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Roy Brooks 'The Free Slave' 180g Vinyl (Time Traveler Recordings Muse Master Edition Series) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
The opening bars on Detroit drummer Roy Brooks’ swinging live date from 1970 come from bassist Cecil McBee and pianist Hugh Lawson, but it’s soon apparent on the album’s title track ‘The Free Slave’ that these two are, if not slaves to, then certainly entirely at the service of Brooks rhythm. His expansive patterns open … Continue reading Roy Brooks ‘The Free Slave’ 180g Vinyl (Time Traveler Recordings Muse Master Edition Series) 4/5 →
Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity 'Great Intentions' LP/CD (ACTION JAZZ) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Every so often an album comes along that feels like it clears the air around you – not just a record to listen to, but one to breathe with. “Great Intentions” by Gard Nilssen’s Acoustic Unity is one of those rare releases: breathy, earthy, invigorating, and brimming with clarity of both thought and sound. Nilssen … Continue reading Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity ‘Great Intentions’ LP/CD (ACTION JAZZ) 4/5 →
Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity 'Great Intentions' LP/CD (ACTION JAZZ) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Every so often an album comes along that feels like it clears the air around you – not just a record to listen to, but one to breathe with. “Great Intentions” by Gard Nilssen’s Acoustic Unity is one of those rare releases: breathy, earthy, invigorating, and brimming with clarity of both thought and sound. Nilssen … Continue reading Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity ‘Great Intentions’ LP/CD (ACTION JAZZ) 4/5 →
KASE + Father Sky 'Sets' LP (B Side Recordings) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Since 2020, B Side Recordings has existed as a compelling extension of trumpeter and bandleader Jamie Breiwick’s creative musical endeavours. A long-time advocate for Wisconsin’s jazz scene, Breiwick has consistently boasted a variety of avenues and projects for his boundless prolificity – through releases as part of Shifting Paradigm and Ropeadope Records, Breiwick’s creativity has … Continue reading KASE + Father Sky ‘Sets’ LP (B Side Recordings) 4/5 →
Roy Brooks 'The Free Slave' 180g Vinyl (Time Traveler Recordings Muse Master Edition Series) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
The opening bars on Detroit drummer Roy Brooks’ swinging live date from 1970 come from bassist Cecil McBee and pianist Hugh Lawson, but it’s soon apparent on the album’s title track ‘The Free Slave’ that these two are, if not slaves to, then certainly entirely at the service of Brooks rhythm. His expansive patterns open … Continue reading Roy Brooks ‘The Free Slave’ 180g Vinyl (Time Traveler Recordings Muse Master Edition Series) 4/5 →
Hanna Paulsberg Concept & Elin Rosseland 'Himmel Over Hav' LP/CD (GRAPPA) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
There’s a gentle lilt to “Himmel over Hav”, a sense that sky and sea are whispering stories to each other, and the listener is invited in. Saxophonist Hanna Paulsberg, fronting her well-tuned Concept quartet, with Oscar Grönberg (piano), Trygve Waldemar Fiske (double bass), and Hans Hulbækmo (drums), extends her musical world with the luminous presence … Continue reading Hanna Paulsberg Concept & Elin Rosseland ‘Himmel Over Hav’ LP/CD (GRAPPA) 3/5 →
Carlos Garnett ‘Cosmos Nucleus’ 180g Vinyl (Time Traveler Recordings Muse Master Edition Series) 5/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
The year is 1976, and New York hums with electricity. At The Bottom Line, George Benson is packing houses; at Carnegie Hall, Lonnie Liston Smith’s Cosmic Echoes are launching listeners into the stratosphere; in loft spaces and cramped studios, the city’s jazz vanguard bends harmony toward the spiritual and the cosmic. In the middle of … Continue reading Carlos Garnett ‘Cosmos Nucleus’ 180g Vinyl (Time Traveler Recordings Muse Master Edition Series) 5/5 →
Donny McCaslin 'Lullaby For The Lost' LP/CD (Edition) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Donny McCaslin doesn’t generally do quiet. With “Lullaby for the Lost”, the saxophonist known for channelling David Bowie’s swan song “Blackstar” continues to lean deep into his post-jazz, rock-injected reinvention, offering up a raw, honest and emotionally dense set of tracks that go straight for the jugular. McCaslin has never been one to tread water. … Continue reading Donny McCaslin ‘Lullaby For The Lost’ LP/CD (Edition) 4/5 →
Kenny Barron 'Sunset to Dawn' 180g Vinyl (Time Traveler Recordings Muse Master Edition Series) 5/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Captivating at its time of release, “Sunset to Dawn” somehow spans the decades to feel even more mesmerising today. Originally released in 1973, Kenny Barron’s debut as a bandleader still crackles with imaginative energy. The Time Traveler Recordings Muse Master Edition treats us to a sumptuous 180-gram vinyl remaster, pressed at Optimal Media and mastered … Continue reading Kenny Barron ‘Sunset to Dawn’ 180g Vinyl (Time Traveler Recordings Muse Master Edition Series) 5/5 →
Donny McCaslin 'Lullaby For The Lost' LP/CD (Edition) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Donny McCaslin doesn’t generally do quiet. With “Lullaby for the Lost”, the saxophonist known for channelling David Bowie’s swan song “Blackstar” continues to lean deep into his post-jazz, rock-injected reinvention, offering up a raw, honest and emotionally dense set of tracks that go straight for the jugular. McCaslin has never been one to tread water. … Continue reading Donny McCaslin ‘Lullaby For The Lost’ LP/CD (Edition) 4/5 →
The Charlie Rouse Band 'Cinnamon Flower: The Expanded Edition' 2x180g Vinyl/CD (Resonance) 5/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
The US independent reissue specialist Resonance Records is dedicated to preserving the art and legacy of jazz. Founded in 2008, the Los Angeles-based label has released rare recordings by artists including John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy, Larry Young and Wes Montgomery, as well as reconstructing many more archived jazz recordings. The label’s … Continue reading The Charlie Rouse Band ‘Cinnamon Flower: The Expanded Edition’ 2x180g Vinyl/CD (Resonance) 5/5 →
Tobias Andersson / Joel Fabiansson / Johan Ekeberg / Joel Haag 'Vågorna' LP/CD (Tuna-Tones) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
There’s a certain shimmer that greets you when the first notes of “Vågorna” arrive, a delicate wave of guitar tones that feels both luminous and fragile. Tobias Andersson, together with Joel Fabiansson, Johan Ekeberg and Joel Haag, has crafted an ensemble sound that treats four guitars as one instrument, breathing together, swaying as if in … Continue reading Tobias Andersson / Joel Fabiansson / Johan Ekeberg / Joel Haag ‘Vågorna’ LP/CD (Tuna-Tones) 3/5 →
Pino Palladino & Blake Mills 'That Wasn't A Dream' LP/CD (New Deal / Impulse!) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
“Live your life, sing your song. Not full of expectations. Not for the ovations. But for the joy of it.” Incredibly perceptive words attributed to author Rasheed Ogunlaru that for some reason have resonated strongly when considering the latest release from Pino Palladino and Blake Mills, ‘That Wasn’t A Dream’… Four years after their initial … Continue reading Pino Palladino & Blake Mills ‘That Wasn’t A Dream’ LP/CD (New Deal / Impulse!) 4/5 →
Georgia Duncan 'Four Ways To The Sun' LP/CD (Clonmell Jazz Social) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Georgia Duncan’s debut album, “Four Ways To The Sun” (Clonmell Jazz Social), announces the arrival of a distinctive voice within London’s blossoming folk-jazz landscape. Known from her 2021 EP “The Light”, Duncan here extends her vision with a deeply collaborative, understated work that feels equal parts intimate confession and atmospheric exploration. The first thing that … Continue reading Georgia Duncan ‘Four Ways To The Sun’ LP/CD (Clonmell Jazz Social) 4/5 →
Lophae 'Imagine More' LP/CD/Cassette (Self-released) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Greg Sanders has never been short of a musical project to sink his teeth into. As the brainchild, guitarist and founder of the orchestral jazz ensemble Teotima, Sanders & Company helmed two sensational albums for First Word Records in ‘Weightless’ (2019) and ‘Counting the Ways’ (2013). From there, it was production duties for Argentinian vocalist … Continue reading Lophae ‘Imagine More’ LP/CD/Cassette (Self-released) 4/5 →
Yumi Ito 'Lonely Island' Custom 7" CD Digipack + Poster (enja yellowbird) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Recognised as one of the most original and exciting voices in contemporary jazz, Basel-based vocalist and composer Yumi Ito has carved out a singular space in today’s music landscape. The award-winning artist has shared the stage with Al Jarreau, Becca Stevens, and Mark Turner, while leading projects that weave improvisation, personal storytelling, and a genre-defying … Continue reading Yumi Ito ‘Lonely Island’ Custom 7″ CD Digipack + Poster (enja yellowbird) 3/5 →
