Winner of the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Media, 2019

Jazz Album Reviews

Matthew Kilner

The Space In Between

A highly impressive debut album from Kilner, who impresses both as an instrumentalist and a composer. I predict that we will be hearing a lot more from this hugely talented young musician.

Alison Rayner Quintet

SEMA4

The Exu

The Exu

Jake Long

City Swamp

Dave Manington’s Riff Raff

Weightless

Nick Costley-White

Poncha

Josephine Davies & The Ensō  Ensemble

The Celtic Wheel of the Year Suite

Jazz Mann Recommended Listening

The Mark Williams Trio

Long Way Out

Combining jazz and rock influences this is a particularly intelligent brand of ‘fusion’ that makes for very rewarding listening. This threesome find a lot to say within the format of the guitar trio.

Lars Danielsson / Verneri Pohjola / John Parricelli

Trio

Relaxed and intimate this is an album that speaks quietly, but eloquently. This is a remarkably well balanced trio.

Hattie Whitehead

Bloom

“Bloom” sees her tackling subjects ranging from the political to the intensely personal and doing so with intelligence and conviction. Her singing is technically accomplished and undeniably beautiful.

Number Junky

Birak

For all its rhythmic complexities the music of Number Junky, led by guitarist Kristian Borring, remains eminently melodic and accessible and has the potential to appeal to a broad jazz listenership.

Live Jazz Reviews

BMJ Collective with Alex Hutton

BMJ Collective with Alex Hutton, Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny, 11/05/2025.

Azhaar & Global Wave

Azhaar Saffar & Global Wave, The Muse Arts Centre, Brecon, 10/05/2025.

Empirical

Empirical, Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, 08/05/2025.

David Preston Mµ Quartet

David Preston Mµ Quartet, Birmingham Jazz, 1000 Trades, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, 02/05/2025.

Laura Jurd

Laura Jurd and Friends, St John The Evangelist, Oxford, 24/04/2025.

Liz Exell Quartet

Liz Exell Quartet, “Tributaries: Monk and Beyond”, Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny, 27/04/2025.

Jazz Mann Features

Music Spoken Here, Worcester celebrates three years and fifty shows.

On Thursday 22 May 2025, Evesham-based promoter Music Spoken Here will be celebrating a three-year residency at The Marr’s Bar, Worcester with their 50th show. Instigator Dave Fuller tells the story.

Make Show! - Monday at Cheltenham Jazz Festival, 05/05/2025.

Ian Mann enjoys five very different performances from acts featuring a passion for showmanship - Buena Vista Al Stars, Neil Cowley Trio, Macy Gray, Kim Cypher and Roger Daltrey.

Jazz Mann News

Jazz in the West Midlands - May 19th - 25th 2025.

Monday, May 19, 2025

A roundup of jazz, funk & soul gigs to check out this week in the West Midlands area. Listings supplied by Dave Fuller of Music Spoken Here, Worcester.

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 18/05/2025.

Monday, May 19, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 18/05/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

The Green Note, Camden Town, London - Newsletter, 16/05/2025.

Friday, May 16, 2025

The Green Note has forwarded its latest newsletter with details of forthcoming musical events.

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Jazz Gigs & Events

manchester jazz festival 2025, various venues, Manchester.

Friday, May 16, 2025 - Sunday, May 25, 2025

Lunchtime Jazz Nicolas Meier and Alex Hutton at Guildfod Jazz, The Guildford Institute, Guildford, Surrey.

Monday, May 19, 2025

Andrea Rinciari Quartet ft. Alex Garnett at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho, London.

Monday, May 19, 2025

The Andrew Cleyndert Quartet, “Straight Ahead Brazil” at Cheltenham Jazz Club, The Irving Studio, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham, Glos.

Monday, May 19, 2025

Karim Saber Quintet at Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester

Thursday, May 22, 2025

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