Chenxi Pan

This Very Moment

Origin, 2025

9/10

Listen to This Very Moment

The vocalist and composer Chenxi Pan brings much emotion to these 13 originals that enlists many players for a contemporary jazz experience that’s strong on atmosphere.

“Hymn For The Spring” starts with Pan’s soft voice and the elegant keys from Shaonan ‘Trigger’ Su that create much beauty, and “At Dusk” continues the sophistication with Anders Julsgaard’s light drums and George Grydkovet’s radiant guitar.

Arriving near the middle, “New Year’s Wish” welcomes Nathan Nakadegawa-Lee’s rich sax via the cautious climate and Pan’s expressive pipes, while “Endless Summer” allows for Nicolas Bond’s playful voice to complement the charming scatting.

Closer to the end, “If Only For A Moment” makes great use of Peyton Cook’s stirring violin and Julie Kim’s well timed cello amid the poetic vocals, and “Fate (Wherever It Leads Me)” is deeper still and finds a cozy place to reside thanks to the calm singing and light instrumentation.

Pan often uses her voice as an instrument, and the excellent players in attendance help make for a textured, pretty and timeless effort.

Travels well with: Kate Olson- So It Goes; Affinity Trio- New Outlook

Anthony Branker & Other Ways Of Knowing

Manifestations Of A Diasporic Groove & Spirit

Origin, 2026

9/10

Listen to Manifestations Of A Diasporic Groove & Spirit

The composer and director Anthony Branker is joined by an excellent cast for these sociopolitical and poetic 7 pieces that are powerful, cerebral and intense.

“The Children Of Lyles Station” opens with Simona Premazzi’s warm keys amid Steve Wilson’s flowing sax via the dynamic and soulful climate, and “Song For Marielle Franco” follows with Rudy Royston’s light drumming that complements the rich sax presence of the thoughtful mood and Aimée Allen’s wordless vocals.

“Beautiful Dancing People” and “Freedom Water March (At Igbo Landing)” arrive in the middle. The former places Wilson’s dreamy flute alongside John Hébert’s playfully plucked bass, while the latter benefits from Pete McCann’s meticulous guitar playing that suits the rich album highlight.

Arriving late, “When Past Is Prologue” spends 7 mesmerizing us with its meticulous interaction and attention to melody and rhythm, and ‘Afro Mosaic Soul Babies” exits with an upbeat and dizzying display of busy and elegant songwriting.

An enlightening exercise in improvisation, Branker and company radiate cultured, expressive and relevant ideas across the mature and cinematic landscape.

Travels well with: Anthony Branker & Ascent- Spirit Songs; Dave Slonaker Big Band- Shifty Paradigms

The Claim

The New Industrial Ballads

Turntable Friends, 2019

10/10

Listen to The New Industrial Ballads

A long running English outfit whose early years coincided and were influenced by The Jam, The Kink and The Smiths, here The Claim return with their first new recordings since 1992 that are distinctly their own brand of Brit-pop.

“Johnny Kidd’s Right Hand Man” gets the album started with brief acoustic strumming and warm horns, before “Journey” brings us a louder setting with a full pop-rock template where a anthemic folk spirit is present.

At 14 tracks there’s much to digest here, but with plenty of variety on hand, The Claim never run the same course twice. While “Smoke & Screens” recruits an orchestral backdrop to the affair, “The Haunted Pub” is a bright, jangly moment of punchy pop sounds. Further on, “Light Bending” offers us retro-folk ideas in an upbeat highlight, and “When The Morning Comes” finds a lush, environment of careful instrumentation.

The second half of the record is where some of the best tracks reside, including the hazy, cinematic “Gamma Rays”, the tense and rhythmic “Mrs. Jones”, and the soft and agile picking of “Under Canvas”, which yields plenty of poetic beauty.

It’s been 3 decades since The Claim released their debut, and The New Industrial Ballads proves that they’re only getting better with age, as evidenced by its near perfection. Make sure not to miss this one- it’s going to be one of the best in 2019.

Travels well with: Blur- Parklife; Paul Weller- 22 Dreams