Saxophonist, composer and bandleader Alabaster DePlume launches his new album and talks to Charlie Anderson I arranged to meet Alabaster DePlume at the Total Refreshment Centre in Dalston. As Emma Warren notes in the opening chapter of her book Make Some Space, the entrance is simply a black door with TRC stencilled on it, and […]
Double bassist and promoter Marianne Windham spoke to Charlie Anderson during her preparations for the Guildford Jazz Festival in March. How did you first get into music? “In the very beginning I played cello when I was at school aged 12 and did all of the classical grades. I stopped playing in my 20s […]
Trumpet player Freddie Gavita spoke to Charlie Anderson about his journey in jazz ahead of his appearance at Chichester Jazz Club, paying tribute to his musical hero Clifford Brown. Tell us about your upcoming gig in Chichester entitled ‘The Music of Clifford Brown’. It’s not been a major frontline project of mine but it’s […]
Vibraphonist, composer and member of Empirical, Lewis Wright spoke to Charlie Anderson ahead of his appearance at The Verdict in his duo with Kit Downes. You’re touring your duo project with pianist Kit Downes, tell us about your relationship with him and why you enjoy performing with him. Kit and I have known each other […]
Noah Stoneman (keys), Laurence Wilkins (trumpet/effects) and Zoe Pascal (drums) from the group Zeñel were interviewed by Charlie Anderson ahead of their appearance at The Verdict as part of New Generation Jazz. How did you first get into music? Laurence: My mum is a piano teacher and my dad wrote music for adverts and corporate events […]
A recent graduate of the jazz course at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, saxophonist Nye Banfield spoke to Charlie Anderson ahead of his appearance for New Generation Jazz at The Verdict in January. How did you first get into music? I grew up in Leicestershire but I went to school in Grantham, in Lincolnshire, a tiny […]
This interview is a continuation of Part 1 of the interview available here. What happened after you left university? I worked in London for a time for the LCC and played in various odd little bands around London, then I got married, moved to Peterborough and played in a jazz band there. After that […]
SJM editor Charlie Anderson spoke to saxophonist Dave O’Higgins and guitarist Rob Luft at the start of their UK tour to promote their new album O’Higgins & Luft Play Monk & Trane. Dave O’Higgins and Rob Luft have recorded a new album that they are currently touring throughout the UK. The musicians first met […]
Born in Bermondsey in 1933 Peter was six years old when war broke out. “I have a lot of horrible memories of the war. It was all quiet for about a year and then the Blitz really started and that was absolutely horrible. I lived through that either in Bermondsey or at my uncle’s bungalow […]
Bassist Calum Gourlay is currently touring the UK ahead of the release of his debut quartet album, New Ears, on 6th December. The tour includes an appearance at The Verdict in Brighton on Saturday 16th November. His impressive band features saxophonist Helena Kay, trombonist Kieran McLeod and drummer James Maddren. Calum was always interested in […]