With reservations, RON JACOBS recommends a deep dive into the nature, history, and mindset of US intelligence
Evan Parker, Mat Maneri and Lucian Ban
The Vortex, London
THE Vortex in Hackney, east London — itself a vibrant multicultural area — is the setting for this truly internationalist trio. Pianist Lucian Ban is from Seaca, a Transylvanian village in Romania, viola virtuoso Mat Maneri is the grandson of Sicilian immigrants who grew up in Brooklyn and saxophonist Evan Parker is from Bristol.
The opening harmonies of Parker’s weeping, flickering and sharply crystallised notes on his soprano saxophone gel with Maneri’s bowed, lamenting viola before Ban enters with his softly struck keys of empathy.

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to vocalist Jacqui Dankworth

CHRIS SEARLE pays tribute to the late South African percussionist, Louis Moholo-Moholo

Re-releases from Bobby Wellins/Kenny Wheeler Quintet, Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippet/Louis Moholo-Moholo, and Charles Mingus Quintet

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to Ethiopian vocalist SOFIA JERNBERG