“A fine addition to his consistently impressive discography, The Verb Not the Noun makes the case for Sherlock as one of modern jazz's most elegant guitarists.”
Ian Patterson, www.allaboutjazz.com, "The Verb Not The Noun" Album Review
"A marriage of wonderful articulation and a feel for playing just the right note at the right time.”
Ian Patterson, www.allaboutjazz.com, "The Verb Not The Noun" Album Review
"This could be exhibit A in the case that some of the world's most exciting jazz is being made in Australia.”
John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald, “Watermark” Album Review
“Sherlock is a wonderful guitarist, and a craftsman of songs possessing beauty and depth. Solo should make a few Top 10s of the year and help propel Sherlock onto the bigger stage he surely deserves. Definitely a name to watch out for.”
Ian Patterson, www.allaboutjazz.com, "Solo" Album Review
“A singer, accompanied by a guitarist. It’s an honest and challenging format, where both musicians need strong technique, complete trust in each other, and an unfailing instinct for where the beat would be if they had rhythm section with them. Happily, vocalist Kristin Berardi and guitarist James Sherlock share these qualities and more. They have been performing on and off as a duo since 2004 (this is their third duo album), so they know what they are doing, and how to best complement each other’s work. Berardi has won jazz vocal competitions here and in Europe, and I suspect that their wins have been based not only on technical proficiency, but more so on the emotional sincerity of her vocal interpretations, and her ability to ensure that, when she takes liberties with a song, it isn’t at the expense of the lyric. There is no better example than the opening track here, ‘Change Partners’. It’s usually played at a bright tempo, but she slows it right down, to create a performance full of frustrated yearning. Sherlock is with her at every turn, and when he takes a turn soloing, is no less absorbing a storyteller.”
Adrian Jackson, Rhythms Magazine, "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out" Album Review
"Berardi and Sherlock complement each other well; both are in command of their respective instruments, and although Sherlock's virtuosity is evident, he mostly adopts a supportive role to Berardi, whose delivery is refreshingly unaffected. She sounds like herself, rather than trying to imitate the greats who have interpreted these same songs. When Berardi scats, as on the opener "Alone Together" or "Like Someone in Love," she sounds like someone singing to themselves, lost in the reverie that the music brings; there is no sense that she is striving to impress, and this lovely relaxed approach to her craft is one of the CD's charms. Sherlock is most impressive on acoustic guitar. A subtle accompanist, he has a lovely rhythmic touch and his accents and flourishes punctuate and frame Berardi's vocals beautifully. Clearly, he has big ears. When he unfurls a solo, as on "You Say You Care," he reveals impressive chops, fluent and highly melodic, a student of the Joe Pass school of guitar. On the most intimate of songs like "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face," Sherlock's feathery touch treads softly under Berardi's confessional, bluesy whisper. On the Berardi original "Spin the Bottle," his solo is especially tender, yet probing. The blues in Berardi's tone and the warmth of Sherlock's strings make for a wonderful pairing, and they breathe new life into these old songs. This is a subtly beguiling recording which holds the attention from first note to last."
Ian Patterson, All About Jazz, "If You Were There" Album Review
“He articulates a thrilling and restlessly inventive jazz vision. His improvisations have a confident, glowing touch and the empathic band work is often thrilling. Hot. Very hot.”
Drum Media, Australia, "James Sherlock Trio" Album Review
“Guitarist James Sherlock's flying fingers and magnificent musicality have been turning heads in Melbourne for so long that listening to his debut album comes across as a distinctly overdue pleasure.”
Kenny Weir, Sunday Herald Sun, "James Sherlock Trio" Album Review
“Sherlock's highly developed rhythmic and melodic sense gives the material bite and lifts it out of the predictable".
Peter Jordan, Rolling Stone Magazine, "James Sherlock Trio" Album Review
