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Hannah Horton at East Grinstead Jazz Club - Jazz Journal
Hannah Horton grew up in rural Essex and was introduced to clarinet and saxophone by an inspiring music teacher. She did the Junior Guildhall programme followed by a music degree at Goldsmiths under the tutelage of Mark Lockheart. Comfortable with both jazz and classical music, she worked with the National Youth Musical Theatre programme and […]
Queer jazz takes up residency in Dalston - Jazz Journal
Claiming that “most jazz fans would struggle to name more than a few queer jazz musicians throughout the entire genre’s history”, the London-based LGBTQIA+ collective Queer Jazz aims to “amplify and highlight queer artistry in the jazz world”. To that end, and holding that “jazz has long been a space for innovation, freedom, and self-expression; […]
Soho jazz highlights - Jazz Journal
Among the notable events at Ronnie Scott’s January to March are Eliane Elias, Marius Neset, Dave Douglas, Billy Harper, John Scofield and Bill Evans’ Vans Band. This month, 25 January, Ronnie’s also repeats its instrument “amnesty”. First standout this month is The Royal Scammers, in which brothers Paul (g) and Jeremy (d) Stacey lead a […]
Jazzahead says outstanding music is increasingly to be found beyond jazz - Jazz Journal
Jazzahead, the trade fair held each spring in Bremen, Germany, says it has “always had the mission to track down and to help people discover outstanding bands – increasingly to be found beyond the boundaries of jazz”. Accordingly, its 2025 edition (24-26 April) will have among its 38 concerts – put together by artistic advisor […]
Martin Speake resigns over race politics and sues Trinity Laban - Jazz Journal
Martin Speake, the renowned British saxophonist at the centre of a racism row at Trinity Laban conservatory in south London, has resigned from the college after 22 years and is pursuing compensation for constructive dismissal. Talking to Talk TV’s Mike Graham on 7 January he said he had had to resign because Trinity had made […]
Robert Fowler Quartet at Chichester Jazz Club - Jazz Journal
Having wrapped up last year’s programme with a thoroughly enjoyable evening of Christmas-flecked material, courtesy of the captivating Alan Barnes Octet, Chichester Jazz Club kicked off 2025 with two foot-tapping and finger-snapping – but also deeply lyrical – sets from the excellent Robert Fowler Quartet. A fine clarinettist, Robert left the liquorice stick at home […]
Jazz In The New Millennium - Live & Well - Jazz Journal
An author bold enough to decide on the most significant individuals and happenings in his zone of interest and write a book about them might be thought vindicated, to his own satisfaction at least, by a decision to update it. That’s to say, it’s a moveable feast. Rick Mitchell’s Jazz In The New Millennium – […]
New releases Dec ’24 - Jan ’25, M-O - Jazz Journal
MacDonald, Doug: Santa Monica Session They say : The Prolific Jazz Guitarist Doug Macdonald Gives Five Standards And Three Originals A Strong Latin Feel On Santa Monica Session (Dmac Music DM27) Manby, Glen: When Sunny Gets Blue They say : Following his quintet first album, alto saxophonist Glen Manby’s second album, this time as a quartet, sees him teamed […]
New releases Dec ’24 - Jan ’25, P-S - Jazz Journal
Pablo Tarantino Quartet – (Tarantino, Pablo): Charnia They say : “Pablo Tarantino is a soulful and richly creative new composer/drummer who plays with sensitivity, precision, and depth. His debut album Charnia leads us on a refreshing jazz excursion rich with beautiful melodies, subtle surprises, complex rhythms, and moving improvisations. His fine quartet plays brilliantly together. Do take […]
New releases Dec ’24 - Jan ’25, T-Y - Jazz Journal
The Fury: Live In Brooklyn They say : A modern jazz supergroup makes its debut with a live album. The Fury is saxophonist Mark Turner, guitarist Lage Lund, bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Tyshawn Sorey. (Giant Step Arts) The New York Second: Room For Other People They say : Dutch pianist/composer Harald Walkate proudly presents the fifth album from […]
Reviewed: Sun Ra | Cecilie Grundt | Nordsnø Ensemble featuring Kit Downes | Brandon Sanders | Chris Greene - Jazz Journal
Sun Ra: Berkeley Lecture, 1971 (Corbett vs. Dempsey CvsDCD113) In 1971 Sun Ra was appointed lecturer in the newly created Department of Afro-American Studies at the University of California in Berkeley. His course was entitled The Black Man In The Cosmos, its syllabus including The Egyptian Book Of The Dead, Ben-Jochannan’s Black Man Of The […]
Reviewed: Louis Stewart and Martin Taylor | Bill Bruford | Oz Noy | Alden Hellmuth | Thumbscrew - Jazz Journal
