London Jazz News

Review of Earl Okin by Sarah Ellen Hughes(Pizza Express Dean Street, October 5th, 2009)My pre-gig research about singer/songwriter/comedy performer Earl Okin had come up with just two things: one was a quote […]

We ran a competition for newsletter readers last week to come up with a pointless interesting fact about the theremin, an electronic instrument being featured in the F-IRE Festival (previewed here by […]

The Vortex is offering half price tickets for students (£8) for next Monday’s and Tuesday’s appearances by the great Kenny Wheeler.

A few months ago I asked avid jazz fan Patrick Hadfield a very simple question. What, I enquired, is his favourite London venue? His answer, it turns out, is a UK travelogue.Patrick […]

Here’s a preview by musician Peter Horsfall of the F-Ire Festival, from October 14-17 at the Pizza Express.F-Ire Founder Barak Schmool’s Méta Méta to open the 2009 F-IRE FESTIVALEach of the four […]

Review: Kenny Wheeler, Mirrors Suite: London Vocal Project/ Norma Winstone/Pete Churchill(Vortex, September 24th , 2009)“Whatever names you give meI amA breath of fresh air,A change for you.” These are the eloquent last […]

Frank Griffith’s previews of two gigs next week at Ronnie’s :Monday 5th OctoberSalena Jones makes a welcome return to Ronnie Scott’s with the Ronnie Scotts Big Band. Her husband and musical director, […]

Review: Big Band Metheny.(The Bulls Head , September 27th 2009, Review by Luke Pinkstone)You really don’t want to be sitting inside on a beautiful sunny day unless you have very good reason. […]

Review of the two-day Spitalfields Summer Stew, by guest reviewer Patrick Hadfield- (who also took this photo on Sunday of the great Kenny Wheeler.)Patrick Hadfield writes:Festival curator Mark Holub of Led Bib […]

Saxophonist/bandleader/major figure in British jazz Tim Whitehead has been up to some fascinating stuff at Tate Britain on a Leverhulme Fellowship.He’s been taking inspiration from JMW Turner’s life and work, and developing […]

Bruce Lindsay has written a full profile of Theo Travis for Allaboutjazz.A detailed and nicely crafted piece of work. Amazing. Definitive? Bookmark.

Here’s a reader’s request by email:Harry to Sebastian Scotney:Please . Where can I take a family to listen to some good jazz and have something to eat on a Sunday in London […]

Drummer Shane Forbes won the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ annual young jazz musician competition very convincingly last night. There was a very strong field of finalists (Henry Armburg Jennings, trumpet, George Crowley […]

“Wow!” was LondonJazz’s Mystery Chelsea Shopper’s verdict on the Gareth Lockrane Big Band at the 606 (September 27th 2009, lunchtime, 606 Club)Dear Sebastian,Your mystery shopper had a great time – the band […]

“It seems like the only reason jazz is referenced in contemporary popular culture is to mock the music and its fans.”More on the above subject from the Twentydollars blog