Back in stock: Jazz

Review: The Italian jazz scene of the 1970s turned up many gems but this is one of its lesser known treasures. It's an interesting and unusual collection from Folk Magic Band which was made up of 18 different members. They had their own alt set up in a Rome studio and were inspired by the free jazz movement of the day. As such there are pan-ethnic motifs next to the spiritual jazz of Pharoah Sanders and the wild orchestrations of Sun Ra and his Arkestra. It's intense and hard hitting in its quest to explore new musical ground.

Review: Critically acclaimed British jazz pianist, composer and arranger, Greg Foat has been making quite a bit of waves in the jazz scene as well as his groundbreaking albums that feature artists in other genres. His latest album 'Live At Can Rudayla Ibiza ', is an homage to the magical sound of the Mediterranean. Ibiza has long been known for its night life but perhaps not known as well outside the chill out scene sound, that the area has a sound all to itself. Inspired by his highly regarded and recent album with Gigi Masin, Greg Foat explores the themes further. Pool Side parts 1 and 2 shimmer with beautiful soundscapes that set the mood wonderfully. 'Dining Table Grooves' gives a hint at the late-night sounds to come in Ibiza while the sunset tracks close the album out with an almost chill wave sound that we absolutely adore. If you are looking for an album to put on as guests arrive to your beach home, this is the album you want to play. Greg Foat is a beacon of light for the future of jazz fusion.

Review: Space is the Place! The classic piece - in a historically early version without lyrics - opens the album Paradiso Amsterdam 1970, which demonstrates how the Netherlands was first introduced to Afrofuturism - a pivotal moment in the Dutch jazz experience. It was always thought that the recordings of the long-awaited first concert that the Sun Ra Arkestra gave in the Netherlands were useless for an album release; after all, the entire Arkestra, booked by Hans Dulfer, marched among the massive crowd at pop temple Paradiso on 18 November 1970. As was their custom, they were rarely on stage where the microphones were neatly set up. Here, the Nederlands Jazz Archief trace the complete set of recorded tapes and compile an album on which the atmosphere of 53 years ago is made tangible once again.

Review: This is a special never before released live recording in mono and on heavyweight vinyl from Donald Byrd. In 1958 he moved to Paris for a residency to study with composer Nadia Boulanger. It gave occasion to a band coming together that has a formidable line up of Bobby Jaspar on tenor sax and flute, Walter Davis, Jr. on piano, Doug Watkins on bass and Art Taylor on drums. This concert was played in the early evening at the one and only ever Cannes Jazz Festival in July 1958 and was dedicated to modern jazz sounds.