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

Kansas Smitty’s

We’re Not In Kansas Anymore

Kansas Smitty’s most mature and varied offering to date. The music is impressively varied in terms of style, colour, rhythm and texture and both the writing and the playing is excellent throughout.

Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra

Flying A Kite On An Empty Beach

Jo Lawry

Acrobats

The Gaz Hughes Trio

Beboptical Illusion

Eddie Gripper

Home

John Pope and John Garner

Water Music

Little North

Wide Open

Jazz Mann Recommended Listening

Sebastian Rochford / Kit Downes Duo

A Short Diary

Rochford and Downes have created a perfect mood piece that will resonate deeply with a broad array of listeners.

Rebecca Nash

Redefining Element 78

The balance between formal composition and improvisational flare is excellent, with the sextet and their guests rewardingly exploring musical elements that embrace jazz, rock, classical & electronica.

Beats & Pieces Big Band

Good Days

A growing compositional maturity, but still exhibiting some of that old punk jazz fire. The spirit of B&PBB is very much alive and kicking in 2023. It’s good to have them back.

Abbie Finn Trio

On Pink Lane

In a particularly well balanced group the standard of the playing is excellent throughout, with the trio combining well as a unit but also shining as individuals. A thoroughly satisfying album.

Live Jazz Reviews

John Law’s Re-Creations

John Law’s Re-Creations, The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury, 18/03/2023.

Xhosa Cole Quintet

Xhosa Cole Quintet, The Corn Exchange, King’s Head Hotel, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, 16/03/2023.

Hejira featuring Hattie Whitehead

Hejira feauring Hattie Whitehead celebrate Joni Mitchell, The Spin Jazz Club, The Tap Social, Botley, Oxford, 01/03/2023.

Rachel Starritt Trio

Rachel Starritt Trio, Brecon Jazz Club, The Muse Arts Centre, Brecon, 10/03/2023.

Esther Bennett

Esther Bennett Quintet, Kidderminster Jazz Club, 45 Live Venue, Kidderminster, 09/03/2023.

Robert Castelli Boom! Quartet / Tom Hodgkins Trio

Robert Castelli Boom! Quartet / Tom Hodgkins Trio, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, 02/03/2023.

Jazz Mann Features

Meet ‘Robot Glasper’: A ‘Jazzbot’ Who Invents His Own Solos.

Guest contributor Peter Cole interviews jazz engineer and lecturer Dave Clements, the inventor of 'Robot Glasper'.

Kim Cypher - ‘Bring Your Own Sunshine’ and ‘Brighter Tomorrow’ projects.

Saxophonist and vocalist Kim Cypher on two projects close to her heart, 'Bring Your Own Sunshine', which raises funds for cancer charity Maggie's and 'Brighter Tomorrow', a Tribute to The Arts.

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