One of the most important and best albums ever recorded, “Songs In The Key Of Life” by Stevie Wonder, celebrates its 50th release anniversary this year. It was the album that started everything for me in terms of music writing, listening, digging, appreciating and loving. It was and still is the best xmas present I…
You have probably heard singer Ekep Nkwelle on Kenny Barron’s vocal jazz album “Songbook” which came out last year. On the album of original material from the master pianist, she lends her voice to “Illusion” and “Sonia Braga”. This year at North Sea Jazz in Rotterdam, Kenny brought her with him for his set of…
Montreal-based singer and songwriter Dominique Fils-Aimé, who earlier this year released her album “My World Is The Sun” as part of her second album trilogy (her sixth album so far), is currently on a world tour and will hop over to Europe in October, see dates below. We saw her highly satisfying set, at least…
This year’s Enjoy Jazz Festival, the festival for Jazz and more, will run from October 2nd until November 7th. Singer and songwriter Souad Massi from Algier will open the festivities. She’ll be joined by French-Congolese rap star Youssoupha. The long-running festival has a lot to offer: Christian McBride & Ursa Major, Samora Pinderhughes Quintet feat….
Ed Motta, the Brazilian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer, nephew of legendary Tim Maia, just announced the release of his next album. “Toc-Toc”, due September 25th on the German-based MPS label, is his first album in Portuguese after about a decade dedicating his original work to an English-language repertoire. The new album, inspired by 1980s…
The legendary Blue Note Club is opening its first UK venue on St. Martin’s Lane in London, right in the heart of Covent Garden. The 300-seat main room has a smaller brother at the intimate, 130-seat B-Side, which will feature emerging artists for late sets. The first drop of shows for the fall and winter…
Ivan Lins, the iconic Brazilian singer, composer, and keyboardist, and one of the most recorded Brazilian composers abroad, who just turned 81 in June, was playing last night as part of the first Zig Zag Jazz Festival. In good spirits throughout the show, he talked in between songs with wit and humour and still sounded…
Back in 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall, Pope John Paul II passed away, and the first ever YouTube video was uploaded. Also, Stevie Wonder released his album “A Time To Love”. 22 years later, in 2027, there will be a new Stevie Wonder album. It remains to be seen if this will hold true. Apparently,…
Gretchen Parlato, whose new album “The Wise Ones” will be released on Edition Records on September 11th, was in town yesterday for the first ever Zig Zag Jazz Festival. Located on top of the Gasometer in a cozy little room, she actually played a lot of the new songs (it’s going to be a five-paw…
The first ever Zig Zag Jazz Festival, presented by the Zig Zag jazz club and Ella Radio, started last Monday with a concert by Dee Dee Bridgewater. We visited for the first time on Wednesday, for the double bill of Stacey Kent and Ledisi. It’s a pretty cool location, the Gasometer in Schöneberg, and easy…