News, reviews, features and comment from the London jazz scene and beyond

I spoke to two people this morning who are involved with lobbying to get a small gigs exemption to the 2003 Licensing Act. They are both palpably disappointed. The Culture Select Committe […]

The Hampstead Theatre have contacted me about a play. “Spike Milligan’s Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall”, will be on at the Hampstead Theatre, right by Swiss Cottage tube, from 22 […]

I like Glasgow. And Glaswegians. And Sarti’s Cafe (above) . Byas’d Opinion – named after the tune by Don Byas -is a jazz blog from Glasgow. And I like that too. Byas’d […]

I’ll be off heading off for the Krakow Jazz Festival this Thursday. But London is a city which musically never sleeps, and I will miss some great gigs. What’s caught my eye? […]

Here’s an opportunity to be Cartier-Bresson (above) for an evening. Well, actually to be Ronnie Scott’s house photographer during the Brit Jazz Festival. Interested? Katherine ames at Ronnie’s needs an email from […]

I couldn’t make it to hear one of the icons of jazz play in London on Saturday. Herbie Hancock was on with Lang Lang and the Philharmonia Orchestra in the 6,500 seat […]

LondonJazz reader Frank Griffith (thank you!) has brought to my attention an interesting essay/blogpost/debate “In Defence of Jazz Education . It’s by Dublin-based/ much-respected/educator/bassistRonan Guilfoyle- (the headless portrait above is from his […]

A selection of Downbeat Pollwinners , ahead of the August 2009 issue of the magazine.

LIVE: Hiromi plus support (Barbican) July 10th 2009 Hiromi is an explosive small package. She bounced onto the Barbican stage last night in a flowery summer dress, a pair of shiny black […]

I couldn’t ever imagine Leonard Cohen, say, or Thom Yorke of Radiohead being married to a woman called Joy. But drummer, vintage jazz nut Richard Pite is. And I’ve been talking to […]

It seemed a promising title , and made me think there are possibly other claimants. Any thoughts? Anyway, the Jewish Chronicle carries a rather rambling paean to Ronnie Scott (Photo from 1985 […]

There are some irrepressibly good-natured and jovial people in jazz. Digby Fairweather is one (“What is Twitter?” he asked me yesterday). David Nathan who runs the National Jazz Archive is another. Digby […]

I shall miss the intimate vibe of gigs by Way Out West at the RamJam in Kingston. After five years, and more than 200 gigs under WOW’s proudly displayed and radical red […]

Brand Republic has the story HERE. Helen’s show will be called the Yamaha Jazz Jam. Since taking over Jazz FM in April, Richard Wheatly has brought in other sponsors: Pizza Express, the […]

At LondonJazz we have a new project. Codename Turn’Em Green. It involves researching and writing. And it needs volunteers. I reckon each task is three to five hours of work. Email me […]