It's been a busy summer - as well as being hot and sunny, it's the summer that I spent a lot of trying to find suitable sites for the expansion of Exedab into East Devon. Really pleased to have linked up with Sid Valley Radio and located sites that we can use when Ofcom give the go-ahead for us to start broadcasting. Unfortunately, as with most statutory bodies, they only move agonisingly slowly. The paperwork is every bit as protracted and extensive as the search for suitable sites.

In the meantime it's been a relatively sparse period for reall good new releases, and as seems to happen every year October has seen a huge upturn in what record companies are putting out there. It's also been noticeable that European Jazz in its many guises has grown in availability and 'fusion' once again seems to be a word that publicists are happy to litter theri outpourings with. So here are five more that may well make it into the end of year Top 10.

Dino Saluzzi: El Viejo Caminante.

Two guitar players and a bandoneon player recorded for ECM records. Father and Son Saluzzi are joined by Jacob Young on an album of laid back acousitc tracks that are redolent of an age in Argentina that probably never existed but evokes the  era of Peron-ist control. This description does little to explain that this is a supremely crafted album that seldom rises above walking pace but is best listened to in one session. Favorite tracks are the title track and 'Buenos Aires 1950'. Left field, but delightful.

Paul Cornish: You're exaggerating!

It's always amazing how Blue Note is able to pick up on new and rising star performers and pianist Paul Cornish, on the basis of this is just such a one. In a very crowded fields of piano led trios Cornish does have something new to add to the genre, but also allows Joshua Crumbly (Bass) and Jonathan Pinson (drums) to make it a satisfying debut. Jeff Parker plays guitar on one track, but Cornish wrote all the tunes and they all sound fresh and original. Current favourites are '5am' and 'Palindrome', the track with Parker on it.

Harold Lopez Nussa: Nueva Timba.

Not an ordinary pianist, and therefore not an ordinary album! 6 musicians and a vocalist interpret a form of Latin fusion that is hard to define. There's an awful lot of percussion, with the piano joining in as one of those percussive sounds. Writing credits are spread across a range of different sources, but the wider Lopez -Nussa family supplying about half of them. It's joyous and raucous with varied tempos. If you're familiar with his previous Blue Note album - this is louder and more percussive. A great listen!

Kokoroko: Tuff times never last.

Varying beween being an septet and an octet Kokoroko employ a number of guest vocalists on an album that possibly lacks enough changes of rhythm, but makes up for it with glorious, mainly horn driven afro-London hybrid. They're at their best live (I'm seen them twice in 2025) but a couple of tracks here are a good attempt to record what they sound like live. 'Never last' and 'Just can't wait' are the tracks, but there's a welcome spreading out across the entire album. OK, I'm biased, They're the best band I've seen this year!

Anouar Brahem: After the last sky.

Brahem is probably the go to Oud player on the music scene at the moment. Coupled with Django Bates on Piano, Dave Holland on Double Bass and Anja Lechner on cello this is jazz fusion at it's very best.The cello is a great sonorous companion to the oud and the other players fully contribute to what has been almost constantly playing  on rotation in the house during the summer. Brahem is certainly prolific at the moment he has another album being released before the end of the year.