Articles by: Sammy Stein

Vinyl

David Cross and Andrew Booker – ‘Ends Meeting’ (2018)

‘Ends Meeting’ uncovers a lost one-off collaboration between David Cross and Andrew Booker. Each creative, each inventive, what’s not to like?

Vinyl

Fabian Almazan – ‘This Land Abounds With Life’ (2019)

Fabian Almazan’s nature-inspired ‘This Land Abounds With Life’ is an album with something for everyone.

Could Jazz Be More Inclusive?: Commentary

Could Jazz Be More Inclusive?: Commentary

Jazz is an inclusive music. So why did an established British journal publish a piece containing a gay slur?

Vinyl

Waterboys – ‘Where the Action Is’ (2019)

The Waterboys have made something quite different with ‘Where the Action Is,’ an album that defies categorization.

Vinyl

Shifa – ‘Live at Cafe Oto’ (2019)

The three musicians in Shifa have played together in various combinations before but never recorded, so this is a first – and it is glorious.

Vinyl

Fleur Stevenson – ‘Follow Me’ (2019)

Fleur Stevenson makes very clear nods to the song’s original composers, but ‘Follow Me’ is also imbued with a remarkable originality.

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Tori Freestone Trio – ‘El Mar de Nubes’ (2019)

What’s striking about the Tori Freestone Trio’s ‘El Mar de Nubes’ is how strongly themed each track is, yet it’s all played with incredible imagination.

Vinyl

Ed Jones – ‘For Your Ears Only’ (2019)

Ed Jones’ ‘For Your Ears Only’ is a revelation of hard bop, controlled and creatively led playing.

Vinyl

Kim Cypher – ‘Love Kim x’ (2019)

Kim Cypher tells us she wanted to blend “inspired original music” with cover songs “arranged with a quirky, jazzy twist.” Mission accomplished.

Vinyl

YolanDa Brown – ‘Love, Politics, War’ (2019)

YolanDa Brown’s blending of styles doesn’t even have a name. Whatever you call this, ‘Love, Politics, War’ is certainly in a class of its own.