Louis Stewart and Martin Taylor: Acoustic Guitar Duets (Livia LRCD2404) Recorded in Dublin in July 1985, this session was first released the following year. Livia’s remastered reissue contains a 16-page booklet with photographs and expanded sleeve notes. The obvious empathy between these two master guitarists reaches telepathic levels throughout this super session of standards. Because […]
Reviewed: Natsuki Tamura & Satoko Fujii | Satoko Fujii Quartet - Jazz Journal
Satoko Fujii – pianist, composer, leader of several bands and winner of several awards around the world, dubbed “The Ellington of Free Jazz” by Cadence magazine – has released well over a 100 albums as a leader since her recording debut in 1996, ranging from solo to big-band sessions. There will probably have been several […]
Reviewed: MTB (Mehldau, Turner, Bernstein) | Elephant9 with Terje Rypdal - Jazz Journal
MTB: Solid Jackson (Criss Cross Jazz Criss 1423 CD) There’s an element of reassembly on this album. The MTB trio (pianist Brad Mehldau, tenor saxophonist Mark Turner and guitarist Peter Bernstein) is joined by bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Bill Stewart to replicate, almost, the quintet on the album Consenting Adults, recorded in 1994 by […]
Reviewed: Zach Adleman | Brian Lynch | Peter Evans | Out Of/Into - Jazz Journal
Zach Adleman: We Make: Stories For A New Day (Cellar Music CMR102424) Drummer Zach Adleman is a musician whose track record includes performances in the company of many music heavyweights and he is also a proud recipient of a Grammy for his percussion work. He assembled a nicely balanced sextet for this latest project including […]
Reviewed: Rahsaan Barber | Michael Sarian | John Butcher, Florian Stoffner, Chris Corsano | Monkin’ Around - Jazz Journal
Hot on the heels of his trombonist brother Roland’s impressive playing on John Alvey’s recent Loft Glow comes this Jazz Music City release by saxophonist Rahsaan Barber, his fourth for the Nashville label. No prizes for guessing whom the Barbers senior named their twins after. There’s an eight-part suite reflecting the power of music through […]
Reviewed: Bobby Wellins | Avishai Cohen | Colin Vallon | Carsten Dahl | Thomas Fonnesbæk | Lars Danielsson, Verneri Pohjola, John Parricelli | Chris Lee - Jazz Journal
Bobby Wellins Sextet: Homage To Caledonia – Live 1979 (Jazz In Britain JIB-67-5-CD This most welcome – and unmissable – single volume release from Jazz in Britain comes hard on the heels of the label’s two-CD Wellins issue of 2023, What Was Happening. Both releases feature the same splendid quartet which the swinging and audacious, […]
Reviewed: Richard Elliot | Grant Green | Oscar Peterson | Righteous Rooster - Jazz Journal
Richard Elliot: Straight Up Down (Shanachie 5516) This is the 21st album by “smooth jazz artist” tenor and soprano saxophonist Richard Elliott, born in Scotland but raised in Los Angeles. As a teenager, he performed with Natalie Cole and the Pointer Sisters and in the 1970s with Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and the Four Tops. […]
Reviewed: Peter Somuah | Ross Valory | Gino Amato | Bill Laurance and Michael League | Ed Neumeister - Jazz Journal
Peter Somuah: Highlife (ACT 8001-2) Koo Nimo, a leading 93-year-old highlife musician and apparently the first Ghanaian to release an album of his own music, introduces this fine album with a brief retrospective on how highlife developed. It provides an excellent overview of the music that Peter Somuah explores on his latest album for ACT. […]
New releases Dec ’24 - Jan ’25, F-H - Jazz Journal
Fedchock, John: Justifiably J.J. They say : Renowed trombonist Fedchock’s live recording of his tribute to J.J. Johnson’s centennial, using Johnson’s original charts, recorded at the Jazz Kitchen in Indianapolis, IN (Summit Records DCD828) Ferris, David Septet featuring Bernstein, Peter: Sketches They say : Innovative pianist and composer David Ferris is to release his first major record with Birmingham’s […]
New releases Dec ’24 - Jan ’25, I-L - Jazz Journal
Ibid: Chance Encounters They say : IBID is Keyna Wilkins (piano/flute) and Shane Carpini (drumset). Together they play jazz/classical/folk interpretations of stream of consciousness improvisations and their own compositions inspired by philosophy, astronomy and human behaviour. (https://www.ibidartist.com/) Infinito Menos: Três-Tríade-Triângulo-Trio They say : Três-Tríade-Triângulo-Trio is a collaborative piece by Brazilian experimental music trio Infinito Menos (Henrique Iwao, Mário Del […]
Reviewed: Terry Gibbs Dream Band | Buddy Collette and Teddy Edwards | Vince Guaraldi - Jazz Journal
