Anita Wardell, Nigel Price, Terry Seabrook, Nigel Thomas, Spike Wells Friday January 30TH 2015 The Verdict, Brighton “I first got the idea to sing this one while I was single, lounging in jim-jams, watching a romantic film and eating pasta!” is vocalist Anita Wardell’s modest introduction of It Might As Well Be Spring […]
Claire Martin Vocal Workshop South Coast Jazz Festival Friday 23rd January 2015 Lou Beckerman sat in as an observer at Claire Martin’s South Coast Jazz Festival Vocal Workshop and here gives a review: Claire Martin doesn’t do a great deal of teaching so this SCJF Vocal Workshop was a brilliant opportunity for twelve singer […]
Remi Harris Project Wednesday 14th January 2015 The Brunswick, Hove What a way to kick off the new year. My first gig. Until about a month ago I must admit I had not even heard of Remi Harris. What an error! The compact room at the Brunswick pub provided the ideal intimate surroundings for […]
Laura Jurd Septet Friday 23rd January 2015 The Verdict, Brighton This was an evening of original music by 24 year old trumpeter Laura Jurd, graduate of NYJO and Trinity Laban. All of the music was part of her Human Spirit project, music commissioned by Serious for the 2013 London Jazz Festival and now recorded […]
John Surman with special guest Karin Krog The Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, Brighton Tuesday 18th November 2014 Performing tracks from his highly-acclaimed ECM album Saltash Bells, Surman began his solo set on the instrument that he learnt as a child at school – the recorder. Utilising pre-recorded electronic music isn’t always something […]
Pascuala Ilabaca and Fauna The Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, Brighton Sunday 16th November 2014 Chilean singer-songwriter Pascuala Ilabaca delivered a concert of pure energy and enthusiasm, motivated by her desire to bring South American music to other parts of the world and champion the music of her homeland. Many of the original songs […]
Lou Beckerman The Brunswick, Hove Sunday 16th November 2014 Walking on stage performing the catchy bass riff that begins Lou Beckerman’s album Into the Blue, there was a palpable sense of intrigue and anticipation of what the audience were about to experience. Highlights of the first set were a dreamy version of […]
Adam Glasser Quartet The Birley Centre, Eastbourne Tuesday 11th November 2014 This was the first time that I’d been to the Birley Centre in Eastbourne and it is essentially a purpose-built music block with an acoustically designed auditorium, that is part of Eastbourne College. The acoustics were excellent, helped by the […]
Tina May sings ACJ St. John’s Church, Brighton Saturday 8th November 2014 This was the third in a series of concerts featuring the music of Antônio Carlos Jobim arranged, with one exception, by multi-instrumentalist Robin Blakeman for the nine piece Luis Bonfá Society together with vocalist Tina May. The evening opened with […]
Neil Cowley Trio Brighton Dome Corn Exchange Thursday 9th October 2014 The lights go down and three figures emerge on to the stage, one of them tripping over something and swearing. There’s just enough light to see them in front of their instruments. Then the light show commences. Top marks to the lighting […]