Gondwana Vinilo y CD

Review: Matthew Halsall is one of a few key UK artists who helped make jazz cool again over the last decade. His magnificent trumpet skills and ability to tap into plenty of orchestral talent has resulted in plenty of vital albums on his Gondwana label and one of the best, if you ask us, is When The World Was One. It's a spiritual and joyous mix of contemporary and classic styles in the view of your Alice Coltrane types and now gets reissued across double vinyl. Whether it's soaring brass, heart-melting piano playing, soaring crescendos or more quiet and intimate moments you seek, this an essential jazz album whether you're a wisened old cat or a younger newcomer.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve split at the top and creased at the corners***


Manchester trumpeter, band leader and Gondwana label boss Mathew Hallsall is right at the forefront of today's thriving jazz scene. He has an enviable discography that takes in a wide range of jazz styles and the spiritual eastern leaning sounds of When The World Was One make it one of his best. It's the sort of mellifluous record that swells all round you, lifting your spirits filling you with joy and hope. Helping that be the case are the heavenly harps and shimmering piano chords, koto and bansuri flute payed by his Ensemble, but centre stage is always given to Halsall's own beautiful, heart aching trumpet playing. From bold heights to vulnerable lows, this is as good as jazz gets.