Terry Gibbs Dream Band: Vol 7 The Lost Tapes 1959 (Whaling City Sound WCS 143) Economics precipitated the end of the big-band era at least 10 years before Terry Gibbs formed his Dream Band. By the mid-50s, for instance, Count Basie’s 16-piece band was being paid the same amount as Dave Brubeck’s quartet. Gibbs’ decision […]
New releases Dec ’24 - Jan ’25, C-E - Jazz Journal
Channell, Holly: Not Just a Standard They say : Holly Channell (d), Jason Palmer (tp), Mike Kocour (p), Ben Hedquist (b) (Fresh Sound New Talent FSNT-690) Cherry, Don & Temiz, Okay: Music For Turkish Theatre 1970 They say : In 1970, Turkish theater owner Engin Cezzar produced James Baldwin’s groundbreaking play about homosexuality in an Istanbul prison. In 1969, […]
New releases Dec ’24 - Jan ’25, A-B - Jazz Journal
Abdou, Sakina & Gouband, Toma & Warelis, Marta: Hammer, Roll and Leaf They say : A free music, playing with the dilution of themes, surveying the idea of a collective game as one would caress a torn canvas, celebrating the idea of a weft sewn of snippets, ashes, echoes and ghosts like a taut thread that binds, […]
Reviewed: Nik Bärtsch Ronin | Erik Honoré | Russ Lossing | Daniel Sommer with Arve Henriksen and Johannes Lundberg - Jazz Journal
Nik Bärtsch Ronin: Spin (Ronin Rhythm Records RON 040CD) Celebrating their 20th anniversary with a new album, new line-up and a documentary film created by BAFTA and Emmy award winner Julian Phillips, Ronin are also returning to Bärtsch’s own label after many years recording for ECM. This collection of live recordings is their ninth album, […]
Reviewed: Javon Jackson | Delfeayo Marsalis Uptown Jazz Orchestra | Sacha Distel - Jazz Journal
Javon Jackson: Javon And Nikki Go To The Movies (Solid Jackson 1009) Tin Pan Alley/American Songbook is as far removed from contemporary cinema as Mickey Mouse from Hannibal Lector. In the 1920s-50s, this rich source of songs and the big screen were Siamese twins. It’s a connection that is valued by Javon Jackson, who evokes […]
Reviewed: Boom Yeh | Jazz Sabbath | David Bitelli and Ollie Usiskin | Les Hommes - Jazz Journal
Boom Yeh: Near-Earth Objects (Cosmosium Records) Immediately the music of London-based group Boom Yer reminds of those late 90s bands Jamiroquai and The Brand New Heavies so it’s no surprise that some of the musicians on show here have toured and played with these bands. It’s toe-tapping, percussive-heavy instrumental music with the emphasis on getting […]
Reviewed: Threeway | Vivian Buczek | Charles Mingus | Anat Cohen - Jazz Journal
Threeway: Harken! (Jazz Cat JCCD 120) Harken! is the fourth album from Threeway, the drumless jazz trio comprising Steve Waterman (t, flh), Steve Lodder (p, org) and leader Ben Crosland (elb). It follows Conversations (2005), Songs Of The Year (2009) and Looking Forward, Looking Back (2013). The release, recorded in December 2023, marks the 20th […]
Reviewed: Michaël Attias | Jakob Bro | Kevin Sun | J.D. Allen - Jazz Journal
Michaël Attias: Quartet Music Vol. II – Kardamon Fall (Out Of Your Head Records OOYH 031) Alto saxophonist Michaël Attias was born in Israel, brought up in Paris, educated in Minneapolis, and has lived in New York since 1994. His latest release is the successor to LuMiSong, which was recorded during Covid and released earlier […]
Critics' favourites, 2024 - Jazz Journal
JJ writers chose their favourite releases - or jazz experiences - from 2024. As might expected with such a now teeming and mature art as jazz, there’s no consensus, but plenty of enthusiasm. However, as the only title receiving more than one endorsement, Emily Remler: Cookin’ At The Queens - surely a worthy winner - gets the cover spot...
The Hidden Jazz Club does Christmas - Jazz Journal
Since its inception seven years ago, the Hidden Jazz Club has grown in influence and reputation with one key distinguishing feature – at time of booking the lineup is not available and only becomes so a day or two before the gig. This allows them to amplify the music of new musicians who play at […]
JJ 12/94: Herb Ellis - The Great Guitarist talks to Stan Woolley - Jazz Journal
Thirty years ago Ellis, born 'out in the country' of Farmersville, Texas talked about moving on to work with Glen Gray, Jimmy Dorsey and Oscar Peterson, as a Hollywood studio man and as an acclaimed guitarist in his own right
La La Land - Jazz Journal
My parents were addicted to cinema. They did their courting in the one-and-nines, and even after I came along they continued apace. From the age of three I accompanied them, albeit meaninglessly at first, but by age five I was able to retain data – to recognise performers, distinguish the different studios and their rosters. […]