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Review: Originally released in 1974 and now reissued on vinyl, this album transformed the legendary Byrd's career direction. After years as a hard bop heavyweight and collaborator with the likes of Art Blakey, Coltrane and Herbie Hancock, Byrd found commercial and creative renewal through his partnership with producers Larry and Fonce Mizell. The third album in their five-record run on Blue Note, this pushed their progressive sound to deeper, darker territory, riding a funkier, more introspective current than his previous albums. The title track remains a defining work, its hypnotic groove and haunting optimism making it a favorite of future hip-hop artists like J Dilla and A Tribe Called Quest. Byrd's trumpet glides with elegant restraint, weaving through Chuck Rainey's basslines and Gary Bartz's saxophone work. Mizell's signature synthesiser textures add a lush and cosmic layer. Tracks like 'Think Twice' and 'Design A Nation' are grounded in sophisticated funk minimalism, blending subtle vocal refrains with intricate instrumentation. The gentler moments like 'Rock and Roll Again' and 'I Love The Girl', explore a softer, more soulful style without losing their sense of forward motion. Though often dismissed at the time by jazz traditionalists, 'Stepping Into Tomorrow' is now rightly seen as a cornerstone of 70s fusion and rare groove.

Review: American saxophonist Joshua Redman returns with a new quartet featuring pianist Paul Cornish, bassist Philip Norris, and drummer Nazir Ebo i a group formed during touring dates following his previous Blue Note debut. The eight new compositions were written during the pandemic and reflect a more subdued register, with pieces often built around modal phrasing and pared-back forms. 'A Message to Unsend' and 'So It Goes' open the set with slow, measured arrangements that favour tone over speed. 'Words Fall Short' and 'Borrowed Eyes' continue in that vein, trading solo space across saxophone and piano without crowding the frame. 'Icarus' introduces more movement and sharper shifts, while 'Over the Jelly-Green Sky' pushes into freer rhythmic interplay without abandoning the central theme. 'She Knows' and 'Era's End' close the set with a return to stillness, the final track pairing Redman with guest vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa. Additional appearances from saxophonist Melissa Aldana and trumpeter Skylar Tang are folded in without disruption. It's a restrained but focused studio outing, shaped by clarity, not excess.