Swansong – Do Swans Fly? (Hunnia Records. Album review by Fiona Mactaggart) Swansong is an international jazz trio, formed in Berlin in 2010 by Hungarian pianist Gábor Csordás and Berklee-educated, Japanese electric […]
Swansong – ‘Do Swans Fly?’
Goldsmith Baynes – ‘E Rere Rā’
Goldsmith Baynes – E Rere Rā (Meow Jazz Label – 011LP. Album Review by Fiona Mactaggart) This poetic and captivating debut album by vocal and keyboard partnership Goldsmith Baynes appears to exemplify the […]
Alex Paxton – ‘Music For Bosch People’
Alex Paxton – Music For Bosch People(Birmingham Record Company BRC011. Album review by Fiona Mactaggart) Not a lot causes this writer to laugh out loud, but this album did, repeatedly. For improvising […]
Lukas Ligeti – ‘That Which Has Remained…That Which Will Emerge…’
Lukas Ligeti – That Which Has Remained…That Which Will Emerge… (col legno music. Album review by Fiona Mactaggart) That Which Has Remained…That Which Will Emerge… is the latest album from Austrian-American composer, […]
#IWD2021: violinist, vocalist and composer Seonaid Aitken
Hailing from Glenrothes, violinist, vocalist, arranger, composer and BBC Radio Scotland broadcaster Seonaid (pronounced ‘Shona’) Aitken is one of Scotland’s best-loved jazz musicians. In recent years she has twice been awarded ‘Best […]
SoSaLa – ‘Nu World Trashed’
SoSaLa – Nu World Trashed(DooBeeDoo Records. Review by Fiona Mactaggart) These days an odd image repeatedly appears in this writer’s mind: the UK in the process of being shrink-wrapped. Perhaps such experiences […]
Space Galvachers – ‘Sounds of Brelok’
Space Galvachers – Sounds of Brelok (Green Lab Records. CD & Download. Review by Fiona Mactaggart) Stanislav Augris’ cheerful album cover pic of Space Galvachers, dressed in snazzy holiday shirts and shades […]
Bancroft and Lyne – ‘Monday Nights’
Bancroft and Lyne – Monday Nights (released 23 November) (LisaLeo Records 0901. CD & Download review by Fiona Mactaggart) Esteemed Scottish singer-songwriter Sophie Bancroft and Canada-born bassist Tom Lyne, a wife and […]
John Rae Trio – “Where The Wild Clematis Grow”
John Rae Trio – Where The Wild Clematis Grow (UK release 30 October) (Thick Records. Download & ‘weasel’. Review by Fiona Mactaggart) Scotland-born drummer John Rae is nowadays a New Zealand citizen, […]
Paul Harrison – “Adventures From Home”
Paul Harrison – Adventures From Home (Self-released. Download available from Bandcamp. Review by Fiona Mactaggart) Manchester-born pianist, composer and arranger Paul Harrison has become a stalwart of the Scottish jazz scene over the past […]
Rob Luft – “Life is The Dancer”
Rob Luft – Life is The Dancer (Edition Records EDN1152. Review by Fiona Mactaggart) “Life is the dancer and you are the dance” is a quote from renowned German-Canadian spiritual teacher Eckhart […]
Alexander Hawkins/Tomeka Reid – “Shards and Constellations”
Alexander Hawkins/Tomeka Reid – Shards and Constellations(Intakt Records CD344. CD review by Fiona Mactaggart) The vivid memory of a white-robed Cecil Taylor darting crab-style across a concert hall stage and then delivering […]
JZ Replacement – “Disrespectful”
JZ Replacement – Disrespectful (Rainy Days Records. CD review by Fiona Mactaggart) The startling orange and lime-coloured acid-grunge-style album cover immediately gives notice that something a bit punky and fresh is in […]
Go: Organic Orchestra & Brooklyn Raga Massive – Ragmala. A Garland of Ragas
Go: Organic Orchestra & Brooklyn Raga Massive – Ragmala. A Garland of Ragas (Meta Records. Double CD review by Fiona Mactaggart) Pioneer of world music, master percussionist, composer, band leader and teacher […]
Richard Michael – Contemplation
Richard Michael – Contemplation (Self-released. CD review by Fiona Mactaggart) Self-released on the occasion of Richard Michael’s 70th birthday, what a wonderful gift this solo double album is to himself, his family and […]
