ACT Music Archives - Backseat Mafia

Album Review: Mammal Hands- ‘Circadia’: The inventive UK nu-jazz trio absorb change and still deliver.

Things have shifted recently for those stalwarts of the UK nu-jazz scene Mammal Hands. Since their debut album ‘Animalia’ turned heads in 2014 ,the Norwich based trio, brothers Nick and…

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Album Review: Emma Rawicz –‘Inkyra’: Bold, widescreen, dynamic jazz from the irrepressible saxophonist and her explosive band.

You could say prestigious young saxophonist Emma Rawicz is on a roll right now. Just a few months ago she was turning jazz-heads with her exquisite and sumptuous ‘Big Visit’,…

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Album Review: Emma Rawicz & Gwilym Simcock – ‘Big Visit’: A sax/piano jazz connection that sets new standards.

The similarities in the musical pathways between saxophonist Emma Rawicz and pianist Gwilym Simcock are a bit uncanny. Both studied at Chethams School Of Music and The Royal Academy, both…

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Album Review : Peter Somuah –‘Highlife’ : A punchy and profound afro-jazz fusion story .

Sometimes ‘world jazz’ or ‘world fusion’ comes across as primarily a musical endeavour. Yes the results have been seminal and spectacular. No-one would question the significance of the ethno-jazz explorations…

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Album Review : Bill Laurance & Michael League – ‘Keeping Company’ : Understated but stunning second album from the Snarky Puppy stalwarts.

And it all began in Leeds in the noughties. Bill Laurance newly graduated from the Uni and trying to earn his crust around the city’s music scene met Michael League,…

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Album Reviews : Daniel García Trio – ‘’Wonderland’ : an exceptional, tight-knit jazz piano trio that keeps its mind open.

The piano trio is such an established form of jazz expressionism that it can be tricky to broaden the scope and keep the messages fresh. In recent times the classic…

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Album Review: Bill Laurance/The Untold Orchestra-‘Bloom’: Gently moving, deceptively powerful orchestral jazz from the Snarky Puppy mainstay.

It’s tricky to summarise the range and significance of pianist and composer Bill Laurance’s musical CV to date. The chance hook-up as a student in Leeds, backing a young Michael…

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