Mike Nielsen: Solo at Garden City (Mixen)
Guitarist Mike Nielsen, probably the most original voice on the instrument here, confirms his status with this virtuoso display of solo acoustic guitar. Declining to hide behind abundant technique in this exposed setting, he uses it to create a series of orchestral miniatures, full of contrast and invention, expressed with impressive immediacy and, at times, an almost flamenco-like attack. Despite a couple of abruptly concluded performances, the album's highlights include brilliantly conceived explorations of Summertime, Stella By Starlight, his own aptly-named India Vibe and the tender, melancholic Innocence, as well as the deceptive simplicity of God Bless The Child and Some Other Time, the last imaginatively introduced by an obliquely rendered On Green Dolphin Street.
Sonny Clark: My Conception (Blue Note)
Blue Note's raiding of its vaults for rare sessions has produced some rough gems, but this is one of the better-cut sparklers from its so-called post bop bag, bringing together two late-1950s dates led by Sonny Clark. On one the pianist, a minor, if under-rated original, had the marvellous and equally under-regarded tenor, Hank Mobley - his reading of the title track is gorgeous - sharing the front line with Donald Byrd (playing well, though kicked to exhaustion by drummer Art Blakey on Minor Meeting). The other, almost as good, features tenor Clifford Jordan, guitarist Kenny Burrell and drummer Pete La Roca. With bassist Paul Chambers common to both and Clark, who wrote all the material, in typically articulate and swinging form, this is one to savour.