The Jazz Mann | Jazz music reviews and news from the Jazz Mann Ian Mann

Winner of the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Media, 2019

Jazz Album Reviews

Shear Brass

Extraordinary Journey

A very classy piece of work. With instrumentalists and vocalists of this calibre it is hardly likely to be anything else.

Johnny Richards & Dave King

The New Awkward

Dom Franks’ StrayHorn Quartet

“Duality Pt: 02”

Finn Genockey

Tacet Trust

Harry Brunt

Carolina Peaches

Fraser Smith Quartet

Lifeline!

The Weave

Snishoo

Jazz Mann Recommended Listening

Emily Francis Trio

Atomic Tour Live

For anybody who has seen them at a gig this album is an essential souvenir, but it’s a recording that also stands up on its own merits. There’s some terrific writing and playing here.

Tom Smith

A Year In The Life

Smith displays an impressive maturity as both a player and a composer. His writing is rich, colourful and multi-faceted, exploring a variety of jazz styles over the course of the album.

Tim Boniface

“Psalter; Themes For Peace”

An impressive piece of work distinguished by intelligent writing and excellent playing, with all four musicians impressing with their contributions.

Small Blue

Furrow

The music is by turns beautiful, playful and evocative with the leader’s drums at the heart of the music in what is a particularly well calibrated trio. It’s a recording that Pyne can be proud of.

Live Jazz Reviews

Robert Castelli

Robert Castelli BOOM! Quartet, Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, 09/10/2025.

Julian Siegel Quartet

Julian Siegel Quartet, Frank and Mark’s Jazz, Iffley Church Hall, Iffley, Oxford, 04/10/2025.

Siglo Section Big Band with Kat Rees

Siglo Section Big Band with Kat Rees, Melville Centre, Abergavenny, 27/09/2025 (part of Wall2Wall Jazz Festival).

Tom Ford

Tom Ford, Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, 25/09/2025.

Ben Shankland Trio

Ben Shankland Trio, Birmingham Jazz, 1000 Trades, Jewellery Quartet, Birmingham, 12/09/2025.

Bryan Corbett

Bryan Corbett’s Instrumental Groove Unit, Corn Exchange Club, The Corn Exchange, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, 11/09/2025.

Jazz Mann Features

Sunday at Wall2Wall Jazz Festival, various venues, Abergavenny, 28/09/2025.

Some of the events on the free Community Sunday Afternoon programme, plus a brilliant sold out concert performance by pianist / vocalist Ian Shaw that explored the music of Joni Mitchell & David Bowie

Friday at Wall2Wall Jazz Festival, Melville Centre, Abergavenny, 26/09/2025.

Ian Mann enjoys musical performances by the Misha Mullov-Abbado Sextet and the Debs Hancock / Newman Tai Duo plus the striking visual imagery of the "Her Frame, Her Sound" photographic exhibition.

View more Jazz news