Month: April 2017

12 April 2017

Jamie Brownfield interview

You’re performing at Smalls in Brighton on Thursday 13th April with Liam Byrne. What can the audience expect to hear?     “When Liam and I play together you can expect to hear anything from 1930's/40's swing through to 1950's Bebop, numbers by Ellington, Charlie Parker and Lester Young to name a few. People have commented […]

1 April 2017

John Altman interview

Normally I start interviews with the question ‘How did you get into jazz?’.     “Oh my god! Have you got a week?! Right, my whole family is in jazz, which helps. My mother had four brothers, all of whom were bandleaders. One brother, Sid Phillips, had Britain’s number one dixieland band and was a wonderful […]

1 April 2017

Liam Byrne interview

Which tenor saxophone players are you influenced by?     “My biggest influences are probably Lester Young and Ben Webster. Other favourites of mine include Al Cohn and Zoot Sims as well as the more bebop orientated tenor players such as Wardell Gray, early Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt.”   Are there any saxophone players around […]

1 April 2017

Jake Long interview

Maisha (meaning ‘Life’) are a London-based ensemble led by drummer Jake Long. The band also features Nubya Garcia on saxophone/flute, Shirley Tetteh on guitar, Amane Suganami on keyboard, Twm Dylan on double bass and Tim Doyle on percussion.   Tell us about Maisha.     “The group play original music inspired by artists such as Alice […]

1 April 2017

Jazz News (April 2017)

    Love Supreme Festival have announced another selection of artists who will be appearing at the festival this July. They include Kamasi Washington, and Camilla George Quartet whose highly-acclaimed debut album Isang was followed by a successful tour of the UK. Also announced were Corinne Bailey Rae, Kansas Smitty’s House Band, D’Influence and Mica […]

1 April 2017

Big Band Scene (April 2017)

This month Patrick Billingham surveys recent big band gigs and examines the legacy of Glenn Miller.       The Big Band@Brunswick programme continued last month with a debut performance by Big Band Sounds, who are based near Uckfield. This well rehearsed ensemble played mostly mainstream charts and standards. Ably supported by singers Jo Kimber and […]

1 April 2017

Pete Recommends…Bud Powell – Bud Powell Plays

Each month Peter Batten recommends a recording that jazz fans may wish to add to their personal library. Bud Powell Trio Plays     Recently I was chatting with a friend who hears quite a lot of contemporary jazz live: Keith Jarrett solo, for example. He had attended a recital of recordings by Bud Powell. “I […]

1 April 2017

Live Review: Geoff Achison @ The Hawth

Geoff Achison and the Soul Diggers  The Hawth, Crawley Friday 17th March 2017         Australian Geoff has made a welcome return to these shores after a few years, with his usual mix of hard blues containing quite a sprinkling of the jazz influence.  Many of his solos on guitar would not go amiss in […]

1 April 2017

Live Review: Frank Holder Trio @ The Hawth

Frank Holder Trio  The Hawth, Crawley  Sunday 19th March 2017        Just two weeks shy of reaching 92 years of age Frank Holder is certainly by now a national treasure.  He’s not quite so firm on his feet with the dancing, he does sometimes forget the words, but scats easily over the problem or […]

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