Pino Palladino & Blake Mills 'That Wasn't A Dream' LP/CD (New Deal / Impulse!) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
“Live your life, sing your song. Not full of expectations. Not for the ovations. But for the joy of it.” Incredibly perceptive words attributed to author Rasheed Ogunlaru that for some reason have resonated strongly when considering the latest release from Pino Palladino and Blake Mills, ‘That Wasn’t A Dream’… Four years after their initial … Continue reading Pino Palladino & Blake Mills ‘That Wasn’t A Dream’ LP/CD (New Deal / Impulse!) 4/5 →
Nils Petter Molvaer 'Khmer Live in Bergen' 2LP/CD (Edition) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
When Nils Petter Molvaer first released “Khmer” back in 1997, it was something of a seismic event: a brooding, atmospheric hybrid of jazz trumpet and trip-hop textures that felt like a late-night broadcast from some shadowy Nordic dreamscape. Over 25 years on, “Khmer Live in Bergen” reimagines that landmark album, not with reverence, but with … Continue reading Nils Petter Molvaer ‘Khmer Live in Bergen’ 2LP/CD (Edition) 4/5 →
Arid Landscapes 'Arid Landscapes' CD (Signal Chain) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
The debut self-titled album by Arid Landscapes, a duo formed of Toronto-trained guitarist Dan Pitt and Vancouver-based keyboardist Noah Franche-Nolan, lands like a gentle passing cloud across your headphones: unobtrusive, ambient, and quietly textured. Released on Signal Chain Records (CD and digital), it unfolds across ten tracks in a modest 47-minute runtime. What’s immediately striking … Continue reading Arid Landscapes ‘Arid Landscapes’ CD (Signal Chain) 3/5 →
Kenneth Lien & Center of the Universe 'Norsk elektronisk folkemusikk' LP/CD (Heilo) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
So what happens if you take 80s electro-pop and mix it with traditional Nordic folk music? This album is what happens – obviously. On paper, “Hardanger fiddle meets 80s electro-pop” sounds like a dare; on “Norsk elektronisk folkemusikk” it’s a slightly scary reality. Multi-instrumentalist (and jaw-harp champ) Kenneth Lien teams up again with Jørgen Skjulstad’s … Continue reading Kenneth Lien & Center of the Universe ‘Norsk elektronisk folkemusikk’ LP/CD (Heilo) 3/5 →
Timo Vollbrecht 'Bremen New York' CD (BERTHOLD) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Saxophonist/composer Timo Vollbrecht’s “Bremen New York” is a bold tightrope walk between the chamber-like elegance of small-group jazz and the kinetic breadth of larger ensemble dynamics. Recorded live in the revered Sendesaal Bremen, it’s a beautifully crafted snapshot of spontaneity and precision, featuring a dream lineup: Ralph Alessi on trumpet, Elias Stemeseder at the piano, … Continue reading Timo Vollbrecht ‘Bremen New York’ CD (BERTHOLD) 3/5 →
Keith Jarrett / Gary Peacock / Paul Motian 'At The Deer Head Inn - The Complete Recordings' 4LP Box Set (ECM) 5/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Some records you pull out to impress people, others you keep for yourself. “At The Deer Head Inn: The Complete Recordings” manages to be both: a shining showcase of one of jazz’s greatest pianists, and an intimate listening experience that feels almost private. This new 4LP box, bringing together the original Deer Head Inn release … Continue reading Keith Jarrett / Gary Peacock / Paul Motian ‘At The Deer Head Inn – The Complete Recordings’ 4LP Box Set (ECM) 5/5 →
Conrad Herwig 'Reflections: Facing South Featuring Eddie Palmieri and Luques Curtis' CD (Savant) 5/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
It is pertinent and somewhat poignant that this album arrived for review so recently after the passing of Eddie Palmieri on August 6, 2025. Palmieri’s death marks the loss of one of Latin jazz’s towering architects, a pianist and composer whose rhythmic ingenuity and harmonic daring reshaped the sound of Afro-Caribbean music for more than six decades. Born in … Continue reading Conrad Herwig ‘Reflections: Facing South Featuring Eddie Palmieri and Luques Curtis’ CD (Savant) 5/5 →
Cecilie Strange 'Beech' LP/CD (April) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Cecilie Strange’s new album “Beech”, is a minimalist marvel – an evocative Nordic suite rooted in memory, place, and that ineffable breeze between notes. It’s sparse, wind-blown jazz in the vein of an ECM recording, her breathy sax weaving through silence like light through leaves. From the opening whispers of “A Fairy Tale of a … Continue reading Cecilie Strange ‘Beech’ LP/CD (April) 4/5 →
