At Pizza Express in Dean Street on 27 November, the audience will experience “a very special one-off appearance by the Pete Allen Jazz Band… whole-hearted ensemble playing, and confident, out-going solo work, a driving rhythm section, some sparky vocals, and [...]
“230 Musicians 50 Bands 1 Stroller Ticket….“ (Festival poster). “A well-balanced, diverse programme of quality music.” (Festival Director Paul Kelly.) Swanage Jazz Festival will take place from 12 to 14 July 2024. All sorts of jazz events or festive gatherings [...]
“We play it because it’s great music,” says bandleader Pete Long, who will be directing the latest of the Jazz Repertory Company’s recreations of defining moments in jazz. ‘Benny Goodman/Glenn Miller at Carnegie Hall 1939: The Battle of the Big [...]
Asked to justify the low level of grant support for jazz when compared to, say, opera, an Arts Council functionary once answered, “Jazz takes care of itself, doesn’t it?” In other words, grass-roots jazz promotion depends on unpaid enthusiasts and [...]
The jazz collective Way Out West (WOW) knew exactly what they wanted to do and duly assembled this special band of star players to help them do it. This was to celebrate local hero Tony Kinsey’s exceptional jazz longevity and [...]
Newbury-born traditional clarinettist (and occasional saxophonist) Pete Allen – who is also an Honorary Citizen of New Orleans for ‘his services to British jazz and tourism’ – will be celebrating 45 Years of band leading at PizzaExpress Jazz Club in [...]
The Down for the Count Orchestra and soloists will perform “Songs from The Golden Age of Swing at Cadogan Hall, London, 10 September 2023 (start time 6.30pm). In these cash-strapped times, what better way to cast aside the tribulations of [...]
Barely into her 20s and seemingly quite new to the game, you might assume that saxophonist Alex Clarke would still be feeling her way. Not so, on the evidence of this Imber Court performance. Ms Clarke knows where she wants [...]
Kai Hoffman was inspired by the film ‘Jazz on a Summer’s Day‘ to start the Herne Bay Jazz and Swing Festival. 2023 presents the sixth edition, at which 95% of the events are free admission, and just two have a [...]
This unique collaboration between Britain’s star jazz vocalist Claire Martin and Callum Au’s 50-piece orchestra and big band was originally set for its Cadogan Hall debut in June 2020. Their Songs and Stories album together on the Danish Stunt record [...]
