Back catalogue: Jazz

Review: The Ethiopian Ibex Band's 1976 album Stereo Instrumental Music is being re-released as a cornerstone of Ethiopian music. This record is credited with shaping the modern sound of Ethiopian music and the band's enduring influence can be felt in the works of legends like Aster Aweke, Girma Beyene and Mulatu Astatke. Created by Giovanni Rico and Selam Woldemariam, Stereo Instrumental Music is part of a significant legacy that challenges the idea of a "golden age" of Ethiopian music and highlights the constant evolution of the sound. The Ibex Band, later known as The Roha Band, has remained central to that and Ethiopia's wider scene.

Review: Isao Suzuki's follow-up to his breakthrough album captures the essence of Japanese jazz in the 1970s, a period where the traditional swing style was redefined with a unique, more restrained approach. This album features exceptional interplay between Suzuki and saxophonist Kazumi Watanabe, with an added depth from pianist Kunihiko Sugano and drummer Tetsujiroh Obara. Notably, bassist Nobuyoshi Ino joins on two tracks, including a stirring rendition of 'Body and Soul', bringing a fuller sound to the ensemble and highlighting Suzuki's innovative use of the cello within the small group context. The music, originally released in 1974, avoids the dated, overly rigid patterns of some American jazz of the time, instead opting for more fluid and expressive forms. Reissued now, this album stands as an essential masterpiece in the Japanese jazz canon, showcasing Suzuki's ability to create timeless, intricate and captivating jazz that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.

Review: Eiko Ishibashi, best known for her acclaimed soundtrack work, returns to original composition with this album named in honour of the feminist-facing, heroine from ancient Greek tragedelian Sophocles' Oedipus Trilogy. It's a world of shimmering jazz harmonies, pulsating electronica and ghostly musique concrete, 'October' opening with a haunting, alluring melody and the disjointed rhythms of 'Coma' creating a sense of disorientation. 'Antigone', the centerpiece, builds to a powerful and unsettling climax, but there's more than chilling soundscapes as Ishibashi injects moments of surprising warmth and beauty, like the delicate interplay between acoustic and electronic elements in 'Nothing As'. Comparisons with her soundtrack work will be made, but - not unlike Antigone herself - this stands alone as a work of bravery and strength.

Review: Watarase: Voice is a fantastic second release in this series following Fumio Itabashi's acclaimed Watarase: Echo. This new compilation serves up vocal versions of the masterpiece 'Watarase' featuring a range of artists including jazz vocalist Shigeo Maruyama, Korean folk singer Lee Jung Mi and Japanese vocalist Yuki Kaneko. The album focuses on previously unreleased tracks and showcases the global influence of the original and also includes the long-awaited complete version of 'Symphonic Poem 'Watarase,'" a key piece in the story of this beloved work. This is a great testament to 40 years of history and the enduring legacy of Itabashi's jazz artistry.