The Grammy-winning American pianist and composer Billy Childs is a contemporary-classical composer as much as a jazz artist, but "Rebirth" means exactly what it says. Much of this scintillating set is a return to the snaking quickfire hard-bop Childs played in the 70s, albeit infused with all the musics he has visited so intelligently since, and his partners here include alto saxist Steve Wilson, Charles Lloyd drummer Eric Harland, and Chilean singer Claudia Acuña.

For The Music is Blackfield’s most ambitious and expansive album to date, melding their psychedelic sonics to a perfect pop sensibility whilst, simultaneously, carrying a serious, and at times, dark, undertone. As with previous album ‘Blackfield V’, Aviv has once again taken a central role as producer, lyricist, composer and instrumentalist, but Steven is still very much involved, playing guitar on several tracks and singing lead vocals on 3 songs. For The Music’s ten tracks move from psyche tinged melodies to exquisite balladry; a compact and fully realised expression of modern pop.

Throughout his illustrious career, the legendary Ron Carter has played it all jumping in headlong as an integral member of Miles Davis' classic 60s quintet, anchoring the groove for almost every CTI Records session in the 70s, then launching into multifarious new projects, including his cello-infused, chamber-jazz nonet and his piano-guitar-bass trio. But in his lifelong calling to find the right notes, Carter had never recorded a big-band album. So, the time was ripe for the 73-year-old maestro of the upright bass to break new ground. The result is the delightful and swinging album "Ron Carter's Great Big Band", set into motion by esteemed arranger Bob Freedman and Somerled Charitable Foundation trustee Wendy Macdonald (who serves as producer) and featuring an all-star cast of supporting musicians.

Trombonist/composer Steve Davis offers a master class on his new release, "Think Ahead", in art of reacting to the unpredictable with an elite group of jazz all-stars whose ability to create spontaneously borders on the clairvoyant. To render these new compositions, Davis assembled a stellar group of masters: the trombonist is joined by saxophonists Steve Wilson and Jimmy Greene, pianist Larry Willis, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash, each deserving the title of B“jazz giant” in their own right.