jazz
Mark Guiliana Jazz Quartet, Ronnie Scott’s review - sophistication and simplicityThursday, 16 November 2017![]() If having several projects on the go is a necessity for most jazz musicians, the US drummer Mark Guiliana is more protean than most, with a musical CV that traverses jazz, rock and electronic music. Like the pianist Robert Glasper, Guiliana – voted... Read more... |
The Best Albums of 2017Tuesday, 14 November 2017![]() Disc of the Day reviews new albums, week in, week out, all year. Below are the albums to which our writers awarded five stars. Click on any one of them to find out why.SIMPLY THE BEST: THEARTSDESK'S FIVE-STAR REVIEWS OF 2017Alan Broadbent:... Read more... |
An Evening with Pat Metheny, Barbican - sheer joy under the Missouri skySaturday, 11 November 2017![]() Pat Metheny recently described quite how much he enjoys just being on stage: “As Phil Woods used to say, the concert, that's for free. What the promoter is paying for is getting on the plane, getting off the plane, to pack your suitcase. The actual... Read more... |
CD: Oli Rockberger - SovereignSunday, 05 November 2017![]() This fourth studio album from pianist, vocalist, songwriter and producer Oli Rockberger highlights his remarkable knack of marrying instantly memorable chorus hooks with captivating harmonies steeped in jazz, soul, gospel and R&B.Consisting of... Read more... |
CD: Mélanie De Biasio - LilliesMonday, 30 October 2017![]() Mélanie De Biasio is a Belgian jazz singer, an album-charting artist in her home country, and rising star elsewhere. She is not a woman who takes the straightforward path. No album of Nat King Cole covers for her. No Jamie Cullum guest appearances... Read more... |
CD: Courtney Pine - Black Notes from the DeepMonday, 23 October 2017![]() It’s now thirty years since Courtney Pine stepped out from underneath the shadow of the Jazz Warriors with his debut solo album, Journey To The Urge Within, and his unforgettable contributions to the Angel Heart film soundtrack, to stake his claim... Read more... |
2017 Parliamentary Jazz Awards: the votes are inThursday, 12 October 2017Held auspiciously on the hundredth birthday of one of the giants of the music, composer and pianist Thelonious Sphere Monk (1917-1982), the winners of this year's Parliamentary Jazz Awards were announced at a congenial ceremony at London’s newest... Read more... |
CD: Cécile McLorin Salvant - Dreams and DaggersSunday, 01 October 2017![]() With her third recording for Mack Avenue, Grammy Award-winning vocalist and songwriter Cécile McLorin Salvant has delivered a vocal jazz album for the ages. A 2CD set recorded live at NYC’s renowned Village Vanguard, the fascinating track list... Read more... |
Norah Jones, Ronnie Scott's review - heartfelt music that transcends blandThursday, 28 September 2017![]() When we were at peak Norah a decade ago, she looked rather intimidated by the large crowds at venues like the Forum. Having been suddenly catapulted into the limelight she looked nervous, lacked any real stage charisma and her so-so band looked like... Read more... |
CD: David Crosby - Sky TrailsSunday, 24 September 2017![]() David Crosby might be entering life’s twilight but, like a tired drummer, he seems to be speeding up towards the end. Perhaps he’s simply hit a rich vein of form – the success, both artistic and critical, of 2014’s Croz, and the 2016 follow-up,... Read more... |
Mads Mathias, Pizza Express Jazz Club - honeyed yet preciseTuesday, 19 September 2017![]() Caressing the microphone, and gazing into the audience with winsome, soulful sincerity, tousled auburn locks glistening in the stage light, Mads Mathias looks like nothing so much as Ed Sheeran’s more handsome older brother. His voice has the... Read more... |
10 Questions for Pianist Søren BebeWednesday, 13 September 2017![]() Danish pianist Søren Bebe has led a trio for 10 years, building a reputation as one of Europe’s most distinctive jazz ensembles. His warm, spacious and melodic sound is often compared to Esbjorn Svensson and Tord Gustavsen, or the influential sound/... Read more... |
