Music Spoken Here, Worcester announces programme for Autumn 2025

Sunday, August 03, 2025

Music Spoken Here has announced its programme for September to December 2025. Events take place fortnightly at The Marr's Bar, Worcester.

From;
https://musicspokenhere.club/events/

Note that from the Autumn 2025, our events will start 30 minutes earlier than previously, with doors at 7:30pm for an 8pm start.

Zeñel
September 11 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
EDM beats, jazz improvisation and kick-ass tunes
Zeñel return to Worcester to kick off our Autumn season with a “Replay” series, featuring five select bands that played in the first season of Music Spoken Here at The Marr’s Bar. Zeñel made their first appearance in June 2023 and have since released their third album “Tilde”.
The band are London based trumpeter and producer Laurence Wilkins, Portuguese native Zoe Pascal on drums, and keyboard virtuosos Jay Verma and Alex Wilson sporting a seemingly infinite array of patches. They utilise a unique approach to midi and computer-based sound design to deliver a poetic combination of Jazz improvisation crossed with the world of electronic music, drawing from sounds seldom heard in live band contexts, inspired by cultural heritage of electronic music from the UK and globally.

Tom Ford
September 25 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
A diverse mix of genres with an emphasis on improvisation and elements paying tribute to The Police, The Smiths, Allan Holdsworth and Milton Nascimento
Our Re:play series, featuring five select bands from our 2022/23 season of Music Spoken Here at the Marr’s Bar, continues with Tom Ford. Tom made his first appearance in September 2022, the third event on our nascent program at the time!
Tom Ford has been a steady member of the UK jazz scene for the past 10 years having regularly performed at Ronnie Scotts, Jazz Cafe, 91 living room and more as well as being a regular sideman for Reuben James, Jas Kayser and Jay Phelps. He has also been welcomed into the US and European jazz scenes respectively touring and recording with Chris ‘daddy’ Dave’s Drumhedz, Keyon Harrold, Pet Eldh’s Projekt Drums amongst others. Outside of jazz he also writes and produces for many people in both the jazz and commercial world, having worked across the world in LA, NY, Europe and Brazil.
His return coincides with a new album “Goodbye Forever”, which he sees as a rebirth creatively and artistically, moving away from his past sound and ideas and transitioning to a new version of his creative self. His music is a diverse mix of genres and influences but with a heavy emphasis on improvisation, even though there are elements paying tribute to The Police, The Smiths, Allan Holdsworth and Milton Nascimento.
Tom will be joined by Christos Stylianides on trumpet, Daisy George on bass (who both appeared with Jas Kayser and Chums in January this year) and Nathan Shingler on drums, along with MC Chase Alex from Chicago.

Robert Castelli & BOOM!
October 9 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Get carried away into the world of Afro-Cuban music, West African rhythms and jazz-rock of the seventies and eighties
We are delighted to have Robert Castelli return with his BOOM UK band for the third show in our Re:Play series featuring five select bands who performed in the first year of Music Spoken Here at The Marr’s Bar.
Hailing from New York, with Italian heritage and now living in Spain, third-generation drummer Robert named his band BOOM inspired by the short-lived 1979’ Trio of Doom’ (John McLaughlin, Tony Williams and Jaco Pastorius). The concept is based on the energy of the music.
Robert explains: “Sometimes you go to a club and there’s a band playing and you hear people talking and glasses clinking. Then you see another band, they are not louder, but all of a sudden, an electricity goes through the room and everybody is quiet. That’s Boom.”
The UK BOOM line-up features Francesco LoCastro on guitar, Marco Marconi on piano and Jonny Wickham on bass. While this will be the second appearance of BOOM on the Music Spokem Here program, it will be the third appearance for both Francesco who brought his own quartet up in May 2023 and Jonny, who appeared with Steve Taylor’s Fusion Phew in May 2024.

Re:play Session 4 | Resolution 88
October 23 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Original tunes steeped in 70s jazz-funk of Herbie Hancock featuring lashings of Fender Rhodes
Delighted to welcome Resolution 88 back to The Marr’s Bar for the fourth session in our Re:play series featuring five select bands and artists that played in our 2022/23 season when we were just getting started.
Resolution 88 have established themselves as one of the UK’s leading exponents of funk jazz. Their music fuses the sound of the modern London jazz scene with the inspirational greats of the 70’s such as Herbie Hancock’s Head Hunters and the classic Mizell Brothers productions on Blue Note and is synonymous with the beautiful sound of the Fender Rhodes.
The lineup features bandleader Tom O’Grady on keys and sees the return of Tom Smith on sax (Tom was a last minute dep when Tristan Banks played for us in April 2023). The lineup is completed with Tiago Coimbra (bass), Oli Blake (percussion) and Ric Elsworth (drums).

Re:play Session 5 | Rosie Frater-Taylor
November 13 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
An electrifying force in contemporary British jazz weaves rock, alt-pop, neo-soul, new-school jazz, and folk into her singular sound.
Making her third appearance at The Marr’s Bar, virtuoso guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Rosie Frater-Taylor returns for the final session in our Re:play series featuring artists who performed for us when we were just getting started. Rosie’s trio played the final gig of our first year on 22nd December 2022. She since returned with Steve Taylor’s Fusion Phew in May last year.
Rosie wrote, recorded, produced and released her debut album ‘On My Mind’ in 2018, comprising eight original songs with her playing guitar, ukulele, bass and singing with her dad Steve Taylor on drums. That was followed up by ‘Bloom’ in 2021 that included covers of Stevie Nicks’ Dreams (which has received over 2m streams) and Crazy by Seal.
Her third album ‘Featherweight’, released last year, draws on the legacy of luminaries such as Joni Mitchell, Pat Metheny and Steely Dan, while incorporating modern, rock-tinged influences like John Mayer, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Madison Cunningham. Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page lauded her exceptional “connection with the guitar” following her performance at the Gibson Garage launch in February last year.
Rosie will be performing in her regular trio with Dave Edwards on bass and Tom Potter (2016 Young Drummer of the Year).

Allexa Nava
November 27 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Fiery saxophonist, flautist and composer from Peru making her mark on the UK scene.
I first saw London-based Peruvian saxophonist, flautist and composer Allexa Nava when she performed with the all-female Latin band Colectiva at the Brick Lane Jazz Festival in 2024. She has since been forging her solo career with the release of her debut EP ‘No Language’ in February this year, appearing on the Future Jazz Showcase program at The Jazz Cafe in London in April and plenty of other live performances in the UK and abroad. She has also been a fixture performing in the band for the “Paradise Under The Stars” Cuban experience show in London and is a regular performing and recording buddy of the young trumpeter Poppy Daniels.
Allexa will be performing with her quartet featuring Emile Hinton on keys, Jai Patel on trombone and Cassius Cobbson on drums.

Thursday, December 11, 2025
Eddie Parker’s Airborn will be coming to Worcester in December to play our last show of 2025!
Along with Iain Ballamy (Apr 2024) and Mark Lockheart (coming up in 2026), this will leave only 18 more members of the legendary Loose Tubes ensemble (who I’ve only seen once, at their reunion gig in 2014 at Ronnie Scotts) to appear on our stage!
Life goals!
Featuring Eddie Parker (flute, keyboards) Rob Luft (guitar) , Jay Davis (drums) and Dave Manington (bass).

TICKETS
Music Spoken Here is proud to offer exceptional live music experiences in Worcester at a price affordable to you. Our fortnightly events at The Marr’s Bar are ticketless, just show up on the night and pay what you can afford on the door.
The suggested contribution for each event is £15.
You can find out more about our admission and membership options at A New Approach
https://musicspokenhere.club/a-new-approach/

Venue;
The Marrs Bar
12 Pierpoint Street
Worcester,
Worcestershire
WR1 1TA

Brigitte Beraha’s Lucid Dreamers - new album and UK live dates, September 2025.

Saturday, August 02, 2025

Vocalist & songwriter Brigitte Beraha and her band Lucid Dreamers will release their new album "Teasing Reflections" on 12th September 2025, followed by a short series of UK live dates.

We have received the following press release;

Brigitte Beraha’s Lucid Dreamers
TEASING REFLECTIONS
Let Me Out Records – LMOCD004
Album release (CD & digital): Friday 12 September 2025

CONCERT DATES

18 September – Bristol, The Bebop Club

19 September – Birmingham Jazz, 1000 Trades

20 September – Newtown, Hafan Yr Afon

24 September – London, The Vortex (album launch)

Teasing Reflections is the third album by Lucid Dreamers, the ensemble led by vocalist and composer Brigitte Beraha, featuring George Crowley (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, electronics), Alcyona Mick (piano, synth) and Tim Giles (drums, percussion, electronics). All acclaimed bandleaders, the quartet’s deep musical rapport - refined over years of collaboration - is immediately apparent. Each musician contributes to the album’s balance of structure and spontaneity, shaping a sound that is both exploratory and cohesive.

Beraha’s seven original compositions touch on themes of communication, destiny, identity and meaning – exploring both the absurdity and profundity of language, politics and the human experience. Her distinctive compositional voice shines through, combining lyrical beauty, social commentary and free-spirited improvisation.

The opening track ‘Words’ sets the tone with a nonsensical ‘speech’ delivered with confident conviction by all four band members (plus Alex Bonney, who also mixed and mastered the album). The piece satirises political rhetoric before giving way to an honest, emotive and comedic collective improvisation – a bold statement of intent. ‘White Noise’ begins as a spacious, almost rock-inflected ballad. It evokes themes of displacement, conflict and resilience, with a stirring interplay between voice, piano and saxophone underpinned by a heartbeat of pulsing drums. ‘Arnaud’ (Parts I & II) offers a cinematic depiction of a life’s unfolding – from playful childhood to a determined march toward destiny. A combination of improvised textures, melodic motifs and evolving rhythms captures the unpredictability of a personal journey. ‘The Matrix’ poses existential questions in one of the album’s most jazz-inflected moments – a spacious, contemplative ballad where voice, piano and saxophone dance around the question of agency and fate. ‘Moonstruck’, reimagined from Beraha’s solo album By the Cobbled Path (2021), is a hypnotic, atmospheric work. It begins with an intimate voice-and-drums improvisation giving way to a poem which evokes hazy insomniac nights, the impermanence of things and light dancing and shifting, with all its ‘teasing reflections’.  ‘What Does It Mean (to be)’ closes the album with a memorable melody and a quietly profound message – a gentle yet powerful reflection on human purpose and connection.

With Teasing Reflections Beraha and Lucid Dreamers invite listeners on a dreamlike, thought-provoking journey. From the ridiculous to the sublime, the album is both playful and profound, exploring what it means to be human. “This album is deeply personal, reflecting both my own experiences and those of others in relation to this crazy and wonderful world that we live in,” says Beraha. “Playing and improvising with George, Alcyona and Tim is a pure joy, and I am so happy to be able to share what was captured in the studio.”

Teasing Reflections is released on Let Me Out Records in association with ECN Music.

Recorded at Livingston Studios on 3 December 2024, engineered by Marcus Locock and Riley Spencer, mixed and mastered by Alex Bonney and produced by Beraha.

Brigitte Beraha: https://www.brigitteberaha.com/

Let Me Out Records: https://www.letmeoutrecords.com/

Brigitte Beraha is a celebrated British/Turkish jazz vocalist, composer and lyricist, renowned for her adventurous style and use of the voice as an instrument. Her multicultural upbringing informs a sound that blends jazz, Latin, classical and electronic influences. Early albums Prelude to a Kiss (2005) and Flying Dreams (2008) mixed jazz standards with original compositions, while By the Cobbled Path (2021) explored electronic textures. With her ensemble Lucid Dreamers, she released Lucid Dreamers (2020) and Blink (2022), the latter supported by Arts Council England. A frequent collaborator (Babelfish, Solstice) and respected educator, she has earned Jazz FM, Parliamentary Jazz and Ivors Composer Awards nominations.

Distribution via ECN Music/Proper Music: https://propermusic.com/

ECN Music: https://ecnmusic.com/

Julian Joseph OBE awarded Honorary Doctorate by University of Southampton.

Saturday, August 02, 2025

British jazz pianist and composer Julian Joseph OBE was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Music) for his contributions to music, education, and cultural life by the University of Southampton.

We have received the following press release;

Turner Sims Press Release:

University of Southampton awards Honorary Doctorate to celebrated British Jazz Musician Julian Joseph

British jazz pianist and composer Julian Joseph OBE was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Music) for his extraordinary contributions to music, education, and cultural life by the University of Southampton at a Graduation Ceremony on Wednesday 23 July 2025.

One of the finest jazz musicians to emerge this side of the Atlantic, Julian has devoted his distinguished career to championing music across the UK and around the world. His performances, compositions, and broadcasts have inspired audiences globally, while his charitable work and dedication to education have made a lasting impact on Britain’s cultural landscape.

Julian has been a formative presence in jazz education, generously sharing his expertise through a wide range of educational programmes. His commitment to nurturing young talent has helped preserve and promote the heritage of jazz for future generations.

His relationship with Southampton spans over 30 years. His first performance at the University’s music venue Turner Sims was in 1994, and he has delighted our audiences regularly ever since. This autumn, he returns to the concert hall with his latest project, ‘Atmospheres in Audio Theatre’ – a bold and immersive exploration of sound and storytelling.

Turner Sims Concert Hall Manager Kevin Appleby, who nominated Julian said,
“Julian Joseph’s longstanding relationship with Southampton – the city, the University, and Turner Sims – along with his national and international profile and influence made him a perfect artist choice for nomination for an honorary degree.  To be able to celebrate his artistry and inspiration when the concert hall was marking its own 50th  anniversary has added to the sense of a special occasion at the end of a landmark year.”

Julian Joseph said,
“Southampton has been a city of amazing good fortune for me. A city of knowledge, education and performance and a place absolutely about family born of close musical ties. The Solent Youth Jazz Orchestra in the mid 1990s led by brilliant charismatic teenager back then Dan Mar-Molinero fostered a long term engagement with young musicians and an ongoing enduring and soulful friendship and musical collaboration with Dan to this very day. The university’s wonderful venue Turner Sims under the expert guidance and artistic programming of Kevin Appleby has been a haven of encouragement and positivity radiating the highest level of music making, thinking and creation to a very receptive audience in and around Southampton including students and faculty from the university it’s situated in.  To be recognised with an honorary doctorate underlines the interest and care Turner Sims and their wonderful team led by Kevin takes in the wider work of an artist to welcome me back numerous times over decades for me to share my music and I look forward to returning in October to continue the story. Thank you University of Southampton, Turner Sims Concert Hall, The Mar-Molinero family and Kevin Appleby.”

Turner Sims is the University of Southampton’s music venue, welcoming all for the joy of music. Opened at Highfield campus in 1974, the venue plays an influential role in Southampton and the region’s cultural scene. Audiences travel miles to experience music legends and rising stars in Turner Sims’ ‘brilliant acoustics’ and ‘varied and imaginative programme’ (Audience comments).www. turnersims.co.uk  

 The University of Southampton drives original thinking, turns knowledge into action and impact, and creates solutions to the world’s challenges. It is among the top 100 institutions globally (QS World University Rankings 2023). The University’s academics are leaders in their fields, forging links with high-profile international businesses and organisations, and inspiring a 22,000-strong community of exceptional students, from over 135 countries worldwide. Through high-quality education, the University helps students on a journey of discovery to realise their potential and join a global network of over 200,000 alumni.
http://www.southampton.ac.uk  
 

Turner Sims is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, which means funding thanks to taxpayers plays a huge part in supporting our work.

The Green Note, Camden Town, London - Newsletter, 02/08/2025.

Saturday, August 02, 2025

The Green Note, which is about to celebrate its 20th anniversary, has forwarded its latest newsletter with details of forthcoming musical events.

Hello Green Note Music Lovers,

August is a special month for us at Green Note - this August marks our 20 year anniversary!!  And the month is shaping up to be an unforgettable one - from high‑energy rhythm & blues to cinematic Americana and atmospheric folk ensembles, we’ve hand‑picked a line‑up that will carry you from foot‑stomping nights to intimate, candlelit listening experiences and from exciting Green Note debuts to some of our favourite returning acts. Everything you’ve come to expect from Green Note over the past 20 years!

We’re also planning some special 20th anniversary merchandise and are on the look out for artists, designers and illustrators to get involved, so if this sounds like you or someone you know, read on!

UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS…

Upcoming Green Note debuts we’re super excited for include folk inspired all female group MURMURATIONS (Wed 6th Aug), weaving cello, flute, bouzouki and harmonium into atmospheric, folk‑infused soundscapes; Americana lovers will enjoy Nashville’s GRANVILLE AUTOMATIC (Tue 12th Aug) with their cinematic storytelling songs, while guitar maestro IAGO BANET, ‘The Galician King of Acoustic Guitar’ (Wed 13th Aug) is sure to mesmerise with his wordless instrumental tales. We also welcome the eclectic MAYDAN ENSEMBLE (Fri 15th Aug) of the North London Jazz Collective, who blend modern jazz with Arabic, Anatolian and Persian folk traditions for a truly global listening experience. All of these acts have come highly recommended to us and we can’t wait to welcome them to our stage!

We’re also delighted to see the return of many Green Note favourites this month: blues legend ERROL LINTON (Sat 16 th Aug), gorgeous blues singer MELISSA JAMES (Sun 17th Aug) who blends folk, gospel, jazz and life tales with a large helping of soul, one‑man‑band RORY MCLEOD (Thu 14th Aug), and the stunning world jazz vocalist VIMALA ROWE (Tue 19th Aug) makes a very welcome return after an extended break and we can’t wait to welcome her back! Eastern European swing comes alive with DUNAJSKA KAPELYE (Sun 10th Aug), while the ever brilliant VAGABAND (Fri 8th Aug) bring their Americana‑inflected folk‑rock, and one of the top New Orleans R&B outfits in London, TIM PENN & THE SECOND LINE (Sat 9th Aug) serve up a heady gumbo next weekend! And this weekend sees the ever‑popular HARRY DIPLOCK SESSIONS (Sun 3rd Aug) deliver dazzling gypsy‑jazz in true Django style, and THE VOODOO VENDORS (Sat 2nd Aug) featuring Congo Faith Healers frontman Sonny West, bring their high‑energy voodoo rhythm & blues to our stage, guaranteed to get you moving! All very highly recommended!!

This is just a selection of the many incredible artists who will be gracing our Green Note stage in the coming weeks, so please do check out our EVENTS PAGE for the full listings. Whether you’re into rebel folk, rootsy soul, gypsy jazz or vintage rock ’n’ roll, Green Note is your home for unforgettable live music! And please note that many of our shows sell out in advance, so we highly recommend grabbing your tickets early to avoid disappointment!

And if you can’t decide what to book for, check out our SPOTIFY PLAYLIST for a taster of what’s coming up in August!
August 2025 Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2ZtYB1tiGeDVBZpj9Ahmm1?si=Ex5TrjnUReC0ib-fGc2R_w&nd=1&dlsi=1815ae4e194a4809

CALLING ALL ARTISTS, DESIGNERS & ILLUSTRATORS
We will be celebrating 20 years of Green Note this year(!!!), and we are planning to make some special merchandise for the occasion.
We’re looking for someone who can design some artwork for us, so if you love Green Note and have the skills, please get in touch and send us some examples of your work. It’ll be a unique chance to be part of Green Note history. The deadline to apply is Friday 8th August.

Hope to see you soon!
Lots of love,
Immy & Risa xx

COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS…

Luke Concannon (Matinée Show)
Sat 2nd August
Renowned for his magnetic live performances and ‘direct-from-the-heart’ songs

The VoodooVendors
Sat 2nd August
A hot & heavy, stamp-your-feet-and-dance, savage Voodoo rhythm ‘n’ blues duo! With Congo Faith Healers frontman Sonny West at the helm, “These guys really rock!” Ronnie Wood

Drums of the World - drum workshop
Sun 3rd August
Global adventures in rhythm. An exciting and interactive drum workshop presented by Elephant Drums and led by Adam Teixeira.

Harry Diplock Sessions
Sun 3rd August
The music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli… Joined monthly by some of the best gypsy jazz musicians from across Europe, come for an evening of improvisation and surprises!

Songwriting Workshop for Young People (afternoon)
Mon 4th August
Free songwriting workshop for young people (all levels), with two world-renowned songwriters, Michele Stodart & Boo Hewerdine
**SOLD OUT**

DUEA
Mon 4th August
DUEA’s music has its roots in traditional melodies, but takes off with original songs for two violins, contaminated by international folk and a pinch of electronics

Murmurations
Wed 6th August
The all female group combines Irish bouzouki, mandolin, cello, flute and harmonium to create what has been referred to as ‘music for the moors’.

Julian Taylor
Thu 7th August
“…one of the strongest Americana recordings we’ve heard year to date.” Glide Magazine / “…crisp, modern, and listenable… a stunning work of country-folk…” The Bluegrass Situation

The Vagaband
Fri 8th August
Extraordinary blend of Americana, toe-tapping folk-jazz and soulful rock… “constantly delights and surprises…” ***** Americana in Technicolour

Tim Penn & The Second Line
Sat 9th August
A heady gumbo of of things Louisianan! Featuring the music of Fats Domino , Dr John, Allen Toussaint and Professor Longhair and more!

Dunajska Kapelye
Sun 10th August
Traditional Gypsy and Eastern European tunes shot through with searing jazz improvisation…

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman
Mon 11th August
From their roots in 90’s folk supergroup ‘Equation‘ through to becoming a revered duo in the folk music scene this multi award-winning folk music couple continue to exude timeless class with their exquisite brand of traditional and contemporary acoustic music.

Granville Automatic
Tue 12th August
“Amazingly cinematic and gorgeously picturesque alt-country songs. An accomplished narrative that avoids maudlin melodrama and revels in an emotional weight that extends through the centuries.” — American Songwriter ​

Iago Banet
Wed 13th August
Described as ‘a master of the guitar’ by Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3 In Tune; as ‘nothing short of phenomenal’ in a recent review, and as a ‘highly recommended artist’ by Celtic Connections, Iago creates stories without words, enthralling audiences as he does so.

Rory McLeod
Thu 14th August
A one-man-soul-band, and poet

Maydan Ensemble
Fri 15th August
The Maydan Ensemble of the North London Jazz Collective is a special new quartet that blends modern jazz with Arabic, Anatolian and Persian folk music

Errol Linton
Sat 16th August
Three times winner of ‘UK Blues Harmonica Player of the year’, Errol Linton plays eclectic British blues, but with a nod to his Caribbean heritage.

Open-mic
hosted by Rob Thom
Sun 17th August, 1pm
Well-established, relaxed and friendly open mic…

Melissa James
Sun 17th August
“Best current British blues singer I know.” (Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music), “James takes all of her musical loves – jazz, blues, soul, folk – and wraps them up into songs that achieve an astonishing array of moods and emotions.” ( Jazzwise)

Blue Rose Code
Mon 18th August
New songs, borrowed songs, songs from the BRC canon, you’ll get to hear the stories away from the edifice of a big band and be part of bringing the new album to life.
**SOLD OUT**

The Vimala Rowe Quartet
Tue 19th August
World Jazz vocalist debuts her new show created from eclectic influences of music from Jazz and Blues to African and Indian folk, UK Indie and Soul. ‘A singer of quite astonishing versatility and adaptability’  London Jazz News / ‘A stunning performance’  Jazzwise

Buddy Mondlock
Wed 20th August
“Buddy Mondlock writes beautiful songs and plays the kind of guitar they deserve. He’s a fine person and a fine artist.” Townes Van Zandt / “He is one of my favorite writers.” Nanci Griffith

Esther Dee
Thu 21st August
Singer-songwriter who has performed with Riverdance, Yes, and Medieval Bæbes plays songs from her upcoming album with her full band.

Elliott Morris
Fri 22nd August
With a coveted Danny Kyle Award from Celtic Connections, and 3 awards from Italy’s premier world music festival, Elliott Morris has a formidable reputation as one of the hardest-working and most sought-after artists on the acoustic scene.

The London Bluegrass Band
Sat 23rd August
A collective, dedicated to showcasing and fostering the bluegrass scene in the capital!

Lachlan Bryan
& The Wildes
Sun 24th August
Critically acclaimed Australian band plays, with songs ranging from hard hitting social commentary to deeply personal musings, but each containing a unique turn of phrase, dark humour and an ever-present sense of romance

Green Note, 106 Parkway, London, NW1 7AN

http://www.greennote.co.uk

Iona Lane - live dates July / August 2025.

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Folk singer, guitarist and songwriter Iona Lane has a short series of gigs scheduled for late July / early August 2025. Details attached.

Iona Lane writes;

Hey folks, summer feels like it’s moving very quickly now. As we moved past the solstice the nights are drawing in slowly but surely. I have been at home in the Highlands for a few weeks, resting and finding my feet after the majority of my touring.

I have five shows left this summer before I nestle away until the late autumn and it would be great to see you this week!

30th July - Alnwick Playhouse, Alnwick

31st July - The Gregson Centre, Lancaster

1st August - Cody Dock Nest Collective, London* SOLD OUT

2nd August - Earthship, Brighton*

3rd August - Cafe #9, Sheffield SOLD OUT

*opening for Joshua Burnside

Tickets from;
https://www.ionalane.com/live

This coming Friday is Bandcamp Friday where Bandcamp waiver their fees so that independent artists receive a greater cut of sales. On Friday I am going to be donating all revenue from my Bandcamp shop to Medical Aid For Palestinians (MAP). They work for the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees. So if you’re thinking of grabbing some music or merch Friday is the day this week!
https://ionalane.bandcamp.com/

Stay safe and sending best wishes,
Iona x

http://www.ionalane.com

Black Mountain Jazz, Abergavenny announces main concert headliners for 2025 Wall2Wall Jazz Festival.

Monday, July 28, 2025

Black Mountain Jazz has announced its headline concerts for the 2025 Wall2Wall Jazz Festival which will take place from 26 - 28th September.

From http://www.blackmountainjazz.co.uk

The Misha Mullov-Abbado Group
Fri 26 Sept |  The Melville Theatre
Time & Location
26 Sept 2025, 20:00 – 23:00
The Melville Theatre, 4 Pen-Y-Pound, Abergavenny NP7 5UD, UK
About the event
Our wall2wall Jazz Festival weekend starts with an exciting lineup - The Misha Mullov- Abbado Group brings together some of London’s most acclaimed jazz musicians. Blending jazz with classical, folk, and Latin influences, the group performs original music that’s rich in melody, rhythm, and groove.
Led by award-winning bassist and composer Misha Mullov-Abbado, their latest album, Effra (Ubuntu Music 2025), follows three critically acclaimed releases, with previous praise from The Telegraph and BBC Radio 3.
Expect vibrant, genre-crossing sounds from one of the UK’s most exciting jazz ensembles.
Liam Dunachie : Piano / Scott Chapman : Drums / Misha Mullov-Abbado : Double Bass / James Davison : Trumpet / Matthew Herd : Alto Sax / Sam Rapley: Tenor sax
“An unfailing inventive, artfully produced, and delightfully sunny debut.” - The Telegraph on New Ansonia(UK)
“One of the finest young bands in the country” - Jazz FM
“Soul-enhancing jazz” - BBC Radio 3
“A mouthwatering prospect” - Jazzwise
Website http://www.mishamullovabbado.com
Tickets
Ticket type
General Admission
Price
From £14.00 to £28.00
Standard
£28.00
Friends of BMJ
£26.00
Under 18’s
£14.00

The Siglo Section featuring Kat Rees
Sat 27 Sept |  The Melville Theatre
Time & Location
27 Sept 2025, 20:00 – 23:00
The Melville Theatre, 4 Pen-Y-Pound, Abergavenny NP7 5UD, UK
About the event
wall2wall Jazz Festival is proud to welcome The Siglo Section, Cardiff’s hottest young big band, to this year’s festival lineup.
Founded in 2019 by dynamic duo Matt Lush and Loz Collier, The Collective has quickly established itself as one of South Wales’s premier jazz ensembles - bringing a bold, youthful energy to the big band tradition.
This 18-piece powerhouse features the classic big band formation - saxes, trumpets, trombones and a full rhythm section. Their repertoire blends swing-era classics with modern funk, innovative arrangements and original works from within the band.
This vibrant ensemble showcases South Wales’ top emerging talent and features the standout vocalist Kat Rees. Kat is a Welsh bilingual jazz singer celebrated for her soulful voice and innovative blend of traditional and contemporary jazz. Featured on BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio3, she made history with The Siglo Section by releasing the first original Welsh-language big band jazz EP. Praised as the “Welsh Ella Fitzgerald,” Kat continues to captivate audiences both live and on air.
More than just a band, The Siglo Section is a vibrant musical community - a hub for creativity, collaboration and high-calibre live performance. Whether they’re channelling the golden age of jazz or pushing boundaries with contemporary sounds, their performances are electrifying, fresh and not to be missed.
Join us at wall2wall Saturday to experience the energy, skill, and spirit of the next generation of big band jazz.
Tickets
Ticket type
General Admission
Price
From £14.00 to £28.00
Standard
£28.00
Friends of BMJ
£26.00
Under 18’s
£14.00

Ian Shaw Performs the Music of Joni Mitchell and David Bowie
Sun 28 Sept |  The Melville Theatre
Time & Location
28 Sept 2025, 20:00 – 23:00
The Melville Theatre, 4 Pen-Y-Pound, Abergavenny NP7 5UD, UK
About the event
Closing our festival weekend, multi-award-winning singer, Ian Shaw, performs one of his favourite shows, fusing the words and music of two of popular music’s genius giants - Joni Mitchell and David Bowie.
Traversing the mammoth back catalogue of these legendary and influential artists, this solo show draws on stories from the early seventies and our own ideals of love, hope and the endless presence of the darker truths of recent times.
Shaw recorded a critically highly praised album of Joni Mitchell (‘Drawn To All Things’, Linn Records) and has a personal connection to both, which is the core of this exciting show. This promises to be a highly charged evening of tears, laughter and simply great song writing.
“Jazz singer Ian Shaw is almost too talented for his own good…a brilliant vocal chameleon”; The Telegraph
“Great jazz singers, like great comedians, are masters of timing. That Ian Shaw is a virtuoso of both disciplines, balancing stand-up and concert gigs, speaks to the breadth of his genius and to the singularity of his style as a singer”: Jazz Times (USA)
Website http://www.ianshaw.biz
Tickets
Ticket type
General Admission
Price
From £12.00 to £24.00
Standard
£24.00
Friends of BMJ
£22.00
Under 18’s
£12.00

See also;
https://www.facebook.com/BlackMountainJazz/

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 27/07/2025.

Monday, July 28, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 27/07/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio playlist from Sunday 27th July 2025

This week’s show starts with a quick look back to a couple of favourite tracks from the start of the year from Joachim Kuhn and then from Sergio Armaroli/Giancarlo Schiaffini. After that its back to new releases:

Olivia Moore and Adam Fairhall
Maggie Meade
Triangles
NEWJAIM

Kasper Rietkerk
Tea Lights
The Happy Worrier
ECN

Neil Charles
Children
Dark Days
Jazz Now

Vincent Meissner
Palma Amore
Eigengrau
ACT

Tony Tixier
Magic
Poems Never End
Whirlwind

Rosa Ensemble
Muzak/Muzak3/Stalker
Oddments
Cuneiform

Stefano Ottogalli
R.I. blues
Colors
Caligola

Theon Cross
Candace of Meroe
Affirmations: Live At Blue Note New York
New Soil

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 7pm onward

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Jazz in the West Midlands - July 28th - August 3rd 2025.

Monday, July 28, 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.

The Week Ahead

A roundup of jazz, funk and soul gigs to check out this week in the West Midlands area.

Monday 28
Jazz at The Bull (unconfirmed, no details published)
The Bull, 1 Price Street, Birmingham B4 6JU





Tuesday 29
Digbeth Jazz: Noah Stoneman Trio
The Night Owl, 17-18 Lower Trinity Street, Birmingham B9 4AG





Wednesday 30

Jazz Jam (no details published)
Bedford Street Bar, 4 Bedford Street, Leamington Spa CV32 5DY



Henry Newman Jazz Experience
The Trumpet, 58 High Street, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14 0EP



Emily Masser & Alex Clarke
Pershore Town Football Club, King Georges Way, Pershore WR10 1QU



Sutton Coldfield Trad Jazz Club: Hugh Crozier’s New Orleans Jazz Band
Boldmere Sports & Social Club, 323 Boldmere Road, Sutton Coldfield B73 5HQ





Thursday 31

Wendy Kirkland
Alsager Golf & Country Club, Audley Rd, Alsager Stoke-on-Trent ST7 2UR



Del Camino
The Jam House, 3-5 St Pauls Square, Birmingham B3 1QU





Friday 1 Aug
The Ben Creighton-Griffiths Trio
Old Street Tavern, 4 Old Street, Ludlow SY8 1NP





Saturday 2

Impossible Conversations
The Blue Piano, 24-26 Harborne Rd, Birmingham, B15 3AA



MAC’s Vintage Jazz Jam
Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH





Sunday 3

Come Sunday Jazz Dance DJ Session
Artum @ Hockley Social Club, 60 Hampton St, Birmingham B19 3LU



Garry Allcock Trio + Judy Blu
Tower of Song, 107 Pershore Road South, Birmingham B30 3JX



Easy Street Spankers
The Ansty Club, Grove Road, Coventry CV7 9JD



Sunday Soul Sessions (9 acts)
Phoenix Live Music Restaurant and Bar, Unit 4 Masshouse Ln, Birmingham B5 5JE

Have a great week!
Dave Fuller
Instigator, Music Spoken Here
http://www.musicspokenhere.club

A Celebration Through Music: Tribute to Ubuntu Music’s Martin Hummel at 606 Club, London - Monday 8 September 2025.

Friday, July 25, 2025

Many of London's leading jazz musicians will come together at the 606 Club to honour the life and legacy of Martin Hummel, the much-loved founder of Ubuntu Music, who passed away earlier this year.

We have received the following press release;

A Celebration Through Music:
Tribute to Ubuntu Music’s Martin Hummel
at 606 Club, London
Monday 8 September 2025

Many of London’s leading jazz musicians will come together at the 606 Club to honour the life and legacy of Martin Hummel, the much-loved founder of Ubuntu Music, who passed away earlier this year after a brave battle with cancer.

A passionate champion of jazz in all its forms, Martin’s influence reached far and wide, from nurturing rising stars such as Camilla George and Mark Kavuma, to giving seasoned greats the platform they deserved. His unwavering commitment to musical excellence and inclusivity helped make Ubuntu Music one of the UK’s most respected jazz labels, with a roster that has included Darius Brubeck, Elaine Delmar, Andrew McCormack and many more.

Martin’s friends, trumpeter Quentin Collins and vocalist Noemi Nuti, have gathered together a stellar line-up of artists wanting to pay tribute to Martin’s vision, generosity and spirit. Confirmed performers include Paul Booth, Luca Boscagin, Darius Brubeck, Alina Bzhezhinska, James Copus, Paul Edis, Tim Garland, Camilla George, Mark Kavuma, Tony Kofi, Ant Law, Rob Luft, Dave O’Higgins, Leo Richardson and Vasilis Xenopoulos, with more to be announced.

The Music Charge will be £25/person with profits from the evening being donated to Royal Trinity Hospice in Clapham, whose outstanding care supported Martin and his family in his final months.

Ubuntu, which means “I am because we are”, was more than just the name of Martin’s label; it was the philosophy that shaped his life and career. He brought people together through music, and this celebration will reflect exactly that: unity, joy and the enduring power of jazz to connect us all.

Please join us for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of music and memories.

Bookings - 606 Club: https://www.606club.co.uk/events/view/tribute-to-ubuntu-musics-martin-hummel/

Royal Trinity Hospice donations: https://www.royaltrinityhospice.london/donate/donate-now

606 Club
90 Lots Road
Chelsea
London
SW10 0QD

https://www.606club.co.uk/

020 7352 5953

606 Jazz Club, Chelsea, London -  Programme for August 2025.

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Laura Thorne of the 606 Club has forwarded details of the Club's programme for August 2025. Fully detailed schedule attached.

Laura Thorne writes;

Hello all you connoisseurs of culture and lovers of live music – greetings from the 606 in Chelsea, known for presenting the best jazz, soul, Latin, groove, R&B & blues musicians in the UK bar none.

This mail provides information about our live performances from the 1st to the 31st of August. Information about all of these events, along with photos, video clips etc are on the website now for your consumption: https://www.606club.co.uk/events/

In addition, the Club’s annual outdoor event, Jazz on the Lawn at Fulham Palace, takes place on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd of August. With two brilliant nights of music presented at this charming historic site, it’s a delightful way to spend a summer evening.
This year (and back by popular demand), our featured headliners are vocalist Noel McCalla and saxophonist Derek Nash leading their crowd-pleasing tribute to Stevie Wonder, ‘The Wonder of Stevie’ on Friday the 1st of August.
Then, on Saturday the 2nd, the treasure that is singer/pianist Liane Carroll and her Trio will entertain us with an unforgettable evening of popular songs and standards, performed with her signature style and wit. For tickets and information visit https://www.606club.co./events/fulham-palace-1/.

606 CLUB – AUGUST 2025 GIG GUIDE

Fri 1st         9:00pm         JOE WEBB’S ‘5 A SIDE’ 
Pianist Joe Webb has quickly become a force to be reckoned with on the UK jazz scene. He’s worked with Hailey Tuck, Rob Luft, Adrian Cox and more, but it is as a member of the Kansas Smitty’s House Band, the swinging, mainstream jazz outfit dubbed London’s ‘new swing princes’ that his profile has reached new heights, including appearing on Jamie Cullum’s Christmas album. Now signed to Edition Records, Joe’s own 2024 recording ‘Hamstrings & Hurricanes’ appeared in numerous ‘Best of’ lists with the Times saying, “With his talent, Webb really could be the bearer of jazz to Gen X & beyond”. Joe’s band this evening features the brilliant sax playing of Alec Harper and the swinging guitar of Dave Archer.
“[Webb]…a dazzling display of virtuoso pianistics” The Jazz Mann;
“There are few people more joyous to listen to…than Joe Webb” Jamie Cullum  

         
Sat 2nd         9:00pm         ALEX GARNETT “DEXTER CALLING – A TRIBUTE TO DEXTER GORDON” 
Alex’s powerful, flowing, hard bop sax has been heard with some of Europe’s leading bands, performing in over 30 countries with artists such as Wynton Marsalis, Van Morrison and Jools Holland. Tonight Alex will be paying tribute to one of the greatest saxophonists of all time, Dexter Gordon. The first musician to develop a convincing individual bebop style of modern jazz on the tenor saxophone, Dexter’s hard-toned original sound was a powerful influence on the likes of jazz masters Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. This evening Alex will, as he puts it “delve into a veritable treasure chest of Dexter‘s greatest compositions, focusing particularly on those that communicate the joy to be found in jazz music”. Alex resonates with Dexter‘s ethos of the importance of communicating with his audience, so in honour of the great man and his music expect tonight’s quartet performance to be “a swinging affair”!
“Alex Garnett…one of Great Britain’s most accomplished post-bop musicians” AllAboutJazz

Sun 3rd         1:30pm         SUNDAY LUNCH: HELENA DEBONO & CHARLIE BATES
This promises to be a delightful afternoon featuring two highly accomplished young musicians, vocalist Helena Debono, pianist/arranger Charlie Bates and their quartet. Charlie has been the recipient of the Dankworth Award, the Eddie Harvey Award and an Ivor Novello award and music from his debut album has been broadcast on TV and radio. An in-demand singer who has performed at Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Buckingham Palace & Wembley Stadium Helena’s own debut record has generated over 30K streams on Spotify. In 2024 Charlie and Helena recorded “A Thousand Nights” featuring a 55-piece orchestra, which was chosen as Jazz FM’s “Record of the Week”. The show today will include a selection of music from that album, a mix of original songs and jazz classics.
“With these young performers, jazz is really in good hands” Jazz Journal;
“[Bates] Impressive and inventive” Guardian;
“Helena’s singing displays great musicality, relaxed beauty and tone and…immaculate timing” UK Jazz News

Sun 3rd   8:00pm         MARY PEARCE
Mary Pearce is the “Queen” of studio and backing vocals. You may not know her name but you will certainly have heard her powerful, soulful vocals with the likes of Lionel Ritchie, Chaka Khan, Courtney Pine and Beverley Knight. As well as more than 20 years as a studio singer Mary has also featured as lead vocalist on a number of “Groove” and Dance hits and more recently has been touring with pop icon Boy George as an integral part of his (excellent) band. Really impressive Groove gig, this.
“[her voice] is powerful and always reliable…A fine set from some of the strongest musicians London has to offer” The House That Soul Built
           

 
Mon 4th       8:00pm         FLO REDMONDS
Although still relatively new to the UK jazz scene, saxophonist Flo Redmonds has already garnered significant attention for her powerful sound, creative approach and flowing technique. An alumna of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra she includes work at major UK venues alongside the likes of Cassie Kinoshi, Daniel Casimir, Rio Kai and Georgia Cécile, and was chosen by Jazzwise for their prestigious “Future Movers” feature. Tonight’s programme is an exploration of the players and music that have influenced Flo’s music to this point, including Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Walt Weiskopf and Sam Rivers along with Flo’s own compositions and pieces inspired in part by other notable artists, such as Brad Mehldau and Cécile McLorin Salvant. Also appearing tonight will be upcoming young pianist Cody Moss with Murray Dare-bass & Aaron Carpenter-drums.

Tue 5th         8.00pm         HUW WARREN’S “CHORO, CHORO, CHORO” FT TORI FREESTONE
The multi-award-winning Welsh pianist and composer Huw Warren has, over a thirty-year career, achieved an international reputation for innovative and eclectic music making. He has worked with the likes of Kenny Wheeler, June Tabor, the iconic UK band Perfect Houseplants & Chico Buarque. Recipient of the BBC Jazz Award for Innovation and the ACW Creative Wales Award he has also written for many ensembles including Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Welsh Chamber Orchestra, RSC and Tango Siempre. Tonight Huw will be bringing to the Club an ensemble dedicated to one of his great passions, the Brazilian Choro. Choro emerged in the late nineteenth century in Rio de Janeiro as a combination of African music fused with European dances and forms which created a new, uniquely Brazilian urban popular genre. The music, drawn from Huw’s recent solo album “Choro, Choro, Choro”, includes songs from the classic composers of the style through to the great contemporary giants as well as several of Huw’s own works. Flute is an important component of Choro, frequently taking on the long, flowing, exciting melodies and featured on that instrument tonight will be the wonderful Tori Freestone alongside Conor Chaplin-bass & Corrie Dick-drums. A rare chance to hear this wonderful rhythmic, exhilarating, music in the UK.
“Warren’s love affair with Brazilian music…epic…we…wait in happy expectation for the enlarged…band featuring Tori Freestone on flute” Jazzwise;
“it is so inspiring to hear a fresh approach to this music… Beautiful work!” Jovino Santos Neto

Wed 6th       8:00pm         KAIDI AKINNIBI
Although his fluent and thoughtful playing is rooted in the classic jazz genres, growing up in South London and learning from the Kinetika Bloco and the Jazz Warriors families, saxophonist Kaidi Akinnibi has always had a multi-faceted outlook on music. The eclectic variety of artists he works and writes with include the likes of Tom Misch, Black Midi, Jason Moran & the Mercury Prize-winning Ezra Collective. In 2023 Kaidi released ‘Real Enough’ and ‘Devices’ with his own band, which saw him reveal his talent as a vocalist and guitarist, as well as deeply emotive lyricist and songwriter. A magnetic presence on London’s vibrant, creative jazz scene.
“The saxophone performance by Kaidi Akinnibi was stunning” emmiemusic.com
               

Thu 7th       8:00pm                 BENET MCLEAN  
A Purcell School of Music scholar Benet was destined to be a concert violinist. However, by his early 20’s he had transferred to jazz piano, playing with the likes of Omar, Cleveland Watkiss, Roachford and Loose Tubes. But, after performing as a highly regarded pianist for over ten years, Benet once again returned to his first love, the violin, only this time as a swinging and immensely creative jazz musician. This evening Benet, with his quintet, will be playing tunes featured on his latest album “Green Park” as well as some choice numbers from the classic ‘Blue Note’ era. Also featuring Pat Clahar (Bill Bruford, Incognito)-sax.
“McLean…positively bursting with talent and energy” Jazzwise;
“McLean… an important jazz violin voice” Nigel Kennedy
       

Fri 8th         9:00pm         THE COALMINERS              
With their dedication to what they to refer to as “Swamp Soul” this brilliant 7-piece band, with their unique mixture of New Orleans Groove and Funk, bring the rhythm and soul of the deep south (that’s Louisiana, not Brighton…) alive. Featuring vocalists Tommy Hare & Amy Bird, drummer Pat Levett (Jon Cleary), pianist Joe Glossop (Tom Jones), guitarist Marcus Praestgaard Stevens, saxophonist/singer Ben Somers (Dr John, Seal) and bassist Spencer Brown this highly impressive line-up are guaranteed to raise the roof!
“totally blows me away…perfect” BBC Radio 2;
“Tommy Hare…just oozes charisma.” GetWestLondon; “Riotous” Jazz FM  

                                                                                 
Sat 9th         9:00pm         DEREK NASH
The multi-Award-winning saxophonist Derek Nash is perhaps best known as one of the featured saxophonists with the Jools Holland Band. An experienced musician of many years standing his muscular, fluent, modern jazz playing has been recognised with numerous awards, including being voted one of the top 5 saxophonists in the country. Tonight Derek is bringing his great, swinging, band to the Club so expect something really quite special.
“bravura display of contemporary saxophone” The Observer;
“breathtaking” Sunday Times;
“the music fizzes with energy” Observer
               

Sun 10th       1:30pm         SUNDAY LUNCH: EARL OKIN “CELEBRATING 60 YEARS IN MUSIC”
Singer-songwriter, musician and comedian Earl Okin has been entertaining audiences worldwide with his unique brand of music and wit for six decades now. His repertoire of quirky humour, combined with first-rate playing of classic jazz and Bossa Nova mark him out as a unique talent. His CV includes touring with Paul McCartney, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe 500 times and working alongside such jazz legends as Adelaide Hall, Stéphane Grappelli and Dame Cleo Laine. An accomplished singer (also recognised for his unique ‘vocal trumpet’ solos), pianist & guitarist, today Earl will be joined by Paul Morgan-bass and Michele Drees-drums. Earl has been performing at the 606 since the 1970’s – he’s an absolute treasure!
“…relaxed and assured…his guitar and keyboard playing are a joy” The Times;
“Exceptional…an utter delight” The Scotsman;
“gently witty and beautifully timed” Guardian

Sun 10th   8:00pm         POLLY GIBBONS
Polly Gibbons is a consummate performer, as much at home singing tender jazz ballads as she is performing rockin’ R&B classics. Nominated Vocalist of the Year by Jazz FM, she is now well established in the US with three albums on American label Resonance Records. In 2022 Polly fulfilled her ambition to record an album of original songs, “As It Is”, written, arranged and produced by her and co-produced by musical collaborator and artistic director at Ronnie Scott’s, James Pearson, also featured on piano this evening.
“a truly exceptional…talent, possessing a voice of such sizzling intensity and raw emotion you could fry an egg on it” Jazzwise

Mon 11th     8:00pm         NADINE LEE - ‘HERSTORY’ EP LAUNCH          
A truly formidable talent, Nadine Lee is a musical director, composer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist whose soulful sound blends gospel, R&B, jazz and roots influences with powerful storytelling. She has distinguished herself across multiple creative spheres encompassing theatre, film and music performance, been nominated for the BBTA Award for Best Musical Director and the Broadway World Award and collaborated with world-renowned artists such as Lizzo, Stormzy & Annie Lennox. Tonight Nadine returns to the 606 with music from her latest EP “HerStory”, a soul-soaked, genre-blending project that celebrates womanhood, resilience, and the power of reclaiming your voice. Expect rich harmonies, tight instrumentation, and unapologetic storytelling from one of the UK’s most versatile and inspiring artists. Oh, and tonight she’s also celebrating her Birthday so you can expect a lot of fun as well!
“Nadine Lee is an artist with more to her than meets the eye and has a deepness to her music which triggers emotional connectivity and honesty. In a word Nadine Lee is ‘REAL’” Broadway World

Tue 12th       8:00pm         DAN REINSTEIN  
American-born saxophonist Dan Reinstein first began playing at the old 606 Club when a medical student in the 1980’s. He returned to the US in the early 90s to become one of the world’s leading laser eye surgeons (he’s now Professor Reinstein). But when he returned to London, it was great to hear his fluent, classic hard-bop, muscular sax playing again and the rest, as they say, is history-Dan & his quartet have performed here for the last 20+ years and still going!
”...impressive hard-bop saxophonist” Time Out
           

Wed 13th       8:00pm         DULCIE MAY MORENO        
Influenced by the likes of Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Sheila Jordan, Mark Murphy, Sarah Vaughan and Kurt Elling singer Dulcie May Moreno is emerging as a versatile jazz artist with range and poise. Over the last 10 years she has performed on a regular basis around the UK, with notable performances from London and Canterbury to Newcastle and Edinburgh. Tonight Dulcie will be appearing at the Club with her quintet performing a mix of her excellent jazz-influenced originals alongside, as she says “carefully curated classic standards by some of my greatest influences”. Also featured this evening will be Stephen Bridgland-guitar, Frances Knight-piano, Jerome Davies-bass and Matt Home-drums.
“A class act” Bebop Spoken Here
       

Thu 14th   8:00pm         JUKEBOX CANNONBALL FT DOM STOCKBRIDGE & FRANCESCA CONFORTINI
Jukebox Cannonball is a fun, high-octane band celebrating the timeless sounds of the 1950’s and 60’s. Their repertoire pays homage to the golden era of American music with a mix of blues, jazz, swing, soul and good old vintage rock ‘n’ roll, including songs associated with Ray Charles, Etta James and Aretha as well as their own compositions. Fronted by two dynamic and charismatic musicians, guitarist/singer Dom Stockbridge, who performs at the Club regularly with Dana Gillespie & Dino Baptiste and vocalist Fran Confortini, who has appeared at the 606 with her own groups many times, the band includes Chris Bland-keys, Jack Turnbull-bass & Callum Smith-drums. These seasoned musicians bring deep respect and style to every performance, inviting audiences to rediscover the raw energy, craftsmanship and superb songwriting of a unique period that ultimately came to define popular music – all while putting on a great show!
“Confortini… deep and full of emotion…unique vocal presentation and crystal performance” Nagamag.com;
“exquisite lines from guitarist Dominic Stockbridge…perfectly timed and placed” Jazz Views
       

Fri 15th   9:00pm         LEX CAMERON  
First call singer/keyboardist for a host of high-profile names Lex Cameron includes work as MD for the iconic UK soul artist Omar and the legendary singer/composer Leon Ware on a vast cv. With his 4-and-a-half octave vocal range, charismatic delivery and impressive musicianship he can be relied upon to give an electric performance. And watch out for his Special Guest, the wonderful singer Donna Gardier. Groove at its very best.
“Lex Cameron…quality old school soul” UK Vibe
             

Sat 16th       9:00pm         LOUISE BALKWILL                      
The 2022 winner of the Riga Jazz Stage International Jazz Voice competition, Louise Balkwill has been hailed as one of the UK’s leading vocal improvisers and storytellers. Most recently she’s been appearing with celebrated vocal harmony trio The Puppini Sisters and was also featured at our annual Jazz on the Lawn show last summer (where she was absolutely sensational)! Performing with her band featuring Rob Barron-piano Louise will be performing songs from the Great American Songbook featured in her debut album “First Class”. And watch out for her Special Guest Jonathan Bauer on vocals and trumpet.
“Totally bowled over by Louise Balkwill’s incredible vocals and engaging stage presence” Jazzwise              

Sun 17th       1:30pm         SUNDAY LUNCH: YUKO YOKOI
The Award-winning Japanese singer Yuko Yokoi arrived in London to complete her Masters in Jazz…and never left. Since then she has performed at renowned venues in the UK, Europe and Brazil. Her debut album ‘Verde’ captured her love of both Brazilian music and jazz, and she describes her approach as “full of improvisation and musical shades of light and colour.” Joining Yuko on the stand is her impressive band including Sam Watts-piano. A lovely show
. “Creative and engaging” Jazz Journal UK;
“Highly sophisticated” Jazz Japan Magazine

Sun 17th   8:00pm         ELLY HOYT      
Elly Hoyt is a spellbinding Australian singer and songwriter whose three albums to date have gained universal praise and whose accolades include the Bell Award for Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album and the Generations in Jazz Vocal Scholarship. A respected educator as well as performer, she lectured at BIMM Institute, London and currently teaches voice at the Conservatorium of Music, University of Tasmania. A regular at the Club when she lived in London it’s with enormous pleasure that we welcome back to the 606 stage Elly and her band, to present an intimate night of original material, swinging standards & a touch of soul.
“…soulful and quietly commanding” All About Jazz;
“Elly Hoyt has harnessed the power and beauty of music…” Australianjazz.net

Mon 18th     8:00pm   TAMARA BARSCHAK’S “KALEIDOSCOPE QUARTET”
Tamara Barschak is a pianist & singer who, along with her Kaleidoscope Quartet, “aims to offer the listener a kaleidoscopic vision of music in all its glorious harmonic colours”. While trained in classical music in both London and Paris, Tamara subsequently branched out into funk, jazz and blues. A love for Brazilian bossa nova than took her to Rio de Janeiro for three years before returning to London, where she released her 2022 debut “Kaleidoscope” (described by Resonance FM as an incredible debut - “a set of lovingly crafted and really accomplished contemporary jazz-infused songs”). Also an award-winning composer for film, adverts and other related media tonight we welcome Tamara & her quartet, featuring top UK players Tom Smith-sax, Davide Mantovani-bass and Justin Tambini-drums to perform a stylish and characterful set featuring music from her first album, her upcoming EP, “Luminosity” and songs from the great Brazilian composers.
“Tamara Barschak…very special indeed…a creative soul with the ability to reach out to the hearts of others with her music” Women in Jazz Media
       

