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

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 […]

BBC Radio 3 Publicity confirmed to me today the rumours which have been circulating: the BBC has indeed withdrawn from running its Jazz Awards this year. Jazz is supported, valued, well promoted […]

Gene Krupa (1909-1973) There wasn’t really any need for kitchen performance anxiety tonight. One of the cast-iron certainties in British jazz is that a band directed by Pete Long will cook. This […]

NOT this Phil Woods. A different one The 14th Annual Budvar Cheltenham Jazz Festival had its launch at Ronnie Scott’s today. Festival Producer Steve Symons’ blog gives an update of how it’s […]

A moment, it seems yet another moment when we remember a unique voice in British jazz. Ian Carr died peacefully yesterday. His early career is detailed here .A Nucleus website which announced […]