Misha Panfilov Septet 'Live in Stockholm And Tallinn' LP (Funk Night) 5/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
By sheer and genuine coincidence, the day prior to being allocated Misha Panfilov Septet’s ‘Live In Stockholm and Tallinn’ for review, I was immersing myself within the funk-meets-spiritual jazz stylings of Estrada Orchestra’s ‘Jazzbeatjäätis’. Another project under the Panfilov umbrella which dates back to 2017 and showcases a riveting concoction much in the vein of … Continue reading Misha Panfilov Septet ‘Live in Stockholm And Tallinn’ LP (Funk Night) 5/5 →
Vincent Peirani 'Living Being IV: Time Reflections' CD (ACT Music) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Vincent Peirani’s latest release “Living Being IV: Time Reflections”, plants itself firmly in the modern jazz landscape, elegantly chambered, subtly panoramic, with its roots in pandemic-era reflection and a conceptual heart that beats to the rhythm of time itself. This quintet, with Peirani on accordion and accordina, supported by Émile Parisien, Tony Paeleman, Yoann Serra, … Continue reading Vincent Peirani ‘Living Being IV: Time Reflections’ CD (ACT Music) 3/5 →
Natural Information Society 'Momentum' (New Soil) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Joshua Abrams’ Natural Information Society has always been about movement – circular grooves, shifting patterns, music that feels like it’s in constant transit. With Momentum, the second part of a three-part digital collection released via New Soil, Abrams digs further into that well of archive material, curating tracks that put rhythmic drive front and centre. … Continue reading Natural Information Society ‘Momentum’ (New Soil) 3/5 →
Gregory Uhlmann / Josh Johnson / Sam Wilkes 'Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes' LP/CD (International Anthem) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
The concept of “exploration” seems to work itself into nearly every release by International Anthem. And it’s a wonderful distinction for a label to boast. Perhaps it’s an ideal attributed to the Chicago-based label as a result of the abundance of projects that embrace the art of free-thinking, spirited and improvised jazz? The haven afforded … Continue reading Gregory Uhlmann / Josh Johnson / Sam Wilkes ‘Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes’ LP/CD (International Anthem) 4/5 →
Liv Andrea Hauge Trio 'Døgnville' LP/CD (HUBRO) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Norwegian pianist Liv Andrea Hauge strikes me as a uniquely gifted pianist who takes the listener on a deft guide through liminal realms. Her trio’s latest, “Døgnville”feels like a nocturnal dream state rendered in sound. The term “døgnvill” (loosely, “out-of-sync with time,” like jet lag or insomnia) becomes the album’s beating heart, and the trio, … Continue reading Liv Andrea Hauge Trio ‘Døgnville’ LP/CD (HUBRO) 4/5 →
Mike Osborne / Stan Tracey ‘Original’ CD (Cadillac) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
In the early 1970s, London’s jazz scene thrived as a hotbed of innovation and collaboration, with venues such as the 100 Club on Oxford Street, the Swan at Stockwell, and Greenwich Theatre regularly showcasing some of the most adventurous musicians of the day. Among these, Stan Tracey and Mike Osborne emerged as key figures, frequently … Continue reading Mike Osborne / Stan Tracey ‘Original’ CD (Cadillac) 4/5 →
Andrew Staniland 'The Laws of Nature' CD (Leaf Music) 2/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Technology eh? Love it or loathe it, it’s here to stay. Fascinating and frustrating in equal measure I’m guessing most of us would say. Andrew Staniland’s The Laws of Nature is a technical marvel – built around the decade-long development of JADE, a digital instrument that translates dancers’ EEG brainwaves into musical material. Incredible really. … Continue reading Andrew Staniland ‘The Laws of Nature’ CD (Leaf Music) 2/5 →
Ferdinando Romano 'The Legends of Otranto' CD (GleAM) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Ferdinando Romano’s “The Legends of Otranto” is nothing if not ambitious, an avant-garde concept album, a six-movement suite weaving stories from Salento’s folklore into music that’s as varied as the legends it references. Joined by accordionist Veli Kujala, pianist Kirke Karja, and drummer Ermanno Baron, Romano embarks on a journey that’s at once evocative and, … Continue reading Ferdinando Romano ‘The Legends of Otranto’ CD (GleAM) 3/5 →
