Back catalogue: Jazz

Review: The Ethiopian Ibex Band's 1976 album Stereo Instrumental Music is being re-released as a cornerstone of Ethiopian music. This record is credited with shaping the modern sound of Ethiopian music and the band's enduring influence can be felt in the works of legends like Aster Aweke, Girma Beyene and Mulatu Astatke. Created by Giovanni Rico and Selam Woldemariam, Stereo Instrumental Music is part of a significant legacy that challenges the idea of a "golden age" of Ethiopian music and highlights the constant evolution of the sound. The Ibex Band, later known as The Roha Band, has remained central to that and Ethiopia's wider scene.

Review: Isao Suzuki's follow-up to his breakthrough album captures the essence of Japanese jazz in the 1970s, a period where the traditional swing style was redefined with a unique, more restrained approach. This album features exceptional interplay between Suzuki and saxophonist Kazumi Watanabe, with an added depth from pianist Kunihiko Sugano and drummer Tetsujiroh Obara. Notably, bassist Nobuyoshi Ino joins on two tracks, including a stirring rendition of 'Body and Soul', bringing a fuller sound to the ensemble and highlighting Suzuki's innovative use of the cello within the small group context. The music, originally released in 1974, avoids the dated, overly rigid patterns of some American jazz of the time, instead opting for more fluid and expressive forms. Reissued now, this album stands as an essential masterpiece in the Japanese jazz canon, showcasing Suzuki's ability to create timeless, intricate and captivating jazz that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Review: In 1997, You Ishihara - a key figure in the of history of Japanese underground music, mainly thanks to his output as the leader of the band White Heaven - released this beauty. It's his debut solo album and in terms of the attention it received at the time, you might describe it as nothing more than a damp squib. Subsequently, it's only been availble on CD. However, for the first time on vinyl and to coincide with growing recognition that this is an album that's been unfairly lost in the cultural zeitgeist, it's now getting its flowers. Ishihara has a voice that lets those 60s melodies unfurl with the majesty of a flower opening its petals after a long winter. But he can also ramp it up to 13th Floor Elevator-esque psychedelic scuzz brilliance: 'Crevice' is all flailing hair, drum fills and beer spills. A lot of fun to balance out his Lou Reed-esque downtempo stuff.

Review: Watarase: Voice is a fantastic second release in this series following Fumio Itabashi's acclaimed Watarase: Echo. This new compilation serves up vocal versions of the masterpiece 'Watarase' featuring a range of artists including jazz vocalist Shigeo Maruyama, Korean folk singer Lee Jung Mi and Japanese vocalist Yuki Kaneko. The album focuses on previously unreleased tracks and showcases the global influence of the original and also includes the long-awaited complete version of 'Symphonic Poem 'Watarase,'" a key piece in the story of this beloved work. This is a great testament to 40 years of history and the enduring legacy of Itabashi's jazz artistry.

Review: The second album from Vijay Iyer and Wadada Leo Smith on ECM is a meditation on resilience, sorrow and the human condition. Across four expansive tracks on Defiant Life, Iyer's piano and Fender Rhodes intertwine with Smith's haunting trumpet to create a soundscape that's both urgent and serene. From the solemn depth of 'Sumud' to the shimmering melancholy of 'Floating River Requiem' and the radiant close of 'Procession: Defiant Life' notions of suffering, resistance and hope are explored. The record was recorded in Lugano and produced by Manfred Eicher. It's a deeply reflective work of emotional and spiritual resonance.