Tue 19th       8:00pm         LUNA COHEN
Hailing from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Luna Cohen’s music embodies the rich diversity of Brazilian culture. With her exceptional gift for melody and phrasing, Luna has established herself as one of Europe’s finest Brazilian vocalists. Accompanied by Sam Watts-piano, Matheus Nova-bass & Marcinho Pereira-drums, she will perform a blend of traditional and Afro-Brazilian grooves with funky basslines, all infused with a jazz aesthetic. A captivating fusion of Luna’s original compositions and exhilarating interpretations of Brazil’s greatest music.
“She has a seductive voice and natural talent for singing” El Periodico (Spain)
               

Wed 20th       8:00pm         ALEX CLARKE    
A finalist in the 2020 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and a three-time nominee in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, Alex is amongst the most in-demand and versatile young saxophonists emerging on the British jazz scene. Her fluent, melodic, style and warm, round, tone fit perfectly with the straight-ahead jazz standard and bebop repertoire she performs. She includes work at all the major UK jazz venues alongside the likes of Alan Barnes, Alex Garnett, Alec Dankworth, Bruce Adams and Art Themen and her 2022 album release “Only A Year” was received with much acclaim. A swinging gig from a real talent.
“Clarke…gorgeous sound” All About Jazz;
“One of the UK’s finest young jazz talents” The Jazz Rag;
“swinging, melodic and refreshingly cliché free” Jazz Views;
“Clarke is a rising star” Jazzwise

Thu 21st       8:00pm         EMMANUEL WALDRON’s BIRTHDAY GIG!
Pianist Emmanuel Waldron’s poise and panache has gained him fans in very high places – he counts HM Charles III, the London Mayor and the Pope(!) amongst those who have appreciated his talent. A well-known name on the UK gospel scene Emmanuel has also appeared alongside the likes of Black Eyed Peas, Ronan Keating, The Kingdom Choir, Annie Lennox & Ruby Turner. He has performed with jazz greats George Duke and Don Grusin and his elegant and exciting playing has taken him from the USA to Jordan, Trinidad, Russia and the majority of the European continent. His latest album, released in January 2025, simply titled “Love”, is his 10th and most poignant as it is a tribute to his late parents. Tonight Emmanuel will be celebrating his birthday with his musical friends and family, so it promises to be quite a night! And watch out for his Special Guest the brilliant jazz violinist Benet McLean (Thu 7th). Currently residing in Norway, this is a rare opportunity to see Emmanuel here in the UK.
“An exceptional pianist…Emmanuel…shows all his keyboard dexterity with deft solos that take in stylings as diverse as Oscar Peterson and George Duke” Cross Rhythms

Fri 22nd       9:00pm         FRANCES MADDEN              
A highly regarded, award-winning singer, songwriter and pianist, Frances Madden has played to full houses at leading jazz venues and festivals around her native Australia, as well as supporting artists such as Dionne Warwick & Grammy-Award winner Gregory Porter. Now based in London, she’s working on a new album with Grammy-winning producer/engineer Cameron Craig (Adele). With her unique take on selected American Songbook classics along with her impressive originals this is an exciting and sophisticated artist who truly delivers.
“vastly talented…authentic brilliance” The Australian;
“A consummate musician, gifted composer and arranger” Australian Arts Review                                              
                                                               

Sat 23rd       9:00pm     BRANDON ALLEN “SOME KINDA’ MEAN” 
Brandon Allen’s wonderfully fluent and incisive sax playing has been heard with numerous high-profile artists including Eric Clapton, Jools Holland and Kyle Eastwood. His programme this evening will showcase the music of American jazz, blues and R&B saxophonist/flautist David “Fathead” Newman who, after more than 10 years working with Ray Charles went on to work with Herbie Mann before recording straight ahead albums with saxophonists Stanley Turrentine & James Clay, collaborations with Hammond organists Jimmy McGriff and Lonnie Smith plus numerous soul and jazz/funk releases. The All Music Guide to Jazz wrote that “there have not been many…more naturally soulful than David ‘Fathead’ Newman.” For this special gig Brandon has put together a superb group of musicians, Nick Costley-White-guitar, Hamish Balfour-piano, Mirko Scarcia-bass and Rod Youngs-drums.
“Allen…a saxophone heavyweight, at the height of his powers” Blues and Soul;
“Allen is arguably the most exciting tenor player in Britain today” Jazzwise; “stunning…world class” Evening Standard
       

Sun 24th           1:30pm         SUNDAY LUNCHTIME: CLOSED
                    8:00pm         CLOSED FOR A PRIVATE EVENT

Mon 25th         8:00pm         CARNIVAL NIGHT! SHIREEN FRANCIS’ ‘CARIBBEAN ISLAND PROJECT’
In honour of this Carnival weekend tonight we are featuring 606 favourite The Caribbean Island Project, an exciting group put together and fronted by the multi-talented singer Shireen Francis. Integrating jazz harmonies with the Afro-Caribbean/Brazilian rhythms of Reggae, Calypso and Samba, the band create an unusual but highly accessible musical hybrid. Featuring Dominic Grant-guitar and Mark Cherrie-steel pan this is a great way to spend Bank Holiday Carnival Monday!
“brilliant vocalist” Jazzwise;
“A beautiful artist with real depth and heart” Jazz UK

Tue 26th           8:00pm         MARK CROOKS  
A terrific, tasteful, player on both sax and clarinet Mark Crooks has forged an unrivalled reputation in a variety of settings, from jazz clubs to concert halls to West End theatre. A member of the award-winning Back to Basie Orchestra and the John Wilson Orchestra he includes a performance of the famous clarinet solo in Rhapsody in Blue at the Proms in 2024 with the Sinfonia of London as well as appearances alongside the likes of Tony Bennett, Sir Simon Rattle and Lady Gaga. Tonight he has teamed up with the fantastic guitarist Colin Oxley (Stacey Kent) and bassist Simon Read in an intimate trio setting celebrating the music of the seminal US clarinet player Jimmy Giuffre (“The Train And The River”), known for his pared-down, bluesy, ‘down-home’ style of jazz which he liked to call ‘Swamp Jazz’!
“The phenomenally gifted Mark Crooks…” Jazz Journal; “Virtuoso perfection” Jazzwise

Wed 27th         8:00pm         JIM MULLEN ORGAN TRIO
A multi-award winner, including a special Honorary Parliamentary Jazz Award in 2017, Jim Mullen is widely regarded as one of the finest jazz guitarists in Europe. Including work with the likes of Mose Allison, Jimmy Witherspoon and his own highly acclaimed jazz/funk band “Morrissey-Mullen”, the band he leads this evening features the classic Organ trio format, performing a dynamic set of originals and carefully crafted jazz standards in a groove-influenced hard-bop style. Also featuring Ross Stanley-organ & Jon Scott-drums.
“One of the great Jazz guitarists working today” Jazzwise;
“World Class” Guardian;
“understated virtuosity that marks out the best and most mature players.” Guardian

Thu 28th         8:00pm         REBECCA POOLE AKA PURDY                
An outstanding singer, Rebecca Poole (AKA Purdy) simply oozes charisma, which combined with her sultry style and surefooted vocal delivery makes her truly impressive. Her album “Diamond in the Dust” affirmed her as a significant solo artist and was followed by a tour supporting Jools Holland, performances at Wembley Stadium, The Royal Albert Hall and the TV series ‘The Crown’! This show features music from her latest album, ‘Dreamer’s Ball’, which displays Rebecca’s strengths as a vocalist and composer with her songs already receiving airplay on Jazz FM, Smooth Jazz & BBC Introducing. 
“Every song has meaningful lyrics and a melody worthy of a place in the Great British Contemporary Song Book!” Bebop Spoken Here;
“A consummate artist” Time Out
       

Fri 29th           9:00pm         SAMARA FT. CAROLINA LELIS        
Tonight we present an evening celebrating the joyous, rhythmic, delights of classic Brazilian MPB with the 606 Club’s outstanding Brazilian band “Samara”. Featuring the brilliant Brazilian vocalist Carolina Lelis alongside the powerful piano of Neil Angilley and the swinging flute of our “Gov’nor” Steve Rubie the band take you on a road trip around Brazil, with music from the South, the North, the North East and beyond. Hear the stories behind some of Brazil’s classic songs and join the band as they perform an infectious blend of Brazilian Samba, Baião, jazz & Latin while everyone has a great time!
“Cracking Latin-jazz quintet…explores…[Brazilian]…classics in great rhythmic style” Time Out

Sat 30th           9:00pm         DAVE O’HIGGINS’ “MONKIN’ AROUND”           
Highly regarded saxophonist Dave O’Higgins has worked with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and Nancy Wilson. He has 24 albums as leader to his credit, including ‘It’s Always 9:30 in Zog’ which received a British Jazz Award nomination while Dave was also nominated for ‘Best Tenor Saxophonist’. And if all that wasn’t enough, he is also an in-demand producer, most recently producing Matt Bianco’s album ‘Gravity’. Tonight, along with Special Guest Sean Fyfe on piano, Dave will be bringing his latest project “Monkin’ Around” to the Club which, as Dave describes it, will be “playing the timeless themes of Thelonious Monk - swinging, grooving, lyrical and playful”.
“…exceptional fluency…one of Britain’s finest musicians” Observer; “world class” BBC Music Magazine

31st     1:30pm         SUNDAY LUNCH: TONY O’MALLEY SINGS STANDARDS WITH JIM HUNT
A brilliant Groove and R&B singer/pianist we thought it would be fun to start the day showcasing Tony’s equally impressive jazz singing. Appearing as a duo Tony will be performing songs from his two jazz “Standards” albums plus some of his “swing” originals. Joining Tony will be the equally impressive Jim Hunt (Amy Winehouse) on sax. A standout way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
“O’Malley…A hugely entertaining afternoon of music” The Jazz Mann;
“Hunt excelling on saxophone” Close up Culture      

8:00pm         TONY O’MALLEY BAND        
Tony O’Malley’s brand of Groove and R&B is stunning, with his fabulous, smoky, velvety growl of a voice delivering original material and some covers in his own inimitable fashion alongside an impressive 4-piece band of some of the finest young musicians in the UK. One of the most original and powerful performers on the scene today tonight Tony will be featuring songs from his latest album “Nagenna” alongside his classic material. If you like contemporary R&B then this is definitely for you.
“…one of the UK’s hottest properties” Jazzwise;
“pure groove, funky keyboard, growling vocals and soul to spare…O’Malley has it all” Blues & Soul Magazine  

  For additional information about our upcoming performances please go to https://www.606club.co.uk/events/.

606 Club
90 Lots Road
Chelsea
London
SW10 0QD

https://www.606club.co.uk/

020 7352 5953

Alex Hitchcock - new album plus UK, US and European tour dates.

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Saxophonist & composer Alex Hitchcock will release his new album "Letters From Afar" on September 26th 2025. A series of live shows is scheduled in the UK, the US and Europe. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

ALEX HITCHCOCK ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM LETTERS FROM AFAR

UK SAXOPHONIST AND IVOR NOVELLO-NOMINATED COMPOSER RETURNS WITH URGENT TRANSATLANTIC JAZZ SET RECORDED IN NEW YORK OUT SEPTEMBER 26 VIA NEW SOIL

FEATURES HIS QUINTET OF HARISH RAGHAVAN, DAVID ADEWUMI, LEX KORTEN & JONGKUK KIM

Artist: Alex Hitchcock
Album: Letters From Afar
Label: New Soil
Formats: Digital, LP, CD
Release Date: September 26

Today, Alex Hitchcock — the UK saxophonist and Ivor Novello-nominated composer who is known for gripping sonic missives on both sides of the Atlantic — announces his album Letters From Afar, due September 26 via New Soil, with the lead single “Wishbone”. Along with the new music and forthcoming album, he announces a US, UK + EU tour, all dates below.

Recorded in New York with some of the brightest lights on the city’s jazz scene, Letters From Afar is an urgent transatlantic set. Comprised of eight stunning original compositions, the album captures the tenorist’s evolving relationship with the roots of jazz in the US—particularly its creative heart in New York—while reflecting a distinctive musical voice shaped by his British upbringing.

Of lead single ‘Wishbone’, Alex Hitchcock says, “This piece always has at least two layers operating independently of each other simultaneously, but the combinations change. I wanted to move towards introducing more chaos and random chance into the composition as a way of sharing creative control with the musicians - giving them as little prompting with the material as possible, refining the material itself and making it more sparse by removing anything extraneous.”

Of the forthcoming album Letters From Afar, Hitchcock explains: “I wanted to make an album specifically in New York and engage with the music being made here, because as a white British musician playing Black American music, engaging with the context in which that music is made is important… I wanted to make a record that recognises the influence of New York on my music, but that also has the confidence to offer something that’s my own and that I can contribute, which is a product of the UK, where I’ve grown up. The title ‘Letters from Afar’ tries to capture the tension in the push and pull of these different information flows: receiving musical influence from the US… and taking that back to my work in the UK and Europe.”

Letters From Afar documents Hitchcock’s period of working, living, and playing in New York. Over the last few years, he has immersed himself in the intense private sessions and workshops that define the city’s contemporary jazz practice — performing and leading bands at venues like the cult musician-run club Close Up on the Lower East Side. He has played with rising talents including Dabin Ryu, Alexandra Ridout, David Adewumi, and David Sirkis, and has performed with his own band at prestigious festivals such as the Rochester International Jazz Festival.

Written during an intense period of maintaining community across two continents — a time Hitchcock describes as an “ephemeral way of life,” where “the lack of rootedness can create a feeling of possibility but also makes you question identity.” The album’s eight tracks were largely captured in first takes, following extensive road-testing during a European tour that allowed the band to develop an intuitive chemistry with the material.

The result is a collaboration with Harish Raghavan on bass (Ambrose Akinmusire’s quartet), trumpeter David Adewumi (who also appeared on Hitchcock’s 2021 album Dream Band), Lex Korten on piano (frequent collaborator of Tyshawn Sorey), and Jongkuk Kim on drums (Aaron Parks’s 2024 Blue Note date Little Big III).

Together, they shape an album that weaves intricate modal harmonies and dynamic exchanges through shadowy, melodramatic moments and expansive passages of soaring euphoria — with expressive solos from a virtuoso cast serving as emotional bridges throughout. These tunes open compelling spaces for the quintet to explore, with interplay between the five players marked by deep listening and careful response. Drawing on influences from Coleman Hawkins and Wayne Shorter to contemporary voices like Ambrose Akinmusire and Tyshawn Sorey, Hitchcock’s music crackles with inventive freshness and bold imagination.

A fierce commitment to progression and originality defines the musical world Hitchcock has immersed himself in during his time in New York. ‘I don’t know if it’s so much a contrast with the way things are done in the UK or just because I was at a different stage in my career in the UK than I am here,’ he says, ‘but I do notice here that it’s never really questioned why you would bother doing a bar gig for $50 or, like, why you would trek for an hour in the rain to do a session in the middle of the day. It’s just like – well, yeah, of course we do that, because we’re all working on our thing, and we want to make it really good.’

Many jazz players from the UK have visited and played in New York, but precious few have spent long periods of time there and cut music to tape with the best of their American contemporaries (Kenny Wheeler, Dizzy Reece and Dave Holland are some of the few). Letters From Afar marks one the rare occasions when a musical sensibility developed within the British jazz experience has had a chance to reconnect with cutting edge music being made at the source. ‘I also have my own thing as a product of where I’m from, and something that I can contribute as a person that has come from London,’ Hitchcock says. ‘Spending time in New York has made me more confident in that respect.’ Letters From Afar is proof positive that this confidence is well-founded.

Personnel:
Alex Hitchcock - saxophone
Dave Adewumi - trumpet
Lex Korten - piano, fender rhodes
Harish Raghavan - bass
Jongkuk Kim - drums

Letters From Afar Tracklist:
1. Yellow Greens
2. Wishbone
3. EO
4. Invisible Beasts
5. Bright White Light
6. Banshees
7. 41
8. Rio (Live at Bimhuis)*
*DSPs and CD only track

Tour dates:
August 26 - Serravalle Pistoiese, IT – Serravalle Jazz Fest
August 29 – London, UK – Vortex
Sep 26 – South Bend, IN, US – Merriman’s Playhouse
Sep 27 – Madison, WI, US – Audio for the Arts
Sep 28 – New York (NYC), NY, US – Nublu
Oct 2 – London, UK – Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
Oct 10 – Birmingham, UK – Birmingham Symphony Hall
Nov 15 – Guimarães, Portugal – Guimarães Jazz Festival
Nov 20 – London, UK – World Heartbeat

https://www.alexhitchcock.co.uk/

Barbican and Serious announce Keith Jarrett 80th anniversary celebration, March and April 2026.

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

The Barbican and Serious have announced a celebration of jazz pianist Keith Jarrett in his 80th year and 50 years since The Köln Concert with two special performances and a supporting film screening.

We have received the following press release;

Barbican and Serious announce Keith Jarrett 80th anniversary celebration, fifty years since the iconic Köln Concert

The Barbican and Serious today announce a celebration of jazz pianist Keith Jarrett in his 80th year and fifty years since his iconic The Köln Concert. Across two special performances and a supporting film screening, the Barbican will play host to a showcase of key moments from the revolutionary pianist’s career.

American Quartet - The Bad Plus: Chris Potter and Craig Taborn (30 Mar 2026, 8pm)
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2026/event/the-bad-plus-chris-potter-and-craig-taborn

Film Screening: Keith Jarrett – The Art of Improvisation (15) (11 Apr 2026, 3.30pm)
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2026/event/keith-jarrett-the-art-of-improvisation

The Köln Concert - Maki Namekawa and Thomas Enhco (11 Apr 2026, 7.30pm)
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2026/event/the-koln-concert

Keith Jarrett, one of the most visionary improvisers in jazz history, turns 80 this year - a milestone that coincides with the 50th anniversary of his seminal The Köln Concert (ECM, 1975), an album that reshaped the landscape of solo jazz piano. Keith Jarrett’s ability to fuse lyricism, classical influences, and unbroken improvisational flow has inspired generations of jazz and experimental musicians worldwide. His boundless creativity and spiritual intensity, bridges jazz, classical music, free improvisation, and folk traditions.

Marking the occasion of these two landmark anniversaries, the Barbican and Serious are proud to announce this special focus programme in the Barbican Hall, inviting two new projects to respond, in sound and spirit, to The Köln Concert and the American Quartet era. Through reinterpretation and inspiration, the programme celebrates Jarrett’s immense influence on the evolution of modern jazz.

On Monday 30 March 2026, The Bad Plus with Chris Potter and Craig Taborn reinterpret and celebrate Jarrett’s repertoire from his American Quartet era. The project is not a casual homage, but a continuation of the spirit of Jarrett’s American Quartet - balancing swing, freedom, folk-like melody, structured improvisation, and deep musical dialogue - with fresh perspectives from the contemporary ensemble members, which features Reid Anderson, Dave King, Chris Potter, and Craig Taborn. (Find out more)

On Saturday 11 April 2026, two inspired pianists from very different musical spheres - Maki Namekawa and Thomas Enhco - will together tackle Keith Jarrett’s legendary album and performance: The Köln Concert (ECM Records, 1975). Produced and premiered originally by Philharmonie de Paris, the two artists will take two approaches: Maki Namekawa will play, note for note, the first and last sections, while Thomas Enhco will improvise through the central sections, together rendering the incredible luminance of this iconic music and freely oscillating between jazz and classical. (Find out more)

Alongside the performance on 11 April, Barbican Cinema will also screen Keith Jarrett: The Art of Improvisation (15 - Mike Dibb, 2005) which offers an intimate portrait of the legendary pianist, exploring his groundbreaking career and diverse musical influences - from Bach and Mozart to ethnic music - as well as documenting his creative process through interviews and performances. With full cooperation from Jarrett, the film features rare insights from the man himself, alongside interviews with his collaborators, family, and close associates, offering a deep dive into the contrasting worlds of jazz and classical music. Keith Jarrett: The Art of Improvisation is the first major documentary on the pianist, made in collaboration between director Mike Dibb and Jarrett’s biographer Ian Carr. (Find out more)

UPCOMING BARBICAN JAZZ PERFORMANCES:

Summer Jazz Series: Herbie Hancock (Thu 24 – Sat 26 Jul 2025, Barbican Hall, 8pm)
Quinteto Astor Piazzolla (Sun 27 Jul 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
Hand to Earth & Shabaka – Fragile Earth Series (Fri 12 Sep 2025, St Giles Cripplegate, 7.30pm)
Balimaya Project x Discos Pacífico All Stars (Sat 27 Sep 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
Ustad Noor Bakhsh + Jaubi + Amrit Kaur (Fri 3 Oct 2025, Barbican Hall 7.30pm)
EFG London Jazz Festival: aja monet with guests (Fri 14 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
EFG London Jazz Festival: We Exist! The Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet (Sat 15 Nov, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
EFG London Jazz Festival: Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo (Sun 16 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
EFG London Jazz Festival: Dhamaal (Sun 16 Nov 2025, Milton Court Concert Hall, 7.30pm)
EFG London Jazz Festival: Anthony Joseph: Rowing Up River To Get Our Names Back (Mon 17 Nov 2025, Milton Court Concert Hall, 7.30pm)
EFG London Jazz Festival: The Evolution of UK Jazz – 20 Years On (Wed 19 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
EFG London Jazz Festival: Hiromi’s Sonicwonder (Fri 21 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
EFG London Jazz Festival: Tortoise (Sat 22 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
EFG London Jazz Festival: Japanese Jazz (Sun 23 Nov 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
GoGo Penguin + special guest Daudi Matsiko (Wed 3 Dec 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
NEW - American Quartet - The Bad Plus: Chris Potter and Craig Taborn (Mon 30 Mar 2026, Barbican Hall, 8pm)
NEW - Film Screening: Keith Jarrett – The Art of Improvisation (15) (Sat 11 Apr 2026, Barbican Cinema 3, 3.30pm)
NEW - The Köln Concert - Maki Namekawa and Thomas Enhco (Sat 11 Apr 2026, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)

About Serious
Serious is an Associate Producer at the Barbican, and one of the UK’s leading producers of live jazz, international and new music through concerts, festivals, tours, digital shows, talent development schemes, learning and participation programmes, and bespoke events for all.
Their mission is to curate and produce an original programme that engages a wide range of audiences and communities and nurtures both emerging artists and the next generation of the creative workforce. Through unique and ambitious projects, they aim to make meaningful music experiences and opportunities for everyone.
http://www.serious.org.uk

About the Barbican
The Barbican is a catalyst for creativity, sparking possibilities for artists, audiences, and communities. We showcase the most exciting art from around the world, pushing traditional artistic boundaries to entertain and inspire millions of people, create connections, provoke debate, and reflect the world we live in.
We are an international arts and events centre rooted firmly in our own neighbourhood, collaborating with local communities and putting the City of London on the map as a destination for everybody. Central to our purpose is supporting emerging talent and shaping opportunities that will accelerate the next generation of creatives.
As a not-for-profit, we rely on the generosity of individuals and organisations, including our principal funder the City of London Corporation. Every ticket purchased, donation made, and pound earned supports our arts and learning programme and enables the widest possible range of people to experience the joy of the arts.
Opened in 1982, the Barbican is a unique and audacious building, recognised globally as an architectural icon. As well as our theatres, galleries, concert halls and cinemas, we have a large conservatory with over 1,500 species of plants and trees, a library, conference facilities, public and community spaces, restaurants, bars, and a picturesque lakeside oasis.
We’re proud to be the home of the London Symphony Orchestra, our Resident Orchestra, and a London base for the Royal Shakespeare Company. We regularly co-commission, produce and showcase the work of our Artistic Associates the Academy of Ancient Music, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Boy Blue, Darbar Arts, Cultural and Heritage Trust, and Serious, who produce the EFG London Jazz Festival, alongside other associates and partners including Doc’n Roll Film Festival, London Palestine Film Festival, and Trafalgar Theatre Productions.
http://www.barbican.org.uk

SMOKE Jazz Club, New York City Announces September 2025 Line-up.

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

SMOKE Jazz Club Announces September Line-Up: Performers include Joe Farnsworth, Kris Davis, George Cables, Marquis Hill, Emmet Cohen, Robert Hurst, Johnathan Blake.

We have received the following press release;

SMOKE Jazz Club Announces September 2025 Line-up Featuring Joe Farnsworth’s Album Release Celebration, a Special Tribute to Women Jazz Pianists Led by Kris Davis, and More.

Joe Farnsworth Quintet featuring Emmet Cohen The Big Room (Sep 3-7)
Kris Davis Trio featuring Robert Hurst & Johnathan Blake (Sep 10-14)
George Cables Quartet (Sep 17-21)
Marquis Hill: Color Theory (Sep 24-28)

Hailed as the “#1 Jazz Club in New York City (SecretNYC),” SMOKE Jazz Club today announced its concert schedule for September 2025. The month begins celebrating the release of Joe Farnsworth’s latest album The Big Room (SMOKE Sessions Records) with “one of the best bands recording today” (WJTU Radio): Sarah Hanahan, Emmet Cohen, Joel Ross, Yasushi Nakamura, and Jeremy Pelt. Making her SMOKE debut as a bandleader is pianist Kris Davis—who was recently named the Pianist of the Year in the 2025 DownBeat Critics Poll— in a special concert series paying tribute to six trailblazing woman pianists, including Geri Allen, Carla Bley, and more. For the complete and most updated September schedule, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com. As always, all Friday night concerts are livestreamed!

September 2025 Concert Schedule (subject to change):

Wed-Sun Sep 3-7: Joe Farnsworth Quintet featuring Emmet Cohen The Big Room record release
Jeremy Pelt – trumpet
Sarah Hanahan – alto saxophone
Emmet Cohen – piano
Yasushi Nakamura – bass
Joe Farnsworth – drums
“This most swinging of percussionists can spark any band with his perfect time and unwavering attention to detail.” – The New Yorker
Renowned drummer (also rapidly gaining a reputation as a preeminent bandleader) Joe Farnsworth celebrates the release of his exciting new album The Big Room (SMOKE Sessions Records 07.25.25) with an energetic and rewarding quintet featuring pianist Emmet Cohen and an all-star lineup with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, saxophonist Sarah Hanahan, and bassist Yasushi Nakamura.
Glide Magazine calls him “one of the premiere straight-ahead drummers of his generation,” while Broadway World adds that he “is known for his blazing speed, precision, and melodic playing.” After 30+ years working alongside such seminal artists as George Coleman, Benny Golson, Pharaoh Sanders, Cedar Walton, Harold Mabern, and McCoy Tyner, Farnsworth steps into the spotlight with The Big Room—aiming for “a place where all of the discipline, rules, and language that a musician spends a lifetime mastering suddenly fade, and pure, transcendent creation can occur.”

Wed-Sun Sep 10-14: Kris Davis Trio featuring Robert Hurst & Johnathan Blake SMOKE debut
Kris Davis – piano
Robert Hurst – bass
Johnathan Blake – drums
“Davis’s music is precisely and unmistakably the sound of today.” – DownBeat
The incredible Kris Davis, a GRAMMY Award-winning pianist and composer, described by The New York Times as a beacon for “deciding where to hear jazz [in New York] on a given night,” makes her SMOKE debut as a leader with a superb trio with bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Johnathan Blake. Davis has released 24 recordings as a leader or co-leader and collaborated with artists such as Terri Lyne Carrington, Dave Holland, John Zorn, Craig Taborn, Ingrid Laubrock, Tyshawn Sorey, and esperanza spalding. She was named a 2021 Doris Duke Artist, Pianist of the Year by DownBeat magazine in 2025, 2022 and 2020, and Pianist and Composer of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association in 2021.
Her latest album, Run the Gauntlet, features this trio with Hurst and Blake and stands as a testament to Davis’s singular voice within the jazz landscape. The program pays homage to six trailblazing women pianists who have left an indelible mark on her journey as a pianist and composer: Geri Allen, Carla Bley, Renee Rosnes, Angelica Sanchez, Marilyn Crispell, and Sylvie Courvoisier. These remarkable women not only navigated the male-dominated field of jazz, but also profoundly influenced Davis’s development as a pianist and composer. By dedicating the album to these extraordinary women, Davis honors their resilience and groundbreaking contributions as leaders in the jazz community.

Wed-Sun Sep 17-21: George Cables Quartet
Craig Handy – saxophone
George Cables – piano
Essiet Essiet – bass
Jerome Jennings – drums
“Anyone serious about jazz will tell you that George Cables belongs in the pantheon of the greatest jazz pianists.” – All About Jazz
Legendary pianist George Cables leads a quartet featuring three of his favorite collaborators: saxophonist Craig Handy, bassist Essiet Essiet, and drummer Jerome Jennings. A major voice in modern jazz, Cables is celebrated for his fresh interpretations of classic compositions and for his innovative style of writing. In addition to composing and arranging for his own albums, Cables has contributed to recordings by Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper, Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw, Bobby Hutcherson, and many others.
Recently named an inaugural recipient of the 2025 Jazz Legacy Fellowship by the Mellon Foundation and the Jazz Foundation of America, Cables is described as a “humble keyboard genius with impeccable technique and a unique songbook.” The New York City Jazz Record hails him as “a piano giant,” while National Public Radio notes that his solos “reveal a deep sense of groove and pacing and a mind at work.”

Wed-Sun Sep 24-28: Marquis Hill: Color Theory
Marquis Hill – trumpet
Tivon Pennicott – tenor saxophone
Emmanuel Michel – guitar
Harish Raghavan – bass
Dave King – drums
“An established force in contemporary jazz.” – Financial Times
Marquis Hill, one of the great trumpet artists of our time, leads an exciting and adventurous quintet featuring tenor saxophonist Tivon Pennicott, guitarist Emmanuel Michel, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Dave King. Hill’s promise was recognized early by winning two highly prestigious competitions: the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition (2012) and the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition (2014), which helped launch a career that continues to impress. Originally from the South Side of Chicago, Hill credits many of that city’s great artists for helping foster his development. Players like Von Freeman, Bobby Broom, and Willie Pickens, just to name a few.
The New Yorker says, “his performances and recordings reveal a smart post-bop player who circumvents genre clichés by incorporating elements of hip-hop and contemporary R. & B.” DownBeat adds, “The groove-laden arrangements provide the perfect soundscape for Hill’s fluid improvisational style, which, with its glass-like lucidity, recalls the crisp elegance of hard-bop stalwart Donald Byrd.”

About SMOKE
Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side at the junction of Broadway and 106th Street (aka Duke Ellington Boulevard), Smoke Jazz Club is one of New York City’s premier live music venues. Renowned for offering top-notch programming of accessible, timeless jazz featuring legendary performers, modern masters, and rising stars, Smoke stands apart with its candlelit dining room, stellar acoustics, and classic American cuisine. Founded in 1999, SMOKE also boasts a GRAMMY-nominated label, Smoke Sessions Records, and a celebrated streaming concert series, Smoke Screens. For everything else, visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

Ticketing + Information:                                                         

When: Wednesday-Sunday @ 7:00 p.m. + 9:00 p.m. and additional 10:30 p.m. (Fri & Sat only). Doors open at 5:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).

Where: SMOKE Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway (between 105/106th Streets), New York, NY, Train: 1 to 103rd Street.

Tickets: In-Person $25+. Livestream $15 (Fri only). For more information and to make reservations, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

Royal Albert Hall announces autumn series of Late Night Jazz.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

The Royal Albert Hall’s popular Late Night Jazz series returns for its third season of 2025. The events will all be held in the venue’s 200-capacity Elgar Room. Press release with full schedule att.

We have received the following press release;

Royal Albert Hall announces autumn series of Late Night Jazz
Tickets are available from the Royal Albert Hall website
http://www.royalalberthall.com

Marking its biggest series yet, with nine contemporary jazz artists and groups scheduled, including Roella Oloro, KYRA and Gray By Silver, the Royal Albert Hall’s popular Late Night Jazz series returns for its third season of 2025. With artists of Persian, Middle Eastern, Korean, Nigerian and Jamaican heritage, this autumn Beyond the Main Stage programme promises an eclectic range of culturally infused sub-genres from the jazz scene which will all be held in the venue’s 200-capacity Elgar Room.

Opening the series on Thursday 2 October is post-fusion, nu-jazz ensemble DREAMSCAPES who have become renowned for performances where expansive soundscapes shift from serene, ambient moments to powerful prog-rock grooves. Since releasing their self-titled EP in January 2024, the group have headlined Cheltenham Jazz Festival and completed their debut UK tour. The upcoming Late Night Jazz performance will coincide with the release of their debut full-length album, scheduled for the autumn.

The following week, Blue Lab Beats return for their third edition of their Curate residency (Thursday 9 October) with special guest trumpeter Poppy Daniels following the release of her jazz, Latin and hip-hop inspired debut solo EP, Keep On Goin’. Daniels will be joined by jazz quintet Knats who released their debut self-titled album earlier this year to critical acclaim from the likes of Jazzwise, Rolling Stone Japan and The Guardian.

Known for their unique fusion of Persian roots and contemporary jazz, the Arshid Azarine Trio will perform on Thursday 23 October, in partnership with Vaak Records and ArtStage - Iranian promoters based in London, dedicated to showcasing music from Persian-language communities worldwide. Meanwhile, singer-songwriter KYRA will close out the month on Thursday 30 October. KYRA’s music has received support from various editorial playlists on Spotify and Apple Music, alongside debut live showcase performances at Jazz Re:freshed and SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas.

Egyptian-born oud virtuoso Joseph Tawadros will perform a solo recital in the Elgar Room on Friday 14 November in association with Arts Canteen, while Korean jazz and classical outfit Gray By Silver make their debut at the K-Music Festival the following night (Saturday 15 November). Showcasing brand-new works from their upcoming third album, which is set for release this autumn, the quartet’s recent international appearances include performances in New York, Czech Republic and India, alongside festival appearances in Denmark, Japan, and China. Their 2024 album Eternal Gray received the Best Jazz Album award at the Seoul Music Awards.

The following week, talent development programme Take Five marks its 20th anniversary with a show on Monday 17 November as part of the annual EFG London Jazz Festival where contemporary jazz composer Olivia Murphy, pianist Andrew Woodhead and saxophonist/singer Lewis Daniel will perform on the night. New-York based multi-instrumentalist Roella Oloro returns to the Hall on Thursday 20 November with her trio. The ISJAC winner for Emerging Black Composers sold out her last performance in the Elgar Room in 2022 and is set to be debuting new original material this time around.

Matthew Todd, Director of Programming at the Royal Albert Hall, said,
“We’re delighted to see the Late Night Jazz programme go from strength to strength, as we continue to give a platform to the most diverse and exciting acts from the thriving global jazz scene. It’s also an honour for the Hall to partner with our friends at The EFG London Jazz Festival again this year, as well as host a K-Music Festival event for the very first time. We’re thrilled to be able to host such an array of jazz talent, making new friends whilst welcoming back those who’ve performed at the Hall before.”

Billy Marrows’ Grande Família Sextet will be performing a Relaxed Late Night Jazz show on Thursday 4 December following a successful nine-date UK tour earlier this year in support Billy’s 2024 debut album Penelope. The album was released in memory of Billy’s mother Penny, which led to the album raising over £5,800 for the World Child Cancer charity. Relaxed performances are designed to suit individuals or groups who feel more comfortable attending concerts in an informal environment.

The final event of the series and year sees the return of Jazz at the Movies: A Swinging Christmas on Wednesday 10 December. Fronted by acclaimed singer Joanna Eden and backed by Chris Ingham’s Quartet, Jazz at the Movies has sold out Ronnie Scott’s annually from 2012 to 2023 as the group will perform a set full of festive jazz favourites.

Tickets for the autumn series of Late Night Jazz are now available to buy from the Royal Albert Hall website.

Listings info:

Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore
London SW7 2AP
http://www.royalalberthall.com / 020 7589 8212

Late Night Jazz: DREAMSCAPES
Thursday 2 October 2025, 9:30pm
Tickets £15

Late Night Jazz: Blue Labs Beats Curate: Poppy Daniels & Knats
Thursday 9 October 2025, 8pm
Tickets £15

Late Night Jazz: Arshid Azarine Trio
Thursday 23 October 2025, 9:30pm
Tickets £20

Late Night Jazz: KYRA
Thursday 30 October 2025, 9:30pm
Tickets £15

Late Night Jazz: Joseph Tawadros
Friday 14 November 2025, 9:30pm
Tickets £20

Late Night Jazz: Gray By Silver
Saturday 15 November 2025, 9:30pm
Tickets £16.50

Late Night Jazz: Olivia Murphy, Andrew Woodhead & Lewis Daniel
Monday 17 November 2025, 9:30pm
Tickets £20

Late Night Jazz: Roella Oloro
Thursday 20 November 2025, 9:30pm
Tickets £15

Relaxed Late Night Jazz: Billy Marrows’ Grande Familia
Thursday 4 December 2025, 9:30pm
Tickets £16.50

Late Night Jazz: Jazz at the Movies: A Swinging Christmas!
Wednesday 10 December 2025, 9:30pm
Tickets £27.50

About the Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is the world’s most famous stage. For 153 years, it has played host to legendary artists, from Giuseppe Verdi to Beyonce.

Kings Place, London announces launch of Kings Place Jazz Orchestra and autumn 2025 jazz shows.

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Kings Place announces the launch of the newly formed Kings Place Jazz Orchestra, a freshly curated series by Michael Mwenso and an autumn filled with jazz performances. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Kings Place announces the launch of the newly formed Kings Place Jazz Orchestra, a freshly curated series by Michael Mwenso and an autumn filled with jazz performances by Sultan Stevenson, Julian Joseph, Zoe Rahman and more.

  The newly formed Kings Place Jazz Orchestra, directed by award-winning British composer, arranger, and trombonist Callum Au, will perform their inaugural concert in November with guest pianist Rob Barron

Michael Mwenso returns to Kings Place as a Guest Curator with ‘Soul Assembly’, a new series where music meets conversation, and community comes alive: celebrating the music of Miles Davis, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald

Julian Joseph is joined by Zoe Rahman to present The Sounds of our Next Generation spotlighting rising stars of jazz as part of the 10th London Piano Festival

Piotr Wojtasik Quintet and Marcin Wasilewski Trio perform concerts as part of the inaugural Polish Jazz Festival

The autumn jazz series also stars Frank Gambale, Quercus trio (June Tabor, Iain Ballamy, Huw Warren), Jack Jennings and Omar Puente, Terje Isungset Ice Quartet, Ian Shaw and Sultan Stevenson

Kings Place today [17 July] announced the launch of their new resident ensemble, Kings Place Jazz Orchestra (KPJO), directed by award-winning composer, arranger and trombonist Callum Au. KPJO is a handpicked, project-based ensemble, made up of the UK’s finest jazz and big band musicians, alongside rising-star young artists. The ensemble hopes to serve as an inspiration for young musicians, opening its doors throughout the year to experience the ensemble in the surroundings of Kings Place’s Hall One. It is set to become a cornerstone of Kings Place’s commitment to both celebrating the depth of jazz tradition and pushing the boundaries of contemporary large ensemble writing. KPJO’s debut performance on 2 November will celebrate George Gershwin’s music, reimagined through the voices of jazz legends such as Miles Davis, Count Basie and Duke Ellington, culminating in a new arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue by Callum Au.

Callum Au, Creative Director, says:
“I’m tremendously excited to be the Creative Director of the newly formed KPJO. Having a top-flight large jazz ensemble with a dedicated home is an enormous responsibility and privilege. We have a spectacular programme of concerts lined up over the next year, featuring many of the finest musicians I’ve had the privilege of working with, from UK jazz stalwarts to rising stars.’’

Sam McShane, Artistic Director of Kings Place, says:
“This autumn, we’re proud to present a wide-ranging jazz programme that reflects Kings Place’s commitment to artistic excellence, adventurous programming and community building. The debut of the Kings Place Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of the remarkable Callum Au, marks a major milestone for us - a new cornerstone for large ensemble jazz in the UK. We’re also thrilled to welcome back the incomparable Michael Mwenso with his specially curated series, Soul Assembly, a powerful new series that places music, conversation and community at its heart. From Julian Joseph and Zoe Rahman championing the next generation of pianists, to the inaugural Polish Jazz Festival and standout performances by artists including Quercus, Ian Shaw, and Sultan Stevenson, this season shines a light on the rich spectrum of jazz today. We look forward to welcoming audiences old and new to be part of these inspiring musical journeys.”

Kings Place continues its commitment to jazz with 13 jazz shows between September and December. Emmy Award-winning creator, bandleader and creative artist Michael Mwenso returns to Kings Place as a guest curator of Soul Assembly, a new series where music meets conversation, and community comes alive, starting with a celebration of Miles Davis with Jay Phelps and Ammar Kalia who will share the stage to perform, talk, reflect and connect with the audience [3 Oct]. Mwenso then presents a family ancestral listening event, Sisters of Soul, celebrating great women in song, guiding the audience through an interactive listening journey as well as a special performance led by tenor saxophonist and Musical Director Ruben Fox [16 Nov]. This is followed by a Christmas show with Michael Mwenso and the Shakes, Funky Soulful Christmas, featuring thrilling new arrangements of holiday favourites and some original anthemic music [18 Dec].

Kings Place is hosting two performances as part of the inaugural Polish Jazz Festival. The Marcin Wasilewski Trio – considered one of the most important jazz groups from Poland – bring their signature blend of tradition and modernity for their Kings Place debut [15 Sept], and trumpeter Piotr Wojtasik performs an intimate Hall Two show with his Quintet [27 Sept].

Australian jazz guitarist Frank Gambale brings his ‘All-Star’ Group to Kings Place, starring bassist Federico Malaman, Yoann Schmidt on drums and Jerry Leonide on keyboard, who will be joined by pianist and composer Andrew McCormack [5 Oct]. Julian Joseph and Zoe Rahman headline an evening at the London Piano Festival to celebrate the future of jazz, sharing the stage with the talent of tomorrow for performances, collaboration and mentorship [12 Oct].

Other jazz highlights in the autumn include Jack Jennings and Omar Puente launching their new album Allied with Nature [17 Oct], June Tabor, Iain Ballamy and Huw Warren performing together as Quercus, sharing original compositions, traditional folk songs and reclaimed standards [19 Oct] and Sultan Stevenson – one of the most exciting young jazz musicians in London – returning to Kings Place with his trio [31 Oct]. The Terje Isungset Ice Quartet perform with their ensemble of voice, ice harp, ice horn, iceophone, ice percussion and ice bass following their sold-out show in 2021 [23 Nov], and Ian Shaw reimagines Sondheim’s iconic songs through a jazz lens [27 Nov].

Further information and tickets for the full range of jazz shows at Kings Place can be found on the Kings Place website.
https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/jazz/

Concert listings

Mon 15 Sep | Hall One 8pm
MARCIN WASILEWSKI TRIO
PRESENTED BY POLISH JAZZ FESTIVAL
The Marcin Wasilewski Trio stands among the most important jazz groups to emerge from Poland in the last few decades. Known for their lyrical touch, intuitive interplay, and refined sense of space, the trio has carved out a distinctive voice in the international jazz scene. Performing as part of the Polish Jazz Festival London, the trio brings their signature blend of tradition and modernity to a city rich in jazz heritage.
£30 – £40; Half-price concessions

Sat 27 Sep | Hall Two 8pm
Piotr WojtAsik Quintet
Presented by Polish Jazz Festival
A master of the trumpet and a deeply expressive composer, Piotr Wojtasik has spent over four decades shaping European jazz with his distinctive voice and boundary-pushing creativity. Known for his lyrical tone, fearless improvisation, and collaborations with global jazz greats, Wojtasik brings decades of experience and expressive depth to an unforgettable night of European jazz excellence.
£30; £27 Under-30s

Fri 3 Oct | Hall Two 8pm
a celebration of Miles Davis
With Jay Phelps and Ammar Kalia
Michael Mwenso’s Soul Assembly
Michael Mwenso’s new series kicks off with a night of conversation and music with writer, musician and poet Ammar Kalia and UK’s leading trumpet player Jay Phelps - supported by DJ Jake Milliner.
In this joyful and immersive gathering as part of the Soul Assembly series, musician and educator Michael Mwenso will guide attendees through a communal exploration of recorded music with a focus on the indelible offerings of Miles Davis. Fresh from his recently curated Miles Davis Kind of Blue performances, Jay Phelps brings together an ensemble to perform highlights from this show alongside conversation between Michael Mwenso himself and musician, poet and writer, Ammar Kalia.
£24; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Sun 5 Oct | Hall One 7.30pm
FRANK GAMBALE ‘ALL-STAR’ GROUP
Plus Andrew McCormack
The Frank Gambale ‘All-Star’ Group – sizzling with a fantastic variety for guitar enthusiasts to feast on, the group showcases a formidable line-up that includes bassist innovator Federico Malaman, the ever-impressive Yoann Schmidt on drums, and Jerry Leonide, keyboard master from Mauritius via Paris. With support from exceptional pianist and composer Andrew McCormack
£25 – £35; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Sun 12 Oct | Hall One 5pm
JULIAN JOSEPH PRESENTS
THE SOUNDS OF OUR NEXT GENERATION
London Piano Festival
Jazz legends Julian Joseph and Zoe Rahman headline an electrifying evening celebrating the future of jazz. From swinging standards to bold new sounds, experience an unforgettable fusion of tradition and innovation, led by two of the UK’s most influential jazz pianists. Witness the talent of tomorrow, in a night filled with dynamic performances, collaboration and inspirational mentorship.
£20 – £30; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Fri 17 Oct | Hall One 7.30pm
Jack Jennings & Omar Puente
‘Allied with Nature’ Album Launch
Earth Unwrapped
Two of the most electrifying virtuosos of the UK scene, Jack Jennings & Omar Puente create new music inspired by the world’s biggest natural sound library. A powerful electric band led by guitar and violin, combining raga themes of Indian classical music, with a jazz/rock rhythm section of Domenico Angarano on bass, Arthur Newell on drums. Bringing nature’s voice to the project is wildlife sound recordist Martyn Stewart and The Listening Planet.
£21 – £36; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Sun 19 Oct | Hall One 6pm
JUNE TABOR, IAIN Ballamy and Huw Warren
Quercus
Three of the UK’s most celebrated folk and jazz musicians come together to create mesmerising, lyrical chamber music that forges June’s intensely passionate voice with Iain’s gloriously mellifluous melodies and Huw’s off-kilter musicality, to tell of life’s bitter-sweet tales. Drawing on their life’s work including original compositions, traditional folk songs and reclaimed standards, Quercus subtly colours each song to create a magical atmosphere.
£18 – £30; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Fri 31 Oct | Hall One 8pm
Sultan Stevenson Trio
Sultan Stevenson is one of the most exciting young jazz musicians in London today. He did his first international tour in October 2023 when he was invited to Ireland, a tour that included an appearance at The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival. On March 28th, he released his second album El Roi on Edition Records, launching with a sold-out show at the Southbank Centre. Following this, his trio is set for a European tour at various high-profile jazz clubs and festivals.
£18 – £30; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Sun 2 Nov | Hall One 5pm
KINGS PLACE JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Presents: Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue
Kings Place proudly presents the launch of the newly formed Kings Place Jazz Orchestra. Directed by award-winning composer, arranger and trombonist Callum Au, and featuring acclaimed guest pianist Rob Barron, the Orchestra will perform a dynamic programme of music by George Gershwin – reimagined through the voices of jazz legends such as Miles Davis, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington – culminating in Callum’s epic new arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue.
£25 – £45; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Sun 16 Nov | Hall Two 3pm
Sisters of soul – celebrating BESSIE SMITH, BILLIE HOLIDAY and ELLA FITZGERALD
Family event
Michael Mwenso’s Soul Assembly
Join us for a joyful, family-friendly celebration of music, community and powerful female voices from the past through Michael Mwenso’s Sisters of Soul show. This warm and inclusive session exists to connect with music, stories and the spirit of shared cultural roots through the music of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Through uplifting music, performed by Ruben Fox, playful storytelling and irresistible rhythms, we’ll explore the timeless music and inspiring lives of these legendary artists.
£15; £8 Under-30s

Sun 23 Nov | Hall One 5pm
Terje Isungset Ice Quartet
The extraordinary, beautiful and ethereal sounds of ice
Earth Unwrapped
Terje Isungset’s ice concert is a tribute to the most important thing in the whole world – nature – and is based on music from his albums Winter Songs and Beauty of Winter, alongside new material from their Ice Quartet album released in November 2024. The instruments are made during Isungset’s annual Ice Music Festival in Norway. They are carved and crafted using only natural frozen ice from the lakes.
£20 – £35; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Thu 27 Nov | Hall One 8pm
Ian Shaw sings Stephen Sondheim
Stephensong
With his signature blend of emotional depth, wit, and vocal virtuosity, Ian Shaw reimagines Sondheim’s iconic songs through a jazz lens – infusing them with fresh nuance while honouring their melodic, emotional and theatrical brilliance. From the aching introspection of Children Will Listen and the vocally dexterous Another Hundred People, Shaw’s interpretations are both intimate and grand, capturing the heart of Sondheim’s storytelling.
£30; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Thu 18 Dec | Hall Two 8pm
MWENSO and The Shakes
funky soulful Christmas
Michael Mwenso’s Soul Assembly
Led by Michael Mwenso, this event promises to bring to life an Afro-Futuristic Winter Wonderland. This show also marks the second year of Michael’s Soulful Funky Christmas show, which premiered last year in London and showcases the work he’s been championing across the U.S. for over a decade. Experience thrilling new arrangements of holiday favourites and some of Mwenso and The Shakes’ original anthemic music. In true Soul Assembly style, the evening of music will be paired with conversation, led by writer, musician and poet Ammar Kalia.
£28; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

ABOUT KINGS PLACE
Kings Place is an adventurous music and arts venue with an ambition to inspire local community and promote the power of the arts in our society.  Its venues enable learning, discovery, debate and experiences that are powerfully intimate, enabling human connection between artists and audiences.
The dedicated and supportive team programmes a series of festivals and events, developing cross-arts collaborations and artistic relationships that deliver unforgettable live experiences.
The award-winning concert series, Unwrapped, is its flagship programme, exploring big ideas and overarching themes across the year. Kings Place is also the UK’s home of live podcasting as creators and hosts of the London Podcast Festival.
As a registered charity Kings Place does not receive regular public funding. Income is generated through ticket sales, donations, grants, and the staging of world-class conferences and events.

Kings Place, 90 York Way, King’s Cross, London N1 9AG

http://www.kingsplace.co.uk

Laura Jurd - new album and UK & European tour dates.

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Trumpeter & composer Laura Jurd will release her new album "Rites & Revelations" on October 19th 2025. She will be touring in the UK & Europe during November.

We have received the following press release;

LAURA JURD ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM
RITES & REVELATIONS
OUT OCTOBER 17 VIA NEW SOIL

VISIONARY TRUMPETER DELIVERS STRIKING BLEND OF JAZZ AND FOLK ON NEW ALBUM

EXTENSIVE UK & GERMAN TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED FOR NOVEMBER 2025

Artist: Laura Jurd
Album: Rites & Revelations
Label: New Soil
Formats: Digital, LP, CD
Release Date: October 17

Today, New Soil announces Rites & Revelations, a new album from visionary jazz trumpeter and composer Laura Jurd — of the Mercury-nominated group Dinosaur — out October 17, 2025.

Watch the live video for Offering filmed at The Bennett Centre in Frome here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jymMbr6tJ4

Lead single, ‘Offering’ is a brooding, cathartic work, drawing on jazz, folk and European Renaissance influences to build towards an expansive crescendo, an exposition of Jurd’s towering trumpet playing and ambitious compositional approach.

“When I wrote “Offering”, I knew that this was the home for this imagined thing I’d been nurturing,” Jurd explains. “It’s a statement of intent, perhaps one of the clearest I’ve made in my career. This album feels like a grounded return to something essential.”

Rites & Revelations represents a powerful return and creative re-emergence for Jurd, who had stepped away from regular performance and recording for several years to focus on her family. Written with patience and intention over 6 months following a move to Somerset, it concentrates a sense of yearning and pent-up artistic expression in what is a striking and personal album. As she says, “This album has distilled my identity and brought together things I love in a way that feels uniquely me.”

A coming together of her two musical worlds, jazz and folk, Rites & Revelations draws on the traditional instrumentation of Jurd’s English and Scottish heritage, alongside diverse European folk influences, lacing the 10-track album with deep modal harmonies and vibrant rhythmic turns that embrace both light and dark in moments of high drama and staggering beauty.

Making music with Mercury-nominated jazz quartet Dinosaur since 2010, alongside her keyboard-playing partner Elliot Galvin, Jurd has released a trio of acclaimed LPs under her own name, and here joins forces once more with Dinosaur drummer Corrie Dick and bassist Ruth Goller, who together form a muscular rhythm section on which the album’s solid foundations stand.

Jurd is also joined by folk musicians Ultan O’Brien and Ivor Novello award-winning composer Martin Green, whose innate understanding of the details and ornamentations of folk vernacular complement Jurd’s own background in jazz and classical music (writing for the likes of London Sinfonietta, National Youth Orchestra and the Ligeti Quartet). It is a blend heard perhaps most on the album’s one cover version, a soaring rendition of blues standard ‘St James Infirmary’, whose cacophonous, intuitive one-take recording Jurd calls a “big monstrous performance.”

Recorded mostly live with minimal overdubs, Rites & Revelations captures the raw energy of a band that found its collective voice through extensive rehearsals ahead of their Edinburgh Jazz Festival premiere in 2024. Revelling in the textural drones and cultural connotations of violin and accordion, Rites & Revelations, bristles with unique sound in which Jurd pushes her trumpet playing into earthy, drone-like realms.

“I want people to feel something primal, like how old folk tunes can reach something innate in us,” she explains. “That’s what makes me tick—music that stirs you deeply, emotionally, even physically. I love that timeless quality where it feels both ancient and alive.”

