jazz
Sonny Rollins, BarbicanSunday, 21 November 2010
"Being asked to introduce this artist”, began the compere, “is like being asked to introduce God." Fans of Eric Clapton, of course, might beg to differ. But in jazz terms, Sonny Rollins, self-proclaimed “saxophone colossus”, has indisputably been on... Read more... |
Save The 100 Club!Friday, 19 November 2010
Musical luminaries including Mick Jagger, Paul Weller, Ray Davies and Liam Gallagher are lending their support to a campaign to save The 100 Club, the historic music venue in London’s Oxford Street. Soaring business rates of £4000 a month and an... Read more... |
Jon Hendricks, London Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott'sFriday, 19 November 2010
Another sold-out gig, another standing ovation, another memorable night. A sprightly 89 years old, the vocal pipes may not be quite so silky, but on the first of a three-night run at Ronnie Scott's, Jon Hendricks – dubbed the “James Joyce of jive”... Read more... |
The Chaser Years, Maverik Gallery, LondonThursday, 18 November 2010
“Hot sweaty tight jammed in can’t breathe heart pumping centre of the universe Monday night action in town. Racing down to Bar Rumba at midnight through the blaring siren wailing darkness of south London to the tinsel town wet streeted fakeness of... Read more... |
Jason Yarde and Andrew McCormack + Wah!, 606 ClubWednesday, 17 November 2010
It's now over 20 years since saxophonist Jason Yarde emerged, aged just 16, with pioneering London collective The Jazz Warriors. Since then he has played with big hitters like McCoy Tyner, Hugh Masekela and Roy Ayers, as well as a younger generation... Read more... |
Herbie Hancock, London Jazz Festival, Royal Festival HallMonday, 15 November 2010
A member of Miles Davis's legendary second quintet (“arguably Miles's best ever group” according to the Penguin Jazz Guide); a composer of standards (“Watermelon Man”, “Dolphin Dance”, “Maiden Voyage”, “Cantaloupe Island”) and soundtracks (Antonioni... Read more... |
Jazz Voice, London Jazz Festival, BarbicanSaturday, 13 November 2010
And we're off. Marking the official start of the London Jazz Festival, “Jazz Voice: Celebrating a Century of Song” provided a superbly paced and brilliantly conceived curtain-raiser. Hosted by Scottish actor Dougray Scott and presenting vocalists... Read more... |
The Penguin Jazz Guide: The 1001 Best AlbumsSunday, 07 November 2010
It's a curious fact that, for whole swathes of the music-buying public, their jazz collection has never grown beyond the ubiquitous Kind of Blue. OK, it's a seminal masterpiece which continues to sell like shovels in a snow storm. But why stop there... Read more... |
Éthiopiques: Mulatu Astatke and the Story of Ethiopian JazzTuesday, 02 November 2010
As the London Jazz Festival approaches, it's an unlikely fact worth noting that some of the bestselling instrumental jazz records of the last few years have been from Ethiopia. Ethiopian jazz composer Mulatu Astatke, now 66, is the best-known... Read more... |
Novecento, Trafalgar StudiosTuesday, 02 November 2010
Offbeat in more than just their rhythms, jazz musicians have always had an affinity to the extraordinary, living lives syncopated against the regular tread of society. Maybe it was the informality of their training, or the influence of brothels,... Read more... |
New Music CDs Round-Up 14Saturday, 30 October 2010
This month's epic collection has a somewhat retro feel, with CDs by Ray Davies, Neil Young, Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan. The CD of the Month is all-conquering Tennessee rock band Kings of Leon. The Box Set of the Month comes from the vaults of... Read more... |
The new funk: Belleruche exclusiveWednesday, 27 October 2010
Here, we present the exclusive first showing of a new video by the Brighton/London band Belleruche. This clip for “Fuzz Face” is highly arresting, an ingenious and slightly disturbing collision of hi and low-tech, made using thousands of photocopies... Read more... |
