Spring really hangs you up the most? Perhaps. But Vital Spark and more are reasons to be cheerful given a stronger week for jazz recently.

The extremely impressive debut from imaginative bassist and singer Niklas Lukassen is referred to in the main strand of this week's podcast on marlbank.

Includes Zuversicht in album of the week

Brief word on best bits on marlbank over the last week including Voyage of the Faithful upcoming from Julian Joseph and an interesting new act to know - Blair/Huber.

Getting out there is key to discovering new jazz.

From Sam Cooke-like soul to Nicaraguan flavours and an accordion-trumpet duo!

Moon Beans is album of the week.

Including Joanna Eden, Karim Saber and the Kildare Jazz Festival feat. Michael Buckley coming up - all sketched upon in this week's marlbank podcast.

Impressions of a late December Vortex gig given by Ethan Iverson with Calum Gourlay and Dave Ingamells..

Aggregate the numbers by all means. But a true consensus about something as subjective as jazz? Impossible.