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by TINA EDWARDS
2026, here it is. rather than looking ahead to what this new year may bring, i’d love to recommend you six british underground albums or eps to revisit, all of which are celebrating anniversaries in 2026.
the flute and muted trumpet charmingly glide alongside one another on ‘for ruth’. the art of suspense is utilised on ‘spooks’ and unrelenting, high-octaine energy pushes ‘hot rod’ forward. each track on ‘dusk fire’ stands the test of time. this band released five albums over seven years, with first edition copies collectively selling for up to £6000.
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‘home brewed’ was recorded in 1976 but released for the first time in 2022. these three musicians, PIP PYLE (drums) and STEVE MILLER (piano) and ELTON DEAN (saxophone), were at the intersection of jazz and rock in the ‘70s. this album is pulled from a private session in hertfordshire—just north of london— documenting the first time they ever played together. there’s a surprising amount of groove for this bass-less album, and their improvisationall prowess packs a punch.
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saxophonist COURTNEY PINE was already established as a member of the groundbreaking jazz warriors, but this album marks his first solo venture. PINE took inspiration from his caribbean roots and the diverse sounds in london around him (sound familiar to today’s london jazz revival?) to make a record that felt incfredibly forward-thinking at the time. it still stands up today, with london label gearbox records having remastered and reissued it in 2023.
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in the 90s, acid-jazz reigned supreme in the uk, leading to the emergence of bands like incognito, jamiroquai and the young disciples. the sound merged jazz with club culture, driven by pulsing bass lines, groove and elements of funk, soul and hip-hop. hammon organ player JAMES TAYLOR combined the acid-jazz movement with heavy emphasis on jazz-funk, creating a sonic identity that feels unmistakably theirs. this album, recorded at battery studios, london, is some of their finest work.
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now in his 80s, EVAN PARKER is considered a living legend when it comes to improvised and avant-garde music. the album ‘time lapse’ is essentially a solo record; parker creates multiple layers with his single saxophone, creating a piece of work that’s demanding but highly hypnotic.
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the sign of things to come; shape-shifting multi-instrumentalist, producer and bandleader EMMA-JEAN THACKRAY released her debut ‘walrus’ in 2016. edgy and a touch quirky, especially on the pacing, angular opening track ‘baro bop’, the yorkshire-born artist introduced us to her multi-genre ever-evolving soundworld with this ep.
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TINA EDWARDS is a london based broadcaster, dj and music journalist. she’s the co-founder of queer jazz and re:sonate, and hosts jazz-ish jazz club for bandcamp. she also shares music recommendations with a community of 170k music lovers on instagram.