New releases last two weeks: Jazz

Review: BBE has delivered something of a future classic here, as decorated Eastern European harpist Alinha Bzhezhinska and British tenor saxophonist Tony Kofi join forces on a picturesque full-length excursion dedicated to the memory of spiritual jazz maestro Pharoah Saunders. It's a genuinely unique and hugely evocative affair, with Kofi's meandering, mesmeric melodies and inspired improvisations snaking in and out of Bzhezhinska's dreamy harp motifs and melodic percussion instruments (think bells, marimbas, vibraphone, xylophone and so on). It's not a familiar musical palette, but it's one that consistently delivers - and then some. Our picks of a very strong bunch include lucid opener 'Tabula Rasu - Blank Slate', the exotic and psychedelic 'Audite Me - Hear Me', and the picturesque, meditative closing cut, 'Altera Vita - Another Life'.

Review: 'Practice What You Preach' is a standout track from the German funk band Poets Of Rhythm's debut record of the same name, first released on Soulciety in 1993. After a long hiatus on the albums front before a return to the limelight with a follow-up Ninja Tune LP in 2001, these guys nonetheless remained surely active on the 7"s circuit, which has sustained them since then. Little did we know or predict, however, that there existed a part two to the same track, which is essentially an instrumental version of the original 1993 track. On the B comes a fresh funker formerly released under the alias Mighty Continentals, with the band's Bo Baral laying down a rare solo guitar situation and singing about, well, god knows what.