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 […]
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. […]
This year’s Brighton Festival features a special music project entitled A Change Is Gonna Come: Music for Human Rights. SJM editor Charlie Anderson spoke to the two composers behind the project: Carleen Anderson and Nikki Yeoh. I began by asking Carleen Anderson about how the project first came about. “The two organisers at […]
Award winning music journalist, percussionist and editor in chief of Jazzwise magazine Jon Newey has a keen interest in the history of the UK music press. He spoke to SJM editor Charlie Anderson about his career in music journalism and his initiative to encourage up-and-coming writers. What’s your background in the music press? I’ve […]
SJM editor Charlie Anderson spoke with award winning Norwegian pianist, composer and teacher Vigleik Storaas ahead of his appearance with the legendary John Surman at this year’s Brighton Festival. You’ve obviously known John Surman for a long time, you’ve been playing together since the mid-1990s in the Nordic Quartet. “Yes, I think the […]
J-Sonics The Ropetackle, Shoreham-by-Sea Saturday 7th April, 2018 Mike Flynn’s latin fusion band J-Sonics made a strong impression at last year’s South Coast Jazz Festival and their return to the Ropetackle was filled with the same high-octane energy that characterises this accomplished band. Beginning their set with Casa Forte, an upbeat samba, […]
Rob Luft The Verdict, Brighton Friday 20th April, 2018 Featuring mostly original material from his debut album, Riser, Rob Luft is a skilled guitarist who effortlessly creates any sound-world of his choosing, frequently adding fresh sounds, influenced heavily by Congolese rumba and soukous music. Touring with the same regular band that recorded the […]
Martin Speake Quartet The Verdict, Brighton Saturday 21st April, 2018 Alto saxophonist Martin Speake celebrated his 60th birthday this year by recording a new album with his long-time friend and musical associate, US pianist Ethan Iverson. Performing mostly tunes from the new album, they mixed originals with the odd bebop […]
Guitarist Rob Luft originally played classical violin from a young age, but around the time he was 6 years old his step-father, a guitarist, moved in. “He brought loads of records like Hugh Masekela and Brotherhood of Breath. So I listened to a lot of township grooves and Loose Tubes records and played lots […]
Tell us about your band Inner Space. “I first started the band in 2002 and it’s been running ever since. Chris Biscoe joined the band in 2003 and he’s still in, so he’s practically a founder member (originally it was Steve Buckley on saxophone and bass clarinet). It carried on as a quartet. The […]