Larry Bartley

Loz Speyer's Inner Space: Live in Leipzig

by Glenn Astarita
September 8, 2024

Loz Speyer, a British trumpeter and composer known for his inventive blend of jazz traditions and free improvisation, leads the quintet Inner Space through its inaugural release. With a background spanning a wide range of influences within the jazz realm, Speyer channels these into compositions that allow each band member room for dynamic improvisation. In Live in Leipzig, recorded in the historic city during a well-received concert, Speyer's ensemble delivers a set marked by a delicate balance between ...

Byron Wallen: Meeting Ground

by Bruce Lindsay
October 20, 2008

This album arose from a series of journeys--geographical, cultural and spiritual, but above all musical--undertaken by trumpeter and leader Byron Wallen, who first visited Morocco in 1996. The result of these journeys is a joyous and original record, fusing contemporary jazz with the music of the Gnawa musicians of Morocco.

The ten pieces of music on Meeting Ground tell the story of Bilal, a 6th century Abyssinian slave who was known for his beautiful singing. Released ...