On second single, ‘You Again’, the lilting traditional influences come to the fore, deftly merging the ceilidh-like melody with intricate rhythmic sweeps, and finding a new vernacular between jazz and folk in the process. It is a track that will take you by the hand and swing you round and round until sunrise.

Serpentine melodies wind their way through the album’s third single ‘Step Up To The Altar’, whose modal vamp cuts across the heavier, drone-like sound of the accordion, encapsulating the themes of “empowerment, catharsis and release” that define this moment in Jurd’s creative journey and form the beating heart of the album.

With a tour planned for later in the year, performing the album live will allow Jurd to really explore the visceral potential of what she says is her loudest project to date. Rites & Revelations arrives as a statement of intent from one of the UK’s foremost jazz musicians, retrieved from the depths of her being and expressed in a voice singular to her own.

Personnel:
Laura Jurd - trumpet
Ultan O’Brien - violin & viola
Martin Green - accordion
Ruth Goller - electric bass
Corrie Dick - drums

Rites & Revelations Tracklist:
1. Offering
2. Step Up To The Altar
3. Praying Mantis
4.Lighter & Brighter
5. Life’
6. You Again?
7. St James Infirmary
8. Bide Your Time
9. What Are You Running Towards?
10. Back To Life

Tour dates:
01 November – Unitarian Church, CAMBRIDGE, UK
02 November – Turner Sims, SOUTHAMPTON, UK
03 November –Rook Lane Chapel , FROME, UK
04 November – St George’s, BRISTOL, UK
10 November – The Yard, MANCHESTER, UK
11 November – The Cumberland Arms, NEWCASTLE, UK
13 November – Firth Hall, SHEFFIELD, UK
14 November – MAC, BIRMINGHAM, UK
18 November – Unterfahrt, MUNICH, DE
20 November – Union Chapel, LONDON, UK

https://www.laurajurd.com/

https://www.instagram.com/laurajurd/

https://www.facebook.com/laurajurdmusician

https://newsoil.bandcamp.com/

https://x.com/soil_new

Olivia Cuttill - new album and UK and European tour dates, July to October 2025.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Trumpeter & composer Olivia Cuttill will release her new album ...And Writing And Singing And Tunes To Be Swingin' on August 29th 2025 and will be touring in the UK & Europe. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Olivia Cuttill
…AND WRITING AND SINGING AND TUNES TO BE SWINGIN’
Olivia Cuttill Music – OCQ001CD
Album release (CD, digital & vinyl): Friday 29 August 2025

CONCERT DATES;

27 July - Writtle Jazz Festival

5 August - London, PizzaExpress Jazz Club, Soho

9 August - Brecon Jazz Festival

20 August - Sheffield, Jazz at the Lescar

28 August - Leeds, Seven Arts

11 September - London, Alfie’s Soho (album launch)

21 September – Germany, Junkyard Dortmund

6 October – France, Paris, Le Duc des Lombards

Jazz trumpeter, composer and winner of the 2024 Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, Olivia Cuttill, announces the release of her new album – …And Writing And Singing And Tunes To Be Swingin’.

Influenced by the soul of New Orleans and the music of Louis Armstrong, Dr. John, Nina Simone and Randy Newman, Cuttill’s original compositions combine expressive trumpet improvisation with lyrical storytelling that explores themes of love, loss, stardom, hypochondria and gratitude.

…And Writing And Singing And Tunes To Be Swingin’ features a stellar line-up of musicians: Issey Chivers (vocals), Tom Harris (piano), Josh Vadiveloo (bass), Miles Pillinger (drums) and special guest Alex Fisher (tenor saxophone).

As the third generation in a family of musicians – all of whom appear on the album – Cuttill brings a personal, emotive touch to each track. Highlights include the gospel infused ‘Show Biz Casino’, a joyful celebration of life as a musical gamble; a witty vocalese twist on Bobby Timmons’ ‘Moanin’; and the heartwarming ‘There’s A House Down By The Station’, layered with recordings of Cuttill’s late grandfather, jazz pianist Geoff Cuttill. The album closes with a soulful rendition of ‘Cryin’ Time’, paying tribute to Olivia’s love for blues and country crossover, while tracks like ‘I’ve Won The Lottery’ and ‘The Boogie Woogie Bug’ celebrate the magic of family, swing and song.

…And Writing And Singing And Tunes To Be Swinging’ is released on Olivia Cuttill Music in association with ECN Music.

Supported by the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award (Help Musicians). Recorded by Samuel Newham at Green Room Studios, Leeds; mixed and co-produced by Ben Macdonald and mastered by Chris Sharkey. 

Olivia Cuttill: https://oliviacuttillmusic.wixsite.com/oliviacuttill

A Leeds Conservatoire graduate (2023), Cuttill released her acclaimed debut album The Whole Damn Plan in January 2024.  She has performed at major UK venues and festivals including Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Southbank Centre and the EFG London Jazz Festival.  Cuttill is a member of Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band and has collaborated with acclaimed artists such as Nikki Iles, Cleveland Watkiss and Nikki Yeoh.

Distribution via ECN Music/Proper Music: http://www.propermusic.com

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 13/07/2025.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 13/07/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist from Sunday 13th July 2025

Jasper Høiby: Fellow Creatures
We Must Fight
We Must Fight
Edition

Smooth Elevator
Urban Modesty
Moving Target
Losen

Indra trio
Mondadeira Alentejana
Brahma
Unit Records

Peter Johnstone
The Four Horsemen
Resistance is Futile
self

Olie Brice Quartet
And We Dance on the Firm Earth
All it Was
West Hill Records

Casimir Liberski ReTRio
Boss Suite II
The Z Suites
WRWTFWW records

Witold
Pastereczka
Witold plays Lutoslawski
Unit

Olga Amelchenko
Walking Shadows
Howling Silence
Edition

Saihs
Second Try
Distopia
Gleam

Snakioplatz
Limitato Avanti
Snakioplatz
Caligola Records

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 7pm onward and available from then on

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Jazz FM announces summer schedule for 2025.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Jazz FM celebrates legends of jazz, soul and blues this summer. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Jazz FM set for a ‘legendary’ summer.

Jazz FM celebrates legends of jazz, soul and blues this summer

The Music That Made Me returns for a very special sixth series

Saxophonist Leo Green returns to Jazz FM for new series: Legends of Jazz

Following the celebration of new, up and coming jazz, soul and blues artists this spring at the Jazz FM Awards, the UK’s biggest jazz station celebrates the legends of the genre throughout the summer.  From today’s artists in conversation, to stories of past greats and tales of the legendary labels intrinsic to the promotion of jazz music and musicians, summer weekend evenings will tell the stories of the music in all its guises.

Jazz FM’s acclaimed “The Music That Made Me” returns for a sixth series with more huge names settling down into a deep conversation with host Nigel Williams to share how they were moulded by the music around them to make them the musicians they are today.

From Sunday 20th July for seven weeks, we hear from keyboardist Bob James, drummer Billy Cobham, trumpeter Chris Botti, vocalists Joan Armatrading and Melody Gardot, and jazz’s greatest living legend of today – Herbie Hancock.  Between them they have 62 Grammy® nominations and 17 wins – legends indeed!
Previous GOATs celebrated on this long running series include Sergio Mendez, Marcus Miller, Norah Jones, Nige Rodgers, George Benson and Harry Connick Jnr with all previous episodes available on the Rayo app.

Leo Green returns to the station to present four-part series “Leo Green’s Legends of Jazz” in which he spends time looking at the music from those who were the pioneers of jazz and whose music still resonates today like.  He also celebrates musicians’ who would have turned one hundred in 2025 in his “100 Club” which includes Oscar Peterson, Mel Torme and Zoot Sims.

Sir Van Morrison turns 80 on 31st August and as a member of Sir Van’s carefully selected band, Leo will host a special version of his Legends show with stories of performing with Sir Van.  That weekend listeners will also have the chance to hear again Sir Van’s episode of ‘Music That Made Me’ first broadcast last year.

Finally, ‘Jazz FM’s Guide to Labels’ returns for another series looking at the role labels play in making legends, both from the past and of today.  Every weekend through September, Danielle Perry spends Saturday night playing the music from a guest label and returns to tell their story on Sunday.  This series focus’ on Columbia, International Anthem, Edition and Brownswood.

Jazz FM and Magic Classical Content Director Nick Pitts says:
“We thrive on telling stories about the music and the musicians.  After a vibrant start to the year spotlighting the cutting edge of today’s music community, focusing on the legends will remind us all why these artists and organisations are still in everyone’s music DNA today.”

All programmes will also be available on Rayo for 28 days after initial transmission.
Former series of ‘The Music That Made Me’ and ‘Jazz FM’s Guide to Labels’ will also be available on Rayo in the run up to and throughout the new series.

SUMMER OF LEGENDS – FURTHER PROGRAMME DETAILS

THE MUSIC THAT MADE ME – Series 6 (Sunday 9-10pm)
Presenter: Nigel Williams /  Producer: Chris Gilvear
20th July – BILLY COBHAM (pre-listen to this first episode of the series here)
27th July – HERBIE HANCOCK
3rd August – JOAN ARMATRADING
10th August – CHRIS BOTTI
17th August – MELODY GARDOT
24th August – BOB JAMES

LEO GREEN’S LEGENDS OF JAZZ (Saturday 9-10pm)
Presenter: Leo Green /  Producer: Chris Gilvear
2nd August – Featuring MEL TORME’s induction into the ‘100 Club’
9th August – Sax legend ZOOT SIMS is inducted into the ‘100 Club’
16th August – OSCAR PETERSON joins Leo’s ‘100 Club’
23rd August – Blues icon BB KING is inducted into Leo’s ‘100 Club’

SIR VAN MORRISON AT 80
Saturday 30th August – Leo Green’s Legends of Jazz - Sir Van Morrison Special
Sunday 31st August – Music That Made Me – Sir Van Morrison (rpt from 2024)

JAZZ FM’S GUIDE TO LABELS (Saturday and Sunday 9-10pm)
Presenter: Danielle Perry /  Producer: Heather Wall
6th September – The Music of Columbia
7th September – The Story of Columbia
13th September – The Music of Edition Records
14th September – The Story of Edition Records
20th September – The Music of International Anthem
21st September – The Story of International Anthem
27th September – The Music of Brownswood
28th September – The Story of Brownswood

About Jazz FM:
Jazz FM is the largest commercial jazz station in the world, celebrating the complete spectrum of Jazz in all its colourful forms since 1990. Jazz FM broadcasters, producers and team are true devotees, with a deep love and understanding of their particular jazz shade, their passion is vivid, their enthusiasm infectious, sharing the finest jazz with everyone.
As the UK’s only dedicated Jazz broadcaster, Jazz FM is on a mission to entertain, promote and celebrate all that’s great about Jazz. Involvement with national festivals and holding the annual Jazz FM Awards is part of this - setting the bar high for live performance, recognising outstanding talent and strengthening the Jazz community.
No matter how people tune-in they always listen in colour.

The Green Note, Camden Town, London - Newsletter, 14/07/2025.

Monday, July 14, 2025

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

July Highlights - part 2

Hello Green Note Music Lovers,

Summer is in full swing at Green Note, and we’re serving up a diverse feast of musical treats to carry you through the rest of July. Whether you’re a long-time regular or it’s your first visit, there’s no better time to soak up the magic of live music, good company and a summer evening at Green Note.

UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS…

This weekend is going to be a cracker at Green Note! We have 2 brilliant folk/Americana bands gracing the stage - Kicking it off on Friday (18th July) is A DIFFERENT THREAD who weave together British and American folk influences with lush harmonies and a vintage vibe, and on Sunday (20th July) THE LOST NOTES, renowned for their energetic and joyous live shows with a sound that “Fits in amongst peers like… Fleet Foxes, …Fairport Convention… Crosby Stills Nash and Young.” Both highly recommended!

On Saturday (19th July) we look forward to welcoming back the charismatic Italian singer-songwriter BANDINI,  accompanied by his full band, whose mix of gypsy jazz, blues and theatrical storytelling brings raw, untamed energy to the stage — a must-see for lovers of Tom Waits-style grit and bohemian soul!

We are super excited for the Green Note debut next week from STEVE RAY LADSON who is currently traveling the world with 6-time Grammy Award winners and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners The Blind Boys of Alabama. He blew Simon Cowell and the judges away when he auditioned for the current season of America’s Got Talent, and he’ll be bringing his soulful voice, heartfelt lyrics and gospel-infused Americana to our intimate stage next Tuesday (22nd July) - not to be missed!

More exciting Green Note debuts this month when RAGE AGAINST THE TAGINE take to the stage (Fri 25th July) - a powerhouse fusion group blending the soul of jazz with the fire of Middle Eastern and North African rhythms - this is fusion with flavour! And the fabulous NOELLE VAUGHN AND HER FLAMIN’ HEARTS, will be serving up rockabilly swagger, retro pin-up charm and sultry torch songs to round out the month in foot-tapping style (Sat 26th July).

This is just a selection of the many incredible artists who will be gracing our Green Note stage in the coming weeks, so please do check out our EVENTS PAGE for the full listings. Whether you’re into rebel folk, rootsy soul, gypsy jazz or vintage rock ’n’ roll, Green Note is your home for unforgettable live music! And please note that many of our shows sell out in advance, so we highly recommend grabbing your tickets early to avoid disappointment!

GREEN NOTE HITS THE ROAD…

We’ll be taking a break from our “Green Note Hits The Road” shows during August, but before that we’ll be taking the Green Note magic beyond Camden this month, with a few special shows at our “homes away from home.” Join us for unforgettable nights with the incredible JAMES MADDOCK (Thurs 17th July), whose raw soulful voice and unique blend of Folk Rock and Americana have made him a favourite on both sides of the Atlantic and led to him opening for renowned artists like Paul Weller and Counting Crows; the enchanting KATIE JAMES (Sun 20th July), whose Irish-Colombian roots shine through her beautiful fusion of folk and jazz with Latin influences; and the powerhouse EVE SELIS (Weds 23rd July), a dynamic singer-songwriter from California, who has spent over three decades captivating audiences worldwide with her powerful voice and evocative storytelling, and whose latest album, Dark Sky Blue, is a reflection of the journey from darkness to light.


And if you can’t decide what to book for, check out our SPOTIFY PLAYLIST for a taster of what’s coming up in July!
Spotify Playlist - July 2025
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6omkk6dtECrsQIqZAnzCfz?si=f73fdf64bbfc4b96&nd=1&dlsi=bba2c64f10814fe8

Hope to see you soon!
Lots of love,
Immy & Risa xx

COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS…

Jeff Cohen
Mon 14th July
Distinguished, 6 time BMI Award winning, Grammy and CMT Award Nominated songwriter, producer, and publisher based in Nashville

Lena Jonsson Trio
Mon 14th July
THE WATER RATS
Swedish multi award-winning fiddler Lena Jonsson blends her deep knowledge of traditional Swedish folk music with innovative artistic sensibilities, a sparkling joy for life, and rock-star charisma.

‘Soundings’… with Elanor Moss
Tue 15th July
A night of music and conversation… songs in process and conversations about the creative process and life on the road. This month featuring Will Stratton + Trippers & Askers

Charlie Allen and
Robin Katz
Tue 15th July
THE BASEMENT BAR
Guitarists Charlie Allen and Robin Katz come together for the first time — no hype, just feel.  With a soul and jazz repertoire expect tight grooves and virtuosic improvisation in this guitar duo that pays respect to the greats from Django to Benson and beyond.

James Riley
Wed 16th July
New Roots presents Anglo-American folk-roots troubadour James Riley with his trio. ‘Awesome’ Laura Marling ‘Incredible’ Huw Stephens, BBC Radio 1.

Spottiswoode Release Show
Wed 16th July
THE BASEMENT BAR
Award-winning bandleader, singer-songwriter, scriptwriter and filmmaker with a show to celebrate the release of the latest single from his forthcoming album
** SOLD OUT **

Tom Mansi & The Icebreakers
Thu 17th July
New Roots presents a night of rocking blues, rhythm & blues, rock’n’roll, country blues and more with hugely respected trio Tom Mansi & The Icebreakers - ‘..this is the stuff!!’ Phil Jupitus, BBC Radio 4 / BBC 6 Music

James Maddock
Thu 17th July
THE WATER RATS
Singer-songwriter with a raw, soulful voice; a storyteller’s sense of narrative; and the ability to blur the lines between folk, classic pop, and rock

A Different Thread
Fri 18th July
Weaving together elements of 70s’ folk revival, piedmont blues, and country, to create an authentic Americana sound

Camille Rose and her Trio
Fri 18th July
THE BASEMENT BAR
Described as “the love-child of Ella Fitzgerald and Amy Winehouse” Camille blends influences from across the jazz diaspora into a fresh, contemporary sound that honors the music’s rich heritage.

Bandini
Sat 19th July
THE BASEMENT BAR
Jazz, blues, rock and gypsy incorporated into a unique sound… “The bastard son of Tom Waits and Cab Calloway”

Open-mic hosted by Rob Thom (Matinée)
Sun 20th July
Well-established, relaxed and friendly open mic…

The Lost Notes
Sun 20th July
A folk/Americana band from Moseley Birmingham, renowned for their energetic and joyous live shows with a sound that “Fits in amongst peers like… Fleet Foxes, …Fairport Convention… Crosby Stills Nash and Young.”

Robin Allender Band
Sun 20th July
THE BASEMENT BAR
Folk guitarist Allender playing for the first time as a trio with Huw Williams (Bill Ryder-Jones, Gruff Rhys) on bass and Joe Ryan (Fair Ohs, The Language of Love, The Revival Hour) on drums.

Katie James
Sun 20th July
THE WATER RATS
Anglo/Irish singer, songwriter and guitar player who was raised in Colombia combines all these elements into fresh-sounding and deeply felt song

Bold Reilly
Mon 21st July
A mix of traditional Irish, Americana and original tunes and songs

Steve Ray Ladson
Tue 22nd July
Multi-talented US artist presents ‘Blackgrass Brothercana’ - on a mission to keep the ‘blues, funk, pop, soul and rock n roll’ alive!

Chloe Jones
Tue 22nd July
THE BASEMENT BAR
Evocative songwriting and inimitable vocals which hint to folk and Americana influences.
** SOLD OUT **

Lowpines + Adam Lytle
Wed 23rd July
Two talented musicians share the stage in this intimate double bill

Marcus Bonfanti
Wed 23rd July
THE BASEMENT BAR
“Utterly spellbinding” The Times / “The next British blues guitar hero” The Guardian

Eve Selis & Friends: Dark Sky Blue ~ Healing Hearts
Wed 23rd July
THE WATER RATS
Songs that look deep into the truth of life…

Roxanne de Bastion + guests celebrate Taylor Swift’s Folklore
Thu 24th July
Join us for this very special evening, where Roxanne de Bastion will perform the album in full together with guest appearances from some of London’s finest singer songwriters and folk artists.

Rage Against the Tagine
Fri 25th July
A powerhouse fusion group blending the soul of jazz with the fire of Middle Eastern and North African rhythms.

Bee Ororo
Fri 25th July
THE BASEMENT BAR
Award-winning jazz / blues artist

Noelle Vaughn and her Flamin’ Hearts
Sat 26th July
A scorching blend of jazz, vintage swing, and red-hot rock and roll

John “Papa” Gros - Solo
Sat 26th July
THE BASEMENT BAR
New Orleans piano man mixes all the sounds of New Orleans - funk, trad jazz, brass band, blues - and makes it his own signature gumbo!

Darren Hayman
Sun 27th July (matinée)
A 15 year anniversary show looking back at Essex Arms, his second in a trilogy of albums about his home county of Essex… “Bold and unique” The Sunday Times

Darren Hayman
Sun 27th July (evening)
A 15 year anniversary show looking back at Essex Arms, his second in a trilogy of albums about his home county of Essex… “Bold and unique” The Sunday Times
** SOLD OUT **

​Moore & Fairhall
Sun 27th July
THE BASEMENT BAR
A folk-jazz accordion and violin duo who bring together Indian Ragas, American Folk and jazz from all eras, resulting in music that is lyrical, passionate and highly rhythmic.

Olly Hensby
Mon 28th July
An intimate night of blues, folk, and soul, celebrating the release of Olly’s latest EP

Open-mic hosted by Rob Thom
Tue 29th July
Well-established, relaxed and friendly open mic…

Lea G
Wed 30th July
Alt-pop artist Lea G returns with her 6-piece band for a powerful headline performance

The Pear Blossoms
Wed 30th July
THE BASEMENT BAR
American string band duo focusing on pre-war era jazz and blues.

Sonia Leigh
Thu 31st July
TALENTBANQ presents… singer-songwriter whose musical style defies categorization, seamlessly blending elements of country, pop, rock, and hip-hop

Nothing In Rambling
Fri 1st August
Duo guided by a mutual passion for early blues; evoking the playfulness, power and soul of the music and the people who created it

Luke Concannon (Matinée Show)
Sat 2nd August
Renowned for his magnetic live performances and ‘direct-from-the-heart’ songs

The VoodooVendors
Sat 2nd August
A hot & heavy, stamp-your-feet-and-dance, savage Voodoo rhythm ‘n’ blues duo! With Congo Faith Healers frontman Sonny West at the helm, “These guys really rock!” Ronnie Wood

Drums of the World - drum workshop
Sun 3rd August
Global adventures in rhythm. An exciting and interactive drum workshop presented by Elephant Drums and led by Adam Teixeira.

Harry Diplock Sessions
Sun 3rd August
The music of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli… Joined monthly by some of the best gypsy jazz musicians from across Europe, come for an evening of improvisation and surprises!

Green Note, 106 Parkway, London, NW1 7AN

http://www.greennote.co.uk

EFG London Jazz Festival announce new artists including Nubya Garcia, Omou Sangaré, Mulatu Astatke, Shabaka Hutchings, Camilla George and many more.

Wednesday, July 09, 2025

EFG London Jazz Festival, has announced the next raft of names for its 33rd edition which takes place from 14-23 November 2025. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

SERIOUS
Announce More Artists For
EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 2025
New names include Nubya Garcia, Oumou Sangaré, Mulatu Astatke, The Evolution of UK Jazz – 20 Years On ft. Camilla George and Shabaka Hutchings, Hossein Alizadeh, Bill Laurance and more
14-23 November 2025
https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/

The global celebration of music, EFG London Jazz Festival, is sharing the next raft of names for its 33rd edition which takes place from 14-23 November. For 10 days and nights musicians from all over the world will come together in London to perform boundary-pushing music that showcases jazz and its influence across different genres and cultures.

Following his performance at EFG London Jazz Festival in 2023, the ‘Father of Ethio Jazz’, Mulatu Astatke, will bring two shows to the festival this year. The first is at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, 16 November and then the following night at HERE at Outernet. He will perform a celebratory career-spanning set that is sure to be a fitting tribute to his incredible musical journey so far. The shows will also be in support of his first major studio album in over 10 years, Mulatu Plays Mulatu, which is being released ahead of his performance.

On Friday, 21 November Aga Khan Master Musicians & Friends: A Night of Musical Alchemy and Wonder take the stage at Queen Elizabeth Hall. The Aga Khan Master Musicians are a unique ensemble of visionary performers and composers, each devoted to reimagining the musical heritage of their culture through bold, contemporary expression. Experience an unforgettable evening of musical innovation as the Aga Khan Master Musicians join forces with French jazz luminary Vincent Peirani (accordion), Aga Khan Music Awards laureates and extraordinary talents from the tapestry of musical cultures. In this one-of-a-kind concert, boundaries dissolve and traditions intertwine, offering a thrilling musical journey where East meets West, the ancient meets the avant-garde, and new creations are born in the moment.

Continuing at the Southbank Centre, the soul of Wassoulou meets the power of orchestral sound as the BBC Symphony Orchestra are performing alongside Malian singer and 2019 Aga Khan Music 2019 winner, Oumou Sangaré. Opening the concert are winners of the prestigious Aga Khan Music Awards which take place as part of EFG London Jazz Festival over the closing weekend. Soon to be announced, the winners are artists whose work preserves and reimagines musical traditions from across the globe.

These concerts are curated by the Aga Khan Music Awards 2025 in collaboration with the EFG London Jazz Festival and celebrate outstanding musical creativity inspired by cultural heritage across the world.

London-born saxophonist, composer, bandleader and Take Five alumnus, Nubya Garcia melds jazz, classical, dub and R&B into sweeping, adventurous music to stir the senses. Her eclectic music style comes from a place of exploration and self-study, of wanting to experiment across all disciplines. One of the most lauded of her generation in UK jazz, Garcia is closing the festival at HERE at Outernet on Sunday, 23 November with a unique show accompanied by specially-commissioned visuals.

Over at Cadogan Hall, the beautiful concert hall just off Sloane Square, the full lineup is almost in place with Iranian player of the Tar and Shurangiz Hossein Alizadeh performing on Friday, 14 November, presented in collaboration with Artstage and Vaak Records. American vocalist and purveyor of the Great American Songbook, Stella Cole performs on Sunday 16, November. Into the midweek, maverick violinist who moves freely between jazz, classical and pop, Nigel Kennedy will perform on Tuesday, 18 November and pianist Taylor Eigsti ft Becca Stevens will bring some New York flair on Wednesday, 19 November. Classically trained composer, sought after collaborator and 5 times Grammy award-winning pianist Bill Laurance will play music from his new album Lumen, released on ACT Records on 26 September in Cadogan Hall on Saturday, 22 November.

On Wednesday, 19 November at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Adrian Dunbar presents T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land with music by Nick Roth alongside the Guildhall Session Orchestra. Conceived and directed by Dunbar, the Unreal Cities setting of the poem is composed for four actors, film and jazz quintet and is expanded for this performance with a full orchestral treatment in collaboration with the Guildhall Session Orchestra.

UK drummer, composer and producer Tom Skinner has been a vital and central figure in the burgeoning underground music scene in London throughout the last 20 years, and he brings this experience to a special headline show at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on Friday, 21 November. Tom is known, among others, as an original member of award winning band Sons Of Kemet alongside band-leader and frequent collaborator Shabaka Hutchings. He is also the core drummer of The Smile, with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood.

Headlining KOKO on Friday, 21 November, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Adrian Younge is performing with an outstanding 10-piece orchestra to present ‘Something About April III’ - the final chapter of his Brazil inspired psychedelic soul trilogy. As the founder of Linear Labs and co-creator of Jazz Is Dead, his work spans collaborations with artists such as Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, and João Donato. Fans can expect a star studded show in keeping with the Jazz is Dead nights, inviting surprise guests for their first ever outing in London.

Following their show at Jazz Cafe earlier this year, the electrifying and genre-crossing Ilhan Ersahin’s Istanbul Sessions return to play the EartH Theatre in Dalston on Sunday, 23 November.

At the Union Chapel, there are two new shows announced. On the opening Saturday, 15 November, childhood friends Sam Amidon and Thomas Bartlett perform in a double bill show for EFG London Jazz Festival. Having grown up together and formed bands as children, they have both gone on to carve out brilliant careers as musicians and collaborators. On the back of his breakthrough album Salt River, Amidon follows his two sold out shows at Stone Nest earlier this year, whilst Bartlett will perform works including his luminous 2020 release Shelter.

Anyone who attended last year’s showstopping Moment’s Notice will be feverishly anticipating the event’s return to Union Chapel. George Nelson’s improv series is one of the hottest tickets on the London jazz scene. Five musicians with little or no history of playing together are invited to spontaneously compose in front of a live audience. Last November, Courtney Pine, Yazz Ahmed, Femi Koleoso, Petter Eldh and Farida Amadou treated a sell-out Union Chapel to three blisteringly brilliant sets, and this year Moment’s Notice returns to the EFG London Jazz Festival for a second time on Tuesday, 18 November with a secret lineup that will be revealed in the coming months.

At Milton Court, Dhamaal and Shri Sriram present a high-energy collaboration of South Asian, jazz and electronic traditions, creating an exhilarating and dynamic celebration of musical diversity on Sunday, 16 November. Created by Indian-born British composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Shri Sriram and commissioned by Serious Trust for the 2025 New Music Biennial, it draws out the up-tempo sounds from the genres to create a celebratory and joyous performance, helped along by a 28 piece brass band.

The following day, Monday, 17 November at Milton Court poet, novelist, musician and academic Anthony Joseph and legendary UK producer Dave Okumu present a live performance of Rowing up River to Get Our Names Back.

Closely mentored by the legendary trumpet player Hugh Masekela, Somi has carved out her own path as an artist, scholar, and activist. Somi offers an Afropolitan sonic travelogue that weaves deeply personal storytelling with modern jazz and African groove and performs at Jazz Cafe on Saturday, 22 November.

Composer, arranger, producer, conceptualist and actor ESKA’s artistry spans genres, disciplines and institutions, from underground improvisation scenes to fashion houses. She can leap from sweet jazz-folk to radical avant-garde improv at the drop of a hat, and performs at The Lower Third on Tuesday, 18 November, as she moves into a bold new chapter.

As was announced last week, Serious’ talent development programme Take Five celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025, and as part of the celebrations they are presenting a show with specially composed music by celebrated alumni Shabaka Hutchings, Camilla George and Jason Yarde at the Barbican on Wednesday, 19 November.

There are also two Take Five performances on the opening weekend from the 2025 cohort with Polish-born London based harpist Marysia Osu and Ghana-born Manchester raised guitarist Rory A. Green performing a matinee show at Purcell Rooms on Saturday, 15 November. Scottish saxophonist Matt Carmichael and percussionist Gloria Yehilevsky do the Take Five matinee showcase on Sunday, 16 November, with pianist Marco Mezquida performing his new project ‘Tornado’ in the evening.

After the flurry of Take Five shows on the opening weekend, there is another taste of the future of UK jazz on Monday at the Elgar Room in the Royal Albert Hall with Take Five Presents: Olivia Murphy’s Moonrise Ensemble, Andrew Woodhead’s Swing you Sinners & Lewis Daniel. Take Five alumni Bryony Jarman-Pinto performs at Toulouse Lautrec on Thursday, 20 November.

EFG London Jazz Festival have a plethora of other fantastic shows being announced today, including Sarathy Korwar Drum Ensemble at the ICA on Saturday, 15 November, Dark Days: Neil Charles, Mark Sanders and Cleveland Watkiss at Camden Arts Centre on Thursday, 20 November and Rosie Frater-Taylor at The Courtyard on Saturday, 22 November.

EFG London Jazz Festival is a place to explore music and to celebrate the legacy and the future of an inspiring musical universe.

Serious would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all of their partners, particularly the continued support of title sponsor EFG, which helps to support the breadth and diversity of the festival. The EFG London Jazz Festival is made possible thanks to the support of many key sponsors and funders, including Arts Council England, Serious Trust, BBC Radio 3, Champagne Thienot, Jazzwise Magazine and Jazz FM UK.

Dee Dee Bridgewater’s show at the Barbican is presented in collaboration with Eurostar, celebrating the London to Paris connection for over 30 years.

EFG London Jazz Festival Shows (to date)

12 - 14 Nov - aja monet (Artist in Residence) - Barbican

14 Nov - Hossein Alizadeh - Cadogan Hall

14 Nov - Jazz Voice - Royal Festival Hall

15 Nov - Sam Amidon ‘Salt River’ & Thomas Bartlett - Union Chapel

15 Nov - Marysia Osu + Rory Green (Take Five matinee showcases) - Purcell Room

15 Nov - Sarathy Korwar Drum Ensemble - ICA

15 Nov - Joan As Police Woman - EartH Theatre

15 Nov - We Exist! The Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet - Barbican

15 Nov - Tanita Tikaram - Royal Festival Hall

15 Nov - Chris Thile - Queen Elizabeth Hall

15 Nov - Kurt Elling and The Yellowjackets Celebrate Weather Report - Cadogan Hall

16 Nov - Mulatu Astatke - Royal Festival Hall

16 Nov - Stella Cole - Cadogan Hall

16 Nov - Matt Carmichael + Gloria Yehilevsky (Take Five matinee showcases) - Purcell Room

16 Nov - Marco Mezquida: Tornado - Purcell Room

16 Nov - Dhamaal + Shri Sriram - Milton Court

16 Nov - Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo - Barbican

16 Nov - Michael Wollny Trio + Emma Rawicz INKYRA - Queen Elizabeth Hall

16 Nov - Bilal - Village Underground

17 Nov - Mulatu Astatke - HERE at Outernet

17 Nov - Anthony Joseph + Dave Okumu - Milton Court

17 Nov - Take Five Presents: Olivia Murphy’s Moonrise Ensemble, Andrew Woodhead’s Swing You Sinners & Lewis Daniel - Elgar Room

17 Nov - Levitation Orchestra - Islington Assembly Hall

18 Nov - Moments Notice - Union Chapel

18 Nov - Eska - The Lower Third

18 Nov - Nigel Kennedy “Spiritual Connection” - Cadogan Hall

18 Nov - Jasmine Myra with Strings - Hackney Church

19 Nov - The Evolution of UK Jazz – 20 Years On ft. Camilla George and Shabaka - Barbican

19 Nov - Taylor Eigsti Group ft Becca Stevens - Cadogan Hall

19 Nov - Adrian Dunbar presents T.S.Eliot’s The Waste Land Music by Nick Roth with Guildhall Session Orchestra - Queen Elizabeth Hall (6 & 8pm)

19 Nov - Queer Jazz: B.H.A.M w/ Abi Asisa - Vortex

19 Nov - Makaya McCraven - KOKO

19 Nov - Rita Payés - Union Chapel

20 Nov - Bryony Jarman-Pinto - Toulouse Lautrec

20 Nov - Dark Days Neil Charles, Mark Sanders and Cleveland Watkiss - Camden Arts Centre

20 Nov - Ana Carla Maza - Cadogan Hall

20 Nov - Emma-Jean Thackray - KOKO

20 Nov - London Sinfonietta with Marius Neset - Queen Elizabeth Hall

20 Nov - Fergus McCreadie + Laura Jurd - Union Chapel

20 Nov - GeeJay - Islington Assembly Hall

21 Nov - Aga Khan Master Musicians & Friends: A Night of Musical Alchemy and Wonder

21 Nov - Adrian Younge / Jazz is Dead - KOKO

21 Nov - Tom Skinner - Queen Elizabeth Hall

21 Nov - Gary Crosby’s Africa Space Programme featuring Denys Baptiste, Winston Clifford + Guest - Vortex

21 Nov - The Weather Station with Strings - EartH Theatre

21 Nov - Bill Frisell Trio - Cadogan Hall

21 Nov - Hiromi’s Sonicwonder - Barbican

22 Nov - Somi - Jazz Cafe

22 Nov - Bill Laurance - Cadogan Hall

22 Nov - SpiceJazz presents Rosie Frater-Taylor - The Courtyard

22 Nov - Tortoise + Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer - Barbican

22 Nov - Tune-Yards - Royal Festival Hall

23 Nov - Nubya Garcia - HERE at Outernet

23 Nov - Oumou Sangaré with BBC Concert Orchestra - Queen Elizabeth Hall

23 Nov - Ilhan Ersahin Istanbul Sessions - EartH Theatre

23 Nov - Adekunle Gold with Guildhall Session Orchestra - Royal Festival Hall

23 Nov - Japanese Jazz - Barbican

23 Nov - Swingin’ With Strings - Cadogan Hall

23 Nov - Herbert & Momoko - Village Underground

Praise for 2024 edition

“beautifully curated” - The Guardian, ★★★★★

“The incredible musical jamboree of the EFG London Jazz Festival is our yearly reminder that the jazz scene has never been more various” - The Telegraph, ★★★★★

“exceptional” - The Times, ★★★★

“November can be a month to hunker down for the onset of winter and its weather, and where better to do that than in one of the myriad venues across the capital” - The Arts Desk, ★★★★

“there’s a noticeable buzz amongst the crowd amassing” - Clash

Serious is one of the UK’s leading producers of live jazz, international and new music through concerts, festivals, tours, digital shows, talent development schemes, learning and participation programmes, and bespoke events for all.

EFG International is a global private banking group offering private banking and asset management services and is headquartered in Zurich. EFG International’s group of private banking businesses operates in around 40 locations worldwide. Its registered shares (EFGN) are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. 

Black Mountain Jazz - Samba Workshops, September 2025.

Wednesday, July 09, 2025

BMJ are hosting three Samba workshops at The Melville Centre — no experience needed and open to all ages! Followed by a vibrant street busk as part of our Community Sunday at Wall2Wall Jazz Festival.

From;
https://www.facebook.com/BlackMountainJazz/

Join the Beat with Black Mountain Jazz!
Samba Drumming Workshops + Street Busk
Get ready to feel the rhythm and bring the energy! We’re hosting three fun-filled Samba workshops at The Melville Centre — no experience needed and open to all ages!

Workshop Dates:
Thursday 18th Sept | 7:30–9:30pm
Thursday 25th Sept | 7:30–9:30pm
Sunday 28th Sept | 1:00–3:00pm Followed by a vibrant street busk as part of our Community Sunday at wall2wall Jazz Festival!

Instruments provided — just bring yourself!
Includes refreshments at each session
£30 for all three sessions (£20 for under 18s)
Limited to 15 places — you must attend all three
Come drum, laugh, learn, and perform!

Interested? Contact us via the form on our website: http://www.blackmountainjazz.co.uk
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
☎️07958612691
https://www.blackmountainjazz.co.uk/

Derby Jazz - Programme for August to December 2025.

Wednesday, July 09, 2025

Derby Jazz has announced its programme for August to December 2025. Events take place at various venues around the city.

We have received the following information;

Derby Jazz news and dates August to December

FIVE BANDS MAKING NEW SOUNDS OF JAZZ RIGHT NOW ALL-DAYER CELEBRATING JAZZ’ CONTINUAL RENEWALL.
SAT AUGUST 2ND ELECTRIC DAISY £10
1.00pm doors
2.00pm ARJUN CHANDRASEKAR QUARTET
3.30pm BLU.PRNT
5.30pm ELLIE’S KATS
7.00pm VIKASATI
8.30pm FLORAL PATTERN
https://mjazz.co.uk/derby-jazz-whats-on/

HEJIRA - CELEBRATING JONI MITCHELL
CHAPEL STREET ARTS CENTRE Studio Theatre
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 26TH 8PM £25
A seven piece band celebrating the great songs and jazz of Joni Mitchell. Expect an evening of ‘great’ songs from Joni’s back catalogue such as ‘Amelia’, ‘Woodstock’, ‘A case of You’, ‘Song for Sharon’, ‘Edith and the Kingpin’ etc.
“Hattie Whitehead’s voice is spine-shiveringly like Mitchell’s, and just as full of delicacy, emotion and intelligence…’ - JAZZWISE August 2024

ROBERT MITCHELL TRIO
LITTLE BLACK BOOK
CHAPEL STREET ARTS CENTRE Studio Theatre
Friday October 17th 8pm £15
ROBERT MITCHELL’S NEW ELECTRIC POWER TRIO. The way the keyboards and guitar continually swap lead and bass roles makes this an exceptional band.
https://mjazz.co.uk/whats-on/8D-little-black-book/

AHMED
CHAPEL STREET ARTS CENTRE Studio Theatre
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 16th 4PM £25
[Ahmed] is an international quartet of Pat Thomas (piano), Joel Grip (double bass), Antonin Gerbal (drums) and Seymour Wright (alto saxophone). Together,Ahmed re-arrange and re-imagine in real time the music of composer, bassist and oud player Ahmed Abdul-Malik (1927-1993). Their 2024 5CD boxed set of live recordings made at Fylkingen in Stockholm has received rave reviews and rankings from jazz journalists and critics across Europe, USA and UK. They’ve played major venues and festivals in; New York, Istanbul, Paris, Berlin, London, Glasgow, Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, Finland and Italy. Their gigs in the UK outside London are rare as hen’s teeth.
“Don’t think I’ve ever heard a more intense hour of music. Unbelievably great.” GEOFF DYER novelist and jazz writer.
https://mjazz.co.uk/whats-on/8F-ahmed/

LEVY / ROBSON INTERNATIONAL QUARTET
DUBREK STUDIOS
FRIDAY DECEMBER 5th 8pm £15
A hugely fruitful music partnership formed in New York City in 2017 between the highly acclaimed US saxophonist Jed Levy (Jaki Byard, Jack McDuff, Mike Clark, Tom Harrell etc.) and multi-award winning Derby born guitarist Phil Robson (Mark Turner, David Liebman, Billy Hart, Partisans, etc.) who was living in NYC at the time.
https://mjazz.co.uk/whats-on/8l-levy-robson-international-quartet/

The Studio Theatre at CHAPEL STREET ARTS CENTRE is our new main venue.
With 124 seats, the same as New York’s legendary Village Vanguard, a superb natural acoustic and excellent sightlines this studio theatre is ideal for jazz. It’s part of Chapel Street Arts Centre in the building that was previously the home of Déda opposite Chapel Street Car Park in Derby’s Cathedral Quarter.
The CUBE bar/cafe serves drinks before the show and during the interval.

Ludovico Einaudi Announces Solo Piano Tour for April and May 2026.

Friday, July 04, 2025

Italian pianist and composer Ludovico Einaudi is unveiling Solo Piano, a special series of intimate solo evenings in his favourite concert halls.

We have received the following press release;

Ludovico Einaudi Announces Solo Piano Tour for 2026

April - May 2026

Ludovico Einaudi: Solo Piano

At the end of his six-night record-breaking residency at the Royal Albert Hall, Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi is unveiling Solo Piano, a special series of intimate solo evenings in his favourite concert halls.

Renowned for his ability to captivate audiences with both grandeur and intimacy, Einaudi’s concerts often reach their most profound moments when his accompanying musicians step offstage, leaving him alone at the piano. In those quiet, transcendent interludes, vast venues are transformed into spaces of deep personal connection.

In 2026, he will build this section out into a full show, playing the most loved songs from his catalogue alongside some deep cuts and surprises.

Solo Piano Tour 2026 Dates:

Tue 28 and Wed 29 April London Royal Albert Hall
Fri 01 May Gateshead The Glasshouse
Sat 02 May Birmingham Symphony Hall
Mon 04 May Bristol Beacon

Tickets go on sale next Thursday 10 July at 10am.

http://www.serious.org.uk

Islay Jazz Festival announces 2025 dates and new partnership with leading distillery, Caol Ila.

Thursday, July 03, 2025

Jazz Scotland has announced that Caol Ila, which translates in Gaelic to ‘The Sound of Islay’, will be headline sponsor of the 2025 Islay Jazz Festival, one of Scotland’s biggest celebrations of jazz

We have received the following press release;

The Sound of Islay is Jazz: Islay Jazz Festival announces 2025 dates and new partnership with leading distillery, Caol Ila

Jazz Scotland has announced that Caol Ila, which translates in Gaelic to ‘The Sound of Islay’, will be headline sponsor of the 2025 Islay Jazz Festival, one of Scotland’s biggest celebrations of jazz music.

The Caol Ila Islay Jazz Festival will take place between 19-21 September 2025 and boasts a line-up of jazz musicians from across Scotland, and the world, who will play at intimate venues around the island including Caol Ila and Lagavulin distilleries.

Each year the festival draws jazz and Scotch whisky fans from across the globe who are looking to enjoy the compelling combination of music and whisky, with the stunning backdrop of views of the island’s breathtaking landscape and its symphony of iconic whisky distilleries.

Festival visitors to the island will have the exclusive opportunity to savour a special dram of Caol Ila, crafted specifically to celebrate this annual music and culture event. This limited-edition release will be unveiled soon.

This is the first year that Caol Ila will be headline sponsor of the festival which has been supported by its parent company, Diageo, for 15 years, previously having Lagavulin as the title sponsor. Diageo has confirmed it is extending its longstanding collaboration with Jazz Scotland until 2027.

Caol Ila, or “The Sound of Islay”, has more than just a fitting name as a headline sponsor - the distillery is the perfect place for visitors to embrace Islay. With a passionate and knowledgeable team on hand, plus views across to the Paps of Jura, and a liquid with deep roots to the island’s history and culture. The Caol Ila distillery visitor experience, was beautifully reimagined and reopened in 2022 as part of Diageo’s £185 million investment in Scotch whisky tourism, invites guests to explore the distillery’s rich heritage and stunning coastal views.

Jazz Scotland is a non-profit organisation that promotes and supports jazz and related music in Scotland. It will continue the Islay Jazz Festival’s approach of bringing together a wide range of world-class musicians from Scotland and beyond to create exciting and unique collaborations at venues around the island.

The Islay Arts Association is a longstanding partner of the jazz festival as part of its ongoing support for music and culture on Islay.

“The Festival is going from strength to strength, with this sponsorship of Caol Isla being an exciting development” said Stuart Todd, Chairman of the Islay Arts Association. “A particularly varied programme of concerts is well into planning.  We look forward to welcoming fine musicians and dedicated jazz fans to Islay , joining locals at events in the distilleries and other venues across this beautiful island.”

Eleanor Gilles, Brand Home Manager at Caol Ila and Lagavulin, said:
“Jazz Festival brings with it a real buzz to the island, and it’s great to have Caol Ila as the headline sponsor for the first time this year. With a name like ‘The Sound of Islay’, it feels like Caol Ila was destined to host such a brilliant celebration of music. Guests can expect some standout performances from world-leading jazz musicians, drams, cocktails and panoramic views of some of Scotland’s stunning scenery - we can’t wait to welcome visitors new and old.”

“We’re delighted that our friends at Diageo have committed to supporting the festival for the next 3 years,” said John Youngs, Jazz Scotland’s CEO.

“This multi-year support, which matches Creative Scotland’s multi-year funding for the event, ensures that we can continue to deliver a programme of the highest quality for artists and audiences alike over the longer-term. That is exciting!”, Jazz Scotland Chair of the board- Neil GIbbons

Timeline;

From 24 July 2025 Festival Pass will be announced and on sale. The Festival Pass will be valid for a full-suite of concerts at a discounted price, priority booking and more, and is the best way to lock in for an immersive festival experience. There will only be 40 limited festival passes available, so be sure to keep an eye on your emails for an announcement of when sales open to avoid disappointment.
Local Islay residents will also be eligible for priority booking and discounts for the festival. Sign-ups for this will also open from 24 July 2025

The musicians visiting the island will also be gradually announced during this period. As an example, for the musicians who visited in 2024 see here -
https://www.islayarts.org.uk/2024/08/26/lagavulin-islay-jazz-festival/

4 - 10 August 2025 We announce the full programme of concerts and events. The priority booking window opens for festival pass holders and Islay residents.

10 August 2025 Bookings open to the general public.

Tickets are available online only through the Jazz Scotland Website.
https://jazzscotland.com/

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at http://www.ourcreativevoice.scot.

The Festival is promoted by specialist jazz promoters, Jazz Scotland, and The Islay Arts Association, and receives funding from Creative Scotland.

The Festival has been running since 1999. Since then the Festival has promoted musicians from over 25 countries, but has a special place for Scottish jazz musicians and audiences.

Islay Jazz Festival’s website is https://islayjazzfestival.co.uk/

Nick Dewhurst - forthcoming live appearances.

Wednesday, July 02, 2025

Lichfield based trumpeter / guitarist Nick Dewhurst has forwarded details of some of his forthcoming live appearances.

Nick Dewhurst writes;

I’ve got more live music news to tell you about…so here goes…

Saturday 12th July, 4pm, Party at the Jazz Club live at Fuse Festival, Beacon Park, Lichfield. 
Party at the Jazz Club?? What’s that I hear you say!? Well - it’s a little bit of rebranding in fact! Really it’s the ND Band in disguise…except we’re doing our really funky jazz-pop cover tunes which should be great fun at this fantastic free-entry family friendly festival.  I’m going to be joined by some great musicians including Beth Fisher-Dewhurst on Alto Sax & Vocals, Chris Bowden on Tenor Sax, Sam Craig on Piano & Vocals, Paul Robinson on Bass Guitar, and Tash Buxton on Drums.  Tickets are FREE but please head to the Lichfield Arts website to register for them, and to find out more information about the rest of the festival. 
https://lichfieldarts.org.uk/fuse/

Sunday 14th December, 7pm, Seasonal Swing with the Nick Dewhurst Band
Hot off the press & just released in their new brochure: I’m delighted to be taking my 6-piece ND Band to the Hub at St Mary’s where we’ll be playing our Christmas show ‘Seasonal Swing’ featuring Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Deck the Halls, and Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree –  all delivered in a vibrant mix of jazz, blues, New Orleans grooves, and rock’n’roll flair.  For tickets and more information, please head to the Hub at St Mary’s Website
https://thehubstmarys.co.uk/events/seasonal-swing-with-the-nick-dewhurst-band/

Friday 19th December, 7pm, the Lichfield Jazz Big Band Christmas Special
It’s bonkers to be thinking about this in this 20-something degree heat…but…this gig is always such a classic night out, and this year we’ve moved it even closer to Christmas! Come & hear the wonderful Lichfield Jazz Big Band live in the stunning setting which is St Anne’s Church in Burntwood.  Just a reminder, there are early bird tickets on sale for this one (currently priced at £13) until July 23rd, after which they’ll go up to £15.  Tickets are available from my website for this one - please head to the box office page here;
https://nickdewhurst.com/box-office/

There are some additional dates on my website too, which I’ll email you about in due course, but if you want to make a note of them, please head to Upcoming Gigs to find out more! 
https://nickdewhurst.com/

That’s all for now, hopefully see some of you at the Fuse Festival in just over a week’s time!

All the very best,
Nick.

Jazz at Progress - Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire - Programme for Autumn 2025.

Wednesday, July 02, 2025

Jazz at Progress has announced its programme for October to December 2025. Events take place at the Progress Theatre, Reading. Fully detailed schedule attached.

From;
https://www.jazzinreading.com/jazz/jazz-at-progress/?future=true

Jazz at Progress

Since 2012, Jazz in Reading has been programming fantastic monthly jazz gigs - featuring leading British and international jazz stars - at Progress Theatre here in Reading under the Jazz at Progress brand.

We feature some of the finest soloists, singers and band leaders in the UK and beyond who are supported by a bevy of talented musicians. Expect some great evenings of live modern jazz, right here on your doorstep.

Jazz at Progress | Chris Biscoe’s Profiles Quartet
Friday 10 October 2025 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.
Tickets; https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/progresstheatre/t-ojgoroj
Chris Biscoe saxes and alto clarinet
Alcyona Mick piano
Larry Bartley bass
Winston Clifford drums
Chris Biscoe’s Profiles Quartet
Chris Biscoe writes:
“Jazz has always been a music about people and places, the connections, the routes (and roots) between, the meetings and the getting away.
When I recorded some of the repertoire from my band Mingus Moves I realised how many of Charles Mingus’ compositions are dedications to musicians, friends and family, lovers and political enemies, not forgetting one toilet-trained cat. The CD was Profiles of Mingus, and this became the working name for the band.
The Profiles Quartet draws on this tradition, expanding it to include compositions by other jazz greats, and something of the travel which is so significant a part of the life of working musicians.Tunes for the quartet include Thelonious Monk’s Jackie-ing (written for his niece Jackie Smith) and Monk’s Dream, Eric Dolphy’s Miss Ann and his portrait of Monk, Hat and Beard. Teenies’ Blues, another family dedication, was written by Oliver Nelson for his little sister. It’s impossible to leave out Charles Mingus, who is represented by Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (for Lester Young), Pussy Cat Dues (that bemused looking cat perched on a Manhattan apartment toilet seat), and Fables of Faubus, the great satirical composition ‘dedicated’ to Orval Faubus, Governor of Arkansas.
Migration and travel appear too, with Billy Strayhorn’s Take The A Train, and Goin’ to Chicago, not the familiar blues but Mike Westbrook’s multi-faceted composition.”
Chris Biscoe came to prominence in the late 1970’s, with Mike Westbrook’s Brass Band. He has toured and recorded extensively in the USA and France, and in the UK. Chris is a founder member of Way Out West, the west London jazz collective which has presented over 800 concerts since 2004. Chris Biscoe crosses musical boundaries in his playing, from ‘cool’ on baritone sax with Allison Neale, post bop with Tony Kofi, contemporary jazz with Liam Noble, through to free and improv jazz with various bands.
Alcyona Mick is a pianist working at the forefront of the London Jazz scene… Recently nominated for a Parliamentary Jazz Instrumentalist Award, she is a member of the London Jazz Orchestra and many other UK bands. She has toured and performed worldwide. As a composer she has a Master’s in Composing music for film from the National Film and Television school. She has written and produced music for many independent short films, documentaries, animation and silent cinema. She won an award for Best Soundtrack at the Anima Mundi International Festival, Brazil.
‘World class ingenuity’  the Guardian
‘Alcyona Mick is an unusual powerhouse of a talent’ – MOJO
Larry Bartley is a bassist and composer who has been a staple of the London and international jazz scene as a side man and as a leader.
“Excellent bassist – with a distinctive Mingus-like drive to his propulsive bass lines.” Time Out
“Larry taps into a vast pool of different types of music to create a unique project that deserves to be applauded.” Jean Toussaint – Drummer
“You can understand why Bartley is so much in demand on the London jazz scene.” BBC
Drummer Winston Clifford is a powerhouse behind the kit for a wide variety of great bands, led by the likes of Gwilym Simcock, Monty Alexander, Stanley Turrentine, Benny Golson and Courtney Pine.
A master of a huge array of drum techniques, Clifford is constantly inventive, immersed in a stream of consciousness yet with ears wide open to hints, suggestions and prompts from his playing partners. He regularly plays around the kit with his bare hands for softer timbres, another card to play in the constant search for dynamic expression and imaginative phrasing.

