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

IT was an especially groovy session at the Vortex, with Roella Oloro’s sparkling piano, the plummeting, dancing bass of Rio Kai and the deft, everywhere drums of Andee Liu.
Roella plays in and out of the tradition with such pride and skill, that if you shut your eyes you could be hearing moments of Geri Allen, Mary Lou Williams, Tommy Flanagan or her earliest inspiration, Oscar Peterson. How they would have loved her!

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