
The unique viewpoint of an Oxford dog-walker A quick chat about life and stuff this afternoon with a dog-walker from near Oxford. Who also happens to one of the leading writers and […]
The unique viewpoint of an Oxford dog-walker A quick chat about life and stuff this afternoon with a dog-walker from near Oxford. Who also happens to one of the leading writers and […]
All the Google News stories about jazz are suddenly about Dustin Hoffman. A jazz news hook is being used …..used to sell a film, ie something with more robust(?) …no, just bigger […]
Barbican Terrace in the sunshine This post starts with the kindness of a stranger. When I was chasing up the story of the 2009 BBC Jazz Awards last week, a Radio 3 […]
The Royal Festival Hall : “not quite right” A very interesting presentation this afternoon at the Barbican, by architect Sir Jeremy Dixon of Dixon Jones, the practice behind both the King’s Place […]
Trombonists naturally reach out to audiences Review: ‘Bone Supremacy: Chicken Shed, Friday March 6th I had been looking forward to this gig, ‘Bone Supremacy’s first outing. It didn’t disappoint, either as music, […]
Mention the name of Buddy Rich to jazz musicians and often a smile will appear. At the height of his fame in the late ’70’s there was the appearance (above) on the […]
My piece about the classical National Youth Orchestra and NYJO (above) had one anonymous response which has provoked a couple of people to write: Here’s the “anonymous” post. “You have to contrast […]
A noise limiter like this costs £537 Oliver Weindling reports the news on his TowerofJazz blog. There was me about to write that the next few weeks programme at Charlie Wrights which […]
I’ve been enjoying getting to know the album “Shock!” from the Gareth Williams Power Trio with Laurence Cottle and Ian Thomas (Linn AKD326). The album launch will be at a three-night residency […]
Dave Holland: teaching in Birmingham I am struck this morning by marked contrast between the celebratory jazz coverage coming out of Birmingham …….and the world-weary tired-of-lifeness which sometimes affects the great city […]
I am, after hesitation, going to recommend the 17th March gig at Charlie Wrights. Why the hesitation? It’s the ethics of recommending it. The gig showcases the Royal Academy Junior Department- both […]
The Six in Lots Road in Chelsea (above on a quiet night) is a regular haunt of mine. It’s the nearest of the most-nights-or-seven-nights-a-week venues to where I live. It’s part of […]
Review: Jo Harrop (above)/ Alex Stewart/ Alex Webb bandPizza Express Dean Street, 1st March A simple, catchy song can get right under the skin, if you let it. And one song by […]
There’s a nice review of a CD by the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (above, with Phil Woods- he’s getting everywhere) by Dave Gelly in today’s Observer. Leave aside the fact that the […]
Joel Frahm (right) and Tim Whitehead (below) There is a particular kind of teenager who finds her, or more likely his, refuge in music. It becomes the obsession, the motivator, plus it’s […]