Strange Heavens - Linda May Han Oh, Ambrose Akinmusire, Tyshawn Sorey (2025)

Linda Oh shows up in lots of places in the jazz I enjoy. Aside from her own projects, she has played with Pat Metheny and Vijay Iyer on records I love.

Here her trio is rounded out with her Iyer bandmate Tyshawn Sorey on drums and American west coast trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire.

The three have a great connection. They roll through number after number in lockstep, always giving each other the space they need but always keeping the music moving along.

It’s not noisy, but it is busy. If it’s hard to follow in places, you don’t have long to listen before it gets back into groovy and melodic territory again.

Akinmusire hasn’t shown up here yet, but I bet he will.

Tracks I Liked

Living Proof - a great showcase for Akinmusire, as Oh and Sorey lay down a rock solid foundation for him to show off over

Noise Machinery - the loosest and grooviest track here, and one of the best.

Paperbirds - Shorter, more clipped off lines make for a more rolling and kinetic flow.