“Stuff’s playing jumped out at me instantly,” remembers violinist Matt Holborn, who recently released an album, “For Stuff”, celebrating the pre-eminent, Ohio-born violinist. Stuff Smith will also be the focus of forthcoming concerts in the West Country, at Pizza Express [...]
This first of a pair of articles about Ray Brown by bassist John Goldsby. He surveys Ray Brown’s legacy through UKJN’s ten tracks format. John Goldsby recently bid farewell to the WDR Big Band, wrapping up a stellar 30-year collaboration. [...]
A good principle to live by as a musician – though one realistically honoured more in the breach than the observance – is to keep quiet unless you can find something more beautiful to play than the silence. And so [...]
From picturesque Norwegian tram rides to late-night London listening sessions, Kamasi Washington’s music has soundtracked moments of stillness, heartbreak and growth for musician and radio presenter, Rowan Flack. As she traces the spiritual and emotional depth of Washington’s discography, she [...]
In the latest of our series where musicians consider their idols or formative influences, composer Philip Clemo picks music by Anouar Brahem that has left its mark on him: Anouar Brahem was born in the Medina of Tunis, Tunisia in [...]
I was probably only a toddler when I first heard Nelson Riddle. My Grandfather would have Sinatra/Fitzgerald records playing all the time, but it wasn’t until my late teens that I knew him by name. My housemate at music college [...]
In the latest of our series where musicians consider their idols or formative influences, pianist Phil Merriman (*) picks music by Kenny Wheeler that has left its mark on him: Phil Merriman writes: My first window into Kenny Wheeler’s music [...]
Pianist Liam Noble has a new improvising project with synthesizers…working with dancer Maya Takeda (link to video below) which he describes as “work in progress”. For this article in UKJN’s “10 Tracks…” series he dives into the world of synths. [...]
In the latest of our series where musicians consider their idols or formative influences, Canadian musician and writer T Bruce Wittet (brief biography below*) writes about Jon Christensen Jon Christensen was a friend for many years until his death in [...]
The news of saxophonist David Sanborn’s death on 12 May 2024 at the age of 78 left many in the music world in sadness and shock. He had spent much of his life battling illness. Whether it was the serious [...]
