UK Jazz News

Reviews

Brian Shaw and Nick Smart (Equinox, Feb 2025. 526pp)

The subject of this welcome biography, of course, would tell us that a book about him would interest scarcely anyone, and that his playing left much to be desired, although he might have written one or two worthwhile compositions. Kenny [...]

Glasgow-based saxophonist Brian Molley has forged strong links with India. His quartet’s previous album, Intercontinental, released in 2022, was a collaboration with percussionist Krishna Kishor, who recorded his contributions remotely in Chennai due to the covid epidemic. This latest release [...]

First, a disclaimer: It’s impossible for me to talk about Jim Mullen without being entirely subjective. He’s quite simply been my favourite guitarist and a hero of mine for 40 years. When I was about 18 I went to see [...]

It is always interesting to listen to an artist who challenges being pigeonholed into a particular genre or style. Belgian-Japanese pianist Alex Koo’s new album surprises you from one track to the next, while at the same time assuring the [...]

Pianist Johanna Summer and saxophonist Jakob Manz are two young leading lights of the German jazz scene, and this album featuring them in a duo setting shows us why. The many varied pleasures of this album come and go in [...]

Cafe Oto, 3 February 2025

Electric bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma brought his distinguished brew of hefty jazz funk to Cafe Oto with flair, driven intensity and a glowing, light touch. Funk is deeply rooted in his DNA, and flows in his blood, no question. Ornette Coleman [...]

Vocalist Emily Masser’s second album continues her ascent with pin-sharp singing, scat, polished vocalese and some original material honouring her late mother and very-much-present father saxophonist Dean Masser. It’s a delight from beginning to end. Still only 20 years old, [...]

Blackheath Halls, 23 January 2025

Bruno Heinen brought together his band The W (Heidi Vogel, Andrea di Biase, Gene Calderazzo) and an orchestra from Trinity Laban with two special string players as guests, Alice Zawadzki and Sascha Bota. It can be regarded as the “coming [...]

Unleashed Cooperation set what you might call a leisurely pace for their new releases; fans have had to wait more than two years for ‘Trust’, their second album. “8 Years”, released in 2022, was a success, and led to a [...]

Ronnie Scott's, 30 January 2025. First House

It has been clear for some time that Emma Rawicz is the rising star of UK jazz, but her jazz orchestra’s performance at Ronnie’s on 30 January 2025 has moved her into a new league. We knew that she is [...]

Advertisements

Wednesday Morning Headlines

Receive our weekly email newsletter with Jazz updates from London and beyond.

Wednesday Breakfast Headlines

Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter