Category Archives: CD Reviews

Evelyn Laurie

CD Review: Evelyn Laurie “My Scottish Heart” – Scottish Jazz/Folk from the UK

Evelyn LaurieArtist: Evelyn Laurie
Title: My Scottish Heart
Label: Evelyn Laurie
Genre: Scottish jazz/folk from the UK
CD & Digital release:  August 6, 2021

Review by Fiona Mactaggart

Paisley, the Scottish town that is famous for its textiles and ‘Paisley pattern’ has over the years produced more than its fair share of creatives, from weaver poet Robert Tannahill, to folk popstar Kenneth McKellar and artist John Byrne. From this rich cultural background Paisley buddy Evelyn Laurie released her debut album A Little Bit of Me in 2018 to a very positive reception, and it is likely her charming follow-up album My Scottish Heart will be similarly popular.

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CD Review: SoSaLa “Nu World Trashed”

Nu World Trashed: The New Release by SoSaLa

SoSaLaArtist: SoSaLa
Title: Nu World Trashed
Format: CD (limited edition of 300) ONLY! (Digital release will be February 2021)
Label: DooBeeDoo Rec
Genre: nu world trash/nu jazz/oriental/improv/contemporary

Buy here: https://sohrab.info/press-2/

CD Review by Dawoud Kringle

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CD Review: Glasgow’s Glasshopper “Fortune Rules”

Glasshopper Artist: Glasshopper
Title: Fortune Rules
Label: AMP Music and Records
Genre: Spiritual jazz/ jazz-rock from the UK
CD & Digital release: 30 November, 2020
Review by Fiona Mactaggart

As anyone who, at last month’s EFG London Jazz Festival experienced the thoughtful and candid, often filmic soundscapes of London-based band Glasshopper will testify, this 6-year-old band’s debut album Fortune Rules has been worth the wait.

Glasshopper. L-R: Jonathan Chung, Corrie Dick, James Kitchman. Photo credit: Marieke Macklon

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CD Reviews: GREX (Oakland) “Everything You Said Was Wrong” & “A Love Supreme”

GREXArtist: GREX
Title: Everything You Said Was Wrong
Label: Geomancy Records
Genre: art rock/experimental music

Reviews by Dawoud Kringle

In 2014, I reviewed GREX’ live performance at Spectrum NYC. I recall their performance to be unique, adventurous, and utterly fascinating. In the course of my research, I learned that “grex” is a biological term for an entity composed of several smaller organisms. So I had to wonder what kind of music awaited me in their studio work.

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CD Review: UK’s Paul Harrison’s “Adventures From Home”

Paul HarrisonArtist: Paul Harrison
Title: Adventures From Home
Label: Self-released
Genre: UK jazz
Digital release date: September 1st, 2020

Review by Fiona Mactaggart

Manchester, England-born pianist, composer and arranger Paul Harrison since moving to Scotland a decade ago has become a stalwart of the Scottish jazz scene, playing with such names as Chris Potter, Tommy Smith and Carol Kidd and in everything from solo to big band formats and everything in between. It’s a puzzle as to how he finds the time to also teach at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and The University of Edinburgh, but it comes as no surprise that Harrison has kept himself busy during the quarantine, using the time to create a solo piano tribute to many of his jazz musical influences, many of which are American. 

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