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

First tribute. Jacqui Dankworth attended a musical celebration at her late father’s school – Sir George Monoux College, Walthamstow – yesterday evening. She also sang- briefly. She unveiled this plaque, naming the […]

Congratulations to Roanne Dods, who as Director of the Jerwood Foundation set up a number of initiatives to support UK jazz, and to Claire Whitaker, one of three directors of music producers […]

Some fascinating programming from the F-Ire Collective coming up at the end of May. At the Pizza Express in Dean Street on Saturday 22nd are three sessions 7pm Kit Downes (solo piano) […]

Alex Ross, author of “The Rest is Noise,” gave the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Annual Lecture last night. He talked about the hang-ups of the classical music commumity about when and how to […]

This appreciation of Jeff Ballard and preview of next week’s gig at the Pizza Express is from one of the UK’s first-call drummers, Dave Smith. Jeff Ballard sounds great on record, but […]

Pauline Jean(Pizza on the Park, March 4th 2010, review by Zena James and Sarah Ellen Hughes) Haitian-born New York vocalist Pauline Jean had four dates in London this week on her first […]

Review: Norma Winstone’s Printmakers(Ronnie Scott’s, March 8th 2010) After nearly a year of existence, we’re no longer talking about the potential of Printmakers. with Norma Winstone. For my money this now has […]

Twitter has its limitations, but here is a short haiku-like reflection from saxophonist Ben Castle, written from the heat of battle of his weekend gig at the O2 with Dizzee Rascal: The […]

Vijay Iyer / Rudresh Manhanthappa Duo(Vortex, March 3rd 2010, review by Peter Horsfall) Raw Materials. It’s an apt name for the duo which played the Vortex last Wednesday. Long-standing collaborators pianist Vijay […]

Review: Barbacana /Troyka(Vortex, March 5th, 2010, review and photo by Frederick Bernas)The bassless Anglo-French quartet Barbacana made strong impressions right from the start: James Allsop ’s supple tenor sax led the way, […]

John Cale(Royal Festival Hall, March 5th 2010) The audience knew exactly what to expect. A Welsh poet approaching his three score years and ten walked onstage last night and gave a Royal […]

Could do a LOT better is the conclusion of a new report from Julia Payne and Adam Jeanes. Payne and Jeanes are thoughtful. And balanced. But they are also highly critical. Their […]

Just for a laugh. Kit And the Widow from 1992.

Sunday April 25th. HMV Apollo Hammersmith. Humphrey Lyttelton- A Celebration Concert UPDATE: A REVIEW OF THE GIG IS HERE It is going to be one extraordinary evening. Look at the line-up of […]

Review: Buffalo Collision(Vortex, March 1st 2010 -2nd set. Review by Peter Horsfall,line drawing by Geoff Winston) In a set of completely improvised music, it was pianist Ethan Iverson ’s (also of The […]