Jazz at Progress | The Freddie Gavita Quartet in Homage to Freddie Hubbard | Tickets on sale soon
Friday 7 November 2025 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.
Freddie Gavita trumpet
Tom Cawley keys
Daniel Casimir bass
Mez Clough drums
The Freddie Gavita Quartet in Homage to Freddie Hubbard
Quite a line up to perform music of one of the finest trumpeters in jazz, Freddie Hubbard. He came of age as a soloist in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers from 1961 to 1965. Ten albums for Blue Note and featured on several classic recorded albums with Oliver Nelson, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, to name but a few! Hubbard died in 2008 and deserves to be remembered as being among the jazz greats.
We are therefore delighted to host this gig with wonderful musicians led by 2017 British Jazz Award “Best Trumpeter” Freddie Gavita, who has long been an admirer of Hubbard and will add to our knowledge of his legacy.
Apart from Daniel Casimir, the three other members of the quartet are new to Jazz In Reading. However, there was a livestream quartet performance by Guildford Jazz in Covid afflicted February 2021, a review of which by Trevor Bannister is on our website.
Here is a quote from the review “The spellbinding quality of Freddie’s individual voice was immediately obvious in the opening bars of his own composition ‘Yearning’; understated, flawlessly executed, beautifully articulated and warm in tone. He allows the music space to breathe and to grow in its own way”.  Freddie is a regular member of the house band at Ronnie Scott’s, apart from performing nationwide in various formats.
Tom Cawley (1998 Young Musician of the Year) is a regular in the quartet and a senior member of the UK’s jazz establishment being a composer, arranger, band leader and professor of Jazz piano at the Royal Academy of Music. He has released several acclaimed albums with his “Tom Cawley’s Curios” band.
Daniel Casimir (2021 Instrumentalist Of The Year in the Jazz FM Award) was bassist with Jean Toussaint for a memorable gig at Progress December 2018 – the “Brother Raymond Tour.” Since then, Dan has hit the heights and won awards for his music and playing. Formed his own big band and continues to creatively push the boundaries in jazz.
Finally, drummer and multi-instrumentalist, Mez Clough, has toured and performed with numerous hugely well-known artists from various genres in the music industry. He is also the regular percussionist for Madness.
We believe that an exciting evening of jazz awaits. Please come and enjoy it with us.

Jazz at Progress | Janette Mason – ReWired | Tickets on sale soon
Friday 5 December 2025 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.
Janette Mason keyboard
Tom Mason bass
Eric Ford drums
Janette Mason – ReWired
‘A substantial triumph for Janette Mason as she breathes new jazz life into this well chosen selection of tunes. Her arrangements are intelligent, imaginative and sophisticated.’ Ian Mann (The Jazzmann) ****
Janette Mason is a jazz pianist, a composer for film and TV, an arranger and producer of all genres from jazz to soul to pop, and a dedicated and heartfelt musical communicator.
Over the course of a thirty-year career she has quietly but emphatically made her presence felt, delighting audiences with her skills in all kinds of settings, from tiny jazz clubs to international film and TV projects.
Whether leading her own trio, playing sessions with Oasis, Pulp, or Seal, working with legendary producer Tony Visconti, launching her latest project AYRA in collaboration with vocal legend Juliet Roberts, teaching jazz at Bradfield College or fulfilling her role as Artist in Residence at Twickenham Theatre, Janette always stays true to her core values – a commitment to musical excellence, combined with a generous, giving sensibility that reaches out to audiences and ensures that the message in the music is always there to be heard.
Janette says that her direct influences as a keyboard player were Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett and Chick Corea. Her own playing on her latest album, ‘ReWired’ has been described as ‘a triumph of elegant tones and passionate swing’. It took her six months to tie down the rights to the eight songs she reinterprets: ‘Cars’ (Gary Numan), ‘John, I’m Only Dancing’ (David Bowie), ‘Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered’ (Rodgers and Hart), ‘Good 4 U’ (Olivia Rodrigo), ‘The Man with the Child in His Eyes’ (Kate Bush), ‘Eleanor Rigby’ (Beatles), ‘Lullaby of Birdland’ (George Shearing) and ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ (Noel Gallagher).
Janette will be joined by:
Tom Mason, one of the most versatile double bassists and bass guitarists on the UK music scene.  His résumé of recordings, performances and tours boasts artists such as Lizz Wright, Mark Ronson and Jamie Cullum. Tom has also been long-term member of award-winning pianist Robert Mitchell’s Panacea.
Eric Ford on drums, has performed across the globe and played on around sixty albums. He has worked with musicians as diverse as Ronnie Laws, Marc Almond, Clare Teal, The London Jazz Orchestra and Jason Rebello. He will be familiar to Progress audiences for his performances with the acclaimed contemporary jazz trio Partikel, the Scott Willcox Big Band and Chris Biscoe’s celebration of Mike Westbrook
‘My career has come full circle,’ Janette explained in a recent interview. ‘I am now working on and playing music I listened to and was influenced by as a teenager. Sometimes I can’t believe that has happened. I have reached a point in life where I just feel happy. That’s where I am at and If audiences enjoy even a small percentage of it, and it takes them somewhere else, that will be wonderful.’
Full details of the album ‘Rewired ‘are available here.
https://propermusic.com/products/janettemason-rewired

Progress Theatre
progress theatre - jazz in reading
http://www.progresstheatre.co.uk | The Mount, Off Christchurch Road, Reading RG1 5HL
Bar at all gigs from 7:00pm. Drinks may be taken into the auditorium during performances.
Progress Theatre is a self-governing, self-funding theatre group founded in 1947, maintained by volunteers. The Theatre itself is an intimate 95-seat venue. It is the oldest operating theatre in Reading and has a fully licensed bar. There is wheelchair access to the Theatre with a space for disabled patrons. In 2011 Sir Kenneth Branagh became the Patron to Progress Theatre.

SMOKE Jazz Club, New York City Announces July 2025 Line-up.

Tuesday, July 01, 2025

SMOKE Jazz Club Announces July Line-Up: Performers include The Cookers, Wayne Escoffery, Jimmy Greene, Jane Monheit, Jon Faddis, Steve Turre. James Carter, ELEW. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

SMOKE Jazz Club Announces July 2025 Lineup Featuring Music of John Coltrane, Master Trumpeter Jon Faddis, The Cookers, and More

The Cookers (July 2-6)

“The Coltrane Legacy” featuring The Tenor Titans with
Wayne Escoffery and Jimmy Greene (July 9-13)

Jane Monheit (July 16-20)

Jon Faddis Quartet (July 23-27)

Steve Turre All Stars featuring James Carter & ELEW (July 30-August 3)

Hailed as the “#1 Jazz Club in New York City (SecretNYC),” SMOKE Jazz Club today announced its concert schedule for July 2025. The month kickstarts with an Independence Week celebration of Jazz, America’s national treasure, by presenting the powerhouse septet: The Cookers. An all-star quintet comprised of two leading voices of the tenor saxophone, Wayne Escoffery and Jimmy Greene, will perform works by John Coltrane, a master of American music. Beloved vocalist Jane Monheit will present works by the Great American Songbook. As always, Friday night concerts will be livestreamed! For the complete and most updated July schedule, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

July 2025 Concert Schedule (subject to change):

Wed-Sun July 2-6 The Cookers
Eddie Henderson – trumpet
David Weiss – trumpet
Donald Harrison – alto saxophone
Azar Lawrence – tenor saxophone
George Cables – piano
Cecil McBee – bass
Billy Hart – drums
“Player for player, there’s no better working band in jazz than The Cookers.” - The Boston Globe
The Cookers are a powerhouse, collaborative septet uniting some of the most revered jazz masters of the past six decades. Legendary figures like Eddie Henderson, Azar Lawrence, Cecil McBee, George Cables, and Billy Hart channel the bold, exploratory spirit of the 1960s—a transformative era they helped shape through their groundbreaking work with some of jazz’s most influential ensembles. Since then, each has emerged as a leading voice in their own right. David Weiss and Donald Harrison are the youngest members of the group, but they share many of the same formative experiences, having worked most notably with Art Blakey, Bobby Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard, Charles Tolliver, Roy Haynes, and Herbie Hancock.
The band’s repertoire spans iconic jazz anthems and rare gems from their incredible catalogs. The Los Angeles Times notes, “This hard-hitting septet wears its name like a mission statement. Rich with a mix of classic elegance and exploration, the group might reference the past by name, but it never sounds less than current.” The New York Times calls them “a dream team of forward-leaning hard bop.”

Wed-Sun July 9-13 “The Coltrane Legacy” featuring The Tenor Titans Quintet with Wayne Escoffery and Jimmy Greene
Wayne Escoffery – tenor saxophone
Jimmy Greene – tenor saxophone
Orrin Evans – piano
Peter Washington – bass
Lenny White – drums
Back by popular demand, the Tenor Titans Quintet features two old friends and leading voices of the tenor saxophone: Wayne Escoffery and Jimmy Greene. Escoffery and Greene met while former students and protégés of the great Jackie McLean and have remained close collaborators and mutual inspirations ever since. Their style embodies the passion and fire of McLean’s, as well as the profound influence of John Coltrane, whose music they will celebrate with this group. Jazzwise (UK) calls Greene “without doubt one of the most striking young tenors of recent years,” while The New York Times describes Escoffery as “a powerful, passionate player.” Joining these two powerful saxophonists is an auspicious rhythm section trio with pianist Orrin Evans, bassist Peter Washington, and the legendary drummer Lenny White.

Wed-Sun July 16-20 Jane Monheit
Jane Monheit – vocals
Max Haymer – piano
Neal Miner – bass
Rick Montalbano – drums
“A voice of phenomenal beauty.” – The New York Times
Beloved vocalist Jane Monheit, celebrated for her deep passion for the Great American Songbook, has been at the forefront of jazz singing since she emerged over 20 years ago to wide acclaim. During the ensuing years, she has collaborated with some of the greatest musicians, arrangers, and producers in jazz, including Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, Kenny Barron, Terence Blanchard, John Pizzarelli, Christian McBride, and many more. All About Jazz writes, “Monheit has great chops, a terrific voice,” while Downbeat adds, “Monheit continues to dazzle.” All About Jazz praises her “great chops” and “terrific voice.” She appears with her outstanding trio: pianist Max Haymer, bassist Neal Miner, and drummer Rick Mantalbano—musicians who match her artistry with sensitivity and swing.

Wed-Sun July 23-27 Jon Faddis Quartet
Jon Faddis – trumpet
David Hazeltine – piano
Kiyoshi Kitagawa – bass
Dion Parson – drums
“Faddis consistently exemplifies an unparalleled range and dazzling technique.” – NPR
Trumpeter Jon Faddis leads an exciting, hard-swinging quartet with pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa, and drummer Dion Parson. Long celebrated for his incredible musicality and technical prowess, Faddis is in the pantheon of the greatest trumpeters in jazz history. Mentored by Dizzy Gillespie early in his career, Faddis absorbed the styles of many of the great trumpeters, forging his own distinctive style and having a similar enduring influence. The New Yorker writes, “Every modern trumpeter since the postwar era has been influenced by Dizzy Gillespie, the musical polymath who practically invented bebop with Charlie Parker. But none has so absorbed his essence as Jon Faddis, who soaked up artfulness at the feet of the master.” JazzTimes says, “Faddis is a remarkably wide-ranging musician.”

Wed-Sun July 30-August 3 Steve Turre All Stars featuring James Carter & ELEW
Steve Turre – trombone & seashells
James Carter – tenor saxophone
ELEW – piano
Peter Washington – bass
Herlin Riley – drums
“In the company of a sharp quintet featuring the saxophonist James Carter, Turre has the perfect platform to strut his multifarious stuff.” – The New Yorker
Steve Turre, the renowned master of the trombone and seashells, leads an incredible all-star quintet featuring special guests James Carter on saxophone and ELEW on piano. Turre’s storied career includes work alongside music legends such as Ray Charles, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Woody Shaw. A versatile performer and true jazz original, he’s equally at home on everything from swinging classic bop lines to conjuring Rahsaan over a deep groove. Downbeat says, “Few artists ‘own’ their instrument to the degree that trombonist Steve Turre does. Whether playing the music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, performing as a member of the Saturday Night Live house band, or with one of his own units, his voice is distinctive and memorable.” His special guests take this group to another level. The Washington Post writes, “To hear saxophonist James Carter is to be blown away,” and The Wall Street Journal declares, “ELEW plays with fire, style, and relentless energy.” Finally, an indispensable rhythm section, featuring bassist Peter Washington and drummer Herlin Riley, completes this exciting ensemble.

About SMOKE
Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side at the junction of Broadway and 106th Street (aka Duke Ellington Boulevard), Smoke Jazz Club is one of New York City’s premier live music venues. Renowned for offering top-notch programming of accessible, timeless jazz featuring legendary performers, modern masters, and rising stars, Smoke stands apart with its candlelit dining room, stellar acoustics, and classic American cuisine. Founded in 1999, SMOKE also boasts a GRAMMY-nominated label, Smoke Sessions Records, and a celebrated streaming concert series, Smoke Screens. For everything else, visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

Ticketing + Information:                                     

When: Wednesday-Sunday @ 7:00 p.m. + 9:00 p.m. and additional 10:30 p.m. (Fri & Sat only). Doors open at 5:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).

Where: SMOKE Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway (between 105/106th Streets), New York, NY, Train: 1 to 103rd Street.

Tickets: In-Person $25+. Livestream $15 (Fri only). For more information and to make reservations, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

Chris Ingham Quintet - ‘Steely Jazz’, forthcoming album and UK tour dates.

Monday, June 30, 2025

Pianist / vocalist Chris Ingham and his quintet are due to release "Walter / Donald", a series of jazz arrangements of Steely Dan songs. They will be touring estensively from July to November

We have received the following press release;

WALTER · DONALD
A BECKER & FAGEN SONGBOOK Vol. 1
CHRIS INGHAM QUINTET
Chris Ingham vocals, piano
Harry Greene saxophone, guitar
Paul Higgs trumpet, flugelhorn
Geoff Gascoyne bass
George Double drums, harmony
Downhome Records DOHO007
Released: September 2025

“Ingham has a warm and generous way with music…his style is based on rhythmic presence and dynamic propulsion” DOWNBEAT

“Fleet piano…one of Britain’s best jazz singers” JAZZ RAG

The songs of Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, aka Steely Dan, stood alone in 1970s rock; cryptic, pungent lyrics and sophisticated, detailed music deeply influenced by, in the writers’ own words, “the best jazz players of the ‘50s and ‘60s”.

Steely Dan’s legend substantially derives from the duo’s increasing obsession with recording perfection featuring a revolving roster of the world’s greatest rock and jazz
musicians (often baffled by Becker and Fagen’s inscrutable standards) playing meticulously crafted arrangements. However, at the heart of Steely Dan is a monumental, idiosyncratic collection of highly cultured songs, often as poignant as they are cynical, though rarely interpreted outside some dedicated and painstaking Dan tribute outfits.

Following his Hoagy Carmichael, Dudley Moore and Stan Getz projects, Chris Ingham concludes his Repertoire Quadrilogy with Walter/Donald, placing Becker and Fagen’s work in a small jazz group context with the aim of re-illuminating some remarkable compositions. Initial qualms that such an exercise would satisfy neither Dan fans nor jazz enthusiasts have recently been assuaged by the rapturous reception given to the quintet’s early Steely Jazz live shows.

Chris Ingham’s Steely Jazz - Live 2025
Sat 5 July LINCOLN Jazz Festival
Sun 27 July WRITTLE Jazz Festival
Sat 23 Aug SOUTHEND Jazz Centre

Wed 17 Sep LONDON Pizza Express, Dean Street Walter/Donald album launch

Thurs 18 Sep DISS Corn Hall
Sat 20 Sep SOUTHWOLD Arts Centre
Wed 24 Sep EASTLEIGH Concorde Club
Thurs 25 Sep CAMBRIDGE Jazz Club
Sat 27 Sep BURY ST EDMUNDS Hunter Club
Sat 18 Oct HADLEIGH Town Hall
Sun 30 Nov WIVENHOE Music Mix

CHRIS INGHAM QUINTET

Chris Ingham piano/vocal/guitar
Rated by the London Evening Standard as “one of Britain’s best singer-pianists’, Chris has performed over 250 festival and club performances of his repertoire shows and has released four acclaimed CDs: Hoagy, Dudley, Stan and Hoagy II. He is musical director of film song quintet Jazz at the Movies and classic modern jazz sextet Rebop. Chris is also a record producer (Ruthie Henshall, Joanna Eden), author (Rough Guides to The Beatles and Frank Sinatra) and TV composer (Wartime Crime, How The Beatles Changed The World). Based in Suffolk, he curates jazz clubs in Diss (Corn Hall) and Bury St Edmunds (Hunter Club).

Harry Greene saxophone/guitar
Multi-instrumentalist Harry Greene was part of the Royal Albert Hall “Ronnie Scott’s at 60” gala and has performed with Cory Wong, Mica Paris, Bernard Purdie, PBUG, Ricky Wilson, Prince’s side-woman Marva King, Jo Harrop, Incognito and Olly Murs. He is musical director and co-leader (with singer Ashton Jones) of Funk Soul Orchestral which has performed sold-out shows at Ronnie Scott’s and venues throughout the UK. As a composer, he has contributed to a host of prime time TV shows.

Paul Higgs trumpet/piano
Arranger and trumpeter for NYJO for many years, Paul has worked as a musical director at the RSC and National Theatre, as a TV and film composer and a record engineer and producer. One of the UK’s most resourceful and expressive jazz trumpeters, Paul has worked with Nancy Wilson, Shorty Rogers and John Dankworth, runs his own successful repertoire shows (A Brief History of Jazz, Shades of Miles) and has released two CDs of his unique jazz/classical crossover group Pavane featuring his own evocative compositions.

Geoff Gascoyne double bass
An arranger, composer, bassist and producer of renown, in a 35-year career Geoff has worked with Michel Legrand, Van Morrison, Georgie Fame, Sir Willard White, US3, Sting, Charlie Watts, Benny Golson, Bill Bruford, Jacqui Dankworth, John Martyn, Dianne Reeves, Guy Barker, Claire Martin, Eartha Kitt and he played a major part in the rise of Jamie Cullum with whom he worked exclusively from 2000 to 2007. He has been central to the development of two highly successful music apps Session Band 1, 2 & 3 and Quartet 1, 2, 3 & 4.

George Double drums/vocal
Drummer with Art Themen’s Organ Trio, John Etheridge’s Blue Spirits and many of Chris Ingham’s projects including Rebop and Jazz at the Movies. He has worked with Dame Shirley Bassey, Grammy Award Winner Jack Jones, Marc Almond, Mica Paris, Ruthie Henshall, Paul Jones and Kym Mazelle and has played on West End shows Wicked, Guys and Dolls, Avenue Q, Sinatra and Anything Goes. A respected published drum educator, notably for Trinity College, London, George also curates East Anglian jazz clubs in Hadleigh, Southwold and Frinton.

WALTER · DONALD tracklist

1. Any Major Dude Will Tell You 4.03
Many Becker/Fagen songs seem to feature disreputable characters doing unspeakable things. By contrast, this is a warm-hearted, optimistic message of encouragement. From Pretzel Logic (1974).

2. I Got The News 5.11
One of the less celebrated cuts from Aja (1977), a glorious, multi-themed romp with carnal undertones - and overtones.

3. What A Shame About Me 4.34
From their Grammy-winning comeback album Two Against Nature (2000), a compelling tale of an ironic underachiever who, confronted with the possibility of a nostalgic erotic tryst, ultimately maintains dignity by exercising his personal code of loserdom.

4. Your Gold Teeth II 4.10
A sardonic, hallucinatory scenario rather belying the gentle jazz-waltz setting. Flavours of Zappa and Dylan plus, in the bridge, the most obscure set of chords in the Dan canon. From Katy Lied (1975).

5. Razor Boy 3:16
In a deceptively seductive Latin soundscape, the narrator regards his subject with a faintly threatening scepticism, though his vulnerability is never far from the surface. From Countdown To Ecstasy (1973).

6. Haitian Divorce 5.17
One of several Becker/Fagen songs alluding to a ménage a trois situation (see also Gaucho, Everything You Did, Rose Darling), this details the goings on of Babs, Clean Willy and the Charlie in the Greasy Chair in a slyly satisfying narrative. From The Royal Scam (1976).

7. The Last Mall 4.06
From Steely Dan’s final studio album Everything Must Go (2003), a wry, bluesy account of a desperate dash to the shops in the face of imminent apocalypse.

8. Only A Fool Would Say That 3.12
A modest gem from their debut album Can’t Buy A Thrill (1972), expressing impatience with media-hyped idealists (who may or may not have been imagining no possessions) on behalf of people doing their best to survive.

9. Green Flower Street 4:32
A vivid teenage fantasy of an exotic, dangerous romance, from Donald Fagen’s solo album The Nightfly (1982)

10. Paging Audrey 6:25
This remarkably touching song of regret for transgressions long past was first heard on Walter Becker’s solo album Circus Money (2008)

11. Black Friday 4.58
A corrupt money man and his journey to being a hippie fugitive in Australia. From Katy Lied (1975).

Press comments for previous Chris Ingham albums:

Hoagy (2014)
“This is just lovely…” SUNDAY TIMES, TOP 10 jazz CD of 2014
“Captures the spirit of a 20th-century giant…a delightful package” **** OBSERVER
“Outstanding quartet…inspired solo forays…nifty and concise arrangements ” LONDON JAZZ NEWS
“Mighty fine piano…perfect underpinnings…[an] outstanding CD” BEBOP SPOKEN HERE
“Hoagy Carmichael was special…Ingham knows and understands” MOJO

Dudley (2016)
“A vibrant and moving homage” DOWNBEAT
“Unfailingly tuneful with gentle harmonic guile…Dudley would have been delighted” OBSERVER
“Swing, humour and poignancy…a jazz joy” MOJO
“An intimate and affectionate tribute that’s very Moore-ish indeed” JAZZ JOURNAL
“The emotional range and depth that this fine ensemble has made playing Dudley’s music has resulted in an intimate and heartfelt pleasure” LONDON JAZZ NEWS

Stan (2018)
“The phenomenally gifted Mark Crooks…the quartet is everything you could wish for – swinging, supple and, most importantly, always appropriate. Ingham’s mastery of
the subtle differences in style is impressive” JAZZ JOURNAL
“Crooks’s tenor rises to the challenge…a performance that strikes a balance between muscle and lyricism” SUNDAY TIMES
“Ingham has chosen well…an excellent collection featuring the superb saxophone sound of Mark Crooks…the band are in fine classic swinging form…extremely expressive…” LONDON JAZZ NEWS
“Another superb album…a musical love potion…recommended - highly” BEBOP SPOKEN HERE

Hoagy II (2023)
“My album of the year, witty, original re-arrangements” JAZZ RAG
“Captures the essence of Carmichael’s catchy, jazz-influenced melodies and their droll, laconic lyrics perfectly ... The performance of all four musicians is superb”
JAZZ JOURNAL
“Engaging and often surprising… the range of songs is quite extraordinary” JAZZWISE
“The performances are all first-class, the arrangements neat and interesting, and the variety beyond reproach” LONDON JAZZ NEWS

Chris Ingham: 07799 650009
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) | http://www.chrisingham.co.uk

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 29/06/2025.

Monday, June 30, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 29/06/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio playlist from June 29th 2025

Shez Raja
Spellbound
Spellbound
Gearbox Records

Carlo Cattano
Marzamemi
Rituals
AUT Records

DalaiQuartet,
Once
Brazzaville
AUT Records

Bastian Menz
Taking a Trip
Everything in between
A.MA Records

plop ensemble
playing after all
Social Bubbles
Unit Records

Vio 3io
Viology
Viology
self

Mark Solberg Tungemal
Cantamos
Confluencia
ILK Music

Gulliver + Roberto Ottaviano.
Nanita Nana
The Billia Session
Dodicilune

Anna Sophia Defant
dill
s:e
Unit Records

Alice Leggatt
Sunflower Song
Birdsong
ZenneZ

Olivier van Niekerk
7.1
U2146x6
Dox records

GoGo Penguin
Umbra
Necessary Fictions
Sony

Available now:

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 7pm onward

Also as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Liam Ward - Gig and workshop schedule, June - November 2025.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Blues harmonica player and vocalist Liam Ward has announced his gig schedule for June to November which will feature his playing and singing with a variety of different line ups.

Liam Ward writes;

Upcoming gigs and workshops

It’s a busy time in LiamLand: I’ve been on tour with Oasis Supernova, revamping my harmonica school, and Mark Cole and I have just started recording a new album - watch this space!

Here are some upcoming highlights in terms of gigs and workshops:
(More events to be announced soon, check the website for the full list.)
https://www.liamwardmusic.com/gigs-and-workshops
​​

SAT 28TH JUNE (11am) The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Mogfest ‘25 (Hampshire)

SAT 28TH JUNE (7pm) Oasis Supernova @ Party at the Park (Leicester)

​

SUN 29TH JUNE The Jake Leg Jug Band @ M&J Jazz Weekend (Devon)

THU 24TH JULY London Harmonica School Summer Camp

FRI 25TH JULY Cole & Ward @ Glouc Blues Festival
(Venue: England’s Glory)

SUN 27TH JUL-FRI 1ST AUG EuroBlues Week (Northampton)

​​

SAT 2ND AUGUST Cole & Ward Trio @ Gloucester Blues Festival
(Venue: Cafe Rene)

SUN 3RD AUGUST Oasis Supernova @ Kendal Calling

THU 14TH AUGUST Cole & Ward @ The Roxy London

FRI 15TH AUGUST Cole & Ward @ Ain’t Nothin’ But London

SAT 16TH AUGUST Cole & Ward @ Retro Music Cafe Fulham

​

SAT 6TH SEPTEMBER Oasis Supernova @ Fields of Gold (Manchester)

​​​

FRI 12TH SEPTEMBER The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Driotwich Jazz Club

​​

THU 18TH SEPTEMBER The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Ebberston Village Hall (Scarborough)

​

SAT 20TH SEPTEMBER Oasis Supernova @ Made in Manchester 2025 (Stockport)

​​

SUN 21ST SEPTEMBER The Story of Skiffle @ Livermead Jazz Weekend (Torquay)

​

THU 2ND OCTOBER The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Pump House Jazz Club (Watford)

SAT 4TH OCTOBER Oasis Supernova @ Sin City Swansea

FRI 10TH OCTOBER The Liam Ward Band @ Beer Blues Fest

TUE 14TH OCTOBER The Liam Ward Band @ Bletchley Blues Club

​

SAT 18TH OCTOBER Oasis Supernova @ The Forum Theatre, Romily

FRI 31ST OCTOBER-SUN 2ND NOVEMBER
World Harmonica Festival (Trossingen, Germany)

​

THU 6TH NOVEMBER Cole & Ward @ Old Forge Cranham

SAT 8TH NOVEMBER The Liam Ward Band @ Diseworth Blues Club (Leicestershire)

​

SAT 15TH NOVEMBER The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Calstock Arts (Cornwall)

​

SUN 23RD NOVEMBER The Jake Leg Jug Band @ The Chestnut Tree (Worcester)

Cheers,
Liam

SMOKE Jazz Club, New York City Announces August 2025 Line-Up.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

SMOKE Jazz Club has announced its schedule for August 2025. Performers include Steve Turre, Johnathan Blake, Eric Alexander, Vincent Herring, Tierney Sutton, Houston Person, Lenny White, David Murray.

We have received the following press release;

Just Announced - Smoke Jazz Club Presents Johnathan Blake, David Murray, Houston Person, and More in August

SMOKE Jazz Club Announces August 2025 Lineup Including Album Release Shows by Eric Alexander, Vincent Herring and David Murray, and More

Steve Turre All-Star Quintet (July 30-August 3)
Johnathan Blake: My Life Matters (August 6-10)
Eric Alexander & Vincent Herring Quintet Album Release (August 13-17)
Tierney Sutton & Houston Person featuring Lenny White (August 20-24)
David Murray Quartet Album Release (August 27-31)

Hailed as the “#1 Jazz Club in New York City (SecretNYC),” SMOKE Jazz Club today announced its concert schedule for August 2025. SMOKE is thrilled to present two album release shows this month: Eric Alexander and Vincent Herring’s co-led saxophone battle Split Decision (SMOKE Sessions Records), and David Murray’s first album on a major label since the 1990s, Birdly Serenade (Impulse! Records). August also marks the return of: master trombonist Steve Turre leading his all-star quintet; Johnathan Blake previewing his forthcoming Blue Note Records album; and the lauded vocalist Tierney Sutton joining forces with saxophone soul maestro Houston Person. As always, Friday night concerts will be livestreamed! For the complete and most updated August schedule, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

August 2025 Concert Schedule (subject to change):

Wed-Sun July 30-August 3:
Steve Turre All-Star Quintet
Steve Turre – trombone & seashells
James Carter – tenor saxophone
ELEW – piano
Peter Washington – bass
Herlin Riley – drums
“In the company of a sharp quintet featuring the saxophonist James Carter, Turre has the perfect platform to strut his multifarious stuff.” – The New Yorker
Steve Turre, the renowned master of the trombone and seashells, leads an incredible all-star quintet featuring special guests James Carter on saxophone and ELEW on piano. Turre’s storied career includes work alongside music legends such as Ray Charles, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Woody Shaw. A versatile performer and true jazz original, he’s equally at home on everything from swinging classic bop lines to conjuring Rahsaan over a deep groove. Downbeat says, “Few artists ‘own’ their instrument to the degree that trombonist Steve Turre does. Whether playing the music of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, performing as a member of the Saturday Night Live house band, or with one of his own units, his voice is distinctive and memorable.” His special guests take this group to another level. The Washington Post writes, “To hear saxophonist James Carter is to be blown away,” and The Wall Street Journal declares, “ELEW plays with fire, style, and relentless energy.” Finally, an indispensable rhythm section, featuring bassist Peter Washington and drummer Herlin Riley, completes this exciting ensemble.

Wed-Sun August 6-10: Johnathan Blake My Life Matters
Dayna Stephens – saxophones & EWI
Jalen Baker – vibraphone
Fabian Almazan – piano & keyboards
Dezron Douglas – bass
Johnathan Blake – drums
“Blake is a drummer of volcanic power and deep soul, and Pentad is one of the most dynamic working bands in jazz today.” - NPR Music
Drummer and composer Johnathan Blake—whose dynamic playing, artistic vision, and innate versatility led NPR to call him “the ultimate modernist” — previews the upcoming release of his new album on Blue Note Records My Life Matters with his always rewarding quintet. The group features Dayna Stephens on saxophones and EWI (electronic wind instrument), Jalen Baker on vibraphone, Fabian Almazan on piano and keyboard, and Dezron Douglas on bass. The New York Times says, “Blake’s drumming is as bold as thunder and as subtle as the patter of rain.” The Guardian adds, “his command of time is quite unbelievable – tricky and playful but accurate to the millisecond.” His new My Life Matters is a suite of songs that serves as a dual treatise on the importance of family values and the social imperative to stand up in the face of injustice.

Wed-Sun August 13-17: Eric Alexander & Vincent Herring Quintet Split Decision
SMOKE Sessions Records Album Release
Vincent Herring – alto saxophone
Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone
Mike LeDonne – piano
John Webber – bass
Lewis Nash – drums
“Herring fuses instrumental mastery with equal and unified parts of jazz’s holy trinity of heart, mind, and soul.” – WNPR Radio
“Eric Alexander can play the tenor saxophone—never doubt that. He has the chops, power, and passion that make him one of the most blazingly bad-assed saxophonists of his generation.” – Downbeat
Vincent Herring and Eric Alexander—two of the great saxophonists—on alto and tenor respectively, reunite to celebrate the release of their new co-led album Split Decision (SMOKE Sessions Records). It’s been 20 years since they first went head-to-head on record for 2005’s The Battle: Live at Smoke. Both were already acclaimed among the powerhouse reedmen of their generation, and they have only garnered more acclaim in the two decades since. All About Jazz reports, “For those who long for the time when hard bop reigned supreme… here’s a sure cure for any lament that those days are lost and gone forever.” These two esteemed leaders will be joined, as they are on the recording, by an equally impressive rhythm section: pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist John Webber, and drummer Lewis Nash.

Wed-Sun August 20-24: Tierney Sutton & Houston Person featuring Lenny White
Tierney Sutton – vocals
Houston Person – tenor saxophone
Christian Jacob – piano
Ricky Rodriguez – bass
Lenny White – drums
“Ms. Sutton is a pure jazz spirit who respects a song. Even when going out on an improvisatory limb, she never lets its essence slip away.” – The New York Times
“Whatever imponderable talent it takes to stay at the top of one’s game for almost six decades, as Person has, he still has it in abundance.” – All About Jazz
Jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton joins forces with living legend 90-year-old tenor saxophonist Houston Person for an incredible musical dialogue that features a trio with very special guest drummer Lenny White, pianist Christian Jacob, and bassist Ricky Rodriguez. One of the most acclaimed of jazz vocalists, Sutton is renowned for her impeccable voice and imaginative treatments of standards, and she has received GRAMMY nominations for every project she has released in the last decade. The New York Times calls her “A serious jazz artist who takes the whole enterprise to another level.” And, JazzTimes says, “Houston Person does little things with each tune that reveal thought and planning, but the routines are fitting, not cute… And he is just as honest in his playing, which is free from phony effects and is never meretricious.”

Wed-Sun August 27-31: David Murray Quartet Impulse! Records Album Release
David Murray – tenor saxophone
Marta Sánchez – piano
Luke Stewart – bass
Russell Carter – drums
“Jazz legend David Murray is back with the next generation of geniuses. – The Washington Post
Tenor saxophonist David Murray makes a highly anticipated and exciting SMOKE Jazz Club debut to celebrate the release of his new album of all new compositions on Impulse! entitled Birdly Serenade (released 04.25.25). At the forefront of jazz for close to 50 years, Murray is joined by his newest quartet—one of the jazz world’s revelations of 2024—as he has re-emerged as a leading voice of the current state of the art. The group includes pianist Marta Sánchez, bassist Luke Stewart, and drummer Russell Carter. Murray has always pushed the music forward while honoring all that has come before it.
The New York Times calls him “the master saxophonist who has reconciled the whole history of jazz tenor, from swing to free, during a wildly prolific career.” The Guardian adds, “His Sonny Rollins-like power, tone and unpredictability and the casualness over group participation that can make him seem (like Rollins) a prodigiously gifted enigma who’s at his freest on his own.”

About SMOKE
Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side at the junction of Broadway and 106th Street (aka Duke Ellington Boulevard), Smoke Jazz Club is one of New York City’s premier live music venues. Renowned for offering top-notch programming of accessible, timeless jazz featuring legendary performers, modern masters, and rising stars, Smoke stands apart with its candlelit dining room, stellar acoustics, and classic American cuisine. Founded in 1999, SMOKE also boasts a GRAMMY-nominated label, Smoke Sessions Records, and a celebrated streaming concert series, Smoke Screens. For everything else, visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

Ticketing + Information:

When: Wednesday-Sunday @ 7:00 p.m. + 9:00 p.m. and additional 10:30 p.m. (Fri & Sat only). Doors open at 5:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).

Where: SMOKE Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway (between 105/106th Streets), New York, NY, Train: 1 to 103rd Street.

Tickets: In-Person $25+. Livestream $15 (Fri only). For more information and to make reservations, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

Jazz at The Lescar, Sheffield -  Upcoming gigs June - August 2025

Sunday, June 22, 2025

Jez Matthews has forwarded full details of the forthcoming regular jazz events at The Lescar Hotel, Sheffield during June, July and August 2025.

Jez Matthews writes;

Jazz at The Lescar upcoming gigs June - August 2025

25th June /  Becca Wilkins’ Rêverie
Vocalist Becca Wilkins joins us on the final stop of her UK-wide album release tour. Rêverie presents the French Chanson made popular by Jacques Brel and Edith Piaf through the lens of contemporary jazz, including classics such as ‘La Bohème’ and ‘La Mer’; a perfect canvas for Becca’s skills as a song interpreter and improviser, and music that is both brooding and mysterious; vulnerable and atmospheric. Becca is joined by long-time collaborators and some of the finest emerging musicians on the UK and European contemporary jazz scene: Olly Chalk (piano/synths), Sam Ingvorsen (bass), and Billy Pod (drums). Rêverie is a chance to experience Becca’s ‘other worldliness’ (Jazzwise Magazine) in a heady collection of rhapsodic Franco-nostalgia. Don’t miss this brilliant quartet.

2nd July / Assembly Trio
Dynamic new music from a Sheffield-based trio who continue to push their music forwards and outwards, rooted in the jazz tradition, yet fearlessly exploring new territory, with memorable tunes sitting alongside unpredictable chaos, shifting interactions and a sense of the unexpected. Alex Bishop (guitar), Ben Evans (bass) and Will Shaw (drums) bring subversive compositions, and a real sense of spontaneity and in the moment reactivity.

9th July / Scuba
A fiery and un-categorisable mix of Salsa, Indian grooves and more introspective Scandinavian jazz, Scuba’s percussion driven sound takes in influences from Cuba to Norway and New York to the Middle East, via Eddie Palmieri, Michel Camilo and Keith Jarrett amongst others. Wowing festival audiences across Scotland, Scuba were formed by Ricky Linn to bring together percussion skills perfected in Mumbai and Havana with a line-up of exceptional soloists, and an experienced and passionate band featuring Paul Greenwood (Buddy Greco Heritage Orchestra, Cinematic Orchestra, Airto Moreira, Incognito, Paul Weller) on saxophone, Richard Bailey on piano, Seth Bennett (Sloth Racket, MoonMot, Johnny Hunter Quartet) on bass, and Paul Judge (drums).

16th July / The Anemone Quartet
Vibrant and expressive music from a brilliant new quartet, a collaboration between four of the most exciting and powerful improvisers on the UK scene, with double bassist Olie Brice (Jason Yarde, Evan Parker, Ingrid Laubrock, Ken Vandermark, Louis Moholo), pianist Laura Cole (Metamorphic, Corey Mwamba, Martin Archer) drummer Johnny Hunter (Sloth Racket, Nishla Smith, John Pope Quintet, MoonMot), and clarinettist / saxophonist / vocalist Faye MacCalman (Archipelago, Richard Dawson, Me Lost Me).

23rd July /  Ali Watson Quartet
From the Glasgow jazz scene, led by bassist/composer Ali Watson, and with a beautiful album ‘Terrarium’ released in 2024; reflective, impressionist, very personal music full of lyrical folk melodies, colourful harmony, intimate instrumental textures and gently propellant grooves, played by some of the most celebrated and in-demand young voices in Scottish Jazz - multi-award winning Alan Benzie on piano, Edition Records saxophonist Matt Carmichael (Fergus McCreadie, WDR Big Band, corto.alto), and the highly sought after Greg Irons on drums. An antidote to the relentlessness and overstimulation of modern life, and an unmissable gig.

30th July / Mangorata
From the Leeds jazz scene, a bustling and joyous mix of Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Swing and Funk grooves with inventive improvisation from a first class band of rising stars drawing inspiration from the likes of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Wayne shorter, Hermeto Pascoal and many more. Their first EP was described as “First class” by Jazz FM’s John Osbourne. Mangorata feature James Absalom (tenor sax), Olivia Cuttill (trumpet), Liam Mason (piano), Chris Williams (bass), JJ Petrie (percussion) and Miles Pillinger (drums).

6th August / Inês Loubet Trio
Joyful music from Inês Loubet, a Portuguese singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer blending Latin-jazz, Tropicália, and soulful grooves to create a really distinctive sound. She visits us following the release of her debut album ‘Senga’, championed by DJ’s including Cerys Matthews, Craig Charles, and Gilles Peterson. Inês’ heartfelt storytelling and Brazilian inspired rhythms sit alongside poetic themes, lush harmonies, and compelling rhythms. She has collaborated with legends including Gilberto Gil, João Bosco, and Hamilton de Holanda and brings her long standing trio featuring Greg Sanders (Kadialy Kouyate, Namvula, Samba Azul) on guitar and Jansen Santana on percussion, a dynamic and energising presence, who brings the powerful influence of the music of Salvador, Bahia, in the Northeast region of Brazil.

http://www.jazzatthelescar.com

The Lescar
303 Sharrow Vale Road,
Sheffield,
South Yorkshire
S11 8ZF

0114 266 8974

https://www.thelescarhuntersbar.co.uk/

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 15/06/2025.

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 15/06/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist from 15th June 2025

Tobias Wiklund
Atomic Stringency
Inner Flight Music
Stunt Records

Gary Brunton
Snecklifter
Spacecraft
Juste Une Trace

Chrome Hill
Walk With Me
En Route
Clean Feed

Beiggja
Tuvals
Morning
Hubro

Moanin’ Birds
Birds Suite (1)
Prophets and Profits
Hypnote

Van Herzeele & Galland
Fire
Songshan
Buzz

Bram De Looze
Flagey Blues Edition X
Live at Brussels Jazz Festival
Challenge Records

Luca Gusella
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
Portraits
Caligola Music

Koro Almost Brass
Rhytm-a-ning
Plays Monk
Caligola Music

Antonio Borghini
The Applicant
Resta Chi Va
We Insist

Antoine Fafard
Paraorbital Vision
Quadra Spherium
Code 7

Lorenzo Bellini
Odruis
Source
Gleam

Tom Brunt’s Extended Acoustics
Acoustronic Space
Today
Unit Records

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 7pm onward

Also as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Other Voices Cardigan Reveals First Artists for 2025.

Thursday, June 12, 2025

The first wave of artists has been announced for the 2025 Other Voives which will take place in Cardigan from 30th October – 1st November 2025. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

First Wave of Music Trail Acts Revealed for Other Voices Cardigan 2025

Advance ticket price of £40 ends 30th June
30 October – 1 November 2025
Live & Online from West Wales
Wristbands are now just £40, rising to £65 from 1st July

Other Voices Cardigan returns to West Wales this autumn, bringing another brilliant weekend of music, story and song to venues throughout the historic town of Cardigan.
This year’s Trail spans more than ten unique venues across town - from pubs and chapels, newly repurposed spaces and many returning favourites - promising yet another unforgettable weekend of live music and buzzing energy. Today, the first wave of artists for the 2025 Music Trail is revealed - a selection of artists spanning genres and sounds from Ireland and Wales.

With many more to be announced, the first wave of artists announced includes:

Baby Brave / Bruna Garcia / Curtisy / Daithí / Danielle Lewis / David Murphy / Ellie O’Neill / God Knows / Gwen Siôn / Joshua Burnside / Kidsmoke / Makeshift Art Bar / Molly Palmer / Morn / Qbanaa / Roís / Salamay / Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta / Siula /  Still Blue / Taff Rapids / Talulah / Tessio / The Factory Set / Tokomololo / Tramp / Wrkhouse

Plus changes to St Mary’s Church Entry for 2025, and First Church Acts to be Announced Soon!

As always, St Mary’s Church will host a series of one-of-a-kind, intimate headline performances broadcast live to the world for free via the Other Voices YouTube channel, and streamed to a cinema screen in Mwldan so everyone can share in the experience.

New for 2025, all festival wristband holders will have the opportunity to attend St Mary’s Church performances on a first-come, first-served basis. Each artist will have a designated slot, with the Church cleared between sets to give as many people as possible the chance to attend. No separate tickets are needed - just join the queue for the artists you’d like to see and experience the magic inside St Mary’s.

The Clebran sessions return for 2025, with powerful conversations, thought-provoking interviews and fresh ideas that explore the issues shaping our world today. The full Clebran programme will be revealed soon - keep an eye out.

And following the success of last year, Clebran on the Trail also returns, bringing intimate conversations with this year’s performers to venues across town.

Advance wristbands are available now for just £40, granting access to all Music Trail performances, Clebran sessions and Church performances (subject to capacity). From 1st July, the price will rise to £65. Get yours now at othervoices.ie and join us for another wonderful weekend in Cardigan!

Philip King, founder of Other Voices, says:
“We always look forward to bringing Other Voices to Aberteifi/Cardigan and our 2025 programme will highlight the abundant and diverse range of brilliant new music that is flowing out of Ireland and Wales today. This year’s Clebran series of trilingual conversations will look at big picture issues through the lens of the local, with a perspective that reflects the shared as well as the many distinct identities in Ireland and Wales that we celebrate here through our languages and music. With our partners at Mwldan and Triongl, we are grateful for the opportunity to play our part in deepening and strengthening our Ireland-Wales connections as envisaged by our two Governments in the Ireland-Wales Shared Statement and Joint Action Plan 2021-25. We look forward to seeing Other Voices/Lleisiau Eraill continuing to grow and flourish in the coming years.”

Dilwyn Davies, CEO of Mwldan, says:
“We’re utterly delighted to be able to bring the fifth physical edition of Other Voices to Aberteifi in 2025. Year on year, we’ve seen fantastic growth in audience numbers as the word has spread about what a special festival experience this is. We’re ready to welcome audiences and artists from Ireland, Wales and elsewhere to our gorgeous small town on the westerly edge of Wales to create and share some unforgettable magic. We’re also deeply indebted to our funders for supporting this fantastic event.”

Other Voices Cardigan is produced by South Wind Blows in partnership with Mwldan and Triongl, with support from the Welsh Government, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Ceredigion County Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and BBC Cymru Wales. Other Voices Cardigan will be filmed for future television broadcast on BBC Cymru Wales and RTÉ, and on BBC iPlayer and RTÉ Player.

Stay tuned for more acts and programme details coming soon.

http://www.othervoices.ie

Other Voices
Other Voices started as a one-off music event in a small church in Dingle, a small fishing village in the west of Ireland and over the last 23 years the idea has grown. Other Voices is now an established fixture in the musical calendar – a ‘must attend’ event for performers and audiences alike. It has led to the creation of an international music TV series and, in turn, a global cultural movement celebrating local stories on an international scale. Other Voices has travelled to London, Belfast, New York, Austin, Texas and Berlin.

Mwldan
Mwldan is an independent Arts Centre and cinema based in Cardigan. The venue presents a multi-artform live programme and screens around 3000 films and live broadcasts annually. A major producing venue, Mwldan is behind international collaborations such as Catrin Finch and Aoife Ní Bhriain. In 2017 Mwldan started the record label bendigedig in partnership with ARC Music Productions Ltd, operating a 360-degree model of artist management, agenting, producing, releasing, PR and marketing. A not-for-profit registered charity and social enterprise, the organisation has an annual turnover of £1.7 million (pre-Covid) and employs a staff team of 25.
http://www.mwldan.co.uk | @TheatrMwldan

Triongl
Triongl is a TV and Film production company established in 2017 by Nora Ostler and Alec Spiteri and joined by Gethin Scourfield in 2018. All three are experienced producers with a track record of producing high quality, award-winning content. They will be documenting ‘Other Voices/Lleisiau Eraill’ for an hour’s special edition for later broadcast on S4C and RTÉ.
http://www.triongl.cymru | @triongl_tv

Mood Indigo Events announce Autumn 2025 Jazz Piano Series at 1901 Arts Club, Waterloo, London.

Saturday, June 07, 2025

The Mood Indigo Events Jazz Piano Series returns for its second season with a series of solo piano performances by Ternce Collie, Gwilym Simcock and Alcyona Mick during September and October 2025.

From;
https://www.moodindigoevents.co.uk/1901-arts-club.html

An intimate journey into the heart of solo piano

Following the resounding success of our inaugural year, the MIE Jazz Piano Series returns for its second season - this time as the Autumn 2025 Jazz Piano Series. Set once again in the enchanting surroundings of the 1901 Arts Club in Waterloo, this series invites you to experience the art of solo jazz piano like never before.

This year, we welcome the internationally acclaimed virtuoso Gwilym Simcock,  the evocative, genre-defying Alcyona Mick and the richly expressive Terence Collie. Each artist will perform an intimate solo set, exploring the full sonic potential of the Club’s magnificent Steinway Model C grand piano - all within the warm, salon-style ambience of this beautifully restored Edwardian building.

With only a limited number of seats available, every concert promises a deeply personal connection between artist and audience - a rare opportunity to witness these outstanding musicians up close, immersed in their craft. Whether you’re a lifelong jazz enthusiast or a curious newcomer, the Autumn 2025 Jazz Piano Series offers a spellbinding journey into the soul of the music.

Join us this autumn for an unforgettable celebration of creativity, virtuosity, and the timeless allure of solo piano.

Terence Collie - 30th September
Acclaimed pianist and composer Terence Collie brings his signature blend of lyrical sensitivity, harmonic sophistication and jazz-rooted imagination to a special solo performance at 1901 this September. Known for his dynamic versatility across solo, trio, and larger ensemble settings, Collie’s artistry has earned him a respected place on the UK jazz scene, captivating audiences with both his original works and fresh interpretations of classic standards.
ollowing the recent release of his celebrated album Elements, this solo concert offers a rare opportunity to experience his unaccompanied, intimate musical voice, where every nuance and subtlety is bare.
Beyond his performances, Collie is a vital force in the British jazz community. He is not only a prolific performer but also a mentor, organiser and advocate for the music, frequently curating and supporting jazz events across the country.
At 1901, Collie will present a programme that spans new original compositions, selections from Elements, reinterpretations of pieces from his previous albums Reminiscent and 384,400 and spontaneous improvisations crafted in the moment. The evening promises an immersive journey into the heart of a pianist who continues to shape his own narrative while honouring the great traditions of the art form.
“mesmerising” Jazzwise
“Collie’s art as an instrumentalist lies in his impressive ability to digress without neglecting the melodic dimension of the theme addressed” Paris Move

Gwilym Simcock - 7th October
Gwilym Simcock has carved out a career as one of the most gifted pianists and imaginative composers on the European scene.  He moves effortlessly between jazz and classical music, with a ‘harmonic sophistication and subtle dovetailing of musical traditions’. Gwilym has been hailed as a pianist of ‘exceptional’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘dazzling’ ability, and his music has been widely acclaimed as ‘engaging, exciting, often unexpected, melodically enthralling, complex yet hugely accessible’, and above all ‘wonderfully optimistic’.
Gwilym’s influences are wide ranging, from jazz legends including Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius and Pat Metheny, to classical composers including Maurice Ravel, Henri Dutilleux, Béla Bartók and Mark-Anthony Turnage. Although principally a jazz artist, Gwilym has composed numerous works for larger Classical ensemble that combine through-composed elements with improvisation, creating a sound that is distinctive and very much his own.
In the last few years, Gwilym has become renowned for his solo performances, releasing a critically acclaimed album ‘Good Days at Schloss Elmau’ in 2011 and touring throughout Europe and to places as far afield as Australia, the USA, Canada, Korea and China to name but a few.
“Gwilym’s an original. A creative genius” Chick Corea
“Gwilym is one of the most exceptional musicians that I have ever known ..he’s a really significant force in music”  Pat Metheny

Alcyona Mick - 14th October
Alcyona is a pianist working at the forefront of the London Jazz scene… Recently nominated for a Parliamentary Jazz Instrumentalist Award, she is a member of the London Jazz Orchestra, Tori Freestone/Alcyona Mick Duo, Brigitte Beraha Lucid Dreamers, Casimir Connection, Perfect Stranger, Josephine Davies Enso Ensemble, Randolph Matthews band, Paul Clarvis/Stuart Hall trio and has worked with Anglo/Egyptian artist Natacha Atlas for many years, performing worldwide. She has played on TRT music series in Istanbul with many Turkish artists, and performed with a wide array of other musicians including Yazz Ahmed, Henry Lowther’s Still Waters, Kate Shortt, Ingrid and Christine Jensen/Whirlwind bigband, Nikki Iles bigband, Eddie Parker, Alec Dankworth/Cleo Laine band, Mircan Kaya, Bachar Zarkan, Jerry Dammers Spatial aka Orchestra, Ibrahim Maalouf, Macadi Nahhas, Zoe Rahman and many more.
As a composer, she has a Master’s in Composing music for film from the National Film and Television School. She has written and produced music for many independent short films, documentaries, animation and silent cinema. She won an award for Best Soundtrack at the Anima Mundi International Festival, Brazil.
‘world class ingenuity’  The Guardian
‘Alcyona Mick is an unusual powerhouse of a talent’ - MOJO

Find Us;

1901 Arts Club, 7 Exton Street, Waterloo, London SE1 8UE.

A few minutes’ walk from Waterloo mainline station. Using the BFI IMAX roundabout and St John’s Church that faces it as strong Waterloo landmarks, Exton Street is the small street that runs beside the church yard.

Parking:
A car parking station is available in Cornwall Road and at the National Theatre on Belvedere Road.  Limited meter parking is available in the surrounding streets.  Unfortunately there is no on-site parking at 1901 Arts Club.

Tube:
Waterloo Station
(Jubilee Line, Northern Line, Bakerloo Line, Waterloo & City Line)

Mainline Rail:
Waterloo Station and Waterloo East

Buses:
1, 4, 26, 59, 68, 76, 77, 139, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 211, 243, 341, 381, 507, 521, RV1, X68

Mood Indigo Events are run by Kingston based vocalist Janet McCunn and Hampton based pianist Terence Collie combining their efforts to bring great jazz music to SW London and beyond. This is all done without any funding and is reliant solely on your continued support in attendance at our events.
https://www.moodindigoevents.co.uk/

Beiggja - debut album and European tour dates, June and September 2025.

Wednesday, June 04, 2025

The new Norwegian / Dutch 'jazz supergroup' Beiggja will release its debut album "Morning" on Hubro Records on June 13th 2025 and has also announced a series of European tour dates, including London.

We have received the following press release;

Beiggja Releases Debut Album Morning: A Nordic Jazz Supergroup Emerges

What happens when four talented and creative jazz musicians isolate themselves in a forest studio and let their creativity run free? The answer is the album Morning and the project Beiggja, inviting the listener into their shared musical playground, where we become part of their exploratory interplay.

The album will be released on June 13. 2025

Artist: Beiggja (Sprangers, Mulelid, Eilertsen and Johansen)
Album: Morning
Release Date: June 13, 2025
Catalog No: HUBROCD2671, HUBROLP3671
UPC: 7033662026715

In late winter 2024, pianist Kjetil Mulelid, saxophonist Kika Sprangers, bassist Mats Eilertsen, and drummer Per Oddvar Johansen gathered in Per Oddvar’s homey surroundings in Lommedalen. Everyone brought a few tunes and ideas, then hit “record” and let the music take shape. It turned out to be a beautiful first encounter, leading to the recording of the album Morning.