Eric Siereveld's Organic Quintet 'Sweet William' LP/CD (Shifting Paradigm) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Eric Siereveld’s “Sweet William” arrives as a warm, swinging testament to the enduring vitality of organ-driven hard bop. Released on the Shifting Paradigm label, the album unfolds across eight robust tracks, blending compositional maturity with seamless ensemble interplay. The opener, “Growl,” kicks off with a CTI-flavoured shuffle that nods to Siereveld’s Cincinnati roots. It immediately … Continue reading Eric Siereveld’s Organic Quintet ‘Sweet William’ LP/CD (Shifting Paradigm) 3/5 →
Inbar Fridman 'Mercy' CD (Adhyâropa) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Guitarist Inbar Fridman’s latest quartet outing, Mercy, feels like a soothing voyage through refined, lyrical jazz – smooth, assured, and quietly compelling. It’s her fourth record as leader, and it finds her signature chamber-like elegance framed by a quartet that listens just as well as it plays. The album unfolds with eight carefully paced tracks: … Continue reading Inbar Fridman ‘Mercy’ CD (Adhyâropa) 4/5 →
Jake Baldwin 'Vanishing Point' LP/CD (Shifting Paradigm) 5/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
With “Vanishing Point”, trumpeter Jake Baldwin plants himself firmly at the ever-shifting crossroads of jazz, rock, and ambient dream-logic. It’s his boldest, most cohesive statement to date – vivid, immersive, and dripping with creative assurance. Baldwin, already a fixture of the Minneapolis scene with credits ranging from the Minnesota Orchestra to Archer, brings a versatility … Continue reading Jake Baldwin ‘Vanishing Point’ LP/CD (Shifting Paradigm) 5/5 →
Christian Wallumrød 'Percolation' CD (SOFA) 3/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Christian Wallumrød’s “Percolation” is a quietly compelling solo piano album, one that rewards the listener with its sensitivity and eclectic nature. Those familiar with his meditative solo works – “Pianokammer” (2014) and “Speaksome” (2021) – will find this latest continuation of his aesthetic both familiar and gently revealing. Wallumrød creates music out of silence, deploying … Continue reading Christian Wallumrød ‘Percolation’ CD (SOFA) 3/5 →
John Sturino 'BLOW GLOBE' CD (Outside In Music) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Here’s one that slides under the radar but sticks in your ear long after the last note fades: “Blow Globe”, the debut album from Juilliard-trained drummer and composer John Sturino, is a cool, confident entry in the best tradition of modern jazz ensembles – big sound, subtle intricacy, and a musical worldview that’s wide open. … Continue reading John Sturino ‘BLOW GLOBE’ CD (Outside In Music) 4/5 →
Chip Wickham 'The Eternal Now' BioVinyl LP/CD (Gondwana) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
There’s a certain calm confidence that radiates from “The Eternal Now”, the latest offering from multi-instrumentalist Chip Wickham. Rooted in spiritual jazz but with an ear for groove, melody and elegance, this is an album that doesn’t so much demand attention as gently, persistently draw you into its meditative world. Wickham has long carved a … Continue reading Chip Wickham ‘The Eternal Now’ BioVinyl LP/CD (Gondwana) 4/5 →
Orbital Ensemble 'Orbital' LP/CD (We Are Busy Bodies) 5/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Felipe Sena’s debut release under the guise of Orbital Ensemble delivers in spectacular fashion with the full-length ‘Orbital’. Released through Toronto’s We Are Busy Bodies, the Canadian-based producer and multi-instrumentalist unveils a project in keeping with Canada’s thriving music scene and notably its thriving jazz scene which continues to gain notoriety through the more incredible … Continue reading Orbital Ensemble ‘Orbital’ LP/CD (We Are Busy Bodies) 5/5 →
Stephen Philip Harvey Jazz Orchestra 'Multiversal: Live at Bop Stop' CD (Hidden Cinema) 4/5 - ukvibe - astral travelling since 1993
Stephen Philip Harvey’s “Multiversal: Live at BOP STOP”is a bold, super‑powered live album that cements his place as one of contemporary jazz’s adventurous large‑ensemble voices. As the second full‑length album from his seventeen‑piece Stephen Philip Harvey Jazz Orchestra – and eighth overall from Harvey – it’s a thrilling follow‑up to “Smash!” (2022), continuing his cinematic, … Continue reading Stephen Philip Harvey Jazz Orchestra ‘Multiversal: Live at Bop Stop’ CD (Hidden Cinema) 4/5 →