Jazz

Tim Boniface
Psalter: Themes For Peace
Audio-B ABCD5033; LP: ABLP5033

As an ordained priest, saxophonist Tim Boniface combines a musical life with his role as chaplain at Girton College, Cambridge. His suite Psalter: Themes For Peace was first given in concert at St Albans Cathedral in Jan ’24, with Ronnie Scott’s MD James Pearson on piano, Acoustic Triangle founder Malcolm Creese on bass and Jon Ormiston on drums. They reconvened to record it at Girton a year later. The six movements are based on verses referring to peace in the Book of Psalms, taking us through ‘strength, rest, desperation, celebration, protest and hope’. So the first theme is broad, upbeat and optimistic, the second reflective with the third a cry that echoes Coltrane or Joe Henderson. A rewarding listen. SH

Sound Quality: 90%

Paul Cornish
You’re Exaggerating!
Blue Note 7585514; LP: 7585515

Heard most recently touring and recording with Joshua Redman, the sought-after LA-based pianist is the younger brother of Philip Cornish, Kanye West’s keyboard maestro and MD. Yet Paul has a wonderfully fresh approach of his own, organically rhythmic with ear-catching harmony and arresting melodies. Though inspired by Robert Glasper he once named Ahmad Jamal’s At The Pershing as his favourite album and Jamal’s influence is clear in this, his first outing as leader, especially in the joyful single release, ‘Dinosaur Song’. Bassist is Joshua Crumbly, drummer Jonathan Pinson, and there’s a guest spot for guitarist Jeff Parker. A great debut. SH

Sound Quality: 90%

Sandra-Mae Lux
Seasons In Jazz
Sandra-Mae Lux Music SML002CD

Canadian singer-songwriter Sandra-Mae Lux graduated in jazz saxophone then moved from Vancouver to London, releasing her soul/disco/r’n’b album Happily Ever Now in 2020. Now, as before, she’s collaborated with lyricist Alan Marriott; as before too, the album cover is a beautiful illustration by Fiona MacVicar. But everything is different, because Lux has returned to jazz. Her new songs are love stories with melodies crafted in the Songbook tradition and she sings them flawlessly, backed by the piano trios of Rob Barron and Christian Vaughan. As a finale, she picks up her tenor sax for an instrumental reprise of ‘When Autumn Calls’. A sentimental journey. SH

Sound Quality: 85%

Giacomo Smith
Manouche
Stunt Records STUCD25042; LP: STULP25041

Co-founder and leader of London swing band Kansas Smitty’s, the Italian-American clarinettist spent his college years listening to Django Reinhardt records – especially the ones with Hubert Rostaing on clarinet. Here he leads a quartet built around one of today’s great gypsy jazz guitarists, Mozes Rosenberg. Rhythm guitarist Rémi Oswald and bassist William Brunard help them to dazzle at insane tempos on ‘After You’ve Gone’ and ‘The Sheik Of Araby’ and to offer some originals before heading to the roots of the genre with Matelo Ferret’s ‘Panique’. A throwaway final track (without Brunard) has Smith switching to alto for a blistering ‘Tiger Rag’. Impressive! SH

Sound Quality: 80%