Entertainer Marc Marshall and Baden-Baden Events are the hosts again for the 17th Mr. M’s Jazzclub Baden-Baden, from March 13th-15th. The singer has invited several top-notch musicians again, with Nathan East and Eric Marienthal as star guests on all three festival dates. Sy Smith, who received a five-paw review from Gina in early 2024 for…
Canadian singer Holly Cole hast just released her 13th album, called “Dark Moon”. And she continues her unique streak of mysterious and oblique soundscapes with her signature raspy voice. Holly works with her longtime collaborators Aaron Davis (piano, Rhodes), George Koller (bass), and Davidé DiRenzo (drums) plus guests Kevin Breit (guitar), Michael Davidson (vibes), Howard…
The 48th edition of the North Sea Jazz Festival will take place July 11th-13th at Rotterdam’s Ahoy. Just a few moments ago, the first names have been revealed. Artist in Residence this year is Jacob Collier and there will be several special performances: vibraphonist Jason Marsalis will play legendary big band leader Lionel Hampton in…
Brazilian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tim Bernardes has just announced four live dates in Europe in May. I saw him perform in Amsterdam in February of last year while he was on his European tour which didn’t include Germany back then. With his second LP, the 2022 released “Mil Coisas Invisíveis” on Coala Records, he…
We’re slowly but surely getting back to normal after a bout of flu-like symptoms knocked us out this past weekend. Unfortunately, our visit to Cologne’s Stadtgarten had to be cancelled. Pianist Kevin Hays and vibraphonist Jorge Rossy made a stop there to present material from their five-paw reviewed album “The Wait”. Thanks to our friend…
This year’s Transition Festival, the festival showcasing the latest developments in the international jazz scene, bringing forward-thinking and inspirational artists to the stage, will take place again at TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht on March 15th. The line-up for the 8th edition has just been announced and we are looking forward to reporting on this exciting event…
Michael Kiwanuka‘s absolutely stunning album “Small Changes”, his fourth and clearly his best to date, came out in late November in the middle of all the holiday buzz and chaos. It almost went unnoticed, but once the LP arrived, it made its way onto our turntables time and time again. I think the overall mood…
The World Music Showcase, the international showcase for emerging artists in world music, has called for applications until February 16th. The International World Music Showcase will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, on July 3rd and 4th. Each accepted application will be evaluated by a 5-member international jury. 12 participants will be selected to participate in the showcase…
Back in October 2022, German-American pianist Benjamin Lackner released his debut for the ECM label called “Last Decade”. It immediately summed up the typical ECM sound, if something like this exists after all. Lots of space, clarity, intimacy, and of course highest production values. Trumpeter Mathias Eick was on that particular record and he is…
It has become sort of a now really precious tradition: at each start of a new year, indie soul will get a top-notch representation via the three-CD “Luxury Soul” compilation on Expansion Records, thanks again to Ralph Tee. If you use our “Search” tool and put in “Luxury Soul”, you will get all of our…