Happy new year everybody. We’re back after our holiday hiatus and just learned that several interesting projects are slated for release in the next few weeks. Blue Note recording artist, vibraphonist Joel Ross, returns on January 16th with “Gospel Music”, his fifth record for the label which also includes Josh Johnson on alto sax, Maria…
It was a Gondwana Records night on Tuesday at Hackney Church, the East London live venue which has hosted a lot of great artists in the past and which is one of the hosts of this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival. Gondwana Records, an independent label based in Manchester and founded by Matthew Halsall in…
As you probably know, Gina has left us on April 30th. Six months later, we thought it was time for a new doggie and here she is: two year old Gustel, originally from Turkey, was looking for a new home and she has finally settled in now, after about five days. She is a cuddle…
The seventh Rockit Festival last Saturday was a blast, once again. It was my third time in Groningen and the lineup was as promising as ever. I started out with a pretty intense performance by Immanuel Wilkins who was just nominated for a Grammy so this was, as he said from the stage, their Grammy…
There was this certain air of deep reverence when 91 year old Abdullah Ibrahim, one of the most influential and respected pianists today, took to the stage last night at Pfalzbau in Ludwigshafen, where he performed during this year’s Enjoy Jazz Festival. The South African pianist, who lives in Germany, was accompanied to the piano…
After a couple of weeks with a bout of flu-like symptoms or whatever you want to call it, we’re looking forward to visiting the Enjoy Jazz Festival for the very first time this year. Coming up this week in Ludwigshafen, Mannheim, and Heidelberg: ganavya, Makaya McCraven, the mighty Abdullah Ibrahim, and Jazz is Dead with…
I have never done this before on these pages, but I’d like to re-post this tribute to the late great Rod Temperton who would have turned 76 today. The article was published on October 6th, 2016, about 10 days after he succumbed to cancer (September 25th). When Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson were ready to record the epochal “Thriller”…
Harpist and composer Brandee Younger, who released her most personal and vulnerable album “Gadabout Season” this past June, is about to start her European tour. The album was recorded on Alice Coltrane’s harp and “reflects the journey — the search for meaning and beauty amid life’s most complex moments, ultimately emerging with a deeper sense…
New York-based singer Michael Mayo, who last year released his critically-acclaimed album “Fly”, recently added a handful of tracks to the album, all of them with the Swedish Norrbotten Big Band with Calle Rasmusson as arranger and conductor. The new songs once again show the immense versatility of Michael as a singer and songwriter on…
The duo of UK-based Andy Platts and Shawn Lee, also known as Young Gun Silver Fox, are touring Europe this month after the early May release of their fifth LP “Pleasure” on Légère Recordings. Their brilliant mix of so-called Yacht Rock, Blue-eyed soul (don’t like this term but there you go), and AOR sounds of…