Jazz

Joshua Redman
Words Fall Short
Blue Note 7591509; LP: 7591510

When the quartet Redman led on 2023’s Where We Are disbanded, he recruited younger players in time to tour the album with vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa. Having worked together throughout 2024, they’re a beautifully integrated unit. Texan pianist Paul Cornish is unconventional yet always fits, while bassist Philip Norris has a great melodic approach and beautiful sound, meshing well with Philly-born drummer Nazir Ebo. Redman is fluent and beguiling on tenor (and lightning-fast in his responses when guest Melissa Aldana joins him in the two-tenor ‘So It Goes’) and declamatory on soprano. To close, Cavassa returns as guest, singing Redman’s melancholy ‘Era’s End’ lyrics while the music expresses gentle hope. SH

Sound Quality: 90%

Donovan Haffner
Alleviate
DGH Records DGH001 (CD and LP)

Growing up in S. London, Haffner started on the saxophone at ten and joined the Tomorrow’s Warriors artist development programme at 11. At 18 he recorded with drummer Moses Boyd and went on to graduate from the Royal Academy of Music. He makes his album debut here with fine support from a quartet he’s led since 2019. Francisco Garcia de Paredes is a subtle and engaging guitarist while pianist Jay Verma, bassist Harry Pearce and drummer Harry Ling are all distinctive players. And especially in the rather magical title piece, Haffner somehow melds their contributions together with his own supple and vibrant playing, taking us to a happy new place. SH

Sound Quality: 80%

Joe Lovano
Homage
ECM Records 7567799; LP: 7567807

This isn’t the first time that the US tenor sax master has recorded with Polish pianist Marcin Wasilewski and his long-established trio. But between Arctic Riff (2020) and this new release came Lovano’s three Trio Tapestry albums, free in form with long, unfettered improvisations. This time, while Lovano soars as ever, we hear a quartet that gels effortlessly, recorded at Van Gelder Studio (with lots of ECM ‘ambience’) after a week at the Village Vanguard. They open with a lyrical ‘Love In The Garden’, written by Polish violinist Zbigniew Seifert, before plunging into Lovano’s music with three main long pieces that each hold your attention to the end. SH

Sound Quality: 85%

Andrea Rinciari
Soho Sessions
Andrea Rinciari Recordings ARR01; LP: ARR01LP

A full-length release from the impressive Italian-born London guitarist whose 2021 digital album To Bud paid tribute to pianist Bud Powell. He kicks off fast with a bebop tune associated with Bud, Coleman Hawkins’ ‘Bean And The Boys’, arranged by mentor Barry Harris – and, coincidentally, recently covered by Pasquale Grasso, also once a Harris student. And Rinciari too plays bass lines, chords and melody all together, often breaking into spectacular pianistic arpeggios. With saxophonist Alex Garnett as soloist, arranger and co-producer and backed by long-time bassist colleague Lorenzo Morabito and hot drummer Mark Taylor, Rinciari keeps the bop flag flying. SH

Sound Quality: 80%