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

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.

Allexa Nava

Allexa Nava Quintet,  Ninety One Living Room, London, 25/04/2025 (Part of Brick Lane Jazz Festival).

Chris Bowden ‘The Hypnos Files’ ft. Neil Bullock & Louise Warren

Chris Bowden ‘The Hypnos Files’ ft. Neil Bullock & Louise Warren, Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, 24/04/2025.

Fergus McCreadie Trio

Fergus McCreadie Trio SJE Arts, St John the Evangelist, Oxford, 11/04/2025.

Doug Sides Legacy Band

Doug Sides Legacy Band, Corn Exchange Jazz Club, The Corn Exchange, Ross-on Wye, Herefordshire, 17/04/2025.

Jazz Mann Features

Brick Lane Jazz Festival, an alternative view, 27/04/2025.

Colin May takes his own look at Sunday's events with shows from Mark Kavuma, Miriam Adefris, Orii Orchestra, Brown Penny, Flock, and the trio of Alina Bzhezhinska, Tony Kofi & Joel Prime.

Sunday at Brick Lane Jazz Festival, London, 27/04/2025.

Guest contributor Dave Fuller enjoys final day performances by Alley Lloyd and her band and Gary Crosby's Africa Space Programme featuring Steve Williamson, Denys Baptiste & Winston Clifford

Jazz Mann News

Line up for ‘Jazz Women of the World’ Festival, May 9th to 11th, Birmingham.

Monday, May 05, 2025

Birmingham Jazz are hosting a three day Jazz Women of the World festival this weekend at 1000 Trades in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter, starting on Friday 9th May through to Sunday evening. 

Jazz in the West Midlands - May 6th to May 11th 2025.

Monday, May 05, 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.

Newcastle Arts Centre- Music Programme for May 2025.

Friday, May 02, 2025

Newcastle Arts Centre has announced its jazz and folk programme for May 2025. Details attached.

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Jazz Gigs & Events

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2025, various venues, Cheltenham, Glos.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - Monday, May 05, 2025

Blind Boys of Alabama at Union Chapel. Islington, London.

Tuesday, May 06, 2025

Gary Potter with Dave Cottle Trio at Swansea Jazz Club, Cu Mumbles, Mumbles, Swansea.

Wednesday, May 07, 2025

Yetii with Jake McMurchie at St. Laurence Parish Church, Stroud, Glos.

Wednesday, May 07, 2025

Isaiah Collier at The Blue Note, New York City, USA.

Thursday, May 08, 2025

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