Jazz Articles about James Davison

About James Davison

Album Review

Glorious Assembly Jazz Orchestra: Glorious Assembly

Read "Glorious Assembly" reviewed by Mark McKergow

by Mark McKergow
June 6, 2026

The Glorious Assembly Jazz Orchestra is the creation of Emmy Award-winning film composer David Mitcham . After a career writing music for the screen, often with jazz undertones, Mitcham has chosen to expand his ambitions by directing a full-on extended big band playing new compositions on Glorious Assembly. The 20- piece group features some of the UK's top players, with additional specialists on flute, E-flat clarinet, bass and contrabass clarinet, and tuba. The palette is further expanded by performers doubling on ...

Album Review

Callum Au: Sing Seven Seas

Read "Sing Seven Seas" reviewed by Neil Duggan

by Neil Duggan
May 26, 2026

Callum Au is not one for half measures. As an arranger he has worked with international orchestras and contributed to movie scores; as a performer he is an in-demand session trombonist. He steps into the spotlight with Sing Seven Seas, a project of genuinely epic ambition: 81 musicians, a voiceover artist, 16 compositions and nearly two hours of music. The album explores classic swing, progressive orchestral arrangements and contemporary jazz, with Au contributing trombone alongside a remarkable cast of cross-generational ...

Album Review

Misha Mullov-Abbado: Effra

by Neil Duggan
January 28, 2025

Effra is the fourth album from multi-award-winning bassist, composer and arranger Misha Mullov-Abbado. It is a collection of the music he has written for his long-standing sextet over the last four years. An experienced bandleader and multifaceted sideman, his talents have led to him working alongside Tim Garland and Rob Luft. He is probably best known to international audiences from the album Za Górami recorded with Alice Zawadzki and Fred Thomas (ECM, 2024). Effra is dedicated to Brixton, ...

Album Review

Tom Green Septet: Tipping Point

Read "Tipping Point" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
March 26, 2020

The second album from British trombonist, composer and arranger Tom Green's Septet follows the little-big-band's locally acclaimed Skyline (Spark), released back in 2015. Rather remarkably, the only change to the lineup since then is the replacement of alto and soprano saxophonist Matthew Herd by Tommy Andrews. Green's specialism appears to be big bands. His other core project is the Patchwork Jazz Orchestra, a co-operative 17-piece in which some of the Septet's members play. Patchwork's debut, The Adventures Of ...