Back catalogue: All genres

Review: A multifaceted personality, 24-year-old breakout folk star Maya Delilah shares The Long Way Round on Decca Records, fresh off the back of a Spotify "One To Watch" award. "I get so influenced by different genres, people, places, and experiences that it's always felt hard for me to fit my music into a consistent sound or mood," the singer said in a statement. Forerun by the likes 'Squeeze' and 'Necklace', Delilah's vocals are breathy and her backing instrumentals smooth, tinged with the torrid strokes of Ayers-esque sunshine funk. Recorded between LA and London, the record flags up themes from cyclical relationships to predestination, with Delilah feeling that the record expresses a future nostalgia for someone she's never met before.

Review: Jazz multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy's Out To Lunch is the latest in the on going Blue Note Reissue series, Tone Poet. It was his only recording for the seminal label and is often said to be one of the best they ever put out, as well as one of Dolphy's own personal highlights. Certainly fans of 1960s avant-garde jazz will agree. Dolphy was joined by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and bassist Richard Davis amongst others, and told all players that there was no leader in the recording sessions that made up the album. That makes for a dense, busy and freeform record filled with wild playing and super musical ideas.

Review: Domi and JD Beck are already taking the world by storm - just clock the irreverent but oh-so-sweet video to 'Smile', directed by Anderson .Paak and featuring cameos from the likes of Thundercat. The duo met by chance jamming at a NAMM convention and soon struck upon a partnership which took their serious musical skills and injected them with the kind of flippant, fun-seeking attitude that breathes new life into traditional music. They've sat in with Herbie Hancock and backed Ariana Grande, Mac Demarco and more, and now their debut album lands on Paak's Apeshit label in conjunction with Blue Note. Not Tight is cool down to the very last drop, but crucially it doesn't take itself too seriously. Domi and Beck know they've got the skills, and you can tell they're having an absolute blast messing with the jazz rulebook while delivering some impossibly sweet grooves.

Review: Blue Note Records continue to top up their Classic Vinyl reissues series, this time homing in on Lou Donaldson's sixth album for the label 'Blues Walk' (he never swayed from Blue Note). The legendary jazz saxophonist and bandleader intended the LP to be his magnum opus at the time, and as history slowly ingested its influence, it became as such. Six rain-drizzled original pieces span two sides, with Donaldson joined by Herman Foster, Peck Morrison, Dave Bailey and Ray Barretto for an unusual jazz combo involving congas, and a unique mood that epitomised his own brand of cool jazz-blues.

Review: Lou Donaldson's Say It Loud! is a classic of the late 60s soul-jazz movement, combining infectious grooves with a lineup of skilled musicians. Released in 1969 on Blue Note, this album highlights California-based Donaldson's expertise on the alto saxophone, blending hard-swinging bebop roots with a funkier, dance-driven approach. The title track, inspired by James Brown's anthem, is a cool, laid-back rendition that shows his nuanced playing alongside the solid rhythms of trumpeter Blue Mitchell, guitarist Jimmy Ponder, organist Charles Earland, and drummer Leo Morris. The album shines with its extended tracks like 'Snake Bone' and 'Brother Soul', where the soloists stretch out, creating moments of tension and release. Ponder's blues-infused guitar solos and Earland's dramatic organ builds are standouts. While the bossa nova rendition of 'Summertime' and the swinging 'Caravan' bring a more traditional jazz feel, the album is most vibrant when it grooves hard. Despite being somewhat overshadowed by Donaldson's earlier work, Say It Loud! remains a highly enjoyable and essential part of his legacy. It may not carry the same weight as Midnight Creeper, but its infectious rhythms and tasteful solos ensure its place as a classic in soul-jazz, deserving of a greater appreciation which this reissue celebrates.

Review: The Tone Poet series, from esteemed jazz emigres Blue Note Records, is produced by our favourite Tone Poet Joe Harley and features definitive all-analogue 180g audiophile vinyl reissues mastered from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray of Cohearent Audio. The firstmost, early bird in the Tone Poet series is none other than Lou Donaldson's Midnight Creeper; the third in a series of stellar soul jazz outings by the saxophonist, made for Blue Note in the late-1960s, with key players including Hammond B3 virtuoso Lonnie Smith, young guitar star George Benson, funky drummer Idris Muhammad and the bluesy trumpeter Blue Mitchell.

Review: Kenny Dorham and Jackie McLean's Inta Somethin' is a vibrant snapshot of their performance at San Francisco's Jazz Workshop in late 1961. Jackie Mac's prowess shines brightly as he delivers a compelling rendition of 'Una Mas' a year prior to its Blue Note release. Backed by Leroy Vinnegar, Walter Bishop and Art Taylor, the ensemble crafts a dynamic and exhilarating atmosphere as McLean's virtuosity is on full display, captivating listeners with his electrifying playing style. Inta Somethin' is proof of the skills of these jazz giants and is a great window into their live repertoire and sense of musical innovation.