Articles by Neil Duggan
Tim Richards Trio: Four Aces
by Neil Duggan
Tim Richards has been plying his trade as a jazz pianist since 1982. In that time, he has been the guiding force behind numerous group projects: Spirit Level, Great Spirit, Hextet and his own trio. Followers of his recordings have had to exercise considerable patience--his last release was 2015's Telegraph Hill (33jazz), and his last trio recording stretches back even further to 2010's Shapeshifting (33jazz). Fortunately, the wait is over: he returns with his fourth trio recording, Four Aces.
Continue ReadingMax Ionata Special Edition: Tivoli
by Neil Duggan
With more than 100 recordings to his name, including 17 as leader, Italian saxophonist Max Ionata has long been recognized as one of Europe's most distinctive and prolific players. Tivoli marks the debut of his international quartet, Max Ionata Special Edition, which has evolved from early performances in Sweden and Denmark into a tightly knit ensemble. Ionata is one of Italy's most internationally recognized jazz artists. His numerous collaborators include Billy Hart, Joe Locke, Mike Stern ...
Continue ReadingMauricio Morales and Adam Hersh: Between Dreams and Twilight
by Neil Duggan
Between Dreams and Twilight marks the first joint collaboration between Mauricio Morales and Adam Hersh. The pair became friends when Hersh gave Morales a lift home from the Continental Club in Los Angeles. Their album features nine pieces: three written by bassist Morales, three by pianist Hersh and three co-written. The duo keep excellent company; they are joined by vibraphonist Warren Wolf, guitarist Mike Moreno and drummer Gary Novak. The album also features the L.A.-based Rogue Lemon String Quartet. These are all musicians ...
Continue ReadingTriosence: Stories Of life
by Neil Duggan
The German trio Triosence have been developing their highly distinctive sound since the release of First Enchantment, their debut in 2002 (Mons Records). Their combination of jazz and cinematic soundscapes puts melody first and foremost in a song-based approach that has broad appeal to jazz listeners and beyond. The trio, led by pianist and composer Bernhard Schuler, includes bassist Omar Rodriguez Calvo and drummer Tobias Schulte. Their egalitarian approach ensures the lead can be taken up by any ...
Continue ReadingNeil Duggan's Best Jazz Albums Of 2025
by Neil Duggan
Looking back at 2025, here are some of the year's finest releases, mostly from Europe, encompassing both jazz and music where jazz ventures into other genres Emil BrandqvistPoems For Travellers Skip Records Gabriel LatchinThe Man I Love Alys Jazz Sultan StevensonEl Roi Edition Records ...
Continue ReadingSteve Lodder: 2 sorts of 3
by Neil Duggan
Pianist Steve Lodder's album 2 sorts of 3 was originally envisaged as two separate projects, one acoustic and one electronic. He ultimately bought them together to create a single release that bridges both plugged and unplugged worlds. Lodder utilizes two contrasting lineups, on the electronic side, he is joined by his long-term collaborators; Dudley Phillips on guitar and electric and double basses, alongside drummer Nic France. On the acoustic side he works with Freddie Jensen on double bass and drummer ...
Continue ReadingNugara Trio: The Last Question
by Neil Duggan
The Last Question is the second album from Nugara Trio, an Italian band comprising pianist Francesco Negri, bassist Viden Spassov and drummer Francesco V. Parsi. Conceived as a concept album, the title is drawn from an Isaac Asimov short story exploring the ultimate fate of the universe. This narrative forms the framework uniting the album's nine compositions. While such subject matter might suggest a synthesizer-heavy fusion album brimming with robotic sounds, the reality is far more organic: this is simply ...
Continue ReadingIan Shaw: Stephensong
by Neil Duggan
With numerous plaudits and awards garnered over a long career, vocalist Ian Shaw presents Stephensong. A deep dive into the work of one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, composer Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim was also no stranger to awards, having picked up eight Grammy Awards, an Academy Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Throughout his multifaceted career, Shaw has occasionally focused on interpreting the work of iconic figures including Joni Mitchell, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, ...
Continue ReadingTommaso Iacoviello: Birds
by Neil Duggan
The world around us grows increasingly loud as artificial noise proliferates, drowning out natural sounds. Italian trumpeter Tommaso Iacoviello believes “nature is not only something to look at, but also something to listen to." His debut album, Birds, invites us to “stop for a moment, close our eyes and listen to what surrounds us. Imagine immersing ourselves in an ancient forest, hearing the rustle of leaves in the wind, the melodious song of birds and the slow flow of a ...
Continue ReadingWill Barnes Quartet: Outside the Light
by Neil Duggan
Once an area of contention, the border between England and Wales, known as the Welsh Marches, is now a lovely rural region of farms, valleys, hills and castles. The Will Barnes Quartet draw inspiration from this landscape, as well as that of Mid Wales, to drive their compositions and improvisations on Outside The Light. This major step forward follows on from their debut album Source of the Severn (AAB Records, 2023). Across the album's eight tracks, guitarist Will ...
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