Impulse US Vinyl & CDs

Review: Marion Brown was an esteemed alto saxophonist immersed in New York's avant-garde jazz scene in the 60s, playing on seminal recordings such as John Coltrane's Ascension in 1965. He was hugely prolific as an academic as well as a collaborator and band leader, and his 1975 LP Vista is but one perfect documentation of his mellower side. Especially interesting is his cover of Stevie Wonder's eternally haunting 'Visions', as well as an interpretation of Harold Budd's 'Bismillahi 'Rrahmani' Rrahim'. It's a smoother listening experience than the earlier work Brown made his name on, so if you appreciate jazz with a mellifluous finish, this is the album for you.

Review: It's not hyperbole to suggest that "A Love Supreme" is not only amongst a handful of jazz records that everyone should own, but also one of the greatest albums of all time. As this weighty vinyl reissue proves, it's lost none of its charm. The four-part suite is undoubtedly Coltrane's masterpiece: a deeply spiritual album that saw the virtuoso saxophonist add sublime solos to a backing track that combines elements of modal jazz, hard bop, avant-garde jazz, free jazz, post-bop and modal jazz. It says a lot about Coltrane's quality - and that of his assembled players - that it was recorded in a single day in December 1964. Basically, it's brilliant and there should be a copy in everyone's record collection.

Review: Irreversible Entanglements is the quintet of bassist Luke Stewart, vocalist and poet Camae Ayewa, saxophone player Keir Neuringer, drummer Tcheser Holmes and trumpeter Aquiles Navarro. They are a free jazz ensemble that is newly signed to Impulse! and impresses right off the bat with a superb label debut. It is one that melds together aspects of jazz and hip hop, spoken word, global musical cultural traditions and plenty of stunning improv skills The poetry that runs through the album is an insight into the Black experience with themes of love, power, community and liberation.

Review: Performer, composer and educator Brandee Younger is an accomplished ensemble leader who has worked with the likes of Lauryn Hill and Phaorah Sanders. Here she is back at the front of her own troupe with an album that was recorded in New York City at the legendary studio of Rudy Van Gelder. The music is richly detailed contemporary jazz but with echoes of Black greats like Alice Coltrane and Dorothy Ashby. Legendary bassist Ron Carter appears as does Tarriona Tank Ball to make this a real jewel of a record.