Live Review: Brighton Festival – John Surman
Brighton Festival: John Surman St. George’s Church, Kemptown, Brighton Thursday 10th May, 2018 A performance by virtuoso musician John Surman is a rarity in the UK as the 73 year old veteran currently resides in Norway, and his last performance in Brighton was back in 2014. His musical collaborations with Norwegian pianist and […]
Live Review: Brighton Festival – The Last Poets
Brighton Festival: The Last Poets Theatre Royal, Brighton Tuesday 15th My, 2018 ‘When the Revolution Comes’. The words echo in the 200-year-old edifice, with the same aggression and truth, and sending the same message today as they did when first spoken by The Last Poets nearly 50 years ago. The seated audience […]
Live Review: Brighton Festival – A Change Is Gonna Come
Brighton Festival: A Change Is Gonna Come – Music for Human Rights Brighton Dome Concert Hall Tuesday 22nd May, 2018 Beginning with Coltrane’s iconic composition Alabama, Nubya Garcia confidently displayed both the technique and emotional depth required to produce a version of this deeply moving memorial to the four children murdered by members of […]
Live Review: Oli Howe Trio at The Verdict
Oli Howe Trio The Verdict, Brighton Saturday 12th May, 2018 Pianist Oli Howe is someone who has always enjoyed exploring the jazz piano trio format and seeing where he can take it and the time that the trio have spent rehearsing has paid off, with tightly-performed introductions to well-known standards such as Days […]
Live Review: Joe Armon-Jones at The Eagle, Brighton
Joe Armon-Jones The Eagle, Brighton Friday 18th May, 2018 Mr. Bongo presented an afternoon of live music at The Eagle pub, the highlight of which was an astonishing performance by young pianist Joe Armon-Jones. Throughout, Armon-Jones conveyed a freshness and honesty that typifies the current new generation scene. Opening with a relaxed […]
Live Review: The Great Escape Festival, Brighton
The Great Escape Festival: Ashley Henry Trio, Yussef Dayes, Sons of Kemet Patterns, Brighton Saturday 19th May, 2018 There hasn’t been much jazz at The Great Escape Festival, Brighton’s festival of new music but this year three acts came along at once in a triple bill showcasing some of Britain’s best jazz […]
Live Review: Ken Vandermark & Paal Nilssen-Love at The Green Door Store
Ken Vandermark & Paal Nilssen-Love The Green Door Store, Brighton Sunday 20th May, 2018 The streets of Brighton have been overflowing with music fans thanks to this year’s Great Escape Festival, whose ever more eclectic programming even expanded beyond its indie rock remit to include some New Thing jazz artists. As a coda […]
Live Review: The Mark Travers Project at The Ropetackle
The Mark Travers Project presents Thelonious Monk Ropetackle, Shoreham Sunday 27th May, 2018 This narrative of Monk’s life and music, where his life was narrated and dramatised, accompanied by music that highlighted the important milestones, covered Monk’s well-known tunes and was interspersed with original compositions by conductor and arranger Mark Travers. Actor […]
Alina Bzhezhinska Interview
SJM Editor Charlie Anderson spoke to jazz harpist Alina Bzhezhinska about her upcoming album, Inspiration, ahead of her appearance at The Verdict on Friday 18th May, 2018. Why did you choose to play the harp? “I started playing the harp when I was 7, out of pure vanity. I really loved how it looked. […]
Preview: The Great Escape Festival 2018
Brighton’s Great Escape Festival this year features an array of up-and-coming jazz talent, including Yussef Dayes, Kamaal Williams, Sons of Kemet and Ashley Henry. The Great Escape Festival has been presenting new music every year since 2006 and presents more than 400 new acts at various venues across Brighton and Hove. Friday 18th […]