Kika and Kjetil share:
- No take was the same. A ‘take two’ often tends to refer back to ‘take one,’ especially if take one sounds good. But with Mats and Per Oddvar, each take went in its own unique direction. The interplay was fantastic—it felt completely natural and organic. Even though we didn’t know each other very well yet, we were able to follow each other’s musical cues closely. You can hear that on the album—the spontaneity and curiosity.

Morning is out on Hubro, and the group have many upcoming live dates both Norway and the Netherlands.

Kika Sprangers, Dutch saxophonist and composer, balances delicately between vulnerability and strength in her music. Her vision is to combine the two—musically expressed through a love of unconventional instrumentation and dramatic arcs built for symphonic passages or heavy silence. In the Netherlands, she’s long been recognized as one of the leading young talents in modern jazz, receiving numerous awards as a composer and bandleader for both her quintet and her large ensemble. She received the Rogier van Otterloo Award in 2021 (from Metropole Orkest) as a rising composer, and completed a two-year residency at TivoliVredenburg in Utrecht. Supported by the Dutch Performing Arts Fund, she recorded new music with her Large Ensemble, and in duo formats with guitarist Mikkel Ploug and pianist Kit Downes. Together, they released the albums Du blomst and Mirage in 2024 on DOX Records. At the end of 2024, she was awarded the Willem Breuker Prize and released Large Ensemble (In)finity to critical acclaim.

Kjetil Mulelid is known for his distinctive playing and compositions, blending jazz, hymns, and improvised music. Since graduating from Trondheim’s renowned Jazz Department in 2014, he has toured extensively across Europe, Canada, and Asia with his own projects. He has released several critically acclaimed albums as a solo artist, with the Kjetil Mulelid Trio, jazz quartet Wako, the duo Kjemilie with vocalist Emilie Storaas, and in collaboration with Siril Malmedal Hauge—as both a band and a piano/vocal duo. The prestigious magazine The Wire described him in 2025 as “one of Norway’s finest contemporary jazz pianists,” and Jazzwise called his latest album “a modern Nordic masterpiece.” He has also collaborated with Arve Henriksen, Trygve Seim, Mathias Eick, and Sissel Vera Pettersen.

Per Oddvar Johansen is one of Norway’s leading drummers. His renowned tasteful playing is featured on over eighty albums, earning him six Spellemann Awards (Norway’s equivalent of the Grammy). He currently works with Christian Wallumrød, Vigleik Storaas, Helge Lien, Ayumi Tanaka, Trygve Seim, Mats Eilertsen, Torben Snekkestad, and many more. Fiona Talkington (BBC) on his latest solo release: “Per Oddvar Johansen has played a major role in Norwegian music for many years, working with groundbreaking figures like Helge Lien, Christian Wallumrød, and Petter Wettre. He brings his imaginative drive to everything he does, and his solo debut album Let’s Dance on Edition Records finally shines a light on a musician long deserving of the spotlight.”

Mats Eilertsen has been a prominent figure on the international jazz scene for over 30 years. He’s contributed to countless recordings and has been central to major ECM releases with Tord Gustavsen, Trygve Seim, Mathias Eick, Nils Økland, Wolfert Brederode, and Jakob Young. He has led several of his own projects, including a trio with drummer Thomas Strønen and Dutch pianist Harmen Fraanje. Their latest album And Then Comes The Night (2019, ECM Records) won a Spellemann Award and was praised worldwide. In 2022, Eilertsen received Norwegian jazz’s highest honor—the prestigious Buddy Award.

Personnel:
Kika Sprangers – saxophone
Kjetil Mulelid – piano
Mats Eilertsen – double bass
Per Oddvar Johansen – drums
Production:
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Per Oddvar Johansen at Sleaskjulet, Lommedalen.

Tour:
June 5: TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht (NL)
June 7: BIMHUIS, Amsterdam (NL)
June 8: Jazz in Duketown, Den Bosch (NL)
Sept 15: PizzaExpress, London (UK)
Sept 18: Brebl, Nijmegen (NL)
Sept 19: Stadsgehoorzaal, Leiden (NL)
Sept 20: LantarenVenster, Rotterdam (NL)

Links;

https://www.instagram.com/beiggja/

https://kikasprangers.nl/en/

https://kjetilmulelid.com/about/

https://peroddvar.no/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mats_Eilertsen

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1RBwhYR07uefS25DqynAMy?si=5-L_038KTyyVxFEn1dY2WQ&nd=1&dlsi=cc8d1343c1b14709

https://open.spotify.com/artist/11EaaVhh0XmtZfI4FlBU5d?si=rP4geUDWSFejMVEtVuexBw&nd=1&dlsi=1e3f0fa022e446d6

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1nLQ0q9ZBZkn0hSq0gRAnd?si=VJcnSA6tTd2NCgeD4GyOGQ&nd=1&dlsi=aaddd202bcc44bb3

https://open.spotify.com/artist/66tv0Nc5AOVkeyMGS25rJh?si=KkP7rYsnQJOnAjq9kP6B2w&nd=1&dlsi=5a0028bac3504488

About Grappa Musikkforlag
Grappa Musikkforlag was established in 1983, and is the oldest and largest independent record company in Norway. Home of many prestigious labels including Hubro, Simax Classics, Odin, Blue Mood, Heilo, Barneselskapet and Grappa label. Close collaborations with other strong indies, including Rune Grammofon and Drabant. A wide variety of genres includes jazz, folk, classical, contemporary, pop, rock, blues, singer/songwriter – all from Norwegian artists of the highest quality.

EFG London Jazz Festival reveal more new names for 2025.

Wednesday, June 04, 2025

Promoters Serious have announced more artists for the 2025 EFG London Jazz Festival, among them Bill Frisell, Hermeto Pascoal, Jasmine Myra, Michael Wollny, Marius Neset, Emma-Jean Thackray, Tortoise.

We have received the following press release;

SERIOUS
Announce More Artists For
EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 2025

New names include Tortoise, Adekunle Gold, The Weather Station, Joan As Police Woman and Bill Frisell Trio

aja monet announced as 2025 Artist in Residence at the Barbican

14-23 November 2025

The global celebration of music, EFG London Jazz Festival, is sharing the next raft of names for its 33rd edition which takes place from 14-23 November. For 10 days and nights musicians from all over the world will come together in London to perform boundary-pushing music that showcases jazz and its influence across different genres and cultures.

EFG London Jazz Festival producers Serious and the Barbican are excited to announce that acclaimed poet, activist and performer aja monet will be the Artist in Residence at the Barbican for the 2025 festival. As part of the residency, aja monet will lead a series of activities, including a live reading and Q&A session, and a workshop with the Barbican Young Poets, offering a unique opportunity for emerging voices to learn from her powerful, politically engaged practice. The residency will culminate in a special performance at the Main Hall on Friday, 14 November, as aja monet will curate a night to perform with special guests to open the festival.

Post-rockers with serious jazz chops, Tortoise recently returned with their first new music in almost a decade via Chicago imprint International Anthem. Formed in 1990 in the Windy City, they were initially hailed as pace-setters of the then-emerging, so-called “post-rock” sound. Releasing just seven albums since then — including classics like 1996’s Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1998’s TNT, and 2001’s Standards —Tortoise has steadily and intuitively evolved across its life, creating genreless music that is as timeless as it is ahead of the curve. They appear at the Barbican on Saturday, 22 November as part of EFG London Jazz Festival for a rare UK appearance. Opening the night will be LA-based duo of synthesist Jeremiah Chiu and violist Marta Sofia Honer.

Closing the festival at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, 23 November is Adekunle Gold; a Nigerian born and bred singer-songwriter. He gained recognition from his very first single ‘Sade’, a cover of One Direction’s ‘Story Of My Life’  and has now released five albums: ‘Gold’ (debuting at #7 on the Billboard World Albums Chart), ‘About 30’ (shortlisted for the GRAMMY® Best World Album), ‘Afro Pop Vol 1’, ‘Catch Me If You Can’ and ‘Tequila Ever After’ . Adekunle Gold has amassed over 2.5 Billion career streams with hits like ‘Party No Dey Stop’ and ‘High’. For this one-off appearance, Adekunle Gold and his band will be joined by the Guildhall Session Orchestra.

Iconic Brazilian composer and multi-instrumentalist, Hermeto Pascoal, once dubbed by Miles Davis as “the most impressive musician in the world,” embarks on his final UK show at the age of 88 at the Barbican on Sunday, 16 November. Hermeto Pascoal is globally recognised for pioneering groups like Quarteto Novo and his own Grupo. The current Grupo lineup includes Itiberê Zwarg (bass), Jota P. (saxophones and flutes), Fabio Pascoal (percussion), André Marques (piano), and Ajurinã Zwarg (drums). Alongside bandleader Hermeto Pascoal, their performances are indescribable and unforgettable sensory experiences.

Closing the festival on Sunday, 23 November at the Barbican is a celebration of Japanese Jazz. Akiko Yano will open the event with a solo piano set, followed by a quintet made up of celebrated master musicians rarely seen in the UK; Kosuke Mine (tenor sax), Fumio Itabashi (piano), Takeo Moriyama (drums), Takashi Sugawa (bass) and Miyuki Moriya (alto sax). Expect deep grooves and a musical conversation decades in the making. Much like the vaunted BBE ‘J Jazz’ releases on which many of these artists feature, this is music for serious jazz lovers and curious ears alike.

Saxophonist, composer and band leader, Jasmine Myra, brings an electrifying show to Hackney Church on Tuesday, 18 November as she performs her latest album ‘Rising’ live with strings as a UK exclusive. Elevating, uplifting and beautifully arranged. Jasmine Myra’s sophomore album builds on the success of her breakthrough album ‘Horizons’, released via influential imprint Gondwana, to deliver a major statement from one of UK Jazz’s rising stars.

The Bill Frisell Trio, featuring bassist Thomas Morgan and Rudy Royston on drums, is musically nimble enough to go anywhere with Frisell in the most spontaneous manner. They have a command of the sizable oeuvre of Frisell compositions, as well as the popular, folk and standard songs that Bill enjoys interpreting on an ongoing basis. The trio’s method is interactive, conversational and ready to groove at any moment, yielding fresh and surprising performances at every stop along the way. Their next stop is at Cadogan Hall on 21 Friday, November.

Highly acclaimed American songwriter Joan As Police Woman returns to perform music from across her career alongside music from her latest album Lemons, Limes & Orchids, on Saturday, 15 November at EartH Theatre in Dalston. Made with the late Afrobeat pioneer Tony Allen and multi-disciplinary artist Dave Okumu, the album sonically spans afrobeat, jazz, trip-hop, pop-rock and funk. Over the course of Joan’s illustrious 3-decade career, she’s made more than considerable strides building her pedigree as a live act performing with luminaries like Lou Reed, Damon Albarn, John Cale, Laurie Anderson, Sufjan Stevens, Anohni, Beck, Toshi Reagon and the late Jeff Buckley.

On Friday, 21 November at EartH Theatre in Dalston is The Weather Station, the project of Toronto based songwriter Tamara Lindeman, who will perform alongside a hand-picked string quartet from London in a one-off performance created exclusively for the festival. It promises to be a very special evening with music from her latest album Humanhood, acclaimed breakthrough Ignorance and much more beyond.

Ana Carla Maza is the new voice of Cuba - an emblem of the excellence and innovation of the emerging Cuban generation. With her unique blend of cello virtuosity, soulful vocals, and magnetic stage presence, she has become one of the most prominent Cuban singer-composers on the international scene. Accompanied by Milly Perez on piano and keyboards and Jay Kalo on drums and percussion, Ana Carla Maza returns to perform at Cadogan Hall as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival on Thursday, 20 November.

Pianist Michael Wollny and his trio with bassist Tim Lefebvre and drummer Eric Schaefer perform at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on Sunday, 16 November. The three players are united by a musical vocabulary which is more or less inexhaustible, an outstanding sensitivity in their interplay and the ability to create new music of tremendous tension and dynamism in the moment. Opening is multi-award-winning British saxophonist and composer Emma Rawicz’s thrilling new project INKYRA.

After their performance at last year’s festival, Herbert & Momoko are back with their biggest show yet at Village Underground on Sunday, 23 November. A one-off live show from electronic music legend Matthew Herbert and Momoko Gill, it will be the first time to catch them live following their debut album ‘Clay’ which is coming out via Strut in June.

Known for his ecstatic compositional style, Norwegian saxophonist Marius Neset takes a defiantly maximalist approach, placing his spontaneous horn playing alongside lush orchestral arrangements that sound like they’ve been written in watercolour. In this special concert for the festival at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on Thursday, 20 November, his relentless improvisations are accompanied by the pulse and precision of the London Sinfonietta.

Yorkshire’s Emma-Jean Thackray is at the forefront of a dance floor-adjacent take on jazz that is both addictive and endlessly inviting. She returned recently with her new album ‘Weirdo’ and will perform at KOKO in Camden on Thursday, 20 November as part of the festival.

EFG London Jazz Festival is a place to explore music and to celebrate the legacy and the future of an inspiring musical universe.

Serious would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all of their partners, particularly the extended support of title sponsor EFG, which helps to support the breadth and diversity of the festival. The EFG London Jazz Festival is made possible thanks to the support of many key sponsors and funders, including Arts Council England, Serious Trust, BBC Radio 3, Champagne Thienot, Jazzwise Magazine and Jazz FM UK.

Hiromi’s Sonicwonder and Japanese Jazz are presented in partnership with the Japan Foundation. EFG London Jazz Festival would like to extend thanks to the DAIWA Foundation for their additional support to the Japanese Jazz event.

EFG London Jazz Festival Shows

12 - 14 Nov - aja monet (Artist in Residence) - Barbican

14 Nov - Jazz Voice - Royal Festival Hall

15 Nov - Joan As Police Woman - EartH Theatre

15 Nov - We Exist! The Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet - Barbican

15 Nov - Tanita Tikaram - Royal Festival Hall

15 Nov - Chris Thile - Queen Elizabeth Hall

15 Nov - Kurt Elling and The Yellowjackets Celebrate Weather Report - Cadogan Hall

16 Nov - Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo - Barbican

16 Nov - Michael Wollny Trio + Emma Rawicz INKYRA - Queen Elizabeth Hall

16 Nov - Bilal - Village Underground

18 Nov - Jasmine Myra with Strings - Hackney Church

19 Nov - Makaya McCraven - KOKO

19 Nov - Rita Payés - Union Chapel

20 Nov - Ana Carla Maza - Cadogan Hall

20 Nov - Emma-Jean Thackray - KOKO

20 Nov - London Sinfonietta with Marius Neset - Queen Elizabeth Hall

20 Nov - Fergus McCreadie + Laura Jurd - Union Chapel

20 Nov - GeeJay - Islington Assembly Hall

21 Nov - The Weather Station with Strings - EartH Theatre

21 Nov - Bill Frisell Trio - Cadogan Hall

21 Nov - Hiromi’s Sonicwonder - Barbican

22 Nov - Tortoise + Jeremiah Chiu and Marta Sofia Honer - Barbican

22 Nov - Tune-Yards - Royal Festival Hall

23 Nov - Adekunle Gold with Guildhall Session Orchestra - Royal Festival Hall

23 Nov - Japanese Jazz - Barbican

23 Nov - Swingin’ With Strings - Cadogan Hall

23 Nov - Herbert & Momoko - Village Underground

Praise for 2024 edition

“beautifully curated” - The Guardian, ★★★★★

“The incredible musical jamboree of the EFG London Jazz Festival is our yearly reminder that the jazz scene has never been more various” - The Telegraph, ★★★★★

“exceptional” - The Times, ★★★★

“November can be a month to hunker down for the onset of winter and its weather, and where better to do that than in one of the myriad venues across the capital” - The Arts Desk, ★★★★

“there’s a noticeable buzz amongst the crowd amassing” - Clash

Serious is one of the UK’s leading producers of live jazz, international and new music through concerts, festivals, tours, digital shows, talent development schemes, learning and participation programmes, and bespoke events for all.

EFG International is a global private banking group offering private banking and asset management services and is headquartered in Zurich. EFG International’s group of private banking businesses operates in around 40 locations worldwide. Its registered shares (EFGN) are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. 

https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/

Jazz Scotland announces new CEO.

Wednesday, June 04, 2025

Jazz Scotland has announced jazz musician John Youngs as its new CEO. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Jazz Scotland announces new CEO

Jazz Scotland, the Aberdeen-based organisation which produces festivals and year-round activities in Aberdeen, Dundee and Islay, is delighted to announce jazz musician John Youngs as its new CEO. John will replace Coralie Usmani who stepped down from the post in April 2025.

Neil Gibbons, Chair of the company Board said, “Having secured multi-year funding from various sources, Coralie leaves us in a very strong position, providing a great platform for our new CEO to take over. John Youngs brings a wealth of experience to the organisation from both the music industry as a working professional musician, and from the public sector as a civil servant, so is a perfect fit for the post. We look forward to hearing his ideas for the organisation.”

About Jazz Scotland
Jazz Scotland promotes and supports jazz and related music in Scotland, notably through our flagship jazz festivals in Aberdeen, Islay and Dundee. The Scottish registered charity is run from Aberdeen and is supported by funding from Creative Scotland, Aberdeen City Council and a number of other funders.  The organisation was recently awarded Multi - Year Funding from Creative Scotland which will provide support for its activities over the next three years.

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 01/06/2025.

Tuesday, June 03, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 01/06/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

I have been moving house this week (actually returning home after a flood) and have only just re-established broadband.  This week’s show was broadcast on the radio as usual, but I haven’t had time yet to put it up on Mixcloud and podcast sites.  However, it is available through the Camp Radio Mixcloud link here:
https://www.mixcloud.com/camp_fr/modern-jazz-from-around-europe-01st-june-2025/

Back to normal soon I hope
Peter

Snowpoet
Host
Heartstrings
Edition

Goodman, Bordenave, Mahall
Four in One
Mostly Monk
Unit Records

Marcus Reuter
Love Theme
Truce <3
Moonjune

Maia & Cate
Senhoras_do_Amazonas
Luck Grows
Mons records

Cosmic Ear
Brown Rice
Traces
We Jazz Records

Angel Shades
Josh’s Trap
Twirler
EFPI

Bliss Quintet
Ida
Live at Nattjazz `24
Jazzland

Naïssam Jalal
Souffle #7
Souffles
Les Couleurs du Son

Hélène Labarrière
Jane
Puzzle
Jazzdor

Potsa Lotsa XL
Orthotactic
Amoeba’s Dance
Trouble In The East

Littorina Saxophone Quartet
Hells Bells
Leaking Pipes
NoBusiness Records

Dave Jones wins award from Prog Magazine.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Pianist & keyboard player Dave Jones won last week's Tracks Of The Week with the complex Trepidation/74 Heist, taken from his new EP, Stratospheric, which is out now.

28/05/2025
Dave Jones writes;

Following my inclusion in Prog magazine’s ‘Tracks of the Week’ , I won it last Friday(!) with my track ‘Trepidation/74 Heist’

Here’s their Fb announcement post below…
Congratulations to British keyboardist Dave Jones, who won last week’s Tracks Of The Week with the complex Trepidation/74 Heist, taken from his new EP, Stratospheric, which is out now.
You can watch Dave’s winning video here: https://youtu.be/LMhhvOjeniI

Delighted, obviously, and particularly because it falls between the cracks, genre-wise and touches on both Prog and Jazz.

The other tracks on the new EP ‘Stratospheric’ touch on folk, jazz, and ambient music.

From;
https://www.davejonesjazz.com/

Dave is again on keyboards for this new release, this time blending Prog Rock with Jazz, Folk, Electro, and Metal, and joined by a larger line-up featuring Ben Waghorn (tenor sax, flute), Elliot Bennett (drums), and the returning Tim Rose (guitars, bass).

Now available from the digital platforms on the link here - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/davejones1/stratospheric

“A truly cosmic experience … a melange of excellence” (Adam Walton, BBC Introducing).

“Complex” (Prog magazine, re the track ‘Trepidation/74 Heist’)

606 Jazz Club, Chelsea, London, Programme for June 2025.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Laura Thorne of the 606 Club has forwarded details of the Club's programme for June 2025, plus a preview of selected events coming up in July and August.

Laura Thorne writes;

Hello all you connoisseurs of culture and lovers of live music – greetings from the 606 in Chelsea, known for presenting the best jazz, soul, Latin, groove, R&B & blues musicians in the UK bar none.

This mail provides information about our live performances from the 1st to the 30th of June. Information about all of these events, along with photos, video clips etc are on the website now for your consumption: https://www.606club.co.uk/events/

We’ve been in a bit of a tizzy here with so many shows coming up - we are now announcing July and August dates as well, including:

JULY:
Wed 2nd: Simon Lasky’s Birthday Gig
Wed 9th: Peter Johnstone Quartet with Tommy Smith & Joe Locke
Sat 19th: Norma Winstone & Kit Downes

AUGUST:
Sun 10th: Polly Gibbons
Fri 22nd: Frances Madden

With loads more on the way!

And also, our annual outdoor concert weekend, Jazz on the Lawn at Fulham Palace takes place on Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd of August. With the brilliant salute to the music of Stevie Wonder, ‘The Wonder of Stevie’ ft Derek Nash and Noel McCalla on Friday and one of the UK’s premier jazz singer/pianists Liane Carroll & her Trio on the Saturday, it’s a wonderful way to spend a summer evening. https://www.606club.co.uk/events/fulham-palace-1/

606 CLUB – JUNE 2025 GIG GUIDE

Sun 1st         1:30pm         SUNDAY LUNCH: LAUREN BUSH
Canadian expat Lauren Bush has established herself as a talented singer of character and poise. This afternoon she will be performing songs from her highly anticipated third album, “Tide Rises” which features both favourite standards alongside exciting new arrangements. As she says, “I am looking forward to sharing some of my new original music as well as memorable tracks from previous releases.” Also featuring Chris Bland-piano.
“Bush…powerfully voiced…quietly intense, deeply thoughtful” UK Jazz News

Sun 1st   8:00pm         LOUISE BALKWILL    
Join award-winning jazz vocalist Louise Balkwill for an evening of hidden gems from The Great American Songbook. The 2022 winner of the Riga Jazz Stage International Jazz Voice competition, Louise has been hailed as one of the UK’s leading vocal improvisers and storytellers. Most recently she’s been appearing with celebrated vocal harmony trio The Puppini Sisters and was also featured at our annual Jazz on the Lawn show last summer (where she was absolutely sensational)! Also featuring Rob Barron-piano, Theo Malka-Wishart-bass and Matt Home-drums Louise will be performing songs from her debut album “First Class”. And watch out for her Special Guest Malcom Earle-Smith on vocals and trombone.
“Totally bowled over by Louise Balkwill’s incredible vocals and engaging stage presence” Jazzwise    

Mon 2nd       8:00pm         TOBAGO & D’LIME    
Trinidadian Tobago Crusoe is a calypsonian, composer and performer. Crowned “Calypso Monarch” in 1983 he has been a Master of Calypso for over 40 years. Tobago and D’Lime were put together by Damon Albarn (Blur) for the Paddington Bear films and their joyful renditions of the calypso songs in the movie were so warmly received they have since gone on to perform at venues around the UK. In addition to Tobago on vocals and guitar, the lineup includes Antonio Miguel Barradas-steel pan/percussion, Felix Ruiz-keyboards/vocals, Curtis Ruiz-bass/vocals, Richard Bailey-drums and Tim Cansfield-guitar/vocals.
“Tim Cansfield…great stuff” The Jazz Mann                                                                                                              

Tue 3rd       8:00pm         BARRY GREEN TRIO
Barry Green is a wonderful modern jazz pianist whose fluent and melodic playing has made a significant impact on the UK jazz scene. His cv is vast, including work with the likes of Bobby Watson, Charles McPherson and Us3 as well as with his own trio, featured this evening. Joining Barry tonight will be the multi-Award-winning guitarist Colin Oxley (Stacey Kent) and iconic bassist Dave Green (Stan Tracey, Charlie Watts).
“Pianist Barry Green and bassist Dave Green…two of the best mainstream-to-bop musicians on the UK scene” Guardian;
“Colin Oxley…providing rich, subtle harmonies” Guardian

Wed 4th       8:00pm         SEAN FYFE QUINTET FT. JAMIE O’DONNELL & SPECIAL GUEST JON GORDON    
Originally from Canada, Sean Fyfe is now one of the busiest pianists in London. Drawing heavily on the hard-bop era of jazz, he has developed a unique style on the instrument and in his compositions that is both virtuosic and tasteful. The night will feature a very special guest, New York-born saxophonist Jon Gordon. Jon emerged as a major jazz voice after winning the 1996 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition and has since performed with legends like Phil Woods, Maria Schneider, Aretha Franklin and Clark Terry. Gordon has appeared at major festivals and venues worldwide, released several critically acclaimed albums and is a highly respected figure in contemporary jazz. Sean’s fiery quintet is made complete by London stars Jamie O’Donnell (alto sax), Matt Fishwick (drums) and Luke Fowler (bass). The combination of Jamie’s terrific playing alongside Jon’s fluent, sparkling, alto promises to be one of the highlights of the month.
“Fyfe…a torchbearer of the hard-bop tradition” All About Jazz; “Jon Gordon is a master…an elite musician for our time” Jazz Improv NY

Thu 5th       8:00pm         NEIL ANGILLEY TRIO
Neil Angilley is a brilliant pianist, equally at home playing jazz, Latin or classical. An original member of Grammy-nominated “Down To The Bone” he has appeared on the main stage at Glastonbury with Dame Shirley Bassey and performed with Vanessa-Mae, Maceo Parker and Lionel Richie. Tonight, along with Davide Mantovani-bass and Davide Giovannini-drums, he will be performing songs from his four albums in a fusion of Latin, jazz and funk with a touch of flavours from the East.
“Inventive” Observer;
“spectacular” Blues & Soul Magazine

Fri 6th       9:00pm         LIZZIE DEANE    
With her deeply soulful voice, warm persona and infectious performance style, Groove singer Lizzie Deane’s voice has been described as a “powerful, show-stopping instrument”. Perhaps best known here at the Six for her work with Dave Lewis & “1Up” she’s also been heard with acclaimed artists including Mica Paris & Carleen Anderson. Tonight she brings her fabulous ‘Soul Inspirations’ band to the Club showcasing ‘all her favourite songs’.
“Hugely talented … singer… incredible!” Cross Rhythms

Sat 7th         9:00pm         TONY KOFI/DENYS BAPTISTE “CANONBALL & COLTRANE”
Saxophonist Denys Baptiste (Courtney Pine, Manu Dibango), a multiple award-winner including the “Mercury Music Album of the Year” and “MOBO Award for Best Jazz Act”, is considered a leading light on the UK jazz scene. Fellow saxophonist Tony Kofi (The Jazz Warriors, Gary Cosby’s Nu Troop) has performed with the likes of Courtney Pine and the iconic US band the World Saxophone Quartet and has received multiple BBC Jazz Awards and a Parliamentary Jazz Award. Tonight these two master musicians bring to the Club the first outing of their brand new “Cannonball & Coltrane” project. Featuring music associated with these two giants of jazz, Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane, Tony & Denys re-imagine the meeting of these two iconic musicians for the 21st century.
“Baptiste…icon of British jazz” Time Magazine;
“Kofi…a great musician” The Arts Desk    
                   

Sun 8th         1:30pm         SUNDAY LUNCH: NADINE LEE
A truly formidable talent, Nadine Lee has distinguished herself across multiple creative spheres encompassing theatre, film and music performance. She’s been nominated for the BBTA Award for Best Musical Director and the Broadway World Award, appeared in the film “The Man in The Hat” and collaborated with world-renowned artists such as Lizzo, Stormzy & Annie Lennox. Nadine is also the founder of Ekklesia, a gospel group that achieved significant recognition with their MOBO-nominated album “Rain”. A multi-instrumentalist, today Nadine will be singing as well as playing percussion & bass along with her 8-piece band performing music from her recent projects, “Finally Nadine” and “Locked Down But Not Out”. Taking inspiration from contemporary gospel, R&B and soul, Nadine is a world-class artist.

Sun 8th     8:00pm   VANESSA HAYNES  
Vocalist Vanessa Haynes performs a mix of soul, R&B standards and originals with some jazz standards thrown in. With her powerful, cultured voice and commanding stage presence, she is quite stunning. Not surprisingly her talent was recognised by Van Morrison (with whose band she toured) but she is probably best known these days as one of the featured singers with the iconic soul/jazz band “Incognito”, having toured and recorded with them for more than ten years. Her fabulous band features some of the country’s finest “groove” players: guitarist Al Cherry, keyboardist Tom O’Grady, bassist Tiago Coimbra and drummer Martyn Kaine. A rare opportunity to see this wonderful performer in the intimate setting of the 606.
“Haynes is a polished and dazzling performer. Live music at its very best” Close-Up Culture;
“chic, sultry…stylish” Musician Magazine                                                    

Mon 9th       8:00pm         BOBBY QUIGLEY WITH SPECIAL GUEST JOY ROSE
This fantastic “Groove” gig features the band of guitarist Bobby Quigley, a formidable young musician who includes work with the likes of Pete Ray Biggin, Imaani and Katie Leone on an impressive cv. Citing influences including Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein, John Scofield and Dr Lonnie Smith, tonight he is bringing in his Trio featuring Ross Stanley-organ & Richard Bailey-drums to perform what he describes as “a voyage of reimagination of jazz & soul, with a hint of New Orleans thrown in there for good measure”. Bobby’s special guest is the remarkable singer, Joy Rose (Sting, Incognito). With her formidable vocal range and power, her various albums & singles including “The Rose in Me” have topped the UK soul charts. Seriously good music!
“led with panache by Bobby Quigley on guitar…with Quigley excelling” Close-Up Culture;
“…she is simply breathtaking.” SmoothJazzNow

Tue 10th       8:00pm         ARTIE ZAITZ TRIO  
Working and recording on the London and international scene for over a decade now with artists such as Moses Boyd, The Banger Factory, Camilla George and Tom Waters Electric People Artie Zaitz is considered to be one of the leading jazz guitarists on the UK scene, more recently being recognised as an outstanding keyboard player as well.  Artie’s critically acclaimed debut album “The Regulator”, released in September 2024 on Banger Factory Records, is an exciting, fresh, take on the classic Hammond organ trio lineup, bringing together his fluent, powerful, guitar playing, deep blues sensibility and love of jazz, soul and Latin music. The programme this evening will feature material from that album and beyond, with Artie performing alongside the brilliant Ross Stanley-organ and Jack Thomas-drums.
“Zaitz…a god given talent” Blues & Soul;
“Zaitz…playing the tradition so effortlessly and joyfully” Soweto Kinch, BBC Radio 3;
“impeccable guitar playing…perfectly melding…jazz and blues” At the Barrier;
“this band sparks with imagination, rhythmic flair and exuberance. A triumph” All About Jazz

Wed 11th       8:00pm      
We learned with sadness that pianist Brian Kellock who was to have played at the Club on Wednesday the 11th passed away on the 27th May. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and appreciated his wonderful performances through the years.
Another artist will be announced to play on the 11th as soon as arranged.
BRIAN KELLOCK/ALAN MCKENZIE QUARTET - CANCELLED
For more than three decades Edinburgh-born and based Brian Kellock has led his own, hugely popular, trio as well as being the first-call pianist for visiting International and A-list UK artists who appreciate his swinging style, his skills as a sensitive accompanist, his spontaneity and his sense of humour. In recent years he has headlined numerous concerts, recordings and tours with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, cemented links in Australia with trumpeter James Morrison and appeared annually at the Glasgow, Edinburgh and Copenhagen Jazz Festivals. His many accolades include Best CD and Best Instrumentalist at the BBC Jazz Awards, Creative Scotland Award, Herald Angel Award, Parliamentary Jazz Awards’ Jazz Musician of the Year and Scottish Jazz Awards’ Best Instrumentalist. You get the idea, he’s very good!
“Brian…has imagination and scope…a beautiful touch, with technique and power in reserve. And…he swings” Jazz Lives;
“Kellock…full of wit, elegance and energy” All About Jazz;
“immaculate and deeply felt…Kellock’s sublime artistry at the piano is always worn lightly” London Jazz News                                        

Thu 12th     8:00pm         WINSTON CLIFFORD
Probably best known here at the Club as the drummer with the Dan Reinstein band the Award-winning Winston Clifford has been a first call drummer on the UK jazz scene for over 30 years. His cv is extensive and impressive, his powerful yet sophisticated playing the driving force behind the likes of Carleen Anderson, Benny Golson, Joe Lovano, Norma Winstone, Peter Bernstein, Monty Alexander, Courtney Pine, Julian Joseph and Jazz Jamaica. Winner of the British Jazz Award for “Best Drummer”, Winston is also a respected educator and can be found teaching the next generation of musicians at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Birmingham Conservatoire. The gig tonight features Riley Stone-Lonergan-sax, Bruno Heinen-piano & Oli Hayhurst-bass performing a mix of contemporary jazz alongside some classic standards.
“The great Winston Clifford…gives a finely nuanced performance behind the kit” The Jazz Mann                                    

Fri 13th       9:00pm         THE COALMINERS
With their dedication to what they to refer to as “Swamp Soul” this brilliant 7-piece band, with their unique mixture of New Orleans Groove and Funk, bring the rhythm and soul of the deep south (that’s Louisiana, not Brighton…) alive. Featuring vocalists Tommy Hare & Amy Bird, drummer Pat Levett (Jon Cleary), pianist Carl Hudson (Leon Ware, Boy George), guitarist Rob Updegraff (Gregory Porter), saxophonist Andy Ross (Incognito) and bassist Spencer Brown, this highly impressive line-up are guaranteed to raise the roof!
“totally blows me away…perfect” BBC Radio 2;
“Tommy Hare…just oozes charisma.” GetWestLondon;
“Riotous” Jazz FM                                                                

Sat 14th       9:00pm         TOM SMITH
Award-winning saxophonist Tom Smith has established himself as a performer of flair and passion, working with the likes of Grammy Award-winner Maria Schneider, Donny McCaslin (David Bowie) and more. As well as his fluent and impressive playing Tom is also a well-respected composer and arranger, most notably with his own Tom Smith Big Band. In addition, he’s released two critically acclaimed albums, “Gecko,” produced by Tim Garland and “A Year In The Life” with his big band. For his show tonight Tom has put together an impressive lineup of Will Barry-piano, Calum Gourlay-bass & Darren Beckett-drums to perform music he describes as “drawing inspiration from films and stories to take listeners on a journey filled with soaring melodies, gospel grooves and hard swing”. With a promise of some new material along with a choice selection of jazz standards this promises to be a fun gig.
Smith…something really special…great writing, terrific playing” UK Jazz News

Sun 15th       1:30pm         SUNDAY LUNCH: FLEUR STEVENSON WITH ART THEMEN
Singer Fleur Stevenson is gifted with a honeyed vocal tone, sparkling presentation and a strong grasp of the jazz idiom. Fleur has appeared at numerous prestige venues as well as releasing two highly regarded albums, ‘Follow Me’ and ‘For All We Know’, which was amongst Jazz Views’ ‘Best Albums of the Year’. Also featured today will be saxophonist Art Themen, a leading light of the British jazz scene for over 50 years. Lively arrangements of jazz favourites and Fleur’s gift for storytelling alongside Art’s inventive playing create a unique sound that is warm and exciting.
“a great voice and sense of timing and her ability to scat is quite phenomenal” London Jazz News;
“Themen, a veteran master now, in such eloquent form” Jazzwise

Sun 15th   8:00pm         CLAIRE MARTIN & JIM MULLEN – FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL
Multi-award-winning vocalist Claire Martin OBE joins forces with her longtime friend and guitar giant Jim Mullen for an evening of stylishly reworked songs from the great American Songbook and beyond. With 22 albums to her name Claire has toured the world with her trio as well as being a featured soloist for the likes of the Halle Orchestra, The Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, The BBC Concert Orchestra and The BBC Big Band. The multi-Award-winning Jim Mullen is widely regarded as one of the finest jazz guitarists on the international jazz scene. He has toured and worked with an impressive range of artists, including Mose Allison, Jimmy Witherspoon and the Average White Band as well as being co-leader of the iconic jazz-funk band “Morrissey-Mullen”. Featuring standards by Gershwin, Arlen, Porter and Donny Hathaway and joined by the excellent Karen Sharp-sax and a BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Ewan Hastie-bass, this promises to be a night full of swing and soul.
“Claire Martin…a meticulous blend of brilliant material and flawless craftsmanship” New York Observer;
“Claire Martin ranks amongst the four or five finest jazz singers on the planet” Jazz Times; “
Mullen…one of the most soulful and subtly virtuosic players this country has ever produced…one of the great Jazz guitarists working today” Jazzwise                            

Mon 16th       8:00pm       TEENA LYLE’S ‘VIBES IN MOTION’ 
A talented musician fluent across multiple instruments including vibes, percussion and piano Teena Lyle worked with the legendary artist Van Morrison for over 30 years, cementing her love for jazz, blues and soul. Teena was first recognised by John Dankworth and Cleo Laine’s Wavendon Foundation with their “Musician of the Year” Award and the many other musicians she’s performed with since include Kurt Elling, Norma Winstone, Stevie Winwood, John Lee Hooker & Tito Puente. Teena hasn’t been touring as much lately so this is a rare opportunity to see her with her own band, “Vibes in Motion”, featuring Teena on vibes, vocals and percussion, Mike Gorman-piano/organ, Andy Panayi-sax/flute, Don Richardson-bass & Ian Thomas-drums
“percussionist Teena Lyle’s rhythmic exuberance” The Times    
                     

Tue 17th       8:00pm         DAN REINSTEIN
American-born saxophonist Dan Reinstein first began playing at the old 606 Club when a medical student in the 1980’s. He returned to the US in the early 90s to become one of the world’s leading laser eye surgeons (he’s now Professor Reinstein). But when he returned to London, it was great to hear his fluent, classic hard-bop, muscular sax playing again and the rest, as they say, is history-Dan & his quartet have performed here for the last 20 years and still going!
“impressive hard-bop saxophonist” Time Out

Wed 18th     8:00pm         DAVID PRESTON’S MU QUARTET
A finalist at the Montreux International Guitar competition, David Preston includes work with the likes of Melody Gardot, Curtis Stigers, David Binney, Gary Husband, Eska & Goldie on an impressive cv. He released his debut album ‘Purple / Black’ to significant acclaim (“Editor’s Choice” Jazzwise) and tonight he will be appearing with his latest project, the “MU Quartet”, performing his impressive, melodic and evocative originals alongside the occasional jazz standard. Joining David in this collaboration will be top UK musicians Jonny Mansfield-vibes, Conor Chaplin-bass & Jamie Murray-drums.
  “Rich in intensity…spellbinding” UK Vibe;
“A superb modern jazz guitarist” Time Out;
“Reimagining jazz-with modern invention and creative innovation” Jazz Journal; “UK’s hottest jazz guitarist” Musica Terra Magazine (Japan)

Thu 19th     8:00pm   CLEMENT REGERT’S WILD CARD FT. JACKSON MATHOD & BEN VIZE
Founded by expat French guitarist Clement Regert, Wild Card describe their music as a “melting pot of musical ideas, fusing urban rhythms and grooves with a Latin attitude…dynamic, exuberant and flamboyant”. In addition to Clement, the group also features organist Chris Bland and drummer Sophie Alloway. Tonight Wild Card return to what they describe as “their favourite venue” for a very special night celebrating two major milestones for bandleader Clement Regert, his 45th birthday and 20 years in London! Joining the band this evening to help the celebrations along will be two very special guests, up-coming saxophonist Ben Vize and trumpeter Jackson Mathod (Stormzy, Blue Lab Beats).  A fun show not to be missed!
“Wild Card…reminds you of just how fun live music can be” Jazzwise;
“Excellent….Wild Card’s natural habitat is in live performance…raising the roof…exciting stuff” The Jazz Mann;
“The energy, the groove and the versatility of the line up is something to behold” Jazz in Europe

Fri 20th       9:00pm   RUMBAND FT. MICHAEL BAILEY & AMA LIA
Featuring an array of brilliant and highly experienced musicians from the likes of Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Greece, Dominica, Nigeria, Australia and the UK the Rumband is not named after the alcoholic beverage(!), it actually stands for “Rhythmic Underground Movement”, and rhythmic it certainly is! Led by singer Ama Lia and old friend of the Club bassist Michael Bailey the band effortlessly deliver a compelling array of musical styles, from Groove & Latin to Blues & Soul. Collectively the band include work with the likes of Bob Marley, Johnny Nash, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie & Beyonce and Ama Lia describes it as “a unique family of musicians with an immense wealth of experience, music and stories”.  Promises to be quite a night
.“Ama Lia has a…rich and strong story telling sassy voice which commands…attention” Soul Survivors Magazine

Sat 21st       9:00pm         CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT

Sun 22nd       1:30pm         SUNDAY LUNCH: CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT

Sun 22nd         8:00pm         IMAANI    
A terrific singer in the Soul/R&B tradition Imaani’s worldwide tours, television, live and studio output includes work with the likes of Gloria Gaynor, Carleen Anderson, Michael Bolton and Beverley Knight, but she is probably best known as one of the featured singers with the iconic band “Incognito”, of which she’s been a member for more than 15 years. Undoubtedly one of the finest Soul singers in Europe this is a rare chance to hear this giant of the UK Soul scene with her brilliant band.
“The magnificent vocals of Imaani” DJ Times;
“Imaani…standout” JjazzproJect                                              

Mon 23rd     8:00pm         ARTHUR LEA’S BOOTLEG TRIO
Well known here at the Club as the keyboardist/singer with the ever-popular Coalminers, Arthur Lea combines eclectic rhythm and blues with New Orleans southern soul. He has played everywhere from Ronnie Scott’s to the Olympic Stadium, with everyone from Kate Tempest to Kylie Minogue and has recorded in studios from Nashville to Berlin. The trio also features Trevor Mires-tuba & Pat Levett-drums/harmonica. Arthur now lives in the US so this is a rare chance to catch him live in the UK.
“Arthur Lea…a great singer and songwriter…fantastic” Evening Standard

Tue 24th       8:00pm         SAM BRAYSHER
A multi-award-winning saxophonist, Sam Braysher has established a well-earned reputation as a fluent and melodic player of poise, subtlety and warmth. With three acclaimed albums to his name he includes collaborations with a number of International artists, including NY-based Michael Kanan, Jorge Rossy (Brad Mehldau) and Linus Eppinger and has performed in Clubs and Festivals around Europe. For this show Sam will be joined by fellow UK jazz virtuosi Joe Webb-piano & Dave Green-bass performing an intimate and swinging selection of jazz standards alongside lesser-played items from the American Songbook and jazz canon.
“superb” Jazz Journal;
“the warm-toned…Braysher…imagines a new jazz closely attuned to an old world” Guardian;
“expressive and thoughtful…combines melodic beauty and rhythmic deftness…the real deal” Clarinet & Saxophone Magazine

Wed 25th       8:00pm         MIKE DE SOUZA WITH SPECIAL GUEST EMMA RAWICZ
Guitarist and composer Mike De Souza brings his dynamic quintet to the 606 for a special one-off performance featuring rising star saxophonist Emma Rawicz. Mike has performed with leading figures on the UK jazz scene and received widespread acclaim for his album “Chrysalis” (Fresh Sound New Talent). His music fuses jazz with the atmospheric intensity of alternative rock and the melodic clarity of indie-folk. Emma Rawicz is an impressive talent. With three critically acclaimed albums, a signing to the prestigious ACT label, and performances at venues like the Berlin Philharmonie and Queen Elizabeth Hall, Emma is recognised as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary jazz. A BBC New Generation Artist she is the youngest ever Artist in Residence at the Cambridge Jazz Festival. The quintet also features Rick Simpson-piano/synth, Huw V Williams-bass and Jay Davis-drums.
“As a composer, arranger and orchestrator [De Souza] exhibits an impressive command of colour, texture and dynamics, and most importantly melody.” The Jazz Mann; “well-crafted musical landscapes…with some excellent soloing and interplay. This is a strong album from Mike De Souza, with much to enjoy.” UK Vibe;
“Anyone with a penchant for jazz guitar would do well to checkout…Mike De Souza in concert” Jazz Views;
“It has been clear for some time that Emma Rawicz is the rising star of UK jazz…a terrific saxophonist” UK Jazz News

Thu 26th     8:00pm         JIM MULLEN / PAULO MORELLO
This is a remarkable combination featuring two of the finest jazz guitarists in Europe. The multi-award-winning Jim Mullen is an iconic figure on the UK jazz scene, with work alongside the likes of Mose Allison, Jimmy Witherspoon and his own highly acclaimed jazz/funk band “Morrissey-Mullen”. Based in Germany, Paulo Morello includes work with the likes of Randy Brecker, Larry Coryell, Bob Mintzer and Pat Martino on a vast and impressive cv. Tonight they bring their swinging trio to the Club to perform a repertoire of jazz and Brazilian music that is the perfect vehicle for these two melodic and fluent musicians.
“Mullen…one of the great Jazz guitarists working today” Jazzwise;
“Morello…exquisite solos…superb modern jazz” AllAboutJazz                            

Fri 27th               9:00pm         SAMARA
Tonight we present an evening celebrating the joyous, rhythms of classic Brazilian MPB with the outstanding Brazilian band “Samara”. Featuring the brilliant Brazilian vocalist Kaw Regis alongside the powerful piano of Neil Angilley and the swinging flute of our “Gov’nor” Steve Rubie the band take you on a road trip around Brazil, with music from the South, the North, the North East and beyond. Hear the stories behind some of Brazil’s classic songs and join the band as they perform an infectious blend of Brazilian Samba, Baião, jazz & Latin while everyone has a great time!
“Cracking Latin-jazz quintet…explores…[Brazilian]…classics in great rhythmic style” Time Out

Sat 28th       9:00pm         RACHEL SUTTON WITH SPECIAL GUEST TOMMASO STARACE
With a rich tone and sense of swing that is both moving and exciting, Rachel Sutton performs classics from The American Songbook together with her beautiful original compositions, hailed as “a revelation” by Jazz Views. Her album “A Million Conversations” was received with considerable acclaim, and she will be releasing her highly anticipated second record, ‘Realms’ later this year. Alongside her swinging rhythm section featuring Roland Perrin-piano Rachel has asked the excellent saxophonist Tommaso Starace (Billy Cobham, David Liebman, Kenny Wheeler) to be her special guest. The combination of Rachel’s swinging, engaging style and Tommaso’s fluent, bebop-influenced, playing promise to make this a fun night of great jazz and beyond.
“…immaculate vocals and bursting-with-life stage presence…a must see” Cabaret Scenes;
“Starace…playing with great flair and fluency” The Jazz Mann

Sun 29th       1:30pm         SUNDAY LUNCH: CLOSED FOR PRIVATE EVENT

Sun 29th                 8:00pm         THE WONDER OF STEVIE FT NOEL MCCALLA & DEREK NASH
Well, this is pretty special, two of the UK’s finest musicians, saxophonist Derek Nash (Jools Holland) and singer Noel McCalla (Manfred Mann), come together to celebrate the music of one of the greatest singer/songwriters of all time, Stevie Wonder. Accompanying these two remarkable musicians will be their stellar band, including Tim Cansfield (the Bee Gees)-guitar. Unique and powerful.
“Nash…breathtaking” Sunday Times;
“McCalla…spine tingling” Guardian                                            

Mon 30th     8:00pm         JOHN CRAWFORD QUINTET
John Crawford is one of the finest Latin/Jazz pianists on the scene, with an unerring musicality and impressive technique. He includes work with the likes of Latin legend Airto Moreira and is widely regarded as one of this country’s leading exponents of Spanish music. Tonight John and his band will be featuring music from his latest album “Room For Dancing”, a mix of his own brilliant tunes and exciting and innovative arrangements of some of his favourite compositions from musical friends and influences. As on the album, as well as the fantastic Uruguayan guitarist Guille Hill the gig will also feature Special Guest Eleonora Claps-vocals.
“Glorious…a skilful and imaginative soloist” Jazzwise
“so much style and imagination” Jazz Review

For additional information about our upcoming performances please go to https://www.606club.co.uk/events/. 

606 Club
90 Lots Road
Chelsea
London
SW10 0QD

https://www.606club.co.uk/

020 7352 5953

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, UK tour, October 2025.

Friday, May 23, 2025

American jazz organist Delvon Lamarr will lead his trio on a tour of the UK in October 2025. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Direct from the USA, DELVON LAMARR ORGAN TRIO

Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio specialise in the lost art of “feel good music.” The ingredients of this intoxicating cocktail include a big helping of the 1960s organ jazz stylings of Jimmy Smith and Baby Face Willette; a pinch of the snappy soul strut of Booker T. & The M.G.’s and The Meters; and sprinkles Motown Records, Stax Records, blues, and cosmic Jimi Hendrix-style guitar.

Since its humble beginnings in 2015, the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio have issued two Billboard-charting albums; toured nationally and internationally, and performed on live at Upstream Music Festival broadcast by KEXP that has garnered over 14 million views.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhADJTlRhOE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9LLnhAQJXI

Tickets from;
https://www.seetickets.com/tour/delvon-lamarr-organ-trio

DATES:

Thu, OCT 16
The Voodoo Rooms
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Fri, OCT 17
Slay Glasgow
Glasgow, United Kingdom

Sat, OCT 18
The Cluny
Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom

Sun, OCT 19
Band On The Wall
Manchester, United Kingdom

Mon, OCT 20
The Stables
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

Tue, OCT 21
Brudenell Social Club
Leeds, United Kingdom

Fri, OCT 24
Metronome Nottingham
Nottingham, United Kingdom

Sat, OCT 25
Future Yard CIC
Birkenhead, United Kingdom

Miller Theatre at Columbia University, New York City,  announces 2025-26 season.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Miller Theatre has announced its 2025-26 season, including classical, jazz and early music events and more. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts announces
The 2025-26 Season
A season of community and commissions

“Melissa Smey, executive director of Columbia University’s Miller Theatre, has made the house one of the most exciting venues for old and new composition.”
— TIME OUT NY

* Subscriptions on sale now *
* Single tickets on sale starting July 14 *

O V E R V I E W

THE ORIGINAL COMPOSER PORTRAITS SERIES
Miller’s “indispensable” signature series since 1999
Each composer to attend their Portrait, except Lachenmann

HELMUT LACHENMANN:
JACK Quartet celebrates the iconic German composer’s 90th birthday with rare performance of his complete string quartets (10/9)

ANTHONY CHEUNG:
Intrepid ensembles JACK Quartet and Yarn/Wire, alongside flutist Claire Chase, join the composer/pianist for a program of recent works (11/13)

ANDREW MCINTOSH:
The mesmerizing composer and violinist joins Yarn/Wire for a
world premiere Miller commission and more (2/5)

LISA BIELAWA:
Contemporaneous (Miller debut) joins forces with the Rome Prize-winning composer/vocalist for a world premiere Miller commission (2/26)

CHINARY UNG:
The Del Sol Quartet performs a program spanning 6 decades by the first American composer to win the Grawemeyer Award, incl. a new Miller co-commission (3/26)

HANNAH KENDALL:
International Contemporary Ensemble premieres a new work
by the exciting, boundary-pushing British composer (4/23)

4 STELLAR JAZZ ENSEMBLES

ANAT COHEN QUARTET (10/4)
The magnetic, prolific Grammy-nominated clarinetist-saxophonist returns to Miller

SEAN MASON QUARTET (11/15)
Miller debut of the sought-after pianist/composer, with original works and timeless jazz from the ‘20s to today

JOHN MEDESKI & KIRK KNUFFKE (2/7)
The masterful duo joins forces for visionary music inspired by the Sun Ra Arkestra

SULLIVAN FORTNER TRIO (3/7)
The Grammy-winning pianist and bandleader performs innovative takes on standards alongside original compositions

4 ESTEEMED EARLY MUSIC GROUPS RETURN TO “SMOKY MARY’S” (145 West 46th Street)
The only NYC recital appearance for all 4 groups next season

THE GESUALDO SIX perform motets & madrigals by Palestrina & Gesualdo (10/18)

STILE ANTICO present quintessential Renaissance works (11/8)

THE TALLIS SCHOLARS sing Tallis, Byrd, Britten & a world premiere Miller commission by Matthew Martin (12/4)

THE MARIAN CONSORT explores vibrant musical culture of 16th c. Rome (2/14)

A SPECIAL EVENT: WILLIAM SCHUMAN AWARD CONCERT
The beloved TANIA LEÓN is honored with the 2025 William Schuman Award given by Columbia University School of the Arts (9/25)

FREE POP-UP CONCERTS RETURN
WITH AUDIENCE ONSTAGE NEXT TO BRILLIANT MUSICIANS
6pm happy hour concerts in a casual, intimate setting
Introducing a 3-day “Pop-Up Concerts Festival” celebrating 20 yrs of YARN/WIRE with guests including Zeena Parkins, Sam Pluta, Tyshawn Sorey (10/27, 28, 29)
Plus monthly Pop-Ups to be announced throughout the season

MORNINGSIDE LIGHTS XIV
Concept/direction by Processional Arts Workshop
Alex Kahn and Sophia Michahelles, artistic directors
The 14th annual celebration brings the Morningside community together for free workshops and an outdoor procession featuring handmade lanterns (9/20 with workshops beginning 9/13)

From Miller Theatre Executive Director Melissa Smey:
“I am thrilled to announce Miller Theatre’s 2025–26 season, featuring bold new commissions, iconic creative voices, and extraordinary ensembles making their Miller debuts. Each season, my goal is to offer audiences singular musical experiences they won’t find anywhere else—and to give artists a platform to craft meaningful, resonant programs. This season’s lineup reflects this mission in full, with opportunities to encounter brilliance and be transformed by performance. I hope you’ll join us often.”
New York, NY — Miller Theatre, under the exuberant direction of Executive Director Melissa Smey, announces its 2025-26 season—a thrilling combination of new and early music, as seen through its core series Composer Portraits, Early Music, and Jazz, alongside community hits Morningside Lights and Pop-Up Concerts.

