MICHAL BONCZA, LEO BOIX, MARJORIE MAYO and ANDY HEDGECOCK review The Kingdom, Young Hearts, Marlee Maitlin: Not alone any more, and Stans

Etienne Charles
CREOLE ORCHESTRA
(Culture Shock Music)
★★★★
THERE’S a tremendous Trini-percussive verve to Port of Spain-born trumpeter Etienne Charles’s new album, Creole Orchestra. Recorded in New York City, this 21-piece outfit swing and stomp their way through 13 tracks, from The Mighty Sparrow’s Ten to One is Murder and Joe Henderson’s Shade of Jade to Jimmy Forrest’s Night Train.
Fused elements of calypso, soca, big band swing and enticing vocals like Colorado River Song by Rene Marie make up 76 minutes of marvellously spirited music with fiery soloists like altoist Brian Hogans, trombonist Corey Wilcox and pianist Sullivan Fortner.

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to Chris Laurence, bassist and bandmate of saxophonist TONY COE

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to vocalist Jacqui Dankworth

CHRIS SEARLE pays tribute to the late South African percussionist, Louis Moholo-Moholo

Re-releases from Bobby Wellins/Kenny Wheeler Quintet, Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippet/Louis Moholo-Moholo, and Charles Mingus Quintet