winwood's studio Wincraft in the Cotswolds two summers ago.

The unit grooves best of all on 'Polycephaly' when Booth journeys the extra mile in terms of elasticity and fervour achieved by reaching for soprano sax. Banks on 'Cidade' even enters an Alex Acuña type space which is extremely stimulating. Tristan Banks, photo via Ubuntu. 'Dust Devil' and the title track are streaming. It's one of the best UK jazz releases of 2023 a couple of months in. View From Above is out on 31 March.

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Dominic Miller's All Change streams - Vagabond tour dates include shows at the 6

L-r: Jacob Karlzon, Ziv Ravitz, Dominic Miller, Nicolas Fiszman. His lapping arpeggiating flair - instantly familiar from classic Sting in the textural instrumental undertow of that sound, a seven seas flourish that generates an expansive head …

Published: 15 Mar 2023. Updated: 6 months.

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L-r: Jacob Karlzon, Ziv Ravitz, Dominic Miller, Nicolas Fiszman.

His lapping arpeggiating flair - instantly familiar from classic Sting in the textural instrumental undertow of that sound, a seven seas flourish that generates an expansive head bobbing Mediterranean and flamenco relatable intensity, with his own band and latest recording Dominic Miller (born Buenos Aires, 1960) tune 'All Change' - a miniature that maxes up - has jazz players pianist Jacob Karlzon, bassist Nicolas Fiszman and drummer Ziv Ravitz with him on this Manfred Eicher produced affair. It is the first of 8 tracks of the upcoming Vagabond (ECM) out on 21 April

Going back Miller co-wrote and performed with Sting the 1990s classic Ten Summoner's Tales song 'Shape of My Heart.'

Recorded in the South of France further Vagabond tracks are 'Cruel But Fair,' 'Open Heart,' 'Vaugines,' 'Clandestin,' 'Altea,' 'Mi Viejo' and 'Lone Waltz'. In the band Fiszman returns from Absinthe and joins Miller out on the road with Karlzon and Ravitz to complete the quartet.

The Dominic Miller band above: press shot, Miller, third from left play Samara flautist Steve Rubie's 606 jazz club in Chelsea on 15 and 16 May. Click for tickets

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