New releases last two weeks: Jazz

Review: Laurent Bardainne and Tigre d'Eau Douce's third album, EDEN BEACH CLUB, transports listeners to a sun-drenched paradise and was conceived as an imaginary soundtrack to a day by the sea. Following the triumph of Bardainne's Hymne au soleil album, they set their sights higher and here have crafted a sonic oasis that defies boundaries. Returning to their winning formula, the album seamlessly blends groove, soul, jazz, and electronic elements as each track invites you to lose yourself in a breezy and beachy dance as you celebrate an eternal sunset tinged with electric energy. The album is brimming with sophisticated and laid back melodies and gently persuasive grooves.

Review: Handful of Soul was a successful album that sold over 300,000 copies when first released back in 2006. Now reissued by Schema Records in a special edition double vinyl set on blue transparent wax, it reminds us of Mario Biondi's remarkable voice. Hailing from Catania, Sicily, it resonates with soul and rhythm & blues influences and contemporaries like Gregory Porter. The record traverses jazz and soul, offering captivating vocal melodies and dance-worthy rhythms and is supported by trumpeter Fabrizio Bosso and his High Five Quintet who showcase an exceptional interplay among top Italian jazz musicians and deliver instinctive jazz performances.

Review: BBE has delivered something of a future classic here, as decorated Eastern European harpist Alinha Bzhezhinska and British tenor saxophonist Tony Kofi join forces on a picturesque full-length excursion dedicated to the memory of spiritual jazz maestro Pharoah Saunders. It's a genuinely unique and hugely evocative affair, with Kofi's meandering, mesmeric melodies and inspired improvisations snaking in and out of Bzhezhinska's dreamy harp motifs and melodic percussion instruments (think bells, marimbas, vibraphone, xylophone and so on). It's not a familiar musical palette, but it's one that consistently delivers - and then some. Our picks of a very strong bunch include lucid opener 'Tabula Rasu - Blank Slate', the exotic and psychedelic 'Audite Me - Hear Me', and the picturesque, meditative closing cut, 'Altera Vita - Another Life'.

Review: While rooted in the quintessential sound of the late 1950s and early 1960s, UK jazz ensemble The Jazz Defenders explore fresh territory while honouring their jazz heritage on their third album, Memory In Motion. Tracks like 'Chasing Fantasies' and 'Fuffle Kerfuffle' showcase their swing jazz finesse, while 'Meanderthal' and 'Snakebite Playfight' infuse soulful grooves akin to 1960s jazz legends. Collaborations with UK rapper Doc Brown on 'Rolling On A High' and the uptempo funk of 'Net Zero' add modern flair, while introspective moments like 'Take A Minute' and the closing 'Enigma' offer a serene balance. Memory In Motion celebrates jazz's legacy and innovation, blending tradition with contemporary influences for an immersive listening experience.

Review: Laufey's GRAMMY-winning sophomore album, 2023's Bewitched, returns in freshly expanded form. Musically, the set is rooted in vintage jazz and classical music, though its perspective - not just lyrically, but in its approach to subtle musical fusion - is undeniably contemporary. It remains a brilliant set, with the Icelandic artist effortlessly flitting between 1930s style smoothness ('Dreamer'), string-laden acoustic jazz ('Second Best'), bossa-nova ('From The Start'), and tributes to the heartfelt works of Nina Simone ('Misty'). This edition also boasts a quartet of bonus cuts, including superb recent single 'Goddess'.

Review: From The Fire is a superb new album from Audrey Powne that is about as accomplished as any debut could be. The young auteur herself has composed all nine cuts, wrote all the lyrics, plays all the piano, organ and Rhodes, does all the singing, arranged all the strings and produced everything herself as she set out to have complete creative control. It is a rich and rewarding listen with some soaring solos and meticulously crafted grooves that have already won her high praise from those in the know such as Gilles Peterson.

Review: The Sokratis Votskos Quartet features Kostas Anastasiadis and Giorgos Klountzos on drums, Leandros Pasias on piano, Vaggelis Vrachnos on contrabass and Sokratis Votskos on soprano sax, bass clarinet and composition and they have a fulsome and electrifying jazz sound that pays homage to greats of the genre such as Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane. This album celebrates life with expressionistic solos, sweeping arrangements and plenty of off-grid rhythmic drama, all of which was recorded during the challenging COVID-era and no doubt distils the highs and lows of those times into the music.

Review: The popular Jazz Is Dead series from Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad and guests like Lonnie Liston Smith and Tony Allen has great become a great resource for lovers of jazz and its surrounding sounds. The 20th instalment was as good as all the rest and now come the remixes which build on source material from that and take into a wider world. It is a truly global affair that features top talents from everywhere including Tall Black Guy from Detroit, DJ Nyack from Brazil, London-based artists Shabaka Hutchings and Theon Cross, as well as New York talent Melanie Charles, LA's Bei Ru and Bay Area's Mophono with everything from experimental darkness to smooth house.

Review: Togo Soul 2 is a fantastic compilation of rare Togolese recordings spanning 1974 to 1989. This treasure trove captures the essence of Lome's vibrant music scene and blends traditional voodoo chants, soul, and electro funk. Despite challenges in locating tracks and rights holders, after eight years of perseverance, 13 gems were selected with the guidance of Roger Damawuzan. Featuring stars like Akofa Akoussah and Gregoire Lawani, these tracks showcase Togo's rich musical landscape amid political influences. With original albums commanding high prices online, this selection offers a glimpse into a golden era of Togolese music, celebrating diversity and innovation.