Articles by Neil Duggan
Hyperlynx: Rest Energy
by Neil Duggan
Hyperlynx operates at the fringes of contemporary jazz, where preparation meets improvisation. This Swiss-Irish trio has assembled an eclectic instrumental arsenal: Rhodes piano, prepared zither, electric guitar, synthesizers and drums. This allows them to sculpt soundscapes both alien and familiar. On their album Rest Energy, these elements coalesce into something firmly rooted in the avant-garde, where each instrument's voice contributes to a series of unusual soundscapes. The collaboration brings together Irish musician Matthew Jacobson (who recently made a ...
Continue ReadingBremer/McCoy at Norwich Arts Centre
by Neil Duggan
Bremer/McCoyNorwich Arts Centre. Contemporary Classical & Contemporary Music Norwich, UK September 15, 2025 Danish duo Bremer/McCoy craft a distinctive fusion of improvisation and electronica that transcends genre boundaries, creating music that could equally be classified as jazz, classical or ambient. Their ethereal soundscapes conjure sensations of space and the passing of time. When played live, their music requires a particular environment and the versatile Norwich Arts Centre proved to be an ideal ...
Continue ReadingBill Laurance: Lumen
by Neil Duggan
Five-time Grammy Award-winning pianist Bill Laurance is perhaps best known as a founding member of fusion juggernaut Snarky Puppy, but his musical reach extends much further. Whether performing as a duo with Michael League, collaborating with the Untold Orchestra, leading his own trio, or exploring solo territory, Laurance has consistently demonstrated his versatility across multiple contexts. Lumen represents his most personal album to date. As he explains, “I couldn't have exposed more of who I am than I did with ...
Continue ReadingDonny McCaslin: Lullaby for the Lost
by Neil Duggan
Saxophonist Donny McCaslin and his band's collaboration on David Bowie's final album Blackstar (ISO Records, 2016) marked a pivotal moment in McCaslin's career. Following Bowie's death just two days after the album's release, McCaslin transitioned from being a well-respected jazz musician to achieving international recognition. His band's innovative contributions helped make Bowie's final album a critically acclaimed late-career highlight. Since then, McCaslin's brand of innovative, contemporary jazz fusion has continued breaking through barriers to define a distinctive sound ...
Continue ReadingJohn Taylor: Tramonto
by Neil Duggan
British pianist John Taylor (1942-2015) possessed a remarkable talent for eluding the global recognition his skills warranted. A former house pianist at London's Ronnie Scott's club, Taylor probably achieved his widest acclaim through Azimuth, the group he formed with vocalist Norma Winstone (his wife) and trumpeter Kenny Wheeler. His trio recordings with drummer Peter Erskine and bassist Palle Danielsson further cemented his reputation. Tramonto captures Taylor in another trio setting, this time collaborating with American musicians bassist Marc ...
Continue ReadingDom Franks' Strayhorn: Duality Pt: 02
by Neil Duggan
Having whetted our appetite with Duality Pt: 01 (Self-Produced, 2024), saxophonist Dom Franks, together with his band StrayHorn, returns with Duality Pt: 02, revealing another side of the saxophonist's impressive range as a composer. Whilst the first release leaned into funky Hammond grooves inspired by Larry Goldings and Joey DeFrancesco, this follow-up moves in a different direction. This time the inspiration stems from the vibrant sounds of 1970s Brazilian jazz. Central to the project is Brazilian arranger Luiz ...
Continue ReadingAki Rissanen: Imaginary Mountains
by Neil Duggan
Finnish pianist Aki Rissanen has built an impressive discography through collaborations with artists including Rick Margitza, Dave Liebman and Randy Brecker, contributing to 18 albums as either leader or co-leader. Yet he is perhaps best known for the part he plays in leading one of European jazz's most distinctive piano trios, the Aki Rissanen Trio. The album Imaginary Mountains, the title of which is a nod to the influence of Keith Jarrett's Personal Mountains (ECM, 1989), features jazz ...
Continue ReadingBremer / McCoy: Kosmos
by Neil Duggan
It may seem unlikely, but two Danish musicians--one living on a farm commune, the other in a fast-paced urban environment, have amassed over 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. The two former schoolmates, bassist Jonathan Bremer and pianist/tape delay specialist Morten McCoy, formed Bremer/McCoy in 2012, initially to play dub music, but their sound has since evolved into something unclassifiable that crafts dreamy soundscapes combining Nordic folk with jazz and electronica. Mentioning electronica infers that delays, echoes, reverbs and ...
Continue ReadingSaihs: Distopìa
by Neil Duggan
Distopia is the debut album from Italian sextet Saihs, formed in Florence, Tuscany, in 2023. Although each track is credited to a single composer, the process of shaping each piece was the result of two years of intensive rehearsal sessions at the Scuola di Musica in Campi Bisenzio, under the guiding hand of director Massimo Barsotti. Under his mentorship, the group defined their nine original compositions, along with a reinterpretation of Bud Powell's “Celia." With their typical sextet ...
Continue ReadingFabia Mantwill Orchestra: In.Sight
by Neil Duggan
Slow, haunting strings usher listeners into Fabia Mantwill Orchestra's ambitious album In.Sight. This bold statement involves a 32-piece orchestra with six virtuoso soloists, performing compositions co-written by Mantwill, Snarky Puppy's Michael League and Greek composer Magdalini Giannikou. The album opens with “Satoyama," where those melancholic strings gradually bloom into bright melodic passages. The piece moves through a soundscape that weaves together jazz, classical and cinematic drama before Mantwill's expressive tenor saxophone emerges as the leading voice. Each composition ...
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