October 2025
Some Recent Releases
Recent Releases
A few words about recent releases / reviews:
Apart from where they are included in articles on this website, I don't have a 'Reviews' section for a number of reasons:
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I receive so many requests to review recordings it is impossible to include them all.
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Unlike some publications/blogs, Sandy Brown Jazz is not a funded website and it is not possible to pay reviewers.
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Reviews tend to be personal opinions, something a reviewer likes might not suit you, or vice versa.
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It is difficult to capture music in words, so much better to be able to listen and see whether the music interests you.
For these reasons in particular I just include a selection of recent recordings below where I share the notes issued by the musician(s) as an introduction and links to samples so you can 'taste' the music for yourselves. For those who like to read reviews, these, of course, can be checked out on other sites.
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Some albums are priced in dollars or other currencies. These are marked ^. There are currency options if you proceed to order. Recordings are now regularly available on different formats (CD, mp3 downloads, vinyl) or platforms e.g iTunes, Spotify, etc. I am unable to list them all so it is worth checking if you have a favourite platform).
Featured In October 2025
UK
Kokoroko - Tuff Times Never Last
(Brownswood Records) - Released: 11th July 2025
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Sheila Maurice-Grey (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Onome Edgeworth (piano); Anoushka Nanguy (trombone, vocals); Tobi Adenaike (guitar, vocals); Yohan Kebede (keyboards, synthesiser, vocals); Duane Atherley (bass, vocals); Ayo Salawu (drums, vocals); Chelsea Carmichael (flute, tenor sax); plus other guests.
‘Tuff Times Never Last’ is a spirited and vibrant collection of songs serving as an optimistic reminder to tightly hold and embrace the many dualities that occur in life. Over the course of the 11-song suite, the album explores togetherness, community, sensuality, childhood, loss and above all perseverance. Initially drawing inspiration from a viral social media meme, co-bandleader Onome Edgeworth said of the title’s origins and meaning: “It’s true! Although we’re reflecting on joy and celebration, you realize that a lot of that beauty comes out of challenges and difficulties. It felt like a natural truth that we discovered whilst writing”. ... Speaking on the band’s progression in sound, co-bandleader Sheila Maurice-Grey said: “Innately, we’re jazz musicians but we've tried not to kind of box ourselves into one sound. So there is a level of freedom we're starting to feel. We want to continue being as creative as possible without feeling any boundaries”. .... (album notes)
Shear Brass - Extraordinary Journey
(Ireton Records) - Released: 26th September 2025
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James Pearson (piano); Alec Dankworth (double bass); Pete Long (saxophones, clarinet); Alistair White, Martin Gladdish (trombone); Anthony Kerr (vibraphone); Jason McDermid (trumpet, arranger); Sarah Moule, Romy Sipek (vocals); Carl Gorham (drums); Satin Singh (percussion)
'Shear Brass returns with Extraordinary Journey, a vibrant album celebrating the life and music of jazz legend Sir George Shearing. The recording offers a whistle-stop tour through Shearing's remarkable musical evolution, from his early days in dance band music, through the bebop and cool jazz eras, to the Latin rhythms of the 1950s and the popular vocal collaborations that followed. Punchy new brass arrangements by trumpeter Jason McDermid bring a fresh, contemporary edge while honouring the distinctive charm and elegance of Shearing's sound. .... The 12-track album includes two new original compositions by Pearson - 'Shear Delight' and 'By George!' - crafted in Shearing's signature style. Other highlights include a breezy take on 'September in the Rain', the sultry 'Do I Love You?', and 'Mambo No. 2', a nod to Shearing's Latin phase. Fresh lyrics breathe new life into classic instrumentals 'Black Satin' and 'Just A Mood'.More than just a retrospective, Extraordinary Journey is a celebration of a singular musical life that defied categorisation and helped pave the way for British jazz on the international stage. Part loving tribute, part bold reinvention, Extraordinary Journey reimagines Shearing's music for a new era.' (album notes)
Joe Stilgoe and the Entertainers - Welcome To The Club
(Westway Music) - Released: 12th September 2025
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Joe Stilgoe (vocals, piano); Giacomo Smith (clarinet); Pete Horsfall (trumpet, vocals); Emma Smith (vocals); Honey Boulton, Billy Adamson (guitar); Tom Farmer (bass) Will Cleasby (drums)
'Joe Stilgoe and the Entertainers, the new powerhouse jazz supergroup, have put together a record like no other; a purelove letter to jazz clubs around the world, and the people who frequent them. Titans of the UK jazz scene, singer and pianist Joe Stilgoe and clarinettist Giacomo Smith have come together to form The Entertainers, which features members of Kansas Smitty's House Band, Joe's own band, and guest vocalists Emma Smith and Pete Horsfall. Each song on 'Welcome To The Club' tells a different tale and presents a different character from jazz clubs the worldover - the music is about membership, acceptance, a shared love of something vital, quixotic rules and regulations, the minutiae of 'everynight life', and importantly, the world of entertainment. Joe explains: "Giacomo and I started writing this album during the first lockdown. His beautiful jazz club, Kansas Smitty's, had been closed. All music venues had, but we weren't to know then that this would be a permanent full stop for the place. We swapped stories about the people who came to the club, and to the clubs we'd both played in around the world. We realised that the characters you might see in Ronnie Scott's or Birdland in New York or Blue Note Tokyo are the same... the roles always repeated even though the cast changes." (album notes)