The season opens with a special concert in honor of Tania León, the 2025 recipient of the William Schuman Award given by Columbia University School of the Arts, celebrating her transformative contributions to the field with a program showcasing the depth of her body of work. Composer Portraits, Miller’s most famed and influential series, showcases six distinguished composers presenting a characteristically eclectic array of recent works and Miller commissions galore: Helmut Lachenmann, Anthony Cheung, Andrew McIntosh, Lisa Bielawa, Chinary Ung, and Hannah Kendall.

This fall, Miller also mounts a special Pop-Up Concerts Festival celebrating 20 years of the adventurous piano/percussion quartet Yarn/Wire, known for their deep artistic collaborations, vibrant commissions, and exceptional performances. The three-concert series presents incredible new and recent works by groundbreaking artists Zeena Parkins, Sam Pluta, Enno Poppe, Tyshawn Sorey, and Mei‑Fang Lin. Like all Miller’s Pop-Up Concerts, audiences are invited to sit on the stage, inches from the musicians, with drinks in hand, making for a unique, comfortable, and intimate experience. Other monthly Pop-Up Concerts will be announced throughout the year.

In addition to its robust new music programming, Miller is home to world-class Early Music concerts. This year’s program includes preeminent ensembles The Gesualdo Six, The Marian Consort, The Tallis Scholars, and Stile Antico, who each present concerts exploring the rich history of motets, madrigals, and renaissance polyphony. Yet even with Early Music, Miller finds a way to commission: Tallis Scholars will present the world premiere of a new piece by Matthew Martin. Jazz is also a passion of Smey, and this year’s lineup features an incredible array of ensembles: Anat Cohen Quartet, Sean Mason Quartet, John Medeski & Kirk Knuffke, and Sullivan Fortner Trio.

The beloved community event Morningside Lights—by now a bona fide annual tradition—also returns this fall, bringing the people of Morningside Heights together for a beautiful illuminated outdoor procession featuring dozens of handmade lanterns built during free workshops.

The 2025-26 Season
COMPOSER PORTRAITS
Each composer (except Lachenmann) to attend their Portrait
and engage in an onstage conversation
Single tickets from $20
Series tickets from $96 for all six concerts, or from $48 for three concerts

“There are few series as satisfying as the Miller Theatre’s signature dives into one composer.” — The New York Times

Composer Portraits are deep-dive immersions into a living composer’s work. They have been repeatedly hailed as “utterly indispensable,” “covetable,” “essential,” “endlessly important,” and “invaluable” by The New York Times and The New Yorker, among others. After 26 years, the popular series continues to reward curious listeners with concerts that are satisfying and thought-provoking.

Miller Theatre commissions original photography to further its efforts to place creators front and center, and with the goal of connecting listeners to both the creators and their music.

Thursday, October 9, 2025, 7:30PM
Helmut Lachenmann (b. 1935)
Complete String Quartets
Marking the 90th birthday celebration of Helmut Lachenmann—the iconic visionary who has profoundly shaped the landscape of modern classical music—the intrepid JACK Quartet performs his complete string quartets. The last time the complete quartets were performed in New York was over ten years ago. This promises to be an unforgettable performance of one of contemporary music’s most influential voices.
PROGRAM
String Quartet No. 1 Gran Torso (1971/78/88)
String Quartet No. 2 Reigen seliger Geister (1989)
String Quartet No. 3 Grido (2001)
ARTIST
JACK Quartet
    Christopher Otto, violin
    Austin Wulliman, violin
    John Pickford Richards, viola
    Jay Campbell, cello

Thursday, November 13, 2025, 7:30PM
Anthony Cheung (b. 1982)
The captivating music of Anthony Cheung has been described as “gritty, inventive and wonderfully assured” (San Francisco Chronicle). His work reveals an interest in the ambiguity of sound sources and shifting transformations of tuning and timbre. An all-star lineup—flutist Claire Chase, Yarn/Wire, and the JACK Quartet—join the composer for a dynamic program of recent works.
PROGRAM
Improvised Intro (2025) for piano
Twice Removed (2024)
Tactile Values (2023)
The Real Book of Fake Tunes (2015)
ARTISTS
Claire Chase, flute
Anthony Cheung, piano
JACK Quartet
Yarn/Wire

Thursday, February 5, 2026, 7:30PM
Andrew McIntosh (b. 1985)
Known for blending rich textures, intricate rhythms, and a deep connection to natural soundscapes, Andrew McIntosh’s music is both profound and mesmerizing. The individual musical personalities of the performers he writes for are a central consideration in his work, and for this Portrait, he performs alongside his close collaborators Yarn/Wire, in a world premiere Miller Theatre commission.
PROGRAM
new work (2026) world premiere, Miller Theatre commission
Arc (2020)
Little Jimmy, Movement II, Little Jimmy at the End of Winter (2020)
We See the Flying Bird (2015-16)
Hyenas In the Temples of Pleasure (2012-13)
ARTISTS
Andrew McIntosh, violin
Yarn/Wire

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 7:30PM
Lisa Bielawa (b. 1968)
Composer and vocalist Lisa Bielawa—a 2023 Guggenheim Fellow and a Rome Prize winner—creates music that The New York Times has described as “ruminative, pointillistic, and harmonically slightly tart.” She takes inspiration for her work from literary sources and close artistic collaborations, and often incorporates community-making as part of her artistic vision. The dynamic Contemporaneous ensemble makes its Miller debut performing alongside the composer.
PROGRAM
new work (2025), world premiere, Miller Theatre commission
Incessabile Voce (2013)
Graffiti dell’amante (2010)
ARTISTS
Lisa Bielawa, vocalist
Contemporaneous
David Bloom, conductor

Thursday, March 26, 2026, 7:30PM
Chinary Ung (b. 1942)
Chinary Ung—the first American composer to win the highly coveted Grawemeyer Award—is heralded for combining the sounds of Cambodian folk traditions with contemporary classical techniques. The acclaimed Del Sol String Quartet performs works spanning six decades, including the world premiere of a new commission.
PROGRAM
new work (2025) world premiere, co-commissioned by Del Sol Performing Arts and Miller Theatre
Spiral X: In Memoriam (2007)
Spiral III (1990)
Khse Buon (1980)
String Trio (1966)
ARTIST
Del Sol Quartet
    Hyeyung Sol Yoon, violin
    Benjamin Kreith, violin
    Charlton Lee, viola
    Kathryn Bates, cello

Thursday, April 23, 2026, 7:30PM
Hannah Kendall (b. 1984)
Photo by Rob Davidson for Miller Theatre
British composer Hannah Kendall’s music is marked by striking and often polarizing dynamics and features staggeringly intricate details that encourage further listening. Known for her attentive arrangements and immersive world-building, her work pushes the limits of compositional boundaries. The adventurous International Contemporary Ensemble performs several recent pieces, including a world premiere Miller Theatre commission. The month before her Composer Portrait, Hannah’s chamber opera The Knife of Dawn will be presented by the Dutch National Opera.
PROGRAM
new work (2025), world premiere, Miller Theatre commission
when flesh is pressed against the dark (2024)
Even sweetness can catch the throat (2023)
Tuxedo: Diving Bell 2 (2021)
ARTIST
International Contemporary Ensemble

JAZZ
Single tickets from $25
Series tickets from $88 for all four concerts

Saturday, October 4, 2025, 7:30PM
Anat Cohen Quartet
The charismatic and prolific Grammy-nominated clarinetist-saxophonist Anat Cohen brings her expressive artistry and magnetic stage presence back to Miller. Named “Clarinetist of the Year” by the Jazz Journalists Association every year since 2007 and a perennial favorite in DownBeat’s critics and readers polls, Cohen and her vibrant Quartet perform an evening of music rich with swing, Brazilian rhythms, and adventurous improvisation.
ARTISTS
Anat Cohen, clarinet
Vitor Gonçalves, piano
Tal Mashiach, bass
James Shipp, drums

Saturday, November 15, 2025, 7:30PM
Sean Mason Quartet
A leading figure in the jazz scene, Sean Mason is known for his expansive musical vision, seamlessly blending classic styles with modern elements to become one of today’s most sought-after pianists, composers, and music directors. He takes the Miller stage for the first time with his Quartet, in a performance featuring original works and timeless jazz from the 1920s to now.
ARTISTS
Sean Mason, piano
Tony Glausi, trumpet
Felix Moseholm, bass
Domo Branch, drums

Saturday, February 7, 2025, 7:30PM
John Medeski & Kirk Knuffke
The Angelic Brothers
Legendary keyboardist John Medeski and acclaimed cornetist Kirk Knuffke join forces as The Angelic Brothers, a masterful collaboration that mixes jazz, experimental sounds, and improvisation—drawing inspiration from the visionary work of the Sun Ra Arkestra. Their first Miller appearance promises an electrifying fusion of craft and invention.
ARTISTS
John Medeski, piano and vocals
Kirk Knuffke, cornet and vocals

Saturday, March 7, 2026, 7:30PM
Sullivan Fortner Trio
Sullivan Fortner Trio by Mark Sheldon
A Grammy winner and recipient of the prestigious Cole Porter Fellowship, pianist and bandleader Sullivan Fortner makes his Miller debut with his incredible trio, recently crowned “Rising Star Jazz Group” in the 2024 DownBeat Critics Poll. Known for his deep musical roots in New Orleans and celebrated collaborations with artists like Cécile McLorin Salvant and Roy Hargrove, Fortner brings a fresh approach to the jazz trio, offering innovative takes on standards alongside striking original compositions.
ARTISTS
Sullivan Fortner, piano
Tyrone Allen, bass
Kayvon Gordon, drums

EARLY MUSIC
Single tickets from $30
Series tickets from $116 for all four concerts
All concerts take place at Church of St. Mary the Virgin
145 West 46th Street, New York, NY

“Columbia University’s performance hub advocates just as vigorously for early music as it does for contemporary work.”
— THE NEW YORKER

Saturday, October 18, 2025, 7:30PM
The Gesualdo Six
Motets and Madrigals of
Palestrina and Gesualdo
The acclaimed Gesualdo Six returns with a captivating program highlighting two of the Renaissance’s most famous composers: Palestrina, revered for his clarity and elegance, and the notorious Carlo Gesualdo, with his bold chromaticism and emotional intensity. Experience a captivating tapestry of litanies, madrigals, and Lamentations, showcasing the extraordinary writing and contrasting approaches of these two luminaries.
PROGRAM
Carlo Gesualdo
In te Domine speravi
Peccantem me quotidie
Tenebrae Responsories
O tenebroso giorno
Asciugate i begli occhi
Ancide sol la morte
Moro, lasso, al mio duolo
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
E tu Signor, tu la tua grazia infondi
Queste saranno ben lagrime
Io son ferito, ahi lasso
Quando dal terzo Cielo
Litaniae de Beata Virgine Maria a6
Missa Papae Marcelli, Gloria
Super flumina Babylonis
Lamentationes Jeremiae Prophetae
ARTIST
The Gesualdo Six

Saturday, November 8, 2025, 7:30PM
Stile Antico
Golden Renaissance
One of the world’s finest ensembles, Stile Antico selects one piece from each of its sixteen award-winning albums to create a thrilling journey through some of the greatest music of the Renaissance. Works by the era’s quintessential composers, such as Byrd, Gibbons, Tomkins, Taverner, and Tallis, are paired with a recent composition by Huw Watkins, written especially for the group.
PROGRAM
William Byrd                         Exsurge Domine
William Byrd                         Retire my soul
Clemens non Papa                   Ego flos campi
Orlando Gibbons                     Hosanna to the Son of David
Orlando Gibbons                     O clap your hands
Francisco Guerrero                 A un niño llorando
Josquin des Prez                     Salve Regina à 5
Cristóbal de Morales               Jubilate Deo
Michael Praetorius                 Ein Kind geboren
John Sheppard                       I give you a new commandment
Thomas Tallis                       In manus tuas
John Taverner                       Audivi vocem de caelo
Thomas Tomkins                   O Praise the Lord
Tomás Luis de Victoria             Recessit pastor noster
Giaches de Wert                     Gaudete in Domino
Huw Watkins                       The Phoenix and the Turtle (2014)
ARTIST
Stile Antico

Thursday, December 4, 2025, 7:30PM
The Tallis Scholars
Mother and Child
The exquisite Tallis Scholars make their annual appearance on Miller’s series with a holiday program centered around the Virgin Mary, whether celebrating her own divinity (in the Votive Mass written by Byrd), or in the context of the birth of Christ (in Tallis’s epic Missa Puer natus). The program features works by all-English composers, including a world premiere by Matthew Martin, commissioned by Miller Theatre for the occasion. This marks the third Miller commission for The Tallis Scholars, following Michael Nyman and Nico Muhly.
PROGRAM
Benjamin Britten               Hymn to the Virgin
William Byrd                   Votive mass of the Virgin
Matthew Martin                 new work (2025), world premiere,
                                    commissioned by Miller Theatre
John Nesbett                     Magnificat
Thomas Tallis                   Missa Puer natus
ARTISTS
The Tallis Scholars
Peter Phillips, director

Saturday, February 14, 2026, 7:30PM
The Marian Consort
City of Echoes — Rome in the 16th Century
The award-winning Marian Consort returns to explore the vibrant musical landscape of 16th-century Rome. The rich program highlights the interplay of influence and inspiration in works by celebrated figures like Palestrina, Josquin, and Victoria, alongside hidden gems.
PROGRAM
Felice Anerio                                 Ave Regina caelorum
Ghiselin Danckerts                         Laetamini in Domino
Josquin des Prez                             Ave Maria … virgo serena
Jean L’Heritier                               Surrexit pastor bonus
Orlandus Lassus                             Regina caeli laetare a7  
Tomás Luis de Victoria                     Ave regina caelorum a8
Vicente Lusitano                           Regina caeli Laetare
Jean Mouton                               Ave Maria gemma virginum
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina         Missa Benedicta es, Kyrie
Palestrina, arr. Soriano                   Missa in Papae Marcelli, Gloria
Plainchant                                   Benedicta es, caelorum regina
ARTISTS
The Marian Consort
Rory McCleery, director

SPECIAL EVENT:
WILLIAM SCHUMAN AWARD CONCERT
Thursday, September 25, 2025, 7:30PM
Honoring Tania León
William Schuman Award Concert
Single tickets from $20
Single Tickets available July 14 at noon
LISTEN
Tania León is a lauded composer, conductor, educator, arts advocate, and the newest recipient of the William Schuman Award of Columbia University School of the Arts. This concert celebrates her transformative contributions to the field with a program showcasing the vitality and depth of her vibrant body of work. An incredible cast of musicians join together in tribute to this inspirational cultural icon.
PROGRAM
Singsong for flute (2023/25), New York premiere
In the Field for soprano, string quartet, and piano (2022), New York premiere
Esencia for string quartet (2009)
Tumbao for piano (2005)
A La Par for piano and percussion (1986)
ARTISTS
Rachel Doehring Jackson, soprano
Sophie Thompson, soprano
Claire Chase, flute
Han Chen, piano
Camila Cortina Bello, piano
Orion Weiss, piano
Ian Rosenbaum, percussion
Bergamot String Quartet

FREE PROGRAMMING
Miller Theatre has two ongoing series focused on deepening the connection with Miller’s local community and welcoming newcomers into the fold.

POP-UP CONCERTS

“Miller Theatre’s Pop-Up Concerts are a wonderfully informal way to experience bracing contemporary music.”
— THE NEW YORK TIMES

“Some concerts are better shorter. That’s the premise behind this intimate happy-hour pop-up series, in which audience members can fortify themselves with a drink,
sit onstage with the musicians, and listen…”
— NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Miller Theatre’s unique, musician-curated Pop-Up Concerts—free, fun, informal, and intimate—bring audiences right onto the stage, drink in hand. The performers share not only their music but the stories and meaning behind it, in a setting that feels more like a salon than a concert hall. One audience member deemed the series “the greatest hour of culture in New York.” Onstage seating is first-come, first-served.

Monthly Pop-Up Concerts are announced throughout the season. For the first time, launching this year’s series is a special three-concert festival, Celebrating 20 Years of Yarn/Wire, the adventurous piano/percussion quartet.

Check http://www.millertheatre.com for dates and times (typically announced a month or two in advance), and join the Miller Theatre email list for updates and concert announcements.

Special Pop-Up Concerts Festival
Celebrating 20 Years of Yarn/Wire
Laura Barger, piano; Julia Den Boer, piano
Russell Greenberg, percussion; Sae Hashimoto, percussion
The adventurous piano/percussion quartet Yarn/Wire celebrates its 20th anniversary this season with a special three-concert festival, kicking off Miller’s Pop-Up Concerts series. Renowned for their exceptional performances, vibrant commissions, and dynamic education and outreach efforts, the quartet puts special emphasis on artistic collaboration–especially with the composers they work alongside. In this compelling concert series, each program offers a unique exploration of the nuances within the composer-performer relationship.
Monday, October 27, 2025, 6PM

Concert One
PROGRAM
Zeena Parkins                 Lace Action Cards (2025), world premiere, for Yarn/Wire
                                Zeena Parkins and Sam Pluta
Sam Pluta                       Seven Systems (2015) for two pianos, two percussion quartet
                                  with electronic playback and actuated snares
ARTISTS
Zeena Parkins, harp
Sam Pluta, electronics
Yarn/Wire

Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 6PM
Concert Two
PROGRAM
Enno Poppe                         Feld (2007/2017)
new work to be announced
ARTISTS
Yarn/Wire with special guest

Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 6PM
Concert Three
PROGRAM
Tyshawn Sorey                     For Ross Gay (2023)
Mei-Fang Lin                       Yarny/Wiry (2006)
ARTISTS
Tyshawn Sorey, celeste
Yarn/Wire

MORNINGSIDE LIGHTS XIV
http://www.morningside-lights.com
Saturday, September 20, 2025 (workshops start Saturday, Sept 13)
14th Annual Morningside Lights
Concept and Direction by Processional Arts Workshop
Alex Kahn and Sophia Michahelles, artistic directors
Morningside Lights is co-produced with the Arts Initiative at Columbia University
“It is hard not to be drawn by the magic of Morningside Lights. More than an annual parade, it is a love letter—a tribute to our community. “ — BWOG
“Every fall, Morningside Lights illuminates the night with a procession of awe-inspiring handmade lanterns.” — TIME OUT
The beloved neighborhood tradition Morningside Lights returns for its 14th consecutive year. Starting September 13, Miller opens its doors for a week of free lantern-building workshops, culminating in a magical illuminated procession through Morningside Park.
More details will be announced soon. The public can learn more or sign up to help create lanterns at http://www.morningside-lights.com.

SEASON AT A GLANCE;

Saturday, September 20, 2025 (workshops start Saturday, Sept 13)
14th Annual Morningside Lights

Thursday, September 25, 2025, 7:30PM
Special Event
Honoring Tania León
William Schuman Award Concert
Rachel Doehring Jackson, soprano
Sophie Thompson, soprano
Claire Chase, flute
Han Chen, piano
Camila Cortina Bello, piano
Orion Weiss, piano
Ian Rosenbaum, percussion
Bergamot String Quartet

Saturday, October 4, 2025, 7:30PM
Jazz
Anat Cohen Quartet

Thursday, October 9, 2025, 7:30PM
Composer Portraits
Helmut Lachenmann
Complete String Quartets
JACK Quartet

Saturday, October 18, 2025, 7:30PM
Early Music
The Gesualdo Six
Motets and Madrigals of Palestrina and Gesualdo

Monday, October 27, 2025, 6PM
Special Pop-Up Concerts Festival
Celebrating 20 Years of Yarn/Wire: Concert One
Zeena Parkins, harp
Sam Pluta, electronics
Yarn/Wire

Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 6PM
Special Pop-Up Concerts Festival
Celebrating 20 Years of Yarn/Wire: Concert Two
Yarn/Wire

Wednesday, October 29, 2025, 6PM
Special Pop-Up Concerts Festival
Celebrating 20 Years of Yarn/Wire: Concert Three
Tyshawn Sorey, celeste
Yarn/Wire

Saturday, November 8, 2025, 7:30PM
Early Music
Stile Antico
Golden Renaissance

Thursday, November 13, 2025, 7:30PM
Composer Portraits
Anthony Cheung
Claire Chase, flute
Anthony Cheung, piano
JACK Quartet
Yarn/Wire

Saturday, November 15, 2025, 7:30PM
Jazz
Sean Mason Quartet

Thursday, December 4, 2025, 7:30PM
Early Music
The Tallis Scholars
Mother and Child

Thursday, February 5, 2026, 7:30PM
Composer Portraits
Andrew McIntosh
Andrew McIntosh, violin
Yarn/Wire

Saturday, February 7, 2026, 7:30PM
Jazz
John Medeski & Kirk Knuffke
The Angelic Brothers

Saturday, February 14, 2026, 7:30PM
Early Music
The Marian Consort
City of Echoes — Rome in the 16th Century

Thursday, February 26, 2026, 7:30PM
Composer Portraits
Lisa Bielawa
Lisa Bielawa, vocalist
Contemporaneous
David Bloom, composer

Saturday, March 7, 2026, 7:30PM
Jazz
Sullivan Fortner Trio

Thursday, March 26, 2026, 7:30PM
Composer Portraits
Chinary Ung
Del Sol Quartet

Thursday, April 23, 2026, 7:30PM
Composer Portraits
Hannah Kendall
International Contemporary Ensemble

Miller Theatre
http://www.millertheatre.com
One of New York City’s most vital music venues, Miller Theatre at Columbia University is a thriving home for contemporary and early music that serves audiences, composers, and musicians. Founded in 1988, Miller’s mission is to develop new audiences; foster enthusiasm for the arts by pioneering new programming approaches; educate the public by presenting specialized programs to a broad audience; discover diverse repertoire and commission new works; and share the University’s intellectual riches with the public. Led by Executive Director Melissa Smey, Miller Theatre sparks engagement and personal connections to music through distinctive live performances and is deeply committed to fostering collaborative relationships with the composers and musicians who make this possible.

Miller Theatre’s 2025-26 Season is supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature,
and by the Howard Gilman Foundation.

Support for contemporary music at Miller Theatre is provided by the Aaron Copland Fund for Music. Additional support is provided by the Amphion Foundation.

Eddie Gripper & Elijah Jeffery - debut album and UK tour, June and July 2025.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Pianist Eddie Gripper and vocalist Elijah Jeffrey will release their eponymous debut album on June 6th 2025. They will be touring in the UK during June and July.

We have received the following press release;

Eddie Gripper & Elijah Jeffery
UK Album Tour 2025
Released 6th June 2025

A brand-new album by two young titans who have collaborated in a focused project which reflects both their passion for music, and the strong desire to create. Written and recorded within 8 weeks, pianist Eddie Gripper and vocalist Elijah Jeffrey capture stories invented by two young men not afraid to explore themes of darkness and danger, balanced by hope and love in some of its many guises.

This has been achieved with Eddie exploring a mix of conventional and complex chord voicings, unison melody lines, and thrilling improvisations that sparkle in this crossover original repertoire. Elijah demonstrates an authority augmented by an impressive vocal range, controlled vibrato, and an individual voice; the perfect tool to purvey their messages with an authoritative conveyance. Their impressive relationship with dynamics reinforces the intent of their compositions, and the narrative they generate nods to music being more than what they play, rather how they make the listener feel.

I feel enthused after listening to this recording. I am excited for the future of both musicians and their desire to conceive projects that take them beyond the genres they have been brought up in. This is a journey that we are all invited to be a part of… - Dr Linley Hamilton OBE

This self-titled album is the culmination of both musician’s fruitful working relationship and individual passion for songwriting. With seven original songs and one never-before heard adaptation of a 17th century Aria, Elijah Jeffery & Eddie Gripper offer up an “eagerly awaited” (The Jazz Mann) collaboration straddling the genres of progressive pop, indie folk and alternative jazz.

Live Dates:

6th June, Kings Road Yard, Cardiff

11th June, Oxford University Jazz. Society

12th June, Smokey Joe’s, Cheltenham

13th June, Burford Jazz Club, Oxfordshire

16th June, Bexley Jazz Club, London

18th June, Concorde Club, Eastleigh

22nd June, SMJC, Southampton

25th June,  Aberjazz, Fishguard

26th June, The Small Space, Barry

10th July, Hampstead Jaz Club, London

11th July, Cabaret, Cardiff

Elijah Jeffery is a Hampshire-born vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. From an early age, Elijah developed a passion for musical theatre and the Great American Songbook, taking inspiration from many of the great vocalists and lyricists of the 20th Century. A Jazz graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Elijah has established himself as an up-and-coming artist in Wales and the South West, collaborating with the likes of Claire Martin OBE, Ian Shaw, and big bands such as Capital City Jazz Orchestra. Elijah released his debut EP, ‘One of Her Clowns’ in June 2023, marking his first foray into writing original music. Fusing a lifelong love of jazz with singer-songwriter and folk sensibilities, ‘One of Her Clowns’ weaves bittersweet tales of love lost and found through “poetic and intelligent lyricis[m]” (The Jazz Mann).

Having “already garnered comparisons with the greats”(Jazzwise) after the release of his debut album ‘Home’, pianist Eddie Gripper has rapidly established himself as a young contender on the national jazz circuit. He has worked as a performer, promoter and producer alongside top musicians in his field such as Nigel Price, Simon Spillet and Pete Long. Outside of Jazz, he has collaborated with Welsh folk artist Angharad Jenkins, writing and performing music that explores the various aspects of folk, jazz and contemporary classical traditions In 2024, Gripper embarked on a 29-date tour across the four nations of the UK and Republic of Ireland, and remains active on the national and international scene (having played at venues such as Crazy Coqs, Pizza Express and various festivals, both under his own name and with other projects).

“[An] exposed setting revealing Jeffery to be a poetic and intelligent lyricist who has learnt well from the ‘Songbook’ tradition”
– The Jazz Mann

“Gripper’s melodic compositions have an easy charm about them that demand repeated listening.” – Jazz Views

TRACK LIST
(all tracks written by Elijah Jeffery & Eddie Gripper unless otherwise stated)

Shifting Seasons
Good, Honest Men
Close Your Eyes
Because of You
True Love Never Dies
Love Is A Game
Dido’s Lament (When I Am Laid In Earth) - comp. Henry Purcell
Swan Song

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

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist from May 18 2025

Oliver Lutz
Stargazer
Calamari Fantasy
Bandcamp

Álvaro Ocón Ocón
Mama
Life Dissonance
AMP Records

Azmari
Disassembling The Matrix
In Oculis (EP)
SDBan

Sarost
First Lights
Aurora
Jazz Now Records

Alex Hawkins
Song of Infinite Variations
Song Unconditional
Intakt

Hedwig Mollestad trio
Golden Griffin
Bees in The Bonnet
Rune Grammofon

Henriksen-Seim-Jormin-Ounaskari
Nokitpyrt
Arcanum
ECM

Motion and More
White Magic
Gratitude
Phonogram Unit

Trilok Gurtu
Peace is not Peaceful
Mirror
Jazzline

Fernandino Romano
La Torre del Serpe
The Legends of Otranto
Gleam

John Andrew Wilhite
Early Morning
Bristol Silence
Motvind records

Andrew Moreno
Iffa
Axiom
Honolulu Records

Available as always at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 7pm onward

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Kim Cypher announces live album and returns to Ronnie Scott’s in July 2025.

Saturday, May 10, 2025

Saxophonist, vocalist & composer Kim Cypher announces her live album ‘LIVE and Smiling’ set for release on July 11th and new single ‘On My Own Again’ on July 26th, plus a series of UK live shows.

We have received the following press release;

KIM CYPHER ANNOUNCES LIVE ALBUM AND NEW ORIGINAL SINGLE, DUE FOR RELEASE IN JULY, TOGETHER WITH A RETURN PERFORMANCE AT RONNIE SCOTT’S JAZZ CLUB ON SUNDAY JULY 13TH

UK saxophonist, vocalist and composer Kim Cypher announces her live album ‘LIVE and Smiling’ set for release on July 11th and new original single ‘On My Own Again’ on July 26th, plus a return date at Ronnie Scott’s (following her sellout performances in 2021 and 2024), and a host of other shows taking place across the UK in 2025.

The first track from the album, an energetic take on the classic ‘Feeling Good’, is available now – watch the video HERE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa_XJXCKVMA

Tickets for Ronnie Scott’s on sale now HERE
https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/find-a-show/kim-cypher

Following huge success as the first ever homegrown artist to play the Cheltenham Jazz Festival’s main Jazz Arena on May 5th (the closing night of the festival), with special guest Ashley Slater (Loose Tubes, Carla Bley, Norman Cook AKA Fatboy Slim), Kim is now set to release a live album ‘LIVE and Smiling’ and a new original single ‘On My Own Again’ - two hugely contrasting projects reflecting different angles of life, particularly working in the music industry.

“An ASTOUNDING performance at Cheltenham Jazz Festival”
Paul Baker – Mayor of Cheltenham

“You blew the roof off the Jazz Arena!”
Spencer Evans – Cheltenham Jazz

The ‘LIVE and Smiling’ album is a joyful collection of vibrant tracks, including originals and some well-known classics and funky grooves. It was recorded earlier this year at Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham as part of two sellout shows from Kim’s ongoing ‘Catching Moments’ tour plus tracks recorded at her recent Cheltenham Jazz Festival performance. The album is an eclectic mix of jazz, Latin, blues, reggae, swing and funk, capturing the positive energy, good vibes and special moments shared together through music and audience connection, something which Kim is renowned for.

“Thank you for bringing such joy to Radio 4!”
Anita Rani – BBC 4

The live album represents the ‘visible’ side of the music industry – the live show. It also encapsulates the feelings of euphoria and camaraderie between your musical family on stage and the beautiful moments exchanged with an audience.

‘LIVE and Smiling’ boasts a star-studded lineup:

CHELTENHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL TRACKS
Kim Cypher – Tenor and Alto Saxophones
Ashley Slater – Trombone
Chris Santo Cobbson – Guitar
Alex Steele – Piano
Rob Rickenberg – Bass
Mike Cypher – Drums

PEGGY’S SKYLIGHT TRACKS
Kim Cypher – Tenor and Alto Saxophones and Vocals
Chris Santo Cobbson – Guitar
Richard Hughes – Piano
Mike Green – Bass
Mike Cypher – Drums

“Kim Cypher is a rare musical treasure”
David Freeman – Jazz FM

By contrast, the new original single ‘On My Own Again’ represents a side of the music industry which is not ‘visible’ - behind the scenes and in the artist’s own personal space. The soulful track and heartfelt lyrics are a poignant expression and reflection on the feeling of isolation in a tough world dominated by social media and constant scrutiny. When you are alone in a moment of contemplation, your mind can take over, distort reality and fill you with feelings of self-doubt and introversion.

This powerful, evocative original song has a blues/rock influence and is dominated by some signature raspy tenor saxophone playing by Kim throughout. It should also be mentioned that the track features a notable guitar solo by Clem Clempson.

“Hats off to a true heart and soul performer”
Pee Wee Ellis

The track was recorded at Temple Music Studios, following in the footsteps of one of Kim’s saxophone heroes, the late Barbara Thompson MBE, with the band personnel specifically chosen following Kim’s performance with members of Paraphernalia and Colosseum at the Barbara Thompson Memorial Concert at Union Chapel, London in 2023:

Kim Cypher – Vocals and Tenor Saxophone
Clem Clempson – Guitar
Pete Lemer – Hammond Organ and Fender Rhodes
Phil Mulford – Bass
Mike Cypher – Drums

These two contrasting projects, both released on Mean Reedz Records, represent the constant see-sawing and ups and downs of life…when two worlds collide! They are further examples of Kim’s continued devotion to celebrating creativity, working with a wide range of musicians and her unique diversity as an artist, composer, lyricist and producer.

“Always innovative and surprising”
Jazz Views

Kim returns to Ronnie Scott’s by popular demand on Sunday 13th July. Having fulfilled her lifelong dream to perform at this world-renowned jazz club back in 2021, and then again in 2024, Kim keeps the dream alive by returning for her third performance in July. Tickets are on sale now HERE

Having also now fulfilled her dream to be the first Cheltenham artist to perform in her hometown Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Kim is certainly living up to her reputation as a highly driven, passionate, determined and leading figure in UK contemporary jazz.

Some other notable UK 2025 tour dates;
Highworth Jazz Festival – 31st May
Dunkerton’s Jazz Sessions with Kim Cypher – 5th June and the first Thursday EVERY month
Gloucester Docks Warehouse Four – 18th June
Ronnie Scott’s – 13th July
Tetbury Goods Shed – 26th July
Ross on Wye Corn Exchange – 9th Oct
Pizza Express Soho – 10th Nov

http://www.kimcypher.com

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 04/05/2025.

Wednesday, May 07, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 04/05/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist from May 4th 2025

Gilles Torrent
Voyage de l’eau
Buleria
Jazzman Records

JCL
What Are Friends For
All We Got Is Time
self

Pago Libre
Madeira My Dear
Wild Card-Song from a Farm
Leo Records

John Wolf Brennan/Arkady Shilkloper
Nightingale
Night In Gale
Leo Records

Christy Doran/Izumi Kimura
Blacksod Lighthouse
Glacial Voyage
Challenge Records

Anneleen Boehme
Furorem
Eunoia
W.E.R.F

Kannaste4
New Life
Out Of Self and Into Others
We Jazz Records

Alberto Pinton’s Relentless
Dialogen
Allt Större Klarhet
Moserobie

Ronny Graupe’s Szelest
Once Upon A Summertime
Newfoundland Tristesse
BMC

Jay Davis
Do you like apples
Bad Trad
Fresh Sounds, New Talent

Andrera Ciceri Esatomic
Blue a la Monk
Fisse
Aut records

Jan Gunnar Hoff Group
Voyage
Voyage
Losen

Soft Ffog
Oh Jimi (part)
Focus
Is It Jazz

Available now at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time: http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 7pm onward

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Oxford to lose what has been a world class venue for jazz.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

The music programme at St John the Evangelist Church, which has been run by SJE Arts is to close on 30 June 2025. Guest contributor Colin May reports.

Colin May writes;

Oxford to lose what’s been a world class venue for jazz.

The music programme at St John the Evangelist Church which has been run by SJE Arts is to close on 30 June. This decision has been made by the Board of Trustees of St Stephen’s House, the college that owns the church.

Jazz has been just one of several music genres that have found a home at the SJE. As well as SJE Arts an annual world class classical piano series, it’s been used regularly by promoters of other classical events e.g. Oxford’s renowned International Song Festival, and by promoters of folk and acoustic events e.g. local alt folk rock heroes Stornoway played a sold out unplugged concert there not long ago. Particularly the SJE has attracted promoters of national and international artists who have outgrown smaller venues and need a world class medium sized space.

Among the jazz acts I have seen there have been Tord Gustavsen, Tigran Hamasyan, Omar Sosa and Seckou Keita, Polar Bear supported by Shiver ( the loudest concert I’ve heard at the SJE) , and in the last two weeks the Fergus McCreadie Trio and Laura Jurd and Friends.

The SJE offers superb acoustics, a world class Steinway piano, capacity of 250 to 350 depending on requirements, a relatively big space in which an intimate atmosphere can be created, a bar, good toilets, ease of accessibility for wheelchair users and by public transport( there’s a bus stop right outside), and a dedicated team who do their utmost to always make performers and audience members welcome.

It will be difficult to find what the SJE offers elsewhere in the city, and there is a fear that Oxford will be dropped from the touring schedules of artists of the calibre of e.g. Tord Gustavsen, which would not only diminish jazz life but also wider cultural life in the city of Dreaming Spires.

SJE Arts have issued a short statement about the immanent closure of it’s music programme on it’s web site SJE Arts – Oxford’s Venue for Music and Arts.
https://sje-arts.org/

COLIN MAY

Registration Now Open for 2025 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) today announced the opening of the 14th annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. The closing date for entries is September 2, 2025.

We have received the following press release;

Registration for the 14th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition is Now Open
as part of NJPAC’s TD James Moody Jazz Festival

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) today announced the opening of the 14th annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. The search is on for the next great jazz singer! Solo vocalists from around the world are encouraged to submit their entries before September 2, 2025, by visiting SarahVaughanCompetition.com. In the Fall, the Top Five Finalists will be announced followed by a final competition and performance on the iconic NJPAC stage in Newark, New Jersey.

The Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition, also known as “The SASSY Awards”, is open to singers over the age of 18, of all genders and nationalities, from anywhere in the world, and not signed by a major label. Entrants are judged on vocal quality, musicality, technique, performance, individuality, artistic interpretation, and ability to swing.

On November 23, 2025, the finalists will compete at NJPAC in front of a live audience and before a distinguished panel of judges including Tony-nominated singer/lyricist Ann Hampton Callaway, GRAMMY®-nominated trumpeter Jon Faddis, GRAMMY®-nominated jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon, GRAMMY® Award-winning bassist and Artistic Advisor for Jazz Programming at NJPAC Christian McBride, and founding member of The Manhattan Transfer and co-host of WBGO Radio’s Singers Unlimited, vocalist Janis Siegel. Hosted by WBGO Radio’s Gary Walker, this special event will also include performances by the 2023 winner of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition Tyreek McDole. The first-prize winner of The SASSY Awards will receive a $5,000 cash award, second-place $1,500, and third-place $500.

The competition recalls the humble beginnings of legendary jazz singer/NEA Jazz Master Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990) who, back in 1942, was a Newark teenager and winner of an amateur singing contest at the Apollo Theater. That memorable night helped launch the lifework of one of the most successful, influential jazz vocalists in the history of American music. Past winners include Cyrille Aimée, Jazzmeia Horn,Ashleigh Smith, Arianna Neikrug, Deelee Dubé, Quiana Lynell, Laurin Talese, Samara Joy (GRAMMY® Award winner for Best New Artist 2023), Gabrielle Cavassa and Tawanda Suessbrich-Joaquim, G. Thomas Allen, Lucía Gutiérrez Rebolloso, Tyreek McDole, and April May Webb. What has become one of the top annual vocal competitions in jazz, The SASSY Awards offers outstanding jazz singers a one-of-a-kind platform for embarking on a career in the music business—and offers audience members a chance to discover the jazz stars of tomorrow. Gifted young contestants from around the world are evaluated on vocal quality, musicality, technique, performance, individuality, artistic interpretation, and ability to swing. For more information about The SASSY Awards, visit http://www.sarahvaughancompetition.com.

About TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®       
For the 14th consecutive year, NJPAC’s TD James Moody Festival is sponsored by TD Bank, which has supported the event since its inauguration, ensuring that the event annually includes free community performances and educational events, as well as mainstage concerts showcasing jazz superstars. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S. by assets, providing over 10 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,100 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Auto Finance, a division of TD Bank, N.A., offers vehicle financing and dealer commercial services. TD Bank and its subsidiaries also offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth®. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit http://www.td.com/us. Find TD Bank on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/TDBank_US/. 
  TD Bank is a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank, a top 10 North American bank. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol “TD”. To learn more, visit http://www.td.com/us.

About NJPAC
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, N.J., is America’s most diverse performing arts center, and the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey – where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has served more than 10 million visitors (including over 1.9 million students and families) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. http://www.njpac.org

Jazz FM Awards 2025 - Winners Announced.

Monday, April 28, 2025

The 2025 Jazz FM Awards with PPL and PRS for Music took place at KOKO, London on April 24th 2025. Winners included Ezra Collective, corto.alto, Alice Zawadzki, Jalen Ngonda, Lakecia Benjamin and more.

We have received the following press release;

Jazz FM Awards 2025

Global Jazz Talent Honoured At Star-Studded London Ceremony

Jamie Cullum, Melody Gardot and Billy Cobham honoured with special recognition awards

Winners include Ezra Collective, corto.alto, Alice Zawadzki, Jalen Ngonda, Lakecia Benjamin and more

London, April 25th 2025 – The 2025 Jazz FM Awards with PPL and PRS for Music took place at KOKO in London yesterday evening, celebrating the very best in jazz, soul, and blues. Introduced by Gregory Porter and hosted by musician, actor and comedian Ben Bailey Smith (AKA Doc Brown), the ceremony offered a powerful reminder of the richness, diversity and ongoing evolution of jazz, and shined a spotlight on both heritage and innovation across the musical landscape.

One of the evening’s standout winners was corto.alto, the genre-blurring Scottish ensemble led by trombonist Liam Shortall, who took home two awards: UK Jazz Act of the Year and The Innovation Award. Ezra Collective cemented their position at the forefront of the UK’s vibrant jazz scene by winning the coveted Album of the Year for their acclaimed release Dance, No One’s Watching, and New York-based saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin was named International Jazz Act of the Year.

Ezra Collective:
“It’s such an honour to receive this recognition and to be welcomed by the jazz community. It means the absolute most. Thank you so, so much.”

The award for Breakthrough Act of the Year went to Ni Maxine, Alice Zawadzki was named Vocalist of the Year, while Mark Kavuma earned Instrumentalist of the Year. Jalen Ngonda won Soul Act of the Year, and powerhouse vocalist Shemekia Copeland was honoured as Blues Act of the Year for her continued innovation in the genre. The Collaboration Award went to Women in Jazz, recognising their collective efforts to champion and support underrepresented talent across the scene.

The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Billy Cobham, the legendary drummer and jazz fusion pioneer whose career has spanned nearly six decades. Cobham, widely regarded as one of the great drummers of modern times, joins the ranks of previous Lifetime recipients such as Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Tony Bennett and Dame Cleo Laine.

Billy Cobham:
“It’s been a long, long journey – almost 60 years – and so I’m deeply honoured that I have been recognised in any way, shape or form for my contributions to the musical fabric of the jazz community”.

The evening also saw special recognition awards for Jamie Cullum, who was presented with the Impact Award for his influence on the genre and contribution to music broadcasting, while Melody Gardot was presented with the Gold Award, to recognise her artistry and global acclaim.

The full list of winners is as follows:

Jazz FM Awards 2025 with PPL and PRS for Music

Lifetime Achievement Award
Billy Cobham

Impact Award
Sponsored by: Raymond Weil Genève
Jamie Cullum

Gold Award
Melody Gardot

UK Jazz Act of the Year – PUBLIC VOTE
Sponsored by: Rathbones
corto.alto

Album of the Year – PUBLIC VOTE
Sponsored by: Rayo
Ezra Collective - Dance, No One’s Watching

Breakthrough Act of the Year
Sponsored by: Arts Council England
Ni Maxine

International Jazz Act of the Year
Sponsored by: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority
Lakecia Benjamin

Vocalist of the Year
Sponsored by: Sounds from Spain by ICEX
Alice Zawadzki

Instrumentalist of the Year
Sponsored by: Yamaha UK
Mark Kavuma

Soul Act of the Year
Sponsored by: Oanda
Jalen Ngonda

Blues Act of the Year
Shemekia Copeland

The Innovation Award
Sponsored by: Mishcon de Reya
corto.alto

The Collaboration Award
Sponsored by: Cash For Kids
Women in Jazz

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 20/04/2025.

Monday, April 21, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 06/04/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist - first broadcast Sunday 20th April 2025

Back to normal with a programme of new releases available now here;
https://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz/first-broadcast-april-20th-a-personal-choice-of-recent-european-jazz-releases/

Electric Gumbo
Budge Up
Its On
Full Beam Music

Thanos Stavridis & Drom
Patrounina
fygame
self

Aesthetiko
The Wisdom (part)
Potamos
Aesthetiko

Mundus
La Passante Du Sans-Souci
Refuge
self

Daniel Erdmann’s Organic Soulfood
Tegucigalpa Touchdown
Into the Sweet Unknown
BMC

EH3
Close to Nothing
Close to Nothing
Losen

Michel Fernandez Quintet
Global Warning
Live au Hot Club de Lyon
Atypeek Music

Olivier Chavet
Elements
Elements
self

Tom Borgeois
Thème épique
Lili
BMC

Enemy
Countdown
Fiend
Edition

Le Rex
Relax! It’s only Commodities, Darling!
3 stages
Unit Records

Bleu Salvatge
Günther’s Toys
Hiraeth
segell Microscopi

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 7pm onward

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Phil Bancroft to release solo saxophone album.

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Scottish saxophonist Phil Bancroft will release Testimony, an improvised suite for solo saxophone, as the 6th release on his Myriad Streams platform on Friday 25th April 2025. Press release attached.

Publicist Rob Adams has forwarded the following press release;

“Testimony” bears witness to solo saxophone ability

Scottish saxophonist Phil Bancroft releases “Testimony, an improvised suite for solo saxophone, as the 6th release on his Myriad Streams platform on Friday 25th April 2025.

Recorded during lockdown in 2021 in a barn on the smallholding he and his wife, Jude, had recently moved into, “Testimony” was musically completely unplanned and spontaneous.

“I was exploring the amazing acoustics of the barn and trying to learn how to make videos for social media,” says Bancroft. “So, I set up some cameras and a nice microphone and thought, ‘Let’s see what happens…’”

After pressing the record buttons on his laptop and cameras, Bancroft played his tenor saxophone for just over thirty minutes.

“I improvised with no intention or plan. To be honest, while I was playing, I was feeling that the whole thing was a waste of time, that I couldn’t play, my inner critic was in full flow.”

Suspecting that what he had recorded was worthless, Bancroft almost deleted the file. But on listening back to it over the subsequent days, he discovered that he had captured what he now considers the most profound piece of music of his career to date.

Bancroft, who emerged as part of a generation of jazz musicians in Scotland that was defined by the trailblazing John Rae Collective, in which the saxophonist joined trumpeter Colin Steele, pianist Brian Kellock, guitarist Kevin Mackenzie, bassist Kenny Ellis and drummer John Rae, has been a force on the UK scene since the late 1980s.

He has led ensembles from trios to orchestras and multimedia projects, and as well as fronting his acclaimed international quartet, with American bassist Reid Anderson, Norwegian drummer Thomas Strønen, and English guitarist Mike Walker. He was a key part of the much-lauded Trio AAB, with drumming twin Tom and guitarist Kevin Mackenzie. A recent successful tour saw the launch of Bancroft’s new trio, The Beautiful Storm with guitarist Graeme Stephen and Indian percussionist Gyan Singh, with whom Bancroft released the enthusiastically received duo album, Birth & Death.

Solo saxophone recordings have established a genre of their own in recent years and Bancroft, in taking on the role of storyteller and exploring sound worlds of beauty and expression, hopes that “Testimony” has added to this genre.

“Despite my initial reservations, I feel I have created something of merit that is very much my own work that captures more than just the notes formed in the moment and I am proud and excited to release it into the world.”

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 13/04/2025.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 13/04/2025, a special edition featuring artists scheduled to appear at the 2025 Cheltenham Jazz Festival.

Peter Slavid writes;

A one-off programme featuring a preview of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival (mainly that part held in the Parabola Arts centre) with music from artists appearing:
    
  
      Mark Kavuma and the Banger Factory -
      Flight Call
      Kokoroko
      Musho
      Brown Penny
      Marco Mezquida
      Daniel Casimir Big Band
      Poppy Daniels
      Byron Wallen
      Olivia Murphy Orchestra

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time: http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 7pm onward

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Ted Morcaldi Trio - new album and UK tour dates.

Sunday, April 13, 2025

US guitarist & composer Ted Morcaldi will release his new trio album "Celestial Stranger" on May 30th 2025. He will be performing UK live shows in May, June and November.

We have received the following press release;

TED MORCALDI – CELESTIAL STRANGER

Celestial Stranger is an album of thought-provoking original contemporary jazz by a trio of celebrated musicians, featuring Joel Humann, Joshua Blackmore, led by guitarist Ted Morcaldi – the trio’s debut (CD/DL) is due out Fri 30th May via contemporary music label, Clonmell Jazz Social.

Working on electric, classical, and twelve-string guitar, as well as the Roland P/V synthesiser, Morcaldi casts his vivid, wistful, tonal phrases into a deep, nocturnal, reverberant suspension, reminiscent of ECM productions, his playing rendered luminous against the dark, open-ended recesses of the imagination.

There are reminders of the musicians Morcaldi openly admires – David Sylvian and Holger Czukay, of Can, especially when he hits multi-angled grooves with his fellow players, of Jon Hassell’s haunting fourth world explorations.

The group Moraldi put together for this album – bassist Joel Humann and Joshua Blackmore on drums lay down a discreet but frictional, almost abrasive, scuffling backdrop, as if throwing down a complex challenge, a counterpoint to which Morcaldi rises time and again.

In addition, joined by Blackstar bassist Tim Lefebvre, reimagine Bowie’s Art Decade from Low. Lefebvre’s shimmering effects salute the late Trailblazer, mirroring Morcaldi’s own eastward-leaning, deep jazz adventurism.

Celestial Stranger is a wonderful album of multiple, myriad pleasures, not merely standing on the shoulders of giants but soaring to new places of his own. Electric and eclectic, a true jazz for the 21st century.

Ahead of the album release, Ted Morcaldi will be releasing the following singles via digital retail and streaming services: ‘Time Windows’ on 28th March 2025, and ‘Elyesque’ on 2nd May 2025.

Ted Morcaldi will be performing material from Celestial Stranger at the following dates:

1st May – Hot Numbers, Cambridge
11th May – The Geldart, Cambridge
8th June – The Geldart, Cambridge
14th November – Clonmell Jazz Social Series,The Green Note, London (EFG London Jazz Festival)

Credits:

Ted Morcaldi – electric, classical and twelve-string guitar, Roland P/V synthesiser
Joel Humann - upright bass, electric bass on ‘Stand There’
Joshua Blackmore – drum kit
Tim Lefebvre - electric bass and effects on ‘Art Decade’

All music written byTed Morcaldi except‘ Art Decade’ by David Bowie

“A tight yet versatile trio, making the most of Ted’s intriguing compositions…with the US guitarist equally adept on electric and acoustic instruments, enhancing the former with loops and electronic effects, often creating multi- layered soundscapes…” – JazzToday

“Morcaldi’s playing brings together a sense of earthiness and grit with a celestial air of exploration–economical in its expression as it is outwardly searching in its disposition.” – Love All Day Records

https://www.clonmelljazzsocial.com

https://www.tedmorcaldimusic.com

https://tedmorcaldi.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ted_morcaldi/

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 06/04/2025.

Monday, April 07, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 06/04/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

European Jazz - radio playlist from Sunday April 6th

Available now at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Matt Carmichael
Beckoning Night
Dancing with Embers
Bridge The Gap

Gary Brunton
Coldstream
Look North
Juste Une Trace

Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter
Night Life
Play Mary Lou Williams
Discus

Billy Marrows + Grande Família
Be Right Bold
The Penelope Album Live
Discus

Stefano Bollani & Iiro Rantala
Va Pensiero
Jazz at Berlin Philharmonic XV
ACT

Leszek Możdżer/Lars Danielsson/Zohar Fresco
Appropinquate
Beamo
ACT

Tom Sochas
Rongbuk
Facing North
Khumbu Records

Emma Rawicz & Gwilym Simcock
The Drumbledrone
Big Visit
ACT

Jordi Cassagne Barbastelle
Nef
Vestige Étésien
Aut Records

Anders Filipsen Trio
Dark and Plenty of Sun
Aldebar Nights of Mangos
ILK

OZMA
Rapide & Furieuse
The day we decided to live at night
La Compagnie Tangram

Ramzi Hammad
Olive Tree
Melting Pot
Sonclair

Claire Cope Ensemble C
Feeling
Every Journey
Adhyâropa Records

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 7pm onward

Also as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Joe Armon-Jones - new album and UK tour.

Saturday, April 05, 2025

Keyboard player, composer, producer & bandleader Joe Armon-Jones will release his new album ‘All The Quiet (Part II)’ on 13th June 2025. This will be followed by a series of UK tour dates in October.

We have received the following press release;

Joe Armon-Jones
‘All The Quiet (Part II)’
Album released 13th June
Vinyl/download/stream/CD
Aquarii Records

The critics on ‘All The Quiet (Part I)’:

“Welds funky shades of Herbie Hancock’s fusion era with a heavy dub influence and much post-production tomfoolery.” Mojo ★★★★

“Boundary-pushing future-jazz. Intricate, intoxicating and nodding in multiple directions often simultaneously” Electronic Sound

“Joe Armon-Jones tantalisingly displays a new darker side to his introspective compositions” Jazzwise

“The winning blend of soul, funk, Afrobest, hip-hop and electronica has a personal imprint, with pleating subtlety and restraint in places, but the input of vocalist/MCs such as Asheber, and Goya Gumbani who grace Kingfisher and Eye Swear respectively, is impressive” Echoes

“It’s in his solo work that the purest form of Armon-Jones’ vision shines though, combining elements of jazz, dub and the more atmospheric ends of UK electronic music his first solo album in six years represents his most ambitious statement to date” Music Radar

Following the release of ‘All The Quiet (Part I)’ – his first solo album in 6 years – London-based keyboardist, producer, songwriter, and bandleader Joe Armon-Jones returns with ‘All The Quiet (Part II).’

Having been championed by media including Mojo, Electronic Sound, Jazzwise, BBC Radio, Jazz FM, and more for ‘Part I,’ ‘Part II’ of these distinct but conceptually linked albums finds Joe expanding his sound into new musical and sonic realms, assisted by a wealth of special guests including Asheber, Greentea Peng, Wu Lu, Hak Baker and Yazmin Lacey.

Six years have passed since Armon-Jones’ last solo album, 2019’s ‘Turn To Clear View’ – but don’t mistake that gap for a break. In this time he’s toured the world, built a studio, contributed to albums from the great and good of UK jazz and recorded collaborative releases with Maxwell Owin, Hak Baker, and dubstep legend Mala. ‘All The Quiet’, though, marks a new artistic peak. Its two instalments showcase Armon-Jones’ prodigious talents as a pianist, improviser, and songwriter, while opening his music’s rich soundworld up to the influence of dub techniques.

