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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
Zara McFarlane The Komedia, Brighton Saturday 28th March, 2018 The night outside may be freezing but there’s already a decent sized crowd gathered under the Komedia’s notoriously low ceiling and support act Thabo is doing his utmost to warm them up. He gives a lesson in effortless charisma, and despite appearing with just […]
The Cloggz St. Nicholas Church, Brighton Saturday 17th March, 2018 Mark Edwards’ The Cloggz are a band that grew out of longstanding friendships amongst local musicians, and this close bond is evident with every performance. New drummer Darren Beckett did a great job in negotiating the arrangements and fitting in with the ensemble. […]
Portrait of Cannonball The Verdict, Brighton Friday 16th March, 2018 Covering all of the classic Adderley brother’s repertoire, this show was put together by pianist Alex Webb and featured the frontline soloing power of alto saxophonist Tony Kofi and trumpeter Byron Wallen. An entertaining show, but hardly a whistle-stop tour of Cannonball’s career, […]