Back catalogue: Funk Soul & Jazz

Review: Dutch-born American jazz pianist and composer Gerald Clayton is back with a sixth album, his second on Blue Note. Ones & Twos is another exploration of jazz, hip-hop, neo-soul and raw improvisation that is all rooted in a deep conceptual framework. Featuring standout collaborators like Joel Ross, Elena Pinderhughes, Kendrick Scott and Kassa Overall, the album moves effortlessly from groove to abstraction and is inspired by turntablism, which is why Clayton created two sets of tracks that can play individually or simultaneously, blurring the line between harmony and dissonance. As rich as the sonics are, there is also real philosophical intent here, making it both a visceral and cerebral listen with layered commentary on collaboration, coexistence and creativity.

Review: Chicago rock band Wilco's guitarist - a highly prolific jazz maestro in his own right - brings us his latest full length album. A hypnotic groove anchors the lead single, propelling a hard-driving yet fluid interplay between guitar and saxophone. The composition brims with urgency, each phrase unfolding with elegant harmonic tension and a deep jazz sensibility. The quartet's chemistry is undeniable, balancing structured intensity with moments of free-flowing improvisation. Echoes of classic Blue Note recordings by Andrew Hill and Eric Dolphy surface in the phrasing, while the interplay recalls the front-line dynamism of Joe Lovano and John Scofield's collaborations. Yet, the sound remains singular, shaped by a deep appreciation for Brooklyn's improvised music scene. Across the album, the group explores a vast emotional and textural rangeiat times bracing and kinetic, elsewhere delicate and atmospheric. The rhythm section locks into compelling grooves, allowing melodies to breathe and evolve organically. The guitarist's mastery is evident, seamlessly shifting from shimmering chord voicings to fiery, exploratory runs. This is a love letter to both jazz tradition and the limitless potential of improvisation, where every note serves the collective momentum.