Reviews
MEL
Efrén López, Ciro Montanari & Jordi Prats
A welcome return for Spanish/Italian trio, Efrén López, Ciro Montanari and Jordi Prats, who play rabab (Afghan lute), tabla (hand...
Reviewed in issue August/2025
Northern Rhapsody
Led by Persian tar virtuoso and composer Hamed Sadeghi, Sydney-based jazz quartet Eishan Ensemble return with their fourth album –...
Reviewed in issue August/2025
Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic XVII: Gnawa World Blues
Majid Bekkas with Nguyên Lê, Hamid Drake
Gimbri and oud player Bekkas, guitarist Lê and drummer Drake: each has an extensive CV of collaboration through and between...
Reviewed in issue August/2025
Stealing Time
I rarely use the phrase ‘golden voice’, but on this new album from Newfoundland folk singer Matthew Byrne, his voice...
Reviewed in issue July/2025
Darrere els Horts/Behind the Orchards
In the liner notes to Catalan singer-songwriter Ferran Orriols’ second album, Darrere els Horts, what stands out is the sheer...
Reviewed in issue July/2025
Divergence
Scottish multi-instrumentalist Freya Rae’s new album, Divergence, is a stirring collection of self-composed tunes that riff on traditional sets and...
Reviewed in issue July/2025
BEATrio
Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda & Antonio Sánchez
In 2024, after a 12-show run at the Blue Note in Greenwich Village, gazillion-time Grammy-winning, globe-trotting, banjo maestro Béla Fleck,...
Reviewed in issue July/2025
Tidawt
This new tape from Malian guitarist Ahmed Ag Kaedy and Australian drummer Will Guthrie is full of dynamism. The hot...
Reviewed in issue July/2025
