UK Jazz News

John Bungey

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On his new album, pianist Terence Collie was not only the solo performer but also producer, sound engineer and camera operator. The ingredients were simple: a Yamaha grand piano; an empty hall; one session to wrap up the album with [...]

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Eddie Gripper at the piano

Cardiff-based pianist Eddie Gripper reflects on the life events that inspired his exceptional debut album: “This music comes from a very deep place in my heart”. For some musicians, lockdown was a career void – the age of the snow [...]

A Personal Journey

Alyn Shipton has lived the jazz life. No, not that one, the one that involves 3am gigs in bare-bulb speakeasies, cognac for breakfast, pawning your horn and OD-ing aged 34. BBC Radio 3 wouldn’t take kindly to any of that. [...]

A Complete Career Collection

“Listening back to old efforts is a bit like looking back through faded photo albums; you’re mostly embarrassed not only by the terrible jeans you wore, but by the fact that you didn’t know they were terrible.” Come on Bill, [...]

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+ tour dates

Mind-Ear-Ladder is the debut album from the quintet co-led by saxophonist Alex Merritt and trumpeter Steve Fishwick, (Fresh Sound New Talent). The album puts a new spin on a classic jazz sound – 1960s Blue Note. Both musicians are also [...]

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When making jazz is “the most fun ever”

Bandleader, composer and saxophonist Trish Clowes explains how her band, My Iris, has taken the spirit of adventure into the studio for their new album. The essence of jazz, it’s been said, is never to play the same thing once. [...]

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Laila Biali

(Ronnie Scott's, 3 May)

She’s acclaimed in her native Canada for her covers of jazz classics but she’s sung pop with Sting and adapted rock hits too, so what sort of show will the award-winning singer-pianist bring to London in May? John Bungey finds [...]

Anyone remember “hygge”? Before the perma-crisis of plague and war, the Danish term defined as “a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being” seduced UK style mags. In 2016 the glossies were full [...]

Well this is an extraordinary album, not extraordinarily good, not extraordinarily bad – just extraordinary. Being the manager of Brad Mehldau‘s record label must require an indulgent heart. While the pianist has recorded some of the best jazz trio albums [...]

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Live dates at Pizza Express Dean St & Toulouse-Lautrec

Ciyo Brown is a musician who has worked with greats of jazz, pop and reggae is getting vocal on his new album. This feature by John Bungey tells the story of a guitarist and “gentleman of jazz” finding his true [...]

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