You can trace the genesis of ‘All The Quiet’ back to lockdown, when in search of a creative distraction, Armon-Jones decided to teach himself how to use a mixing desk, inspired by his love for the radical productions of King Tubby and the feeling of experiencing a live dub sound system in the flesh. Before long he’d built a home studio complete with reel-to-reel tape machines and spring reverb and was experimenting with mixing his own solo and ensemble recordings, testing out the results on his friends’ Unit 137 sound system in nearby Lewisham. The methodology, he discovered, wasn’t so different from jazz improvisation. “I got really into exploring the soundworld of dub,” explains Armon-Jones. “Taking that process and applying it to jazz, funk, and all the other music that I really love.”

Written, produced, and mixed by Joe, the performances that comprise ‘All The Quiet’ came together in four days of intensive recording at Livingstone Studios and Press Play, Armon-Jones working with a crack team of musicians including drummer Natcyet Wakili, bassist Mutale Chashi, percussionist Kwake Bass and a horn section consisting of Nubya Garcia and Ezra Collective’s James Mollison and Ife Ogunjobi. With those sessions captured to tape, he then entered a deep period of editing and production, adding his own vocals and synth, and tweaking bass and drums with hints of dub delay and echo to create a sound both fastidiously textured and infused with the freedom of improvisation.

As the music that would become ‘All The Quiet’ began to take shape, he began to think of it in thematic terms, crafting a fantasy narrative of elite paladins of sound, battling to keep the soul of music alive in an age of indifference and hostility to the creative spirit. Fanciful, perhaps, but within it lies a serious point around the way that music has become commodified and devalued. “It’s an extreme end-game result of what we’re seeing at the moment,” says Armon-Jones, who worked with his long-term visual collaborators, Divya Scialo and Ralph Berryman, to turn his narrative into artwork and a comic book that will be available with ‘All The Quiet’s’ deluxe vinyl editions.

Ideas of freedom, community and resistance run throughout ‘All The Quiet’, from the lead-off single ‘Kingfisher’ (Part I) – which finds West London dub poet Asheber singing sweetly of community, celebration and revolution – to the cooly assured ‘One Way Traffic’, featuring Yazmin Lacey, which ends ‘All The Quiet (Part II)’ in one final feat of dub reconstruction. This, though, is unmistakably Joe Armon-Jones’ record – both a profound expression of music’s ability to move us, and a galvanising statement of intent: that such a thing is worth fighting for.

‘All The Quiet (Part II)’ Tracklisting

1. Acknowledgement Is Key (feat. Hak Baker)

2. Lavender

3. Westmoreland (feat. Asheber)

4. PSR Orchestra

5. Paladin of Sound & Circumstance

6. Another Place (feat. Greentea Peng & Wu-Lu)

7. War Transmission

8. Joe Armon-Jones – 505 Standby

9. Joe Armon-Jones – Journey South

10. Joe Armon-Jones – One Way Traffic (feat. Yazmin Lacey)

‘All The Quiet’ Tour Dates

Oct 21 – Manchester, Band On The Wall

Oct 22 – Bristol, St. George’s

Oct 24 – London, Hackney Church

Oct 26 – Brussels, AB

Oct 27 – Paris, Badaboum

Oct 28 – Amsterdam, Tolhuistuin

Oct 30 – Berlin, Saalchen

https://joearmonjones.com/

NDR Bigband (Hamburg Radio Jazz Orchestra) begins 2025/2026 season with Nikki Iles as new Principal Conductor.

Friday, April 04, 2025

British bandleader, pianist & composer Nikki Iles will be the new Principal Conductor of the NDR Bigband from the 2025/26 season. She succeeds Geir Lysne & will lead the renowned ensemble for 2 yearse

We have received the following press release;

Iles Ahead!

NDR Bigband begins 2025/2026 season with Nikki Iles as new Principal Conductor

British bandleader, pianist and composer Nikki Iles will be the new Principal Conductor of the NDR Bigband from the 2025/26 season. She succeeds Geir Lysne and will lead the renowned ensemble for an initial period of two years.

Nikki Iles: “I am absolutely thrilled and humbled to have a chance to deepen my relationship with the wonderful NDR Bigband as their new Chief Conductor. Over the last four years I have felt a very warm connection with them and have shared many inspiring moments in Studio 1 here in Hamburg. It is on account of this collective chemistry and trust that I have found myself, for the first time, able to consider a position such as this. The NDR Bigband is truly an ensemble for our times and they embrace this role with such passion, innovation and a wealth of experience. This is matched by a deep commitment from the organisation that allows us to focus on the music and to keep it at the heart of everything we do. I am so looking forward to programming some exciting and dynamic new collaborations as we celebrate this music in all its diversity and make meaningful connections throughout Europe and further afield. I welcome also the opportunity to connect with new audiences - offering them unprecedented sounds in new settings - and to reach out to future generations through meaningful education projects. It goes without saying that I have the greatest respect for every member of the band and really look forward to a journey full of discovery and to making some fantastic music together!”

Nikki Iles, who attracted attention in 2020 as a participant in the NDR Bigband’s podium for composers and arrangers, has been appointed composer-in-residence of the ensemble in 2023. The joint album ‘Face to Face’, which resulted from this close collaboration, delighted audiences and critics alike and was nominated for the German Jazz Award in 2024. For her debut on 27 September in Hannover (NDR Konzerthaus) and on 28 September in Hamburg (Elbphilharmonie), Nikki Iles will bring her new work ‘The Shadow of a Dream - Journeys through a Strange World’, which was composed especially for the NDR Bigband.

NDR Programme Director Ilka Steinhausen: “Nikki Iles marks the beginning of a new era in the history of our internationally acclaimed NDR Big Band. We are hoping for many new, inspiring impulses, because she brings a fantastic network with her. A great artist - and probably the first female chief conductor to lead a big band of ARD.”

Michael Dreyer, NDR Big Band Manager:
“Nikki Iles is an extraordinary phenomenon in the world of jazz. The NDR Bigband has really fallen in love with her. We look forward to our future together.”

Sandra Hempel and Klaus Heidenreich, board members of the NDR Bigband:
“Nikki Iles is our favourite candidate for the position of Principal Conductor. We are very much looking forward to working with her.”

Nikki Iles and the NDR Bigband in a subscription programme

Together with the NDR Bigband, the new chief conductor will present a high-calibre subscription programme in Hamburg and Hanover. Nikki Iles has curated three programmes and invited soloists such as singer Norma Winstone, Canadian sisters Ingrid and Christine Jensen and bass legend Dave Holland.

About her first project, ‘The Shadow of a Dream - Journeys through a Strange World’ (27/28 September 2025), Nikki Iles says: ‘In this programme I have focused on themes of unity - how important it is to find empathy and common ground despite the challenges we face.

Together with trumpeter Ingrid Jensen and saxophonist Christine Jensen, Nikki Iles brings Canadian soundscapes to life. She is joined by Canadian pianist Kris Davis, whose percussive piano playing is a delightful complement to the Jensens’ lyrical style and the power of the NDR Big Band. The theme: ‘Luminescent Landscapes’ (14/15 February 2026).

Spinning the Wheeler’ could be the title of the third programme, curated by Nikki Iles. Here, all participants will continue to spin their experiences with a brilliant musician: Kenny Wheeler (1930-2014), the ‘master of melancholy chaos’. Iles has recruited two jazz legends for the project: singer Norma Winstone and bassist and Miles Davis sideman Dave Holland (20/21 June 2025).

Looking to the 2025/26 season

In the concert season 2025/26 the NDR Bigband will be working with Danilo Pérez, Wayne Shorter’s longtime pianist, the Hamburg band TOYTOY and the Cologne jazz trumpeter Frederik Köster, and will be celebrating the 100th birthday of Miles Davis.

In the broadcasting area, the NDR Big Band also takes its productions to hidden corners and is a guest at important festivals such as the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, Travejazz in Lübeck, Jazzfest Delmenhorst and JazzBaltica.

The NDR Big Band also gives young musicians a chance: it is touring three schools in the broadcasting area and is now working with the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Advance ticket sales for the Hamburg subscription series begin on 3 April, and for individual tickets for the Hamburg concerts on 13 May. Subscriptions for the Hanover concerts will go on sale on 16 May, with individual tickets available from 19 May. For more information and the full programme, visit http://www.ndr.de/bigband.

Brecon Jazz Festival 2025: Line up announced.

Monday, March 31, 2025

Brecon Jazz Festival 2025, running from August 8th to 10th, will feature an ambitious line-up, a fresh new team at the helm, and a renewed commitment to celebrating the best in jazz.

We have received the following press release;

Brecon Jazz Festival 2025: A New Chapter Begins

Brecon, Wales – One of the UK’s most respected jazz festivals is set to return bigger and bolder than ever. Brecon Jazz Festival 2025, running from August 8th to 10th, will feature an ambitious line-up, a fresh new team at the helm, and a renewed commitment to celebrating the best in jazz.

This year marks an exciting new chapter for the festival, blending its rich heritage with a community focused approach to programming and audience engagement.

A Historic Stage Returns
For the first time in recent years, the Market Hall will serve as the festival’s premier venue. This 500 capacity space will host an extraordinary lineup jazz talent, featuring:

Friday 8th August:
• Hejira – An acclaimed ensemble paying homage to Joni Mitchell’s jazz legacy.
• Cleveland Watkiss – Jazz vocalist presenting The Great Jamaican Songbook.

Saturday 9th August:
• Sultan Stevenson – One of the most exciting young jazz pianists in the UK.
• Ruby Turner – The legendary soul, jazz, and blues vocalist.

Sunday 10th August:
• Soweto Kinch – Award-winning saxophonist and MC fusing jazz and hip-hop.
• Jazz Sabbath – A unique jazz reimagining of Black Sabbath’s music featuring Adam Wakeman of Black Sabbath

To make the most of this stellar line-up, the Market Hall Weekend Pass is available now at an early bird price for a limited time only. This exclusive pass provides access to all six performances across the weekend, offering unbeatable value. With individual tickets ranging from £17.50 to £40.00, securing a pass now can save attendees up to £80 compared to door prices. This is the only weekend pass available for Brecon Jazz Festival 2025, making it a must-have for jazz lovers.

A Festival with a Fresh Vision
Since 1984, Brecon Jazz Festival has been a staple of the UK jazz scene, welcoming some of the world’s greatest musicians. With a new team leading the festival, 2025 promises to be a thrilling new chapter that both honours tradition and introduces exciting innovations.

Festival Chairman, Chris Jones CBE, stated:
“This is an exciting moment for Brecon Jazz. We’re bringing together a world class lineup, reintroducing the Market Hall as a key venue, and building an experience that reflects both the festival’s deep roots and its bright future.”

Springtime Jazz Day-Festival – April 12th
To build momentum for the August festival, a special Springtime Jazz Day-Festival will take place on April 12th, 2025. This one day event will feature a mix of free and ticketed performances at venues across Brecon, including:

• Saskia Laroo & Warren Byrd at The Muse (2:00 PM) – Trumpeter Saskia Laroo’s first- ever UK performance alongside acclaimed pianist Warren Byrd, supported by Paula
Gardiner and Mark O’Connor.

• Jack Mac at The Muse (7:00 PM) – An explosive saxophonist blending jazz, funk, and blues.

• Jon Crespo Trio featuring Jane Williams at Brecon Tap (9:00 PM) – A free late-night jazz experience.

Empowering Young Talent – The Young Person’s Stage

A key addition to Brecon Jazz Festival 2025 is the Young Person’s Stage at Bishops Meadow, funded by Arts Council Wales. This stage will showcase the next generation of jazz talent, featuring emerging artists and providing a platform for exciting young musicians to develop their craft. Headlining the stage is Ursula Harrison, the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2024, who will not only perform but also assist in curating the line-up.

Beyond the performances, the Young Person’s Stage will serve as a training ground for aspiring industry professionals. Young people will take on roles in sound engineering, lighting, stewarding, photography, and event management, gaining hands-on experience in festival production. This initiative reinforces the festival’s commitment to nurturing future generations of jazz artists and industry professionals.

A Festival for the Community & Beyond
The revitalised festival is committed to community engagement, local business partnerships, and artistic excellence. The Brecon Frazz Parade and fringe events will continue to bring jazz to the streets, and partnerships with Brecon Town Council, Tan Cerdd, and Mid Wales Rhythm & Blues Club will strengthen its impact.

Tickets for Brecon Jazz Festival 2025 are now available, with early bird Market Hall Weekend Passes selling fast. Visit http://www.breconjazzfestival2025.co.uk for more information and ticket bookings.

EFG London Jazz Festival announces first names for 2025 edition including Tanita Tikaram, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tune-Yards, Makaya McCraven and Hiromi.

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Now entering its 33rd year, the global celebration of music, EFG London Jazz Festival, is announcing the first names for its 2025 edition, which takes place from 14-23 November. Press release attached

We have received the following press release;

SERIOUS
Announce First Names For
EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 2025
Including Tanita Tikaram, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tune-Yards, Makaya McCraven and Hiromi
14-23 November 2025

Now entering its 33rd year, the global celebration of music, EFG London Jazz Festival, is announcing the first names for its 2025 edition, which takes place from 14-23 November. For 10 days and nights musicians from all over the world will come together in London to perform boundary-pushing music that showcases jazz and its influence across genres and cultures.

Jazz transcends borders, blending various musical traditions around the world and bringing together diverse communities through the shared language of music. EFG London Jazz Festival has always embraced collaborations between musicians from all over the globe with jazz and its surrounding genres’ openness to diversity, creativity and unity, while continuing to evolve and inspire musicians and audiences worldwide.

Grammy and Tony Award-winning Jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater is bringing her WE EXIST! show to the Barbican on Saturday, 15 November. Bridgewater has had a glittering four-decade career reimagining jazz classics, ascending to the upper echelon of vocalists, uniquely spinning standards and taking intrepid leaps of faith.

When she was just 18 years old, Tanita Tikaram achieved worldwide recognition, selling over 4 million of her debut album, ‘Ancient Heart’, defying previous female music stereotypes, and defining her in the eyes of music history. She returns for the first time in 8 years to make a rare performance at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on Saturday, 15 November.

Following the announcement of their new album Better Dreaming, Tune-Yards, the music project of Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner, are performing at the EFG London Jazz Festival on 22 November at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. Known for their vibrant fusion of indie pop, Afrobeat and experimental loops, Tune-Yards gained widespread acclaim with w h o k i l l in 2011, which featured the breakout hit “Bizness” and won the Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics’ poll. Tune-Yards’ music is characterised by layered vocals, polyrhythmic beats, and socially conscious lyrics, tackling themes of race, privilege, and politics.

Over more than 20 years as a recording artist, the jazz piano phenomenon Hiromi has shifted seamlessly from one spellbinding project to the next. In the process, she’s earned a reputation as one of the most explosive live performers in jazz history and a global ambassador for the art form. She performs on Friday, 21 November at the Barbican, which follows her 2023 performance at the same venue for the festival for which The Arts Desk enthused: “as breathtaking for its energy as for its brilliant versatility” in their 5-star review.

A midweek highlight will see the return of Makaya McCraven to the festival following his Sold Out show at the Barbican in 2023, which the Financial Times said was “like being immersed in a recording session in which each song was a master take”. This year, the prodigiously talented drummer and composer takes over KOKO in Camden on Wednesday, 19 November.

At the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on Saturday, 15 November is acclaimed Grammy Award-winning mandolinist, singer, songwriter, and composer, Chris Thile. A multifaceted musical talent, described by The Guardian as “that rare being: an all-round musician,” and hailed by NPR as a “genre-defying musical genius,” Thile is a founding member of the highly influential string bands Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, and has collaborated with countless luminaries from Yo-Yo Ma to Fiona Apple to Brad Mehldau.

The following night at Cadogan Hall, Kurt Elling and The Yellowjackets Celebrate Weather Report. Known for his singular combination of robust swing and poetic insight, the two-time Grammy winner brings his one-of-a-kind brand of contemporary lyricism and vocal ingenuity to jazz. This celebration of Weather Report, one of jazz’s great supergroups, will reimagine the fusion band’s iconic songs in addition to new arrangements inspired by their constellation of musicians.

Closing the first weekend on Sunday, 16 November at Village Underground is American Neo Soul star Bilal, who returns to the spotlight following the success of his two album releases in 2024. His latest, Adjust Brightness, is a giant step forward, as Bilal merges his organic, soulful roots with experimental electronic influences inspired by artists like Aphex Twin and Stereolab. Fans can expect an immersive sonic experience that defies genre conventions, as Bilal continues to evolve and refine his unique style.

Trombonist, singer and composer Rita Payés is one of the standout emerging talents of the Sant Andreu Jazz Band, the nucleus from which some of the most promising young musicians on the jazz scene in Spain have emerged in recent years. She performs at the EFG London Jazz Festival for the first time at Union Chapel on Wednesday, 19 November.

At the Union Chapel on Thursday, 20 November is pianist and composer Fergus McCreadie whose music is a unique blend of jazz and Scottish folk inspired by his country’s sublime landscapes. McCreadie’s music captures the hearts and minds of audiences worldwide, with an appeal that extends far beyond the constraints of genre. Also performing that evening is trumpeter and synthesist Laura Jurd whose unique approach to the trumpet is celebrated in the work that she creates. Laura’s love of folk traditions can often be heard in her music, alongside a background in classical composition, taking twists and turns that both invite surprise and evoke the inevitable.

Following their Sold Out show at last year’s EFG London Jazz Festival, GeeJay return with their strong, soulful and emotionally-charged songs to Islington Assembly Hall on Thursday, 20 November. Expect vintage jazzy chords and groovy rhythms, with saxophone adding a further element to the melodic mix.

The festival will once again launch at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall with Jazz Voice, the glittering opening gala featuring star vocalists reimagining timeless songs for the specially-created EFG London Jazz Festival Orchestra and guest conductor. Taking place on Friday, 14 November, this year’s all-star names will be revealed soon.

EFG London Jazz Festival is a place to explore music and to celebrate the legacy and the future of an inspiring musical universe.

EFG London Jazz Festival Director, Pelin Opcin, said:
“The EFG London Jazz Festival 2025 is all about celebrating global talent, with incredible artists from the UK and around the world performing in venues across London this November. We’re excited to announce the first artists in this year’s lineup, from emerging musicians to iconic performers. As ever, the Festival will feature never-before-seen performances, including one-off collaborations and new commissions. A special thank you to the Festival’s title sponsor, EFG Private Bank, for their continued support; our shared values of innovation, collaboration and diversity are so important to the ongoing success of the Festival. We can’t wait to welcome audiences back in November to experience the unforgettable magic of live music.”

Serious would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all of their partners, particularly the extended support of title sponsor EFG, which helps to support the breadth and diversity of the festival. The EFG London Jazz Festival is made possible thanks to the support of many key sponsors and funders, including Arts Council England, Serious Trust, PRSF, BBC Radio 3, Champagne Thienot, Jazzwise Magazine and Jazz FM UK.

EFG London Jazz Festival Shows

14 Nov - Jazz Voice - Royal Festival Hall

15 Nov - We Exist! The Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet - Barbican

15 Nov - Tanita Tikaram - Royal Festival Hall

15 Nov - Chris Thile - Queen Elizabeth Hall

15 Nov - Kurt Elling and The Yellowjackets Celebrate Weather Report - Cadogan Hall

16 Nov - Bilal - Village Underground

19 Nov - Makaya McCraven - KOKO

19 Nov - Rita Payés - Union Chapel

20 Nov - Fergus McCreadie + Laura Jurd - Union Chapel

20 Nov - GeeJay - Islington Assembly Hall

21 Nov - Hiromi’s Sonicwonder - Barbican

22 Nov - Tune-Yards - Royal Festival Hall

Praise for 2024 edition

“beautifully curated” - The Guardian, ★★★★★

“The incredible musical jamboree of the EFG London Jazz Festival is our yearly reminder that the jazz scene has never been more various” - The Telegraph, ★★★★★

“exceptional” - The Times, ★★★★

“November can be a month to hunker down for the onset of winter and its weather, and where better to do that than in one of the myriad venues across the capital” - The Arts Desk, ★★★★

“there’s a noticeable buzz amongst the crowd amassing” - Clash

Serious is one of the UK’s leading producers of live jazz, international and new music through concerts, festivals, tours, digital shows, talent development schemes, learning and participation programmes, and bespoke events for all.
https://serious.org.uk/

EFG International is a global private banking group offering private banking and asset management services and is headquartered in Zurich. EFG International’s group of private banking businesses operates in around 40 locations worldwide. Its registered shares (EFGN) are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange. 
https://www.efginternational.com/uk

Programme Announced for 10th London Piano Festival at Kings Place, 9th - 12th October 2025.

Sunday, March 23, 2025

The programme of this largely classical festival includes a recital featuring Julian Joseph and Zoe Rahman plus four outstanding young pianists from the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy. Press release att.

We have received the following press release;

Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen announce the programme for the 10th London Piano Festival at Kings Place

Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen announce the programme for the 10th London Piano Festival at Kings Place, featuring three world premieres by Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Stephen Hough and Elena Langer

Katya Apekisheva | Janneke Brits | Keelan Carew | Jeremy Chan | Ingrid Fliter | Berniya Hamie | Joseph Havlat | Emile Hinton | Stephen Hough | Julian Joseph | James Kreiling | Ella Lee | Mishka Rushdie Momen | Michael Morpurgo | Nnamdi Nnachi Cole | Ronan O’Hora | Charles Owen | Danny Piers | Zoe Rahman | Steve Rosenberg | Seta Tanyel | Emily Tran | Petroc Trelawny

9-12 October 2025 | Kings Place, London
#LondonPianoFestival

Three world premieres written to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Festival by composers Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Stephen Hough and Elena Langer

The central Gala, featuring co-founders Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva with Stephen Hough, Ingrid Fliter, Ronan O’Hora, Seta Tanyel, Mishka Rushdie Momen, and Joseph Havlat performing four-, six- and eight-handed works

Solo recitals by Ingrid Fliter, Mishka Rushdie Momen, and festival co-founders Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva

A family concert narrated by Michael Morpurgo and featuring Keelan Carew, James Kreiling and Janneke Brits

A masterclass led by Stephen Hough

A showcase of star pianists from the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy

Pre- and post-concert discussions led by Ella Lee, presenter of the Classical Circuit podcast

Pianists and co-Artistic Directors Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen reveal another dynamic line-up for the tenth-anniversary edition of the London Piano Festival (LPF) which returns to Kings Place from 9-12 October 2025. Four days of classical and jazz piano performances will include three world premieres by internationally renowned composers, each commissioned especially for this year’s Festival. The programme sees Ronan O’Hora, and Julian Joseph returning to perform at the Festival, and Stephen Hough, Ingrid Fliter, Keelan Carew, Zoe Rahman, Joseph Havlat, Mishka Rushdie Momen and more making their Festival debuts.

Under 30s tickets are available for all concerts at a reduced price of £10. The Festival is delighted to be working with International Piano magazine as its media partner for the tenth year running.

Co-Artistic Directors Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen commented,
“It is our great pleasure to be announcing the programme for the 10th London Piano Festival alongside the world premiere of three new commissions by Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Stephen Hough and Elena Langer. When we first dreamt up the idea of starting a piano festival over a decade ago, we hoped to fill a gap in London’s musical offering by creating a festival devoted exclusively to the piano. Ten years on, having presented nine Festivals featuring over 45 exceptional jazz and classical pianists, we are immensely grateful to continue offering world-class piano performances at our Festival home – Kings Place.”

Sam McShane, Artistic Director of Kings Place, commented:
“London Piano Festival is back with an epic programme to mark its 10th anniversary year. This year’s theme, ‘Maturity & Youth’, beautifully reflects the festival’s journey—celebrating a decade of artistic excellence while championing the future of piano music. From world premieres to classics, this programme embodies the spirit of sharing, friendship and collaboration that defines Kings Place.”

The Festival opens with a joint recital from Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen, featuring two world premieres. Katya Apekisheva will perform Seasons by Elena Langer, inspired by Philip Larkin’s poetry and commissioned as a companion piece to Tchaikovsky’s The Seasons. Charles Owen performs Stones of the Sky, a new composition by Cheryl Frances-Hoad inspired by gemstones found in the Austrian Alps and the Gem Poems by Pablo Neruda, and conceived as a complimentary piece to Schumann’s Carnaval. The event will be preceded by a pre-concert talk with the composers, led by Ella Lee, presenter of the Classical Circuit podcast [9 October].

Argentinian pianist Ingrid Fliter makes her LPF debut with a solo recital including Beethoven’s Sonata in E Flat and Sonata in D Major, and Chopin’s Nocturne in B Major and Sonata No. 3 in B minor. Ella Lee will lead a discussion with Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva beforehand, exploring the artists featured across the rest of the program and reflecting on the Festival’s decade-long legacy [10 October].

On Saturday, the Festival hosts a family concert, featuring a world premiere arrangement of Stravinsky’s The Firebird for two pianos, arranged and performed by James Kreiling and Janneke Brits, alongside Keelan Carew performing Poulenc’s Barbar the Elephant, with celebrated children’s author Michael Morpurgo as narrator. World-renowned pianist Stephen Hough will later present a piano clinic masterclass with pianists from the London conservatoires and beyond, closing with a Q&A led by pianist and broadcaster Keelan Carew [11 October].

The Saturday concludes with the Festival’s central event, the Two-Piano Gala, this year featuring no less than eight performers – Stephen Hough, Ingrid Fliter, Ronan O’Hora, Seta Tanyel, Mishka Rushdie Momen, and Joseph Havlat, in addition to Charles and Katya themselves. This year’s programme will include a world premiere composition by Stephen Hough, King’s Cross March, commissioned by the Festival and performed by Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva. Joseph Havlat, Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva will perform the UK premiere of Havlat’s own composition 64 Geese. Stephen Hough also joins Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva for a rendition of Rachmaninov’s Romance for Six Hands, and Ingrid Fliter, Joseph Havlat, Mishka Rushdie Momen and Ronan O’Hora perform Smetana’s Sonata for Two Pianos, (Eight Hands). Other featured composers include Mozart, Brahms, Shostakovich, Britten, Babajanian, Ravel and more [11 October].

The Sunday begins with a morning recital from Mishka Rushdie Momen, centred around her acclaimed album Reformation, exploring the rich sound world of Renaissance repertoire. This recital will include pieces by Byrd, Gibbons, Bull, Sweenlinck and more, and will conclude with a post-performance Q&A with Ella Lee [12 October].

BBC Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg intersperses stories of his life in Russia with piano improvisations at an event hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenter Petroc Trelawny. Running in parallel with this conversation will be a special focus on the historical and political significance of Dmitri Shostakovich, including a selection of his Preludes and Fugues performed by Berniya Hamie and Jeremy Chan, making their Festival debuts [12 October].

Julian Joseph returns to LPF with Zoe Rahman (in her Festival debut), bringing the 2025 Festival to a close with a recital of outstanding young pianists from the Julian
Joseph Jazz Academy, including Danny Piers, Emile Hinton, Emily Tran and Nnamdi Nnachi Cole, all performing at LPF for the first time [12 October].

The London Piano Festival was founded by pianists Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen in 2016 and takes place every October at Kings Place, London. Previous visiting artists have included Alfred Brendel, Alexandra Dariescu, Julian Joseph, Gabriela Montero, Stephen Kovacevich, Jason Rebello, Vadym Kholodenko, Leszek Możdżer, Lara Melda, Reinis Zariņš and Kathryn Stott, amongst many others. The Festival has also commissioned several new works for two pianos, working with composers including Sally Beamish, Jonathan Dove, Elena Langer and Nico Muhly.

Full programme

Thursday 9 October, 6:45 pm | Kings Place, St Pancras Room
Ella Lee in Conversation with Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Elena Langer
Cheryl Frances-Hoad and Elena Langer
Ella Lee Host

Thursday 9 October, 7:30 pm | Kings Place, Hall One
Opening Night – Carnaval meets The Seasons
Cheryl Frances-Hoad ‘Stones of the Sky’ World Premiere (CO)
R. Schumann Carnaval, Op. 9 (CO)
Tchaikovsky The Seasons, Op. 37a (KA)
Elena Langer ‘Seasons’ World Premiere (KA)
Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva Piano

Friday 10 October, 7:30 pm | Kings Place, Hall One
Ingrid Fliter performs Beethoven and Chopin
Beethoven Sonata in E flat, Op. 31/3
Beethoven Sonata in D Op. 10/3
Chopin Nocturne in B Op. 9/3
Chopin Sonata No. 3 in B minor, Op. 58
Ingrid Fliter Piano
Featuring pre-concert Q&A with Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva in conversation with Ella Lee

Saturday 11 October, 12:00 pm | Kings Place, Hall One
Once Upon a Piano: Babar & The Firebird with Michael Morpurgo
Poulenc The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant (KC)
Stravinsky The Firebird (JK and JB)
Keelan Carew, James Kreiling and Janneke Brits Piano
Michael Morpurgo Narrator

Saturday 11 October, 2:30 pm | Kings Place, Hall Two
Stephen Hough’s Piano Clinic
Stephen Hough
Featuring post-Piano Clinic conversation and Q&A with Stephen Hough in conversation with Keelan Carew

Saturday 11 October, 7:00 pm | Kings Place, Hall One
Tenth Anniversary Two-Piano Gala
Joseph Havlat 64 Geese UK Premiere (JH, CO & KA)
Mozart Sonata in D major, K448 (KA & IF)
Shostakovich Concertino, Op. 94 (ST & CO)
Britten Mazurka elegiaca, Op. 23 (SH & ROH)
Poulenc Élégie (KA & CO)
Elena Langer RedMare (MRM & JH)
Babajanian Armenian Rhapsody (KA & ST)
Stephen Hough King’s Cross March World Premiere (CO & KA)
Brahms Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56b (MRM & ROH)
Smetana Sonata for Two Pianos, 8 Hands in E minor (IF, JH, MRM & ROH)
Albeniz ‘Triana’ from Iberia (CO & IF)
Ravel La Valse (JH & ROH)
Rachmaninov Romance for Six Hands (1891) (SH, CO & KA)
Stephen Hough, Ingrid Fliter, Seta Tanyel, Ronan O’Hora, Charles Owen, Katya Apekisheva, Mishka Rushdie Momen and Joseph Havlat Piano

Sunday 12 October, 11:00 am | Kings Place, Hall One
Mishka Rushdie Momen – Reformation
Byrd Pavana Lachrymae after Flow my tears, by John Dowland
Gibbons Fantazia of Foure Parts
Bull Walsingham: 30 Variations
Byrd Callino Casturame
Sweelinck Ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la a 4 voci
Dowland In Darkness Let Me Dwell arr. Mishka Rushdie Momen
Adès Darknesse visible
Bull My Grief
Byrd The Bells
Mishka Rushdie Momen Piano
Featuring post-concert Q&A with Mishka Rushdie Momen in conversation with Ella Lee

Sunday 12 October, 2:00 pm | Kings Place, Hall Two
Shostakovich & Rosenberg - Reflections on contemporary Russia
Shostakovich Preludes and Fugues (selections) (BH and JC)
Steve Rosenberg, Berniya Hamie and Jeremy Chan Piano
Petroc Trelawny Presenter

Sunday 12 October, 6:00 pm | Kings Place, Hall One
Julian Joseph Presents: The Sounds of our Next Generation
Julian Joseph, Zoe Rahman, Danny Piers, Emile Hinton, Emily Tran and Nnamdi Nnachi Cole Piano

About Kings Place
Kings Place is an open, multi-arts venue, presenting an adventurous and critically-acclaimed programme, with words and music at its heart. Every year we curate a series of festivals to engage a breadth of different communities. We are a place where many audiences belong, a place where people connect with their passion and no-one is lost in the crowd.
Kings Place was developed from a generous act of philanthropy. Driven by a belief that arts and culture are a fundamental part of a thriving city – our work is as vibrant as our location in King’s Cross. We are independently-funded and generate income through ticket sales and the staging of world-class conferences and events.
We are rooted in partnership and have developed a collaborative community of resident partners and artistic associates. By opening our doors, people and creativity can flourish. We provide stages for artists, space for local communities and young musicians, share our home with partners, and offer audiences unforgettable, shared experiences.
We are Kings Place, the cultural pulse of King’s Cross.
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk

Kings Place
90 York Way, London,
N1 9AG.

Jazz, folk & world music at Cadogan Hall, London, April 2025 - January 2026.

Sunday, March 23, 2025

Cadogan Hall has announced a series of jazz, folk and world music events scheduled to take place in 2025 and early 2026. Fully detailed schedule attached.

We have received the following information regarding these events;

Béla Fleck, Tommy Emmanuel, Kurt Elling | Jazz, folk & world music coming up.

Police Dog Hogan
Monday 14 April, 7.30pm
‘They manage to fuse bluegrass, folk, country and more in a way that few others can match.’ (RnR Magazine), combining guitar, fiddle, banjo, trumpet and accordion with bass and drums to create a driving country-folk sound that has earned them the reputation as one of the country’s finest live bands and folk-country acts,’ said Folk Radio in 2022.

The Glenn Miller Orchestra
Sunday 18 May, 5pm
Join the Glenn Miller Orchestra, led by the acclaimed conductor Ray McVay, for a musical celebration of Glenn Miller’s incredible musical legacy. Enjoy hits like In the Mood, Moonlight Serenade, American Patrol, Little Brown Jug, Tuxedo Junction, and Pennsylvania 6‑5000, and many more as they take you on a tour of the 1930s and ‘40s.
ENCORE & group discounts available

Red Hot Chilli Pipers
featuring the Red Hot Chilli Dancers
Friday 30 May, 7pm
Following their triumphant appearance at Glastonbury, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers are back! Bagpipes with attitude, drums with a Scottish accent and a show that leaves people with warm hearts and smiles on their faces; the past 20-plus years have seen the Red Hot Chilli Pipers become the most famous bagpipe band on the planet… ever!

Celebrating Sammy Davis Jr.
Saturday 21 June, 7.30pm
Join the 30-piece Down for the Count Swing Orchestra to celebrate Sammy Davis Jr.‘s centenary. Enjoy timeles classics like ‘Birth of the Blues’, ‘What Kind of Fool Am I’, ‘Me and My Shadow’, and ‘Mr. Bojangles’, sung by Marvin Muoneké and Callum Gillies, along with anecdotes and music by his contemporaries including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sarah Vaughn.
ENCORE discount available

London Phoenix Orchestra
Wednesday 2 July, 7.30pm
Anderson Serenata
Gershwin Promenade: Walking The Dog
Anderson Piano Concerto
Ellington Three Black Kings
Shostakovich Suite for Variety Orchestra No. 1
Philip Leslie piano
London Phoenix Orchestra performs light music and jazz for the final concert of its season including a rare performance of Leroy Anderson’s Piano Concerto.

Béla Fleck, Edmar Castañeda, Antonio Sanchez Trio
Wednesday 9 & Thursday 10 July, 7.30pm
The new all-star trio of banjo player and 18-time Grammy-winner Béla Fleck, harpist Edmar Castañeda, and drummer and five-time Grammy-winner Antonio Sanchez performs original repertoire – rich with strong melodies, gorgeous harmony and grooves that twist and turn while feeling fantastic.

Madeleine Peyroux
Tuesday 15 July, 7.30pm
Following her sold out show here in February, Madeleine returns this summer for a second show showcasing the deftly interwoven jazz, folk, and chamber pop of her critically acclaimed ninth album, Let’s Walk, which dovetails effortlessly with her beloved versions of Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits classics.

Julie Fowlis
Thursday 30 October
Voted ‘Musician of the Year’ at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2023 and winner of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards’ ‘Folk Singer of the Year’, Julie’s music is deeply influenced by the Hebridean islands and Highland landscapes. With a career spanning several studio albums and numerous high-profile collaborations, you may also know her from songs in Brave, Disney Pixar’s Oscar-, Golden Globe- and BAFTA-winning animated film set in the ancient highlands of Scotland.

Lindisfarne
Saturday 1 November, 7.30pm
The legendary ‘70s folk-rock pioneers return to Cadogan Hall with a classic five-piece line-up of long-time members fronted by founder-member Rod Clements. With a repertoire of unforgettable songs like ‘Meet Me On The Corner’, ‘Fog On The Tyne’, ‘Lady Eleanor’ and ‘Run For Home’ and a reputation for live performance second to none, Lindisfarne’s power to galvanize their audiences remains undimmed, guaranteed to get the crowd on their feet and singing along.

Kurt Elling & Yellowjackets
Celebrate Weather Report
Saturday 15 November, 7.30pm
A thrilling collaboration between two jazz powerhouses – Grammy-winning vocalist Kurt Elling, known for his captivating baritone and improvisational brilliance, and Yellowjackets, jazz fusion legends redefining the genre for over four decades – blending the iconic music of Weather Report with bold reinterpretations and new explorations.

Swingin’ with Strings
Sunday 23 November, 6.30pm
The Jazz Repertory Company celebrates its 50th concert at Cadogan Hall with a production featuring Pete Long’s 40-piece orchestra in a wonderful selection of music from the 1950s and ‘60s including songs from Sinatra’s Capitol and Reprise years, Billie Holiday’s lush album of ballads Lady In Satin, plus selections from Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington and Nat ‘King’ Cole.

Colosseum + Soft Machine
Essential Progressive Jazz-Rock Double Bill
Thursday 27 November, doors 6pm
A double-bill of essential Progressive Jazz-Rock with Colosseum, who came to fame in 1969 with its debut album, Those Who Are About To Die Salute You, and the Canterbury-scene legends Soft Machine who shared the stage with the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, The Velvet Underground, Frank Zappa and more.

Jesse Cook
Saturday 29 November, 7.30pm
With a career spanning over 25 years and multiple accolades, the Canadian guitarist brings his innovative blend of flamenco, classical, jazz, and world beat to Cadogan Hall for one night only.

Tommy Emmanuel
Friday 23 & Saturday 24 January 2026, 7pm
With countless accolades including a Grammy award and multiple ARIA awards, this legendary guitarist and songwriter has dazzled audiences across the world with his melting pot of influences across genres, from pop to bluegrass, jazz to rock ‘n’ roll.

More information at http://www.cadoganhall.com

Cadogan Hall,
5 Sloane Terrace,
London SW1X 9DQ.

Box Office: 020 7730 4500

Jazz in the West Midlands - March 17th - 23rd 2025.

Monday, March 17, 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.

The Week Ahead

A roundup of jazz, funk, soul and blues gigs to check out this week in the West Midlands area.

Monday 17 Mar

Dom Franks’ Strayhorn
Cheltenham Jazz Club, The Victory Club Ballroom, Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham GL50 2SY



Jazz at Pan-Pan: Kathryn Shultz / Nathan Thomas / Amy Coates / Isla Hutchins/ Jam night
Pan-Pan, 25D Floodgate St, Birmingham B5 5SL





Tuesday 18 Mar

Digbeth Jazz:
Dan McConkey
The Night Owl, 17-18 Lower Trinity Street, Birmingham B9 4AG





Wednesday 19 Mar

Van Morrison
Symphony Hall, Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 2EA



Upstairs at Cherry Red’s: Luke Chakrabati
Cherry Red’s, 88-92 John Bright Street, Birmingham B1 1BN



Bedford Street Jazz Jam (lineup not published)
Bedford Street Bar, 4 Bedford Street, Leamington Spa CV32 5DY



Henry Newman Jazz Experience
The Trumpet, 58 High Street, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14 0EP





Thursday 20 Mar

Corn Exchange Jazz Club: Mike Hall with the Alex Steele Trio
Kings Head Hotel, 8 High St Ross-On-Wye HR9 5HL



CBSO An Evening of Thelonious Monk & Miles Davis
Symphony Hall, Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 2EA



Alison Rayner Quintet
The Albany Club, 10 Earlsdon St, Earlsdon, Coventry CV5 6EG



Bryan Corbett
Alsager Golf & Country Club, Audley Rd, Alsager Stoke-on-Trent ST7 2UR



Banda Brasileira
Eastside Jazz Club, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, 200 Jennens Road, B4 7XR



Heatwave
The Jam House, 3-5 St Pauls Square, Birmingham B3 1QU



Saraband
Hush Bar, 2 The Terrace, Leamington Spa CV31 3AB





Friday 21 Mar

Soft Machine
Guildhall, Bore Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6LU



Steve Tromans Trio ft Giulia Marro
The Blue Piano, 24-26 Harborne Rd, Birmingham, B15 3AA



Tom Cawley
1000 Trades, 16 Frederick St, Birmingham B1 3HE



Red Lemons
The Jam House, 3-5 St Pauls Square, Birmingham B3 1QU



The Atlantic Players
The Hare & Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ



Jeremy
Hush Bar, 2 The Terrace, Leamington Spa CV31 3AB





Saturday 22 Mar



Sax In The City with The Notebenders
Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space, Symphony Hall, Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 2EA



Red Lemons
The Jam House, 3-5 St Pauls Square, Birmingham B3 1QU



Mike Davids Band
Cafe Metro, 46 Church St, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14 0AH



Jack Tyson Charles
Hockley Social Club, 60 Hampton St, Birmingham B19 3LU



Variations with Tina Edwards & Digbeth Jazz
Artum at Hockley Social Club, 60 Hampton St, Birmingham B19 3LU



Trip for Biscuits
Hush Bar, 2 The Terrace, Leamington Spa CV31 3AB



Sunday 23 Mar

Jazz @ NAC Cafe Spotlight: Nat2
Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton WV1 4AN



Manos Puestas Trio
Temperance, 33 Bath St, Leamington Spa CV31 3AF







Have a great week!
Dave Fuller
Instigator, Music Spoken Here
http://www.musicspokenhere.club

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 09/03/2025.

Monday, March 10, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 09/03/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist from 9th March 2025

Yazz Ahmed
Waiting for the Dawn
A Paradise in the Hold
Night Time Stories

KOVÁSZ
Let’s Dance
Fermentum
BMC

Marcin Masecki
Brilliant Corners
Monk
BMC

Simon Jermyn
Gebeth
Obsany
Elastic Recordings

Michael Buckley
Strange Taste
Ebb and Flow
Livia records

Thomas Backman
Scherzo Demoniaco
Nothing
Modern Musik

Marius Neset
P11
Cabaret
ACT

Knats
One for Josh
Knats
Gearbox records

Landæus-de Heney- Osgood
Lullaby Boomerang
Dissolving Patterns
SFӒR

Josephine Davis
Samhain
Celtic Wheel of the Year
Ubuntu

Andreas Schaerer
Bad Eye
Anthem For No Mans Land
ACT

Hans Hulbækmo and Egil Kalman
Unit of Time
Unit of Time
Motvind

Anouar Brahem
The Eternal Olive Tree
After the Last Sky
ECM

Jon Balke
Ductus
Skrifum
ECM

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 3pm onward

Also as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 23/02/2025.

Monday, February 24, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 23/02/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist - First broadcast Feb 23rd 2025

Mathias Eick
Partisan
Lullaby
ECM

Silvan Strauss
Chulas
Flukin’
Kabul Fire

Black Flower
Violet Drift
Kinetic
Sdban Ultra

Gouldian Finch
No filter
Schizo
Diger Distro

Dave Manington’s Riff Raff
Mr Owl ate my Metal Worm
Weightless
Lamplight Social Records

Four Disturbed Civilians
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis (EP)
Sonclair

Jef Neve & Teus Nobel
Weekend is On
Esho Funi
Blue Keys Productions

Nathan Ott
The Previous Life
Continuum
An Bruch

Young Mothers
Hymn
Better if You Let It
Sonic Transmission

Voyager 3
Etude
Voyager3
OnzeHeuresOnze

John Surman
Jack Knife
Flashpoints And Undercurrents
Cuneiform

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time: http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 3pm onward

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Serious -  2025 upcoming shows including Madeleine Peyroux, Tindersticks, Enji, Ludovico Einaudi, Sam Amidon, Lizz Wright, Bill Laurance & Michael League Duo, Neil Cowley Trio and more.

Thursday, February 20, 2025

London based promoters Serious have announced their concert programme for February to October 2025 with events taking place all around the UK. Press release including full schedule attached.

We have received the following press release;

SERIOUS
2025 Upcoming Shows
Including Tindersticks, Madeleine Peyroux, Lizz Wright, Tony Ann and more

View Events and Book Tickets Here
https://serious.org.uk/whats-on/upcoming-events

With 2025 fully underway, live music producers Serious already have a full calendar of vital artistic and cultural events coming up in London and beyond.

Madeleine Peyroux returns to the UK in February for two sold-out events at Saffron Hall in Saffron Walden on 22 February and London’s Cadogan Hall on 23 February following her captivating ninth album, Let’s Walk, which came out earlier this year to critical acclaim. Due to the demand, an additional Madeleine Peyroux London show at Cadogan Hall is announced for 15 July.

German jazz group Fazer are performing their first ever London show at The Cockpit on 24 February, expect their singular take on indie, jazz and psychedelic rock delivered with elegance, humour and depth.

Bill Laurance and Michael League once again join forces as a duo following their sold out EFG London Jazz Festival performance in 2023. They are embarking on a UK tour as they celebrate the release of their second album, Keeping Company. In March they perform at St George’s in Bristol on the 2nd, at Union Chapel in London on the 3rd and at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on the 4th. Support for these shows comes from one of the most electrifying forces in contemporary British jazz; Rosie Frater-Taylor.

Former Wild Beasts star Tom Fleming, returned earlier this year with his One True Pairing project and is performing a UK tour in support of new album Endless Rain which came out via Domino. Described by The Guardian as “heavy, hymnal folk”, he is heading out on the road in March, taking in Alphabet in Brighton on the 14th, the Cube Cinema in Bristol on the 15th and Band on the Wall in Manchester on the 16th.

Known for their richly orchestrated, darkly beautiful music, Tindersticks have carved a niche for themselves since their inception in the early 1990s. They returned with their new album Soft Tissue earlier this year, which earned itself a four star review from The Guardian: “the album’s sound … is abundant with lovely, subtle details.” They headline London’s Royal Albert Hall with a special performance including live strings on 17 March. Opening the night night is Irish folk singer Oisin Leech whose soulful melodies and heartfelt lyrics will set the stage perfectly for one of the UK’s most vital bands.

Following her spellbinding performance at the Proms and a sold-out show at Cadogan Hall earlier this year, sensational singer Lizz Wright will bring her soaring jazz, gospel, blues and folk infused sound to the Barbican on 18 March. Canadian singer-songwriter and The Voice UK star STORRY will open the show with her lyrical songs and impressive voice, ahead of her headline shows in April.

After a 7 year hiatus, the Neil Cowley Trio returned with a new album last year and are heading out on a UK tour this Spring. Following their sold-out EFG London Jazz Festival show in 2024, they present music from their outstanding new album, Entity, alongside some fan-favourite Cowley classics at venues across the UK from 22 April to 3 May.

After selling out one Jazz Cafe and two EartH shows in 2024, Tony Ann returns for his biggest London show to date as he takes over the Barbican Hall. This will be followed with shows at RNCM Concert Hall, Manchester and St George’s, Bristol. Ann is a virtuoso solo pianist who seamlessly blends contemporary and classical styles. As a harmony connoisseur, he pushes the limits of neoclassical and popular music, crafting emotionally rich compositions.

Frontman Ilhan Ersahin is one of those rare moguls of the New York City underground scene via his club and record label, Nublu, and he’s spread his New York energy throughout the world whose jazz-rock fusion reaches the Jazz Cafe in London on 12 May.

Enji’s life has been a tapestry woven with threads from diverse cultures. Born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, she was immersed in the rich traditions of Mongolian folk music from a young age. As she continues to navigate her path between tradition and innovation, Enji stands as a testament to the enriching experience of living between worlds and the art that emerges from embracing a multifaceted identity. She performs at Stone Nest in London on 14 May in support of her new album Sonor which was announced recently and arrives on 2 May.

Call it prairie noir or Canadiana desert rock: Toronto’s Abigail Lapell sings haunting, gorgeous modern folk songs. Lapell brings her live show to the Jazz Cafe on 14 May, performing vocals, piano, harmonica and finger style guitar. Joining her on stage is up-and-coming Canadian folk singer-songwriter Steph Cameron, presenting her new album Blood Moon, set to release in April 2025.

American folk artist Sam Amidon is performing his new release - and first on Rough Trade Records’ sister label River Lea Records - Salt River, at Stone Nest. The original date of 22 May SOLD OUT so a second show has been added on 21 May. On his new record, the Vermont native, who is now based in London, collaborated with saxophonist and producer Sam Gendel to reinterpret and regenerate ten songs that he has gathered together as part of a decades-long quest to recontextualise what it means to sing folk songs or make folk music.

Known for her carefree live performances and to the point lyrics, Summer Pearl sold out her headline show at the EFG London Jazz Festival at The Lower Third and also supported Philadelphia Hip Hop Legends; Digable Planets at Koko as part of the festival. She returns for a London headline show at Neon 194 on 22 May.

Praised by the Irish Times as a musician with an “insatiable appetite for adventure”, Irish fiddler Martin Hayes is announcing a UK tour in later this year with his trio completed by Brian Donnellan (bouzouki and concertina) and Conal O’ Kane (guitar), including two shows at London’s Stone Nest on 29 May.

Looking beyond the Spring, there are already a host of fantastic shows on-sale including Nashville guitarist William Tyler at the ICA on 4 June and virtuoso pianist Tigran Hamasyan at the Barbican on 16 June. The most streamed classical artist in the world, Ludovico Einaudi, has Sold Out 5 consecutive nights at the Royal Albert Hall from 30 June - 4 July ahead of further UK tour dates. Blending Kora with folk, Ballaké Sissoko & Piers Faccini will perform at the Union Chapel on 18 September in support of their new album Our Calling. On 19 October, Merope bring their contemporary vision of ancient Baltic music to Cafe Oto, tangling elements gleaned from jazz, traditional, ambient music, 20th century minimalism and kosmische.

Keep your eyes peeled for exciting news next week regarding the Summer Jazz Series, with Serious bringing a smattering of the best names in global jazz to the capital for special performances across the Summer.

SERIOUS Upcoming 2025 Programme

22 Feb - Madeleine Peyroux + Jack Barksdale - Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden

23 Feb - Madeleine Peyroux + Jack Barksdale - Cadogan Hall

2 Mar - Bill Laurance and Michael League - St George’s, Bristol

3 Mar - Bill Laurance and Michael League - Union Chapel

4 Mar - Bill Laurance and Michael League - RNCM Theatre, Manchester

13 Mar - One True Pairing - Band on the Wall, Manchester

14 Mar - One True Pairing - Alphabet, Brighton

15 Mar - One True Pairing - Cube Cinema, Bristol

17 Mar - Tindersticks - Royal Albert Hall

18 Mar - Lizz Wright + STORRY - Barbican

12 Apr - STORRY - Alphabet, Brighton

14 Apr - STORRY - Omeara, London

15 Apr - STORRY - YES, Manchester

16 Apr - STORRY - Headrow House, Leeds

17 Apr - STORRY - The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham

22 Apr - Neil Cowley Trio - St George’s, Bristol

23 Apr - Neil Cowley Trio - The Bradshaw Hall, Birmingham

27 Apr - Neil Cowley Trio - RNCM Theatre, Manchester

3 May - Neil Cowley Trio - Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden

10 May - Tony Ann - Barbican, London

11 May - Tony Ann - Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester

12 May - Tony Ann -St George’s, Bristol

12 May - Ilhan Ersahin’s Istanbul Sessions - Jazz Cafe

14 May - Enji - Stone Nest

14 May - Abigail Lapell + Steph Cameron - Jazz Cafe

21 May - Sam Amidon - Stone Nest

22 May - Sam Amidon - Stone Nest

22 May - Summer Pearl - Neon 194

27 May - Martin Hayes Trio - Howard Assembly Room, Leeds

28 May - Martin Hayes Trio - Halle St. Peters, Manchester

29 May - Martin Hayes Trio - Stone Nest

30 May - Martin Hayes Trio - Lantern Hall, Bristol

1 Jun - Martin Hayes Trio - Nevill Holt Festival, Leicestershire

4 Jun - William Tyler - ICA

16 Jun - Tigran Hamasyan - Barbican

30 Jun - 4 Jul - Ludovico Einaudi - Royal Albert Hall

6 Jul - Ludovico Einaudi - Co-op Live, Manchester

8 Jul - Ludovico Einaudi - 3Arena, Dublin

10 & 11 Jul - Ludovico Einaudi - Edinburgh Castle

15 Jul - Madeleine Peyroux - Cadogan Hall

18 Sep - Ballaké Sissoko & Piers Faccini - Union Chapel

19 Oct - Merope - Cafe Oto

Serious is one of the UK’s leading producers of live jazz, international and new music through concerts, festivals, tours, digital shows, talent development schemes, learning and participation programmes, and bespoke events for all.
https://serious.org.uk/

Jammin’ ColorS Agency - Forthcoming concerts, March 2025 to January 2026.

Thursday, February 20, 2025

The Belgian music agency Jammin' ColorS has announced a series of concerts by its artists during 2025 / 6 with shows taking place in more than fifteen different countries.

Jammin’ ColorS
BOOKING ı MANAGEMENT ı  PRODUCTION ı PROMOTION

Jammin’colorS is happy to share with you the next 70 concerts of 2025 in more than 15 countries !

These artists are some of the best nowadays !
Listen, discover & feel the music

The artists will play in Slovenia, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, Estonia, Austria, Croatia, Greece, UK & USA.

More concerts will be confirmed month by month in Europe, UK & USA.
Stay tuned !

