Jazz

Mark Kavuma & The Banger Factory
Magnum Opus
Banger Factory Records, digital download: BF007; LP: BF007LP (two discs)

As trumpeter/leader Kavuma says, ‘Everyone has a part to play’, in the London ensemble that’s now grown to 20 or more members, and this time some fine horn arrangements come to life thanks to the great rhythm section. There are songs written and sung brilliantly by Sahra Gure (‘Lucky To Be Loved’) and Marcina Arnold (‘Woulda Coulda Shoulda’), while ‘Fools Rush In’ was arranged by saxist Ruben Fox with a smooth baritone vocal from brother Misha. Other tracks have Noah Stoneman or Deschanel Gordon but the lush piano here is by Reuben James of Sam Smith fame. This massive, sprawling, untidy Opus has musical variety, sometimes mushy but attractively retro live-in-the-studio sonics, and a big, uplifting heart. SH

Sound Quality: 90%

Josephine Davies
Satori: Weatherwards
Whirlwind Recordings WR4822; LP: WR4822LP

A Japanese Buddhist word that Shetland-born saxophonist and composer Davies interprets as ‘a moment of presence and inner spaciousness’, Satori became the name of her sax/bass/drums trio and its first album in 2017. Here the trio is augmented on six tracks by pianist Alcyona Mick, known for her duo work with Tori Freestone. She’s a great collaborator here too in ‘Holes Of Scraada’, capturing the chaos of the sea crashing through sea caves, and ‘The Simmer Dim’ where her stately arpeggios unfold shifting harmonies to evoke the Northern Lights. But the superb ‘Mara Mara’ shows how Davies’s chordless trio unaided can imply harmony to perfection. SH

Sound Quality: 85%

Keith Jarrett
The Old Country: More From The Deer Head Inn
ECM 659 7656

A 30-years-on follow-up to a distinctive Jarrett trio album, eight more numbers from the same evening as At The Deer Head Inn. The Pennsylvania jazz club was an early Jarrett haunt and he returned there in Sept 1992 to help friend and piano technician Chris Solliday and his wife celebrate their acquisition of the venue. Standards Trio drummer Jack DeJohnette couldn’t make it and was replaced by Paul Motian. In an intimate setting, recorded to two-track DAT with simple miking and almost no reverb, the sound is quite different from that of Jarrett’s other ECM recordings, and every track here is as memorable as those selected for the first album. SH

Sound Quality: 90%

Immanuel Wilkins
Blues Blood
Blue Note 6555203; LP: 6555204 (two discs)

Co-produced by singer/songwriter, poet and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello, the alto sax star and composer’s third Blue Note album embraces musical collage, spoken word and striking, diverse vocals. As well as Cécile McLorin Salvant and the unmistakable Indian fusion sound of Ganavya, we hear folk-inspired June McDoom and Chicago performance artist Yaw Agyeman. The album’s title refers to the words of Daniel Hamm, one of the ‘Harlem Six’ boys who were falsely accused and savagely beaten in prison in 1964. The title track, with Wilkins’ quartet augmented by swirling slide sounds from guest guitarist Marvin Sewell, closes it with a powerful statement. SH

Sound Quality: 85%