Latest News: Jazz, Classic Recordings
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Classic Recordings,
Sonny Rollins, 'A Night At The "Village Vanguard"' 24th April 2024Following a reissue of this exemplary live date in all its glory, we examine the recording that features the great tenor saxophonist during one of his most dynamic and powerful stages of improvisational development.
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Classic Recordings,
Jimmy Giuffre, 'Music For People, Birds, Butterflies & Mosquitoes' 8th November 2023In many ways ahead of its time, this underappreciated mid-career gem from the late master of mult-instrumental freeness is well worth a re-examination.
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Classic Recordings,
Sarah Webster Fabio, 'Jujus/Alchemy of the Blues' & 'Together to the Tune of Coltrane's “Equinox”' 20th September 2023Following the reissue of two long out-of-print recordings of her poetry set to a killer funk accompaniment, we take a closer look at the life and career of the pivotal Black writer and activist.
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Classic Recordings,
John Coltrane, 'Africa/Brass' 24th August 2023Whilst underappreciated upon its release, Trane's bombastic first album for Impulse! from 1961 would seal his fate as one of the label's most iconoclastic artists and performers.
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Classic Recordings,
Stan Tracey Quartet, 'Jazz Suite Inspired by Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood' 10th May 2023In light of a new vinyl reissue of this seminal British jazz release, we take a look at how the 1965 recording captures the Welsh poet's imaginative genius.
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Classic Recordings,
Ahmad Jamal Trio, 'The Awakening' 26th April 2023Underrated at the time of its release but having since gone on to be adored by jazz cats and hip-hop producers alike, this album reveals the late pianist at his most joyously creative.
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Classic Recordings,
Dexter Gordon, 'Go!' 2nd March 2023On the influential saxophonist's centenary, we revisit the much acclaimed Go!, released during his 'New York Renaissance' period.
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Classic Recordings,
Bill Evans & Jim Hall, 'Undercurrent' 25th October 2022Following a long period of mourning, Bill Evans returned to music with a slew of new projects, one of which being this classic duo session with guitarist Jim Hall.
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Classic Recordings,
Weather Report, 'Heavy Weather' 19th July 2022At a time when jazz fusion was beginning to fall out of favour, Weather Report's now-seminal seventh album rejuvenated the style by embracing popular music, making it one of the most commercially-successful fusion records of the time but also one of the most fun to revisit.
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Classic Recordings,
Kamasi Washington, 'The Epic' 27th February 2022American saxophonist and composer Kamasi Washington's 2015 breakout record is a gargantuan work, and though it hasn't had the time to develop the long-enduring status of the records we usually cover, we reckon it's worthy of the title of a modern classic.
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Classic Recordings,
Sonny Rollins, 'Saxophone Colossus' 8th February 2022The highlight of Sonny Rollins' mid-50s sessions deservingly remains one of his most long-enduring recordings, as well as an essential listen of the hard bop era.
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Classic Recordings,
The Bad Plus, 'These Are the Vistas' 18th January 2022With contemporary rock covers and a similarly punkish attitude, These Are the Vistas was the record that put jazz trio The Bad Plus on the map.
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Classic Recordings,
Pharoah Sanders, 'Karma' 27th December 2021The saxophonist's 1969 album distilled much of the knowledge gained from his time playing with John Coltrane, furthering the sounds of avant-garde jazz to spiritual new territories.
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Classic Recordings,
Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucía - Friday Night in San Francisco 26th October 2021Matt wishes he could be transported back to The Warfield Theatre, 5 December, 1980, as he looks back on one of his favourite records, Friday Night in San Francisco, featuring three of the great guitar maestros on top of their game, making for a breath-taking live record.
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Classic Recordings,
Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section 11th October 2021Fighting against drug addiction and a battered saxophone, Art Pepper entered the studio in 1957 with Miles Davis's rhythm section and recorded one of the finest albums in his catalogue.
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Classic Recordings,
Buena Vista Social Club 20th September 2021The Cuban jazz classic turns 25 next year, with a deluxe reissue out now on World Circuit records. We take a look back at the formation and legacy of this essential album, and the people behind it.
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Classic Recordings,
The Music of Donald Byrd 13th September 2021We delve into the vast catalogue of the prolific trumpeter, picking out some of our favourites from his early bebop beginnings with the Jazz Messengers to later jazz-funk experiments.
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Classic Recordings,
Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin' 12th July 2021One of the many products of an incredibly fruitful period for Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin' is one of the best works from the pianist whose life was sadly cut short.
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Classic Recordings,
Dizzy Gillespie and Chano Pozo's Cubano-Bop 5th July 2021The combination of Dizzy Gillespie's bebop with Chano Pozo's Cuban rhythms made for some of the most exciting big band music ever recorded. Matt looks into the story behind these classic cuts.
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Classic Recordings,
The Blues and the Abstract Truth 28th June 2021One of the unsung trailblazers of 60s jazz, Oliver Nelson's The Blues and the Abstract Truth is some of his most widely-remembered work, and just so happens to feature a killer line-up including Eric Dolphy and Freddie Hubbard. We take a look back at Nelson's unique, contemporary interpretation of the blues.