See YOU at one of these shows

MARCH 2025

04 Mar 2025 - Jeremy Pelt Quintet - Cankarjev dom - Ljubljana - Slovenia

11 Mar 2025 - Grégory Privat “Phoenix” - Nica Jazz Club - Hamburg - Germany

19 Mar 2025 - Jeremy Pelt Quintet - Nica Jazz Club - Hamburg - Germany

21 Mar 2025 - Pierrick Pédron 4tet “The Shape Of Jazz To Come” - Jazz Station - Brussels - Belgium

30 Mar 2025 - Morley “The Songs Of Bob Dylan & Joni Mitchell” - City Winery - New York - United States

APRIL 2025

05 Apr 2025 - Reggie Washington feat. Pierrick Pédron & Stéphane Galland - Belgian Jazz Festival - Brussels - Belgium

08 Apr 2025 - Christie Dashiell 4tet - Nica Jazz Club - Hamburg - Germany

10 Apr 2025 - Reggie Washington feat. David Gilmore & Gene Lake - MASTERCLASS - Conservatorium Van Amsterdam - Amsterdam - Netherlands -

11 Apr 2025 - Black Lives - La Coopérative de Mai - Clermont-Ferrand - France -

13 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Le Crescent - Mâcon - France

14 Apr 2025 - Black Lives - New Morning - Paris - France

14 Apr 2025 - Herve Samb All Star 4tet / 1st part of Black Lives - New Morning - Paris - France

15 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Teatro Golden - Palermo - Italy

15 Apr 2025 - Jacques Schwarz-Bart Trio - Sunset-Sunside - Paris - France

16 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Teatro Metropolitan - Catania - Italy

16 Apr 2025 - Jacques Schwarz-Bart Trio - Sunset-Sunside - Paris - France

17 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Jazz Dock - Prague - Czech Republic - Tickets

18 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Bimhuis - Amsterdam - Netherlands - Tickets

19 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - De Singer - Rijkvorsel - Belgium

20 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Jazz Station - Brussels - Belgium

21 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Nica Jazz Club - Hamburg - Germany

22 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Opderschmelz - Dudelange - Luxembourg

23 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Bix - Stuttgart - Germany

24 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Fasching - Stockholm - Sweden

24 Apr 2025 - Raul Midón - Villa Ferber - Ermatingen - Switzerland

25 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Unterfahrt - Munich - Germany

25 Apr 2025 - Raul Midón - Villa Ferber - Ermatingen - Switzerland

26 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Jazz Nad Odra - Wroclaw - Poland

27 Apr 2025 - Morley feat. Chris Bruce - Abbaye de Neimenster - Grund - Luxembourg

28 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Jazz Fest Brno - Brno - Czech Republic

29 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Sunset-Sunside - Paris - France

29 Apr 2025 - Morley feat. Chris Bruce - Sunset-Sunside - Paris - France

30 Apr 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - Sunset-Sunside - Paris - France

30 Apr 2025 - Morley feat. Chris Bruce - Sunset-Sunside - Paris - France

30 Apr 2025 - Raul Midón - Nica Jazz Club - Hamburg - Germany

MAY 2025

01 May 2025 - Raul Midón - Zig Zag - Berlin - Germany

02 May 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - The Bird’s Eye - Basel - Switzerland

02 May 2025 - Raul Midón - Playhouse Gothenburg - Gothenburg - Sweden

03 May 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Greg Hutchinson - The Bird’s Eye - Basel - Switzerland

03 May 2025 - Morley feat. Chris Bruce - Nica Jazz Club - Hamburg - Germany

03 May 2025 - Raul Midón - Soul Mama - London - United Kingdom

03 May 2025 - Fabrice Alleman “Obviously” - Music Village - Brussels - Belgium

04 May 2025 - Morley feat. Chris Bruce - L’Archiduc - Brussels - Belgium

22 May 2025 - Jeanfrançois Prins feat. Jean-Paul Estiévennart, Plume, Danny Grissett, Jay Anderson & E.J. Strickland - Flagey - Brussels - Belgium

22 May 2025 - Pierrick Pédron 4tet “The Shape Of Jazz To Come”  - Viimsi Artium - Harju Maakond - Estonia

24 May 2025 - E.J. Strickland feat. Soweto Kinch & Reggie Washington - Unterfahrt - Munich - Germany

28 May 2025 - E.J. Strickland feat. Soweto Kinch & Reggie Washington - Sunset-Sunside - Paris - France

JUNE 2025

01 Jun 2025 - Morley feat. Chris Bruce - Joe’s Pub - New York - United States

21 Jun 2025 - Black Lives - Domaine d’O - Fête de la Musique - Montpellier - France

JULY 2025

12 Jul 2025 - Christie Dashiell 4tet - North Sea Jazz - Rotterdam - Netherlands

27 Jul 2025 - Black Lives - Glatt und Verkehrt Festival - Krems - Austria

AUGUST 2025

02 Aug 2025 - Jeremy Pelt Quintet - Jazz & Blues Festival de Gouvy - Gouvy - Belgium

08 Aug 2025 - Black Lives - Gaume Jazz Festival - Rossignol - Belgium

10 Aug 2025 - Black Lives - Au Grés du Jazz - La Petite Pierre - France

21 Aug 2025 - Christie Dashiell 4tet - Festival de Malguénac - Malguénac - France

22 Aug 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Jure Pukl & Greg Hutchinson - Festival de Malguénac - Malguénac - France

29 Aug 2025 - Jacques Schwarz-Bart - Jazz en Sol Mineur - Hussigny Godbrange - France

SEPTEMBER 2025

11 Sep 2025 - Grégory Privat Trio “Phoenix” - Théâtre Marni - Brussels - Belgium

13 Sep 2025 - Fabrice Alleman « Coltrane ballads and around » - Music Village - Brussels - Belgium

NOVEMBER 2025

12 Nov 2025 - Black Lives - Teatro Metropolitan - Catania - Italy

13 Nov 2025 - Black Lives - Teatro Golden - Palermo - Italy

19 Nov 2025 - Christie Dashiell 4tet - Fasching - Stockholm - Sweden

21 Nov 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Kendrick Scott - Jassmine - Warsaw - Poland

23 Nov 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Kendrick Scott - Moods - Zurich - Switzerland

23 Nov 2025 - Christie Dashiell 4tet - Festival Éclats d’Émail - Limoges - France

24 Nov 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Kendrick Scott - Porgy & Bess - Vienna - Austria

25 Nov 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Kendrick Scott - Cankarjev Dom - Ljubljana - Slovenia

26 Nov 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Kendrick Scott - Cultural Centre Čakovec - Čakovec - Croatia

27 Nov 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richadson, Seamus Blake & Kendrick Scott - Narodni Dom - Maribor - Slovenia

28 Nov 2025 - Joe Sanders feat. Logan Richardson, Seamus Blake & Kendrick Scott - Cultural Center Krško - Krško - Slovenia

29 Nov 2025 - Gene Lake Project - Paradox - Tilburg - Netherlands

30 Nov 2025 - Gene Lake Project - Music Im Pflegidach - Muri, Switzerland

DECEMBER 2025

05 Dec 2025 - Reggie Washington feat. David Gilmore & Gene Lake - Half Note - Athens - Greece

06 Dec 2025 - Reggie Washington feat. David Gilmore & Gene Lake - Half Note - Athens - Greece

07 Dec 2025 - Reggie Washington feat. David Gilmore & Gene Lake - Half Note - Athens - Greece

08 Dec 2025 - Reggie Washington feat. David Gilmore & Gene Lake - Half Note - Athens - Greece

JANUARY 2026

24 Jan 2026 - Herve Samb All Star 4tet - Opderschmelz - Dudelange - Luxembourg

Ticket links at;
https://www.jammincolors.com/

Northern Line 2025 is Revealed.

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Jazz North has announced its latest roster of Northern Line - the live talent development programme for jazz across the North. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Northern Line 2025 is Revealed

Jazz North announces its latest roster of Northern Line - the live talent development programme for jazz across the North

Amy Thatcher & Francesca Knowles, Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band, Ex-Easter Island Head, Ellen Beth Abdi & The Exu make up the cohort of northern artists to watch

Northern Line is the live touring programme providing transformative support for northern jazz artists. Today, Jazz North announces the five outstanding bands selected to join the cohort.

Chris Bye, Jazz North CEO, says:
“Jazz North is proud to reveal the latest Northern Line roster.  Selected by a panel of industry experts and with closer engagement than ever before with the stirling promoters that make up the northern jazz community, Northern Line Round 11 represents some of the strongest artists across the region.  From solo to big band, raw to polished, contemporary to experimental, there is music here to thrill crowds, push envelopes and make waves locally, nationally and internationally. 2025 is shaping up to be a very special time for the northern jazz scene.”

Hailing from Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool: Amy Thatcher & Francesca Knowles, Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band, Ex-Easter Island Head, Ellen Beth Abdi & The Exu join the celebrated cohort of artists and will be available to book for activity starting in September 2025.

On joining the roster, Ex-Easter Island Head’s Benjamin Duvall, says: 
“We are very grateful to be selected to be part of the Northern Line programme and look forward to working with the team to get our music in front of new audiences in the UK. Since the release of our most recent album Norther in 2024, we have had the privilege of taking our music further afield than ever before, using the material as a jumping off point for adventurous improvisations and left-turns. We’re particularly excited to explore and present these musical developments, alongside expanding the live experience for the audience with Northern Line’s help.”

Northern Line artists were chosen with the support of an esteemed advisory panel of promoters, radio producers, artists and festival teams - Rivca Burns, Rob Farhat, Jez Matthews, Hannabiell Sanders, Thomas Rees and Josh Aitman.

The programme provides essential support to artists’ live touring ambitions. Each of the five bands will receive a £3000 live touring bursary and tailored 1:1 support across an 18-month period.

Francesca Knowles, says:
‘We’re overjoyed to be on this year’s Northern Line, having seen so many incredible artists on the roster over the years.  It’s exactly the boost we need to make this the live show we’ve always wanted it to be, and to get out there touring and sharing our music further afield with the necessary support.  Touring is (financially) getting harder and harder nowadays, so we’re so grateful to be able to jump into it with confidence and can’t wait to see what unfolds in the next year.’

Audiences can see the full roster perform live at the Northern Line showcase at manchester jazz festival (mjf) on 17th & 18th of May as part of the festival’s opening weekend at First Street.

mjf is the North’s most celebrated jazz festival, with a reputation for fostering rising jazz talent through their own bespoke development schemes and innovative events programme. This year, the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary edition.

Industry guests are invited to attend a networking reception on the Sunday afternoon, hosted by Jazz North.

Northern Line Artist Bios:

Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band
Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band is an organic and fluid ensemble of young jazz musicians drawn from across the Leeds and wider UK jazz scene. The band’s origins were as an informal five piece Sun Ra tribute project but quickly grew into a dynamic 25+ strong musical force with a reputation for energetic live performances and experimental arrangements.
Winners of 2023 The Peter Whittingham Jazz Award they have played shows at Manchester, Leeds, Lancaster and London Jazz Festivals and Love Supreme.
https://www.instagram.com/fergsimaginarybigband/
https://trashcityrecords.net/
https://fergusquill.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-lancaster-jazz-festival

Ex-Easter Island Head
Benjamin D. Duvall, Benjamin Fair, Jonathan Hering, Andrew PM Hunt
Ex-Easter Island Head are a UK-based experimental musical collective composing and performing music for solid body electric guitar, percussion and other instruments. The group plays multiple electric guitars augmented through mechanical preparations and extended techniques, creating hypnotic performances rich in repetition, shimmering drones and melodic invention through purposefully limited means.
Their records and live performances have received significant critical acclaim from the likes of The Wire, the Quietus and the New York Times. Favourably compared to the likes of Steve Reich, Glenn Branca and John Cage, the groups’ music has been praised for its mixture of percussive drive, emotional warmth and playful experimentation.
The group’s latest album Norther (2024) was named album of the year by Europe’s leading independent culture website, The Quietus. An interview in the same year for The Guardian described their music as “amongst the boldest experiments in British music”.
https://www.youtube.com/@Ex-EasterIslandHead-ed1uz
https://www.instagram.com/exeih
https://www.facebook.com/exeasterislandhead/
https://bsky.app/profile/eeih.bsky.social
https://exeasterislandhead.bandcamp.com/

Amy Thatcher & Francesca Knowles
‘Envelope-pushing’ accordion and percussion duo Thatcher and Knowles defy the preconceptions of what their instruments can do, breaking with tradition while tactfully adopting it as a foundation for playful experimentation. Their sensitive and dynamic live show incorporates drums, synths, keys and vocals in an unapologetic brew of colourful and creative composition. Their debut album ‘Emergency of the Female Kind’ showcases a spectrum of human-ness and the pair’s undaunted attitude to kicking off a genre revolution, and in 2025 they bring exciting new music to the forefront.
‘Brimming with invention and energy. Together they’re dynamite’ - The Crack
‘Perverse, and often fantastic’ - MOJO
https://www.instagram.com/amy_and_fran/
https://www.facebook.com/thatcherandknowles
http://www.atfk.co.uk
https://amythatcherfranknowles.bandcamp.com/releases

Ellen Beth Abdi
Mancunian music-maker Ellen Beth Abdi uses live loops, pokey drums, undulating synths and quietly subversive lyrics to mould her unique sound.
‘Potent and lyrical electronic soul with a social conscience. For the thinkers and the movers of this dimension and others’.
Ellen’s enchanting and distinctive sound has gained her spots at Manchester International Festival, and support slots for Olivia Dean, Hollie Cooke, Ishmael Ensemble, Oscar Jerome and Allysha Joy. She was invited to collaborate live with music legend Angélique Kidjo, opening Aviva Studios for Manchester International Festival 2023.
https://www.instagram.com/ellenbethabdi/?hl=en-gb
https://m.facebook.com/EllenBethAbdi/
https://x.com/ellenbethabdi
https://www.tiktok.com/@ellenbethabdi
http://www.ellenbethabdi.co.uk 

The Exu
James Mainwairing, Emil Karlsen, Dave Kane
The Exu is a powerful Leeds-based Anglo, Celtic, Scandi trio that redefines contemporary jazz with raw improvisation and deep, grungy, rocky attitudes. Featuring Mercury Prize-nominated saxophonist James Mainwaring, renowned bassist Dave Kane, and rising star drummer Emil Karlsen, their debut self-titled album blends jazz, rock, and improvisation. Fans of Gard Nilssen Acoustic Unity, Fly Trio, and The Thing will resonate with their boundary-breaking sound.
https://www.instagram.com/the.exu/
https://theexu.com/
https://theexu.bandcamp.com/track/thatll-do-it

About Northern Line
Northern Line is Jazz North’s answer to live touring support for Northern artists. The programme champions the most pioneering, bold and innovative artists across the scene. It’s a roster of the best new talent, recognised by promoters, festivals, funders and management.
The programme supports northern artists to reach the next stage of their live performance career and meet their ambitions through targeted 1:1 support and network development. 
5 bands from jazz and jazz-related genres are selected each year through an open application and rigorous selection process using a panel of independent industry experts from across the UK.

About Jazz North
Jazz North is the Strategic Development Agency for jazz in the North of England.
Supported since its inception in 2012 by Arts Council England, Jazz North has a national and international reputation in Artist Development, Sector Support and Learning & Participation.
A registered charity that has developed and supported hundreds of artists, managers, venues, festivals and promoters over the years - Jazz North has a proud record of working with and on behalf of the northern jazz scene.

About manchester jazz festival (mjf) 
mjf is the city’s longest-running music festival, championing regional artists, new commissions, European collaborations and musical innovation.
mjf is back with a bumper edition from 16-25 May 2025, as the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary festival. Lighting up venues across the city, mjf2025 will see hundreds of northern, national and international jazz musicians descend on Manchester, showcasing the genre’s leading lights alongside its most exciting emerging talent. 
mjf is the only UK winner of the Europe Jazz Network Award for Adventurous Programming, the UK’s first festival Keychange signatory, supporting gender balance across stages, and was the first Founder Member of the Black Lives in Music charter. An Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation, mjf also receives support through GMCA’s Culture Fund and Manchester City Council’s Culture Partnerships Grants programme.
For more information and ticket bookings visit http://www.manchesterjazz.com

Promoters can contact artists directly or via Jazz North for round 11 bookings from September 2025.

Currently available Northern Line artists include Tom Harris, Ceitidh Mac, Nat Sharp, DAYZY and Ni Maxine.

Visit http://www.jazznorth.org/northern-line for more information.

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 09/02/2025.

Monday, February 10, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 09/02/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist - first broadcast Sunday 9th Feb 2025
Available now at wwww.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Andrea Ferrari
Drops
Liquid Walls
Dodicilune

Fabienne Ambhuel
Binocular
Thrive
Ubuntu

Bedmakers
Wheel Reels
Passe Montagne
Freddy Morezon

Kjetil Mulelid
Waltz for Agoja
And Now
Grappa

Joachim Kuhn
Höre und Sehe
Échappée
Intakt

Marcel Lüscher Quartett
Sing
Make Things Happen
Unit Records

Elia Aregger Trio
Strip Streets
Live
Unit Records

Adam Baldych
River
Portraits
ACT

Julia Hulsmann Quartet
Anti Fragile
Under the Surface
ECM

Sergio Armaroli & Giancarlo Schiaffini
Spirits Rejoice
Deconstructing Ayler in the Universe
Dodicilune

Johanna Summer & Jakob Manz
The Turmoil
Cameo
ACT

Julian & Roman Wasserfuhr
Dodo
Safe Place
ACT

Kitchen Toto
10
MécaniquePiano
Workin’ Label

Misha Mullov-Abbado
Song of Sobriety - No More Booze
Effra
Ubuntu

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time: http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 3pm onward

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Exceleration Music Announces Acquisition of Mack Avenue Music Group.

Thursday, February 06, 2025

Exceleration Music has announced the acquisition of Mack Avenue Music Group, the globally celebrated collection of jazz labels known for its exceptional roster of artists and award-winning catalogues.

We have received the following press release;

Exceleration Music Announces Acquisition of Mack Avenue Music Group, Expanding Exceleration’s Commitment to Jazz

Nashville, Jan 31, 2025 – Exceleration Music, the prominent global music company dedicated to advancing the future of independent music proudly announces the acquisition of Mack Avenue Music Group, the globally celebrated collection of jazz labels known for its exceptional roster of artists and award-winning catalogs.

This deal strengthens Exceleration Music’s commitment to both legacy and new jazz artists, as it already owns the legendary, multiple Grammy® award-winning, Candid Records. Post acquisition, Mack Avenue’s operations will be integrated with Candid Records to form Exceleration’s overall jazz group and will be led by current Mack Avenue President, Denny Stilwell. This collective jazz group will also feature a team of other key executives from both Mack Avenue and Candid Records.

Founded in 1999 by Gretchen Carhartt Valade, a passionate jazz fan and former chair of the American apparel brand Cathartt, Mack Avenue has been a driving force in the jazz world, delivering high-caliber releases from an esteemed lineup of artists. Key artists include Christian McBride, Cécile McLorin Salvant, and Kenny Garrett. Mack Avenue’s labels have earned several dozen Grammy® nominations and awards, making the company a hallmark of excellence within the music industry.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Denny, his team, and the incredible Mack Avenue artist roster into the Exceleration family,” said John Burk, Partner at Exceleration Music. “The combining of Mack Avenue and Candid Records represents an important step in our mission to build the ultimate independent label home for today’s greatest jazz artists. Together, we will continue to honor the labels’ remarkable heritages while providing the resources and expertise to help our artists reach new heights.”

“Joining forces with Glen, John and the like-minded team at Exceleration is a transformative opportunity for Mack Avenue and our unique artist roster,” said Denny Stilwell, President of Mack Avenue Music Group. “With Exceleration’s support, knowledge and enthusiasm, we are confident our special brand as artist advocates will thrive as we continue to bring this fantastic music to the world.”

The acquisition includes Mack Avenue’s extensive catalog and its active roster of artists, ensuring their music reaches an even wider audience while retaining the unique essence that has made the label a standout in the industry. Exceleration Music plans to leverage its robust distribution, marketing, and technological resources to enhance Mack Avenue’s global impact.

This acquisition exemplifies Exceleration Music’s unwavering commitment to preserving and advancing independent music culture, ensuring that iconic labels like Mack Avenue continue to thrive in an ever-evolving industry.

About Mack Avenue:
Mack Avenue Music Group is a Detroit-based independent jazz label founded in 1999 by businesswoman and philanthropist Gretchen Valade. For over 25 years, Mack Avenue has been a leader in the global music community, committed to artistic excellence and innovation while expanding its family of imprints to include Rendezvous Music, Artistry Music, MaxJazz, Brother Mister Productions, and, most recently, the historic Strata-East Records. The label has also partnered with esteemed organizations, including the estate of Oscar Peterson/Two Lions Records and the Erroll Garner Project/Octave Music, to preserve and celebrate the legacy of music from the past 70 years.
Mack Avenue and its roster of world-class artists have received dozens of GRAMMY® Awards and nominations, reflecting the label’s commitment and dedication to pushing the boundaries of jazz and contemporary music with high-quality recordings, artistic integrity, and creative freedom, ensuring its artists’ voices are heard around the globe.
Learn more at http://www.mackavenue.com.

About Candid Records:
Candid Records was founded by arranger and bandleader Archie Bleyer as an offshoot of Cadence Records. Bleyer tapped the legendary Nat Hentoff as A&R man and producer of the first 30 records designed to capture the vibrant and creative jazz scene in New York in 1960 and ‘61. One cannot underestimate the breadth of these recordings - from bebop to the avant-garde, to blues. Candid then sat dormant for years until Black Lion Records founder and producer Alan Bates bought the label in 1989 and relaunched another highly successful era, recording another 300 titles and breaking stalwart artists such as Jamie Cullum and Stacey Kent. To continue the legacy, Bates sold the company to Glen Barros and Candid became the foundational label of the newly formed Exceleration Music Partners. Since its relaunch with Exceleration in 2021, the label has faithfully reissued its historic catalog and released a slate of highly celebrated new recordings from Eliane Elias, Wayne Shorter, Terri Lyne Carrington and more. The
Exceleration era of Candid has earned nine GRAMMY® nominations and five GRAMMY® awards to date.
Learn more at http://www.candidrecords.com.

About Exceleration Music:
Exceleration Music is a company formed by global music industry leaders Glen Barros, John Burk, Amy Dietz, Charles Caldas, and Dave Hansen, to invest in the future of independent labels and artists. Established in 2020 with the core founding values of integrity, fairness, openness, humility and excellence, Exceleration offers personalized solutions to entrepreneurs seeking capital to achieve growth as well as those trying to achieve liquidity or an honorable exit. The company’s growing team of data, sales, and marketing experts, enhanced by the acquisition of leading digital and physical distribution and music services company Redeye Worldwide, works to preserve and enhance the legacies of both entrepreneurs and their artists alike. To date, Exceleration has acquired or formed strategic relationships with leading independents including +1 Records, Alligator, Azadi, Bloodshot, Candid, Down The Road, Heroic, Kill Rock Stars, Mom+Pop, SideOneDummy, The Ray Charles Foundation / Tangerine Records and Yep Roc Records. Learn more at http://www.excelerationmusic.com

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 26/01/2025.

Monday, January 27, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 26/01/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist from Sunday 26th January 2025

Makiko Hirabayashi Weavers
Up River
Gifts
enja/yellowbird

Bosque Sound Community
12 Angry Mushrooms
12 Angry Mushrooms
A.MA Records

Baschnagel Group
The Matrix has You
Luna Submarina
Unit Records

The Exu
Waffles
The Exu
Discus Music

Alexey Kruglov
Beyond the Silently Screaming Graveyard.
Transfiguration 100. Duos
SoLyd

Ingi Bjarni
Uplift
Hope
Losen

Clemens Kuratle Ydivide
Hamsters Wheel
The default
Intakt

Garn
Durchzogen
Loopwheel
RabbitHill Records

Escanzen
I Don’t Like Your Weird Stuff
To Not Forget the Stars
Auand

Glebe
L’Iseran
Gaudí
ECN

François Couturier, Dominique Pifarély
La chanson des vieux amants
Preludes and Songs
ECM

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 3pm onward

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 12/01/2025.

Monday, January 13, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 12/01/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist, 12th January 2025

Now available at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Xhosa Cole
Trinkle, Tinkle
On a Modern Genius
Stoney Lane Records

Jakub Paulski
Listopada part 2
Free’odde
V Records

Gianni Mimmo & Ove Volquartz
To Put it Mildly
Say When
Aut Records

Descamps
Llasa
Descamps & Descamps
Aut Records

Krokofant
Harry Davidson
6
Is It Jazz

Unionen
Den Grimme Elling
Unionen
WeJazz Records

Phil Bancroft’s Beautiful Storm
Insect Love
Finding Hope (When All Seems Lost)
Myriad Streams

Kenji Herbert
Annie
A Million Forests of the Fall
Unit Records

John Hollenbeck & NDR BigBand
Owts Hgis
Colouring Hockets
Flexatonic Records

BSDE 4tet
Nord Scream 2, South Screams Too
Live at Parma Jazz Frontiere
GleaM Records

European Modern Jazz on the radio.

At any time: http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 3pm onward

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on Apple, Amazon, Deezer and other podcast sites.

Jazz events in and around Surrey and Berkshire during 2025.

Thursday, January 09, 2025

Guest contributor Trevor Bannister has forwarded the 'Surrey & Berks Jazzfinder', which lists forthcoming jazz gigs in Surrey, Berkshire and the surrounding areas.

January/February 2025

SURREY & BERKS JAZZFINDER

Jazz events in and around Surrey and Berkshire

The Albion, 34 Bridge Road, Molesey, East Molesey
3 February 2025 - Ember Big Band

Anne Boleyn Hotel, 29 The Hythe, Staines
Live jazz at lunchtime on the third Sunday of each month from 13:00 to 16:30 with lunch served at 13:30

The Barley Mow, Shepperton Green
Last Wednesday of each month - Alley Cats Jazz Band
15 January 2025- Peter Davies Quartet with Max Brittain
22 January 2025 - PD3
12 February, 14 May, 13 August, 5 November 2025 - Pimp My Jazz
12 July 2025 - Odyssey Blues & Soul Band

Bracknell Jazz at South Hill Park Arts Centre
10 January 2025 - Sarah Jane Eveleigh (voice) and Jonny Ford (Tenor)
7 February 2025 - The Karen Sharp Quartet
14 March 2025 - Jo Fooks (Tenor Sax), Steve Waterman (Trumpet), Buster Birch (Drums)
11 April 2025 - Martin Pyne’s “SMALL BLUE”
2 May 2025 - SATORI
13 June 2025 - Allison Neale (Alto), Colin Oxley (Guitar)
4 July 2025 - The Georgia Mancio Quartet
8 August 2025 - Karen Street (Accordion), And Tweed (Saxophone) & the Jazz Lions
5 September 2025 - Anöna Trio
3 October 2025 - ‘El Chamuyo’ Tango Quartet
7 November 2025 - Chris Biscoe plays Mike Westbrook

Carshalton Jazz, CryerArts Carshalton
15 January 2025 - The Filthy Six
12 February 2025 - An Adventurous Dream: The Music of Billy Strayhorn & Duke Ellington
12 March 2025 - Steve Waterman
16 April 2025 - Olivia Cure

Elmbridge Jazz clubs - Jazz at Imber Court Sports Club. Approx every month, usually on a Sunday

Guildford Jazz is a not-for-profit community arts organisation, bringing Britain’s finest jazz musicians to a local audience in an intimate and welcoming jazz club environment.
17 January 2025 - Dave Limina & Ross Stanley Hammond Organ Duo
23 January 2025 - James Davison & Callum Au Quintet - SOLD OUT!
14 February 2025 - Dele Sosimi Afrobeat Quintet

Griffin Park Jazz Club, Brentford - Traditional jazz on the second Monday of the month. Doors 19:45, Music 20:30 - 23:00. Admission £6

Hampton Hub Club, 3 Ashley Road, Hampton, TW12 2JA
16 January 2025 - Akasha - Fantastic Psychedelic Jazz
18 January 2025 - The Derek Nash Experience
26 January 2025 - Big Band Jazz with Dave Jones Nonet
22 February 2025 - Some Kinda Wonderful presents The Wonder of Stevie
23 February 2025 - Martin Nickels All Star Jazz Tentet
27 February 2025 - The Anita Carmichael Band
6 March 2025 - OMAR + QCBA
30 March 2025 - The Vince Dunn Jazz Orchestra

Jazz in Reading - A live jazz gig listings service from Jazz in Reading. Features mostly modern jazz gigs happening within 20 Miles or so of Reading

Login lounge - Weekly jazz brunch events every Sunday at The Atrium, 34 Park Street, Camberley, GU15 3PL
12 January 2025 - Jazz Samba
19 January 2025 - The Claire McAllister Trio
26 January 2025 - Trad’s Army
2 February 2025 - Rainey’s Ragtime 5
9 February 2025 - The Sarah Jane Eveleigh Quintet
16 February 2025 - The Maiuko Quartet and Special Guest Paul Brassington
23 February 2025 - The Nette Robinson Trio ft Tony Woods & Meredith White
02 March 2025 - The Ian Thomson Quintet
09 March 2025 - Hugh Turner’s Guitar Fiesta
16 March 2025 - Tony Woods & The Jazz Lions

Jazz at The Maltings, Farnham - Thursday lunchtimes, 13:00 to 14:00. House trio (Alex Forsyth, David Kirby and Marianne Windham) with monthly guest

Marlow Jazz Club, The Royal British Legion, Marlow - Gigs usually on Tuesdays
14 January 2025 - The Brandon Allen Quartet

Milford Arms - Jazz at the Milford Arms, 574 London Road, Hounslow. Every other Monday from 8:00pm

The Old Court, Windsor
19 January 2025 - Special Gala Charity Music Concert
25 February 2025 - Jazz Sabbath
Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Atwood Road, Maidenhead
10 January 2025 - The Jo Harrop Quartet
25 January 2025 - Oh la la! - A Night in Paris
7 February 2025 - Nic Meier and Friends
7 March 2025 - The Benn Clatworthy Quartet
4 April 2025 - Georgia Mancio Group
11 April 2025 - Where Rio de Janeiro Meets Bahia
Pangbourne Jazz Club - Pangbourne Working Mens Club, First Sunday of the month
2 February 2025 - Andy Panayi (Sax)
2 March 2025 - Mark Nightingale (Trombone)
6 April 2025 - Roger Beaujolais (Vibes)
4 May 2025 - Simon Bates (Sax)
1 June 2025 - Alex Clarke (Sax)
6 July 2025 - Denny Ilett (Guitar)
10 August 2025 - Derek Nash (Saxophone)
7 September 2025 - Alan Barnes (Saxophone and Clarinet)
5 October 2025 - Chloe du Pre (Vocals and Piano)
2 November 2025 - Jim Mullen (Guitar)
7 December 2025 - Paul Higgs (Trumpet)

Jazz Cafe - POSK (Polish Social and Cultural Association, Hammersmith
10 January 2025 - Duncan Lamont Songbook!
11 January 2025 - Laura Jurd
17 January 2025 - Lulu Pierre & the Copasetics: Tribute to Sarah Vaughan
18 January 2025 - Above the Clouds and Beyond: Ilario Ferreri Trio
24 January 2025 - Jonny Liebeck Quintet: Influences (EP Launch)
25 January 2025 - Imperial College Big Band & Oxford University J.O.
31 January 2025 - Way Out West Presents: The Music of Miles and Monk
1 February 2025 - Elliot Frost: Transatlantic Album Launch
7 February 2025 - Tenor Madness - Preludes and Grooves: Bach Reimagined!
8 February 2025 - Marta Mathea Radian Qrt: Polish Jazz Goes to the Cinema
14 February 2025 - Amy Lives! With a Valentine Twist!
15 February 2025 - El Chamuyo Tango-Jazz Qrt, ft Kamila Bydlowska
21 February 2025 - Chris Dean and his Quartet: Sliding Through Jazz!

Jazz at Progress - Progress Theatre, The Mount, Christchurch Road, Reading
21 February 2025 - Empirical Quartet
4 April 2025 - John Law’s Re-Creations “Many Moons” Tour
16 May 2025 - A Portrait of Bill Evans - John Horler Trio
27 June 2025 - Emily Masser Quartet

Riverside Arts Jazz - Monthly jazz concerts at Riverside Arts Centre generally on Sundays

Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre, Walton on Thames
19 January 2025 - 12:15pm Jazz and beer with Enrico Tomasso’s Riverboat Shufflers
7 February 2025 - 8:00pm The Green Chain Quartet
16 February 2025 - 12:15pm Jazz and beer with Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band
8 March 2025 - 8:00pm Jazz Sabbath

Runnymede Jazz Club - Traditional Jazz Bands on a monthly basis, generally on the last Friday of the month. Concerts from 7.30 pm to 10.00 pm at The Addlestone Centre, Addlestone, Surrey
31 January 2025 - Jeremy Huggett’s Jazz & Boogie Band;
28 February 2025 - Tad Newton’s Jazz Friends;
28 March 2025 - Richard Leach’s Street Band
25 April 2025 - The Forest Hill Owls
30 May 2025 - The Excelsior Vintage Jazz Band
27 June 2025 - The Windy City Weatherbirds

Surrey Jazz Orchestra - Last Tuesday of the month at Jacobs Well Village Hall, Guildford (unless stated as elsewhere), plus other gigs in between
28 January 2025 - With Lana
25 February 2025 - With Nate Rogers
25 March 2025 - With Paul Hudson
29 April 2025 - With young talent Oliver Eley
27 May 2025 - TBC
24 June 2025 - TBC
29 July 2025 - TBC

Twickenham Jazz Club - Wednesday nights at The Cabbage Patch. Doors @ 7pm, Music @ 8pm

Watermill Jazz - Every Tuesday night, 8:30pm, Betchworth Park Golf Club
14 January 2025 - A Celebration of the music of Scott Hamilton
21 January 2025 - Kevin Hays & Jorge Rossy
28 January 2025 - Adrian Cox Trio - ‘Makin’ Runs’
4 February 2025 - Jay Phelps’ Kind of Blue Quartet
11 February 2025 - Jacqui Dankworth & Charlie Wood
18 February 2025 - Art Themen Quintet
25 February 2025 - Maura Segura Electric Quartet: Dunia

Way Out West - Regular monthly gigs at the Turks Head in Twickenham (unless stated otherwise)
19 January 2025 - Chris Biscoe plays Mike Westbrook - Riverhouse Barn, Walton On Thames
31 January 2025 - WoW presents Monk/Miles at the Posk, Hammersmith
16 February 2025 - Kate Williams
28 February 2025 - WoW presents West Side Story at the Posk, Hammersmith
23 March 2025 - Tom Millar
28 March 2025 - WoW presents Ellington/Strayhorn at the Posk, Hammersmith
20 April 2025 - Pete Hurt

Wraysbury, 1215 Club - The Hub, 12 High Street, Wraysbury
31 January 2025 - The Karen Sharp Trio

JAM SESSIONS

The Barley Mow, Molesey Road, Hersham KT12 4RS - Weekly jazz jam Wednesdays at 12:00

Guildford Bluegrass Jam, The Keep, Guildford - First Monday of the month at 19:30

Guildford Jazz - Last Tuesday of the month at The Britannia Pub, 9 Millmead, Guildford, GU2n 4BE Free entry, no tickets needed

Poacher Inn, South Warnborough - Sunday 15 September 2024 16:00 - 18:00

Jazz at the Steps - The Stepping Stones Pub, Westhumble Street, Dorking - Last Monday of the month at 19:45

Waverley Jazz Jams - First Sunday of each month (5-8pm) at the Waverley Abbey House Lounge

The Windsor Castle, 378 Carshalton Road, Carshalton, SM5 3PT - Last Wednesday of every month, 19:00 arrival for a 19:30 start

Woking Weekly Jam, Trinity Methodist Church, Brewery Road, Woking - NOT JUST JAZZ!

The Woods Shed Jazz Club - Village Centre, Englefield Green - Regular jazz workshop/jam session on Monday evenings (term time only). Contact Tony Woods for more details

JAZZ FESTIVALS & EVENTS
None advertising at the moment

BIG BAND LISTINGS

Berkshire
Apollo Big Band - Stockcross, near Newbury
Blue Sky Big Band
Dr G’s Little Big Band
The IJO Big Band
MillsTones Dance Band
Remix Jazz Orchestra - Finchampstead
Supertonics Big Band - Bracknell

Surrey
Big Beer Band
Centrepiece Big Band
Ember Big Band
Farnham Big band
Gray Matter Big Band
Jetstream Jazz Big Band - Gatwick
Jon Bird Big Band
Kingswood Big Band - Kingswood
Milestone Big Band
The OMEGA BIG BAND
Paul Sykes Big Band
Redstone Community Big Band
Rhythm and Groove Big Band - Godalming
Ron Green Big Band
Runnymede Jazz Orchestra - Egham
Somethin’ Else Big Band
Surrey Jazz Orchestra
Thames TV Big Band

Surrey Jazzfinder
If you would like to be added to the mailing list, know of any other regular events in the area or are organising a concert or event please let us know at:
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Liam Ward - 2025 gig list.

Monday, January 06, 2025

Blues harmonica player and vocalist Liam Ward has announced his gig schedule for February to November 2025 which will feature his playing and singing with a variety of different line ups. Details att

Liam Ward writes;

LIAM WARD MUSIC
2025 gigs

I’m about to jet off on my winter getaway, but I have lots of gigs planned for when I return in February. I’ve been invited on tour with an Oasis tribute band (playing the harmonica parts from their famous Knebworth 1996 show) and I will be on some gigs with the Jake Leg Jug Band (as a dep rather than a full-time member). Finally, I’m extremely excited to be teaching and performing at the World Harmonica Festival in Germany in October!

More events to be announced soon, check the website for the full list.
https://www.liamwardmusic.com/gigs-and-workshops

See you at one of the following:

SAT 15TH FEBRUARY Oasis Supernova @ Middlesborough Town Hall

​

TUE 18TH FEBRUARY Cole & Ward @ Supper Club Hampton-in-Arden

​

WED 19TH FEBRUARY The Jake Leg Jug Band - Gospel Concert @ St. Lawrence’s Church (part of Biddulph Up in Arms)

​​

FRI 21ST FEBRUARY Oasis Supernova @ Camp & Furnace (Liverpool)

​​

FRI 28TH FEBRUARY-SUN 2ND MARCH
EuroBlues Acoustic Weekend (Wantage, Oxfordshire)

​​

FRI 14TH MARCH Warren James Trio @ Sutton Coldfield Guitar Club

​

WED 5TH MARCH Cole & Ward @ Cafe Rene (Gloucester)

​

SAT 15TH MARCH Oasis Supernova @ Middleton Arena

​

FRI 21ST MARCH Oasis Supernova @ Tavistock Wharf

​

SAT 22ND MARCH Oasis Supernova @ The 1865, Southampton

​

TUE 25TH MARCH The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Calne Jazz Club (Wiltshire)

​​

TUE 1ST APRIL The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Leeds Jazz Club

​​

FRI 4TH APRIL The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Valley Folk Club (Pontardawe, Wales)

​​

SUN 6TH APRIL The Jake Leg Jug Band @ The Chestnut Tree (Worcester)

​

SAT 12TH APRIL Walk On Back to Happiness @ Hanger Farm Arts Centre (Totton)

​​

WED 23RD APRIL Cole & Ward @ The Carpenters Arms, Miserden (Gloucestershire)

​

FRI 25TH APRIL The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Ongar Jazz Club (Essex)

​

SAT 26TH APRIL The Jake Leg Jug Band @ York House Centre (Stoney Stratford)

​

SUN 27TH APRIL The Jake Leg Jug Band - Gospel Concert @ St. Mary’s Church Primrose Hill (London)

​

THU 1ST MAY The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Blues with Bottle (Ramsgate)

​

SAT 3RD MAY The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Green Note (Camden)

​

SUN 4TH MAY The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Filey Folk Festival (North Yorkshire)

​

TUE 6TH MAY Cole & Ward Trio @ Bristol Blues Club

​

SAT 10TH MAY Oasis Supernova @ Stalyfest (Stalybridge)

​

FRI 20TH JUNE Oasis Supernova @ Old Fire Station (Carlisle)

​

SAT 21ST JUNE Oasis Supernova @ Venue Cymru (Llandudno)

​​

SAT 28TH JUNE The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Mogfest ‘25 (Hampshire)

​

SUN 29TH JUNE The Jake Leg Jug Band @ M&J Jazz Weekend (Dawlish Warren, Devon)

​​

SUN 3RD AUGUST Oasis Supernova @ Kendal Calling

​

SAT 6TH SEPTEMBER The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Bridport Arts Centre (Dorset)

​​​

FRI 12TH SEPTEMBER The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Driotwich Jazz Club

​​

THU 18TH SEPTEMBER The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Ebberston Village Hall (Scarborough)

​

SAT 20TH SEPTEMBER Oasis Supernova @ Made in Manchester 2025 (Stockport)

​​

SUN 21ST SEPTEMBER The Story of Skiffle @ Livermead Jazz Weekend (Torquay)

​

THU 2ND OCTOBER The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Pump House Jazz Club (Watford)

​

SAT 18TH OCTOBER Oasis Supernova @ The Forum Theatre, Romily

FRI 31ST OCTOBER-SUN 2ND NOVEMBER
World Harmonica Festival (Trossingen, Germany)

​

SAT 8TH NOVEMBER The Liam Ward Band @ Diseworth Blues Club (Leicestershire)

​

SAT 15TH NOVEMBER The Jake Leg Jug Band @ Calstock Arts (Cornwall)

​

SUN 23RD NOVEMBER The Jake Leg Jug Band @ The Chestnut Tree (Worcester)

Cheers,
Liam.

https://www.liamwardmusic.com/gigs-and-workshops

Shirley Smart - Newsletter, January 2025.

Thursday, January 02, 2025

Cellist, composer, improviser, bandleader & educator Shirley Smart has forwarded her latest newsletter including news of forthcoming live appearances with a variety of different line ups.

Shirley Smart writes;

Dear friends,

Happy New Year!!
It is, of course, semi-obligatory to send out a New Year Updates mailout, so here we are….
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and the start of 2025 finds you suitably rested / raring to go / hungover (delete as appropriate).

I have a few nice upcoming gigs in January with my main projects, and would be lovely to see you there if you are around!

11th Jan
Shirley Smart Trio
Toulouse Lautrec
19:30
Book Tickets
https://www.toulouselautrec.co.uk/etn/shirley-smart-trio-2/

23rd Jan
Quanta Piano Trio
Lauderdale House
19:00
Book Tickets
https://www.lauderdalehouse.org.uk/quanta

30th Jan
Shirley Smart Sextet
Vortex Jazz Club
19:30
Book Tickets
https://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/event/shirley-smart-sextet-3/

Plans for 2025

I’m hoping to develop them all of these projects in 2025 with new material amd recordings coming up.

I’m also wending my way through my PhD project- an autoethnography based on my 10 years in Jersualem - which I hope to complete this year. I’m also developing some creative writing ideas which have been stuffed away in my brain for yearsand I have decided its time to get them out,  so new things may be coming soon!

I wish you all the very best for 2025, and hope to see you around somewhere soon!

Sx

Shirley Smart Trio
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y7KnRAX6ok
My longstanding project with John Crawford on piano and Demi Garcia Sabat on drums will hopefully be recording a new album this year.
Our first album ‘Long Story Short’ drew on my years in Jersualem, and has evvoled as a trio through our many erpformances together over the past few years.
My years in Jerusalem were a huge factor in my life, but I have been seeking other inspirations for the development of our sound and this year a trip to Barcelona and a visit to the buildings of Antoni Gaudi, especially the epic Basicila de la Sagrada Familia, and the rood garedn at the Pedrera had a very strong impact on me. Demi, who has played drums and percussionin my trio for many years, is also from Barccelona so this is a nice completing of a circle, and I am now working on our second album, which I hope will be released during 2025.
In the meantime, our current dates can be found here:
https://www.shirleysmart.com/gig-diary

Quanta
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGbpIuogKRw
Quanta is a new piano trio, combining classical repertoire with improvised material, drawing on jazz, folk and free improvisation.
This is a very special project, that I look forward to developing further in 2025, and hope that we will also record our first album during the year.
https://www.shirleysmart.com/gig-diary

Shirley Smart Sextet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGWpPby3fE0
This project is an extension of my trio for which I wrote a set of music in 2024.
It features some amazing musicians - in addtiion of Demi and John, is James Arben on tenor sax, Alistair Martin on trumpet and Marcus Penrose on bass.
Sextet Dates
https://www.shirleysmart.com/gig-diary

FULL CONCERT SCHEDULE:

2025

11.01 Shirley Smart Trio           Toulouse Lautrec                       20:30

​​​

23.01 Quanta                         Lauderdale House                     20:00

​​

26.01 Quanta                         Mill Hill Libary                         17:00

​​

30.01 Shirley Smart Sextet         Vortex Jazz Club                       20:30

​​

02.02 Medland/Smart Duo         Green Note                               20:00

​

13.02 Stories Trio                   Sound Bureau                           20:00
                                        @ The Hamlet, Streatham

​

23.04 Medland/Smart Duo         The Lescar, Sheffield                   20:00

​​

07.05 Shirley Smart Trio           Klaipeda Festival, Lithuania         tbc

​​​

12.05 Quanta                         Luton Music                             19:30

​​

15.05 Shirley Smart Trio           Haslemere Festival                     20:00

​​

17.05 Medland/Smart Duo         Penge Music                           13:00

​​​

18.05 Quanta                         Egham Music Society                 20:00

​​

17.07 Bezique                         Lichfield Festival                       20:00

​​

23.08 Bezique                         South Hill Arts Centre               20:00

​​

14.09 Bezique                         The Music Mix, Wivenhoe​          20:00

https://www.shirleysmart.com/

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 15/12/2024.

Monday, December 16, 2024

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 15/12/2024, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist, 15th and 22nd December 2024

This week’s show (and next week’s) feature my personal favourite albums of the year.

I don’t attempt to do a “best of”, I play them in alphabetical order, and they simply reflect my personal taste rather than any sort of objective measure.  After two months away from home (due to flooding) I know that I have missed some albums – so apologies if that included your favourites. People who enjoy my show will probably enjoy this selection - but most of the albums probably won’t feature on anyone else’s list.

I’ve put the full list here - Part one is available now on http://www.mixcloud.com, at Camp radio and as a podcast - Part two will be broadcast next Sunday and then available elsewhere next week.

I’ll be back with new releases in January - meanwhile do have a great Christmas and lets look forward to a happy and musical new year

Regards
Peter

As it turns out:
This year’s 20 albums include
7 from UK;  3 from Germany;  2 from Denmark
1 each from Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland
Only two labels (Clean Feed and Ubuntu) have more than one in the list – all the others come from a variety of independent labels.
My selection, in approximately alphabetical order:

ARTIST
ALBUM

Aki Takase/Daniel Erdmann
Ellington

Andrew Woodhead
Swing you Sinners

Blueblut
Lutebulb

Fire!
Testament

Flat Earth Society
The Last One

Friends & Neighbours
Circles

Ill Considered
Precipice

Japanic (Aki Takase)
Forte

Laura Jurd & Paul Dunmall
Fanfares & Freedom

Mike Chillingworth
Friday the Thirteenth

Moritz Stahl
Traumsequenz

Pat Thomas – Bleyschool
Where?

Rob Cope
Gemini

Roberto Ottaviano
Eternal Love People

Samuel Blaser Trio
Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground

Smag På Dig Selv
SPDS

Söndörgő with Chris Potter
Gyezz

Surman (John)
Words Unspoken

TGB
Room 4

Zeeberg (Jeppe)
Six Additional Pieces of Piano Music

European Modern Jazz on the radio.

At any time:
http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 3pm onward

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on various podcast sites.

Jazz in the West Midlands, December 16th - 22nd 2024.

Monday, December 16, 2024

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.

The Week Ahead

A roundup of jazz, funk & soul gigs to check out this week in the West Midlands area.

The Week Ahead

A roundup of jazz, funk & soul gigs to check out this week in the West Midlands area.

Monday 16th December

Table Jazz Christmas Special
The Table, 33 Lower Hall Lane, Walsall WS1 1RR





Wednesday 18th December

Christmas Special with the Lichfield Jazz Big Band
The Cathedral Hotel, Lichfield, WS13 7AR



Jazz Jam with Ray Butcher
Bedford Street Bar, 4 Bedford Street, Leamington Spa CV32 5DY



Thursday 19th December

Christmas Jazz at St. Anne’s Church
St Anne’s Church, Chasetown, Burntwood, WS7 3QL



Rod Mason / Bryan Corbett / Tom Kincaid
Alsager Golf & Country Club, Audley Rd, Alsager Stoke-on-Trent ST7 2UR



RBC Jazz Gala
Eastside Jazz Club, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, 200 Jennens Road, B4 7XR



Detroit Soul Collective
The Jam House, 3-5 St Pauls Square, Birmingham B3 1QU



Friday 20th December

The Brand New Heavies
B:Music, Town Hall, Victoria Square, Birmingham B3 3DQ



Simon Spillett Big Band play Tubby Hayes
Unit 5 Fargo Village Far Gosford Street, Coventry CV1 5ED



The Notebenders
Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space, Symphony Hall, Centenary Square, Birmingham, B1 2EA

Detroit Soul Collective
The Jam House, 3-5 St Pauls Square, Birmingham B3 1QU

Saturday 21st December

Calypso Moon
St Swithun’s Church, Church Street, Worcester, WR1 2RH



A Cheeky Christmas Cracker with Ola Brown & John Morris
The Blue Piano, 24-26 Harborne Rd, Birmingham, B15 3AA



Detroit Soul Collective
The Jam House, 3-5 St Pauls Square, Birmingham B3 1QU

Sunday 22nd December

Metzmas Sunday Special
Hockley Social Club, 60 Hampton St, Birmingham B19 3LU

Have a great week!
Dave Fuller
Instigator, Music Spoken Here

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 08/12/2024.

Monday, December 09, 2024

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 08/12/2024, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist 08/12/2024

This is my final regular show of the year - next week will be the first of two shows rounding up my personal favourite albums of 2024.
This week’s show tries to catch up on all the recent releases - but I know I’ve missed some that will have to wait until January.
The show as usual is available now at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz and later on podcasting sites

Hayden Powell
Galaxies
Undergrowth
Bandcamp

Massimo Tata
Explorer
Kythnos
Alfa Music

Giancarlo Tossani Synapser
Do Geese See God
Nightrumor
Auand

Friso van Wijck
Framed
Candy Container
Trytone

Gregori Hollis
Dedicatòria
Now I know
Segell Microscopi

Markus Kaardal
Banjogoblins
Kaarma
Losen

Jansen – Jormin - Steinmetz
New Flower
The Pilgrimage
Traumton

Alessio Cazzetta
Crystal Castles
Love, Death & The Eternal Blues
Unit Records

Donder
Het Mierenlied
De Wonderen
W.E.R.F

Henkel Carlson Hall
Kreiseziehen
Kreiseziehen
AutRecords

Paggi, Dosoli, Conte
Attenti al Lupo
Fleca!
AutRecords

Colin Vallon
Ronce
Samares
ECM

Paul Dunmall & Kevin Figes
Baritone & Soprano Saxophone #1
Duos
Slam

Nick Bartsch’s Ronin
Module 66 (part)
Spin
Ronin Rhythm Records

European Modern Jazz on the radio;

At any time: http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz.

Weekly:

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 FM – West London Community Radio Sundays 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk Sundays 10am

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 3pm onward

Later as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast” on various podcast sites.

Warren James - Gig list, December 2024.

Friday, December 06, 2024

Guitarist & vocalist Warren James has forwarded his live performance schedule for December 2024 which will feature his playing with a variety of different line ups, including The Jake Leg Jug Band.

Warren James writes;

Gig List December 2024

FIRSTLY - thank you to everyone who showed support for live music in 2024 - to everyone who bought a ticket and paid to come into any venue that we performed at - OUR SINCERE THANKS

THE JAKE LEG JUG BAND - DECEMBER 2024 GIG DATES

​FRI 06 DEC 2024   ST JAMES CHURCH (AUDLEY, STOKE-ON-TRENT)
7.30pm 2 x 60 min sets, http://www.jmj.org.uk  GOSPEL CONCERT

​SAT 14 DEC 2024   SHROPSHIRE BLUES & ROOTS CLUB (LUDLOW)
8.00pm, 2 x 45 min sets, @ Ludlow Brewery. http://www.facebook.com/ShropshireBluesClub

​SUN 15 DEC 2024   STAFFORD JAZZ SOCIETY (STAFFORD)
12.30pm, 2 x 50 min sets. @ The White Eagle Club. wwwstaffordjazz.org

​SUN 22 DEC 2024   HALESOWEN JAZZ CLUB (WEST MIDLANDS)
8.00pm, 2 x 60 min sets. @ Halesowen Cricket Club.

​TUE 31 DEC 2024   DEN ENGEL (LEEK, STAFFORDSHIRE) 9.30pm 2 x 45 min sets, http://www.denengelleek.co.uk

WARREN JAMES’ - DECEMBER 2024 GIG DATES

Fri 6 – Audley, CeO Church – The Jake Leg Jug Band

Sat 7 – Aylesbury, Stoke Mandeville Christmas light turn on - The Silke Street Band
@4pm Town Centre
@5pm The Bell Pub

Sat 7 – Soho, Arts Bar, Frith Street – Silk Street Band @7pm

Sun 8 – Uttoxeter, The Vaults of Uttoxeter – The Hit Parade Heroes – Guest: Mike Owen @4pm

Thurs 12 – London, Soho – Silk Street Music

Sat 14 – Doveholes, Jazz Club – Baby Jools & The Jazzaholics @8pm

Sun 15 – Stafford, Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @12:30pm

Fri 20 – Tipton, Horseley Tavern – Hit Parade Heroes @8:30pm

Sat 21 – Louth, Jazz Club – The Story of Skiffle @8pm

Sun 22 – Halesowen, Jazz Club – Jake Leg Jug Band @8pm

Sun 29 – Worcester, Chestnut Tree – Warren James R’n'R duo @6pm

Tues 31 – Uttoxeter, The Vaults of Uttoxeter – The Hit Parade Heroes @4pm

Tues 31 – Leek, Den Engel – The Jake Leg Jug Band - NYE

http://www.warrenjamesguitar.com

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 01/12/2024.

Monday, December 02, 2024

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 01/12/2024, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist - first broadcast December 1st 2024

Hackney Colliery Band
Eleventy Three
Collaborations Vol 2
Bandcamp

Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamp
Petis Bouts
Ventre Unique
Bandcamp