Arriving just in time for the Divine One’s 100th birthday, who better to lead the latest batch of festivities than one of the UK’s premier jazz vocalists. With four albums already to her name, McFarlane perfectly encapsulates the timeless elegance of Vaughan’s dulcet tones while adding her own personal touches. Her backing band, made of fellow bright London stars, arrives in stellar form – take Edition Records-signee Joe Webb’s exquisitely congruous fingerwork up and down the keys, for instance. Executed with absolute respect but with enough self-assured grandeur to exist as its own standalone album, this is one of the year’s finest hits for vocal jazz.

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Neither one of these individuals is unfamiliar to these dispatches, as our gushing reviews of Kofi’s reissued tribute album Plays Monk and Altera Vita, his ethereal collaboration with Ukrainian jazz harpist Alina Bzhezhinska from earlier this year, certainly prove. Meanwhile, Shaw remains the toast of Soho; his latest, Greek Street Friday, managed to keep a smile on our faces throughout last year’s prolonged autumnal spell. Together, these consummate professionals explore the ins-and-outs of the Ellington/Strayhorn songbook, lovingly bringing the American composers’ oeuvre to life with vivifying zeal. Personal highlights include Kofi’s take on ‘Isfahan’, in which the saxophonist resurrects the lusty tempers of Johnny Hodges.

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Take a master performer from the Gambia’s finest musical family, combined with a progressive Danish jazz drummer and what do you get? This rollicking affair of shredding kora and crashing drums is a remarkable feat of passion and energetic storytelling. Leaving the traditional rural ceremonies of his native land behind him, the hereditary griot has moved onto free-jazz performances around the world – with Pasborg in tow. Don’t ask how it makes sense, just rest assured that it does. For anyone who appreciates an intriguing, surprising and ultimately rewarding conversation between unlikely musical partners, this is an absolute must!

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Earlier this year, the Soft Machine guitarist’s work on a limited 7” release courtesy of My Only Desire Records left us hungry for more. It’s great to hear him join forces with one of the UK’s finest trios, the aptly named Threeway. Consisting of some of the North’s finest players, this chamber jazz trio was formed over two decades ago. Now, this veritable band of brothers calls on years of level-headed creativity for a delightful session of sizzling interplay. Electric bassist Ben Crossland skilfully anchors the tunes while Steve Waterman lays down palpable horn lines on top of Steve Lodder’s sumptuous electric keyboard harmonies.

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