Nice Jazz Festival facing cuts.

Tuesday, May 05, 2026

Nice Jazz Festival is facing funding cuts following a change in the city administration. Guest contributor Colin May reports.

Nice Jazz Festival facing cuts

While major festivals in the South of France, Jazz A Juan and Nuits du Sud , have announced their full line-ups for this summer , there has only been silence as to the Nice Jazz Festival line-up except for splashing three headliners none of whom are jazz names : US hip hop star Busta Rhymes, Nigerian-born, London-based Obongjayar who mixes pop, Afro-fusion and punk and Israeli singer Noga Erez, known for high-energy live shows.

The festival is owned and run by the city’s administration which has just changed following local elections, and the delay is partially accounted for by the time needed for the new team to get their proverbial feet under the table.

However the Nice Matin newspaper are reporting that it has now also emerged that the festival is facing a cut of 800,000 euros from its budget of 4 million euros. The city’s new administration came in on a manifesto pledge to cut local taxes and to fund this they are cutting spending and say the jazz festival has to bear its share.

The festival will still go ahead but be three days not four. One likely consequence of the reduction is that when the line-up is announced there will be four fewer jazz acts compared to last year. The cuts also raise concerns about whether the quality of the acts will be maintained but the new deputy mayor has offered reassurances “We will do well, and perhaps even better. I can guarantee that we have not sacrificed programming or artistic quality compared to what our predecessors had planned. If there are savings, they come from what was excessive or not necessarily well received.”

He went on “ “Next year’s edition will likely be partially rethought. I am working on an edition that had already been largely prepared “ The ambition apparently is to strengthen the OFF festival i.e. the fringe festival to ensure it is a celebration of jazz throughout the city not just in the main festival arena though some might argue this is not a new idea as last year’s festival was a significant step in that direction. In the meantime Nice will have to wait a little longer to find out what combination of jazz, rap and soul will be on offer at this year’s festival.

All quotes from an article in the Nice Matin.

COLON MAY

The Green Note, Camden Town, London, Newsletter 05/05/2026.

Tuesday, May 05, 2026

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

May Highlights

Hello Green Note Music Lovers,

May is in full bloom at Green Note, and we’re thrilled to bring you another month of carefully curated live music spanning folk, Americana, roots, indie and beyond.

Beautiful transatlantic pairing ROSWELL ROAD + GENEVIEVE RACETTE take to the stage tonight (Tues 5th May), blending Americana, contemporary folk and country-tinged indie-pop with rich harmonies and heartfelt songwriting. Expect an evening full of warmth, storytelling and beautifully crafted melodies. Later this week, master of guitar IAGO BANET returns with his dazzling solo guitar performance - fusing folk, blues, gypsy jazz and world music influences into a virtuosic instrumental set that is as rhythmically exciting as it is atmospheric (Thurs 7th May)!

This coming weekend we have a special matinée at Water Rats (Kings Cross) when highly acclaimed artists BOO HEWERDINE + YVONNE LYONS present THINGS FOUND IN BOOKS (Sat 9th May) is a truly unique collaboration weaving together songs inspired by notes, photographs and mementos discovered inside second-hand books. Later that evening, BISCUIT TOWN (Sat 9th May @ Green Note) shift the mood with a joyful dive into early jazz, swing and New Orleans blues, delivering upbeat rhythms, vintage grooves and an irresistible sense of fun perfect for a Saturday night!

As we move further into the month, Brooklyn-based trio DAMN TALL BUILDINGS (Tues 12th May) return with their high-energy blend of bluegrass, Americana, swing and ragtime, combining tight vocal harmonies with impressive instrumental interplay. HÄRVA TRIO (Wed 13th May) make their Green Note debut with a vibrant mix of Balkan folk, Roma traditions and Eastern European world music, full of dynamic improvisation and rich cultural textures, featuring accordion maestro Faith of Faith i Branko fame.

Also making his Green Note debut for a special matinée performance is award-winning Canadian indie-folk artist DANIEL JAMES MCFADYEN (Sat 16th May), offering poetic lyricism and an intimate, reflective performance.

This is just a selection of the many incredible artists who will be gracing our Green Note stage(s) in the coming weeks, so please do check out our EVENTS PAGE for the full listings. 

  And if you can’t decide what to book for, check out our SPOTIFY PLAYLIST for a taster of what’s coming up in May!
May 2026 Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0O97oloiqwYUrRXiNwIAY5?si=f9b4356e918941a2&nd=1&dlsi=19aa4c95c2944c47

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

COMING UP IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS…

Roswell Road + Genevieve Racette
Tue 5th May
Americana double bill featuring award-winning duo who have drawn comparisons to First Aid Kit and Fleetwood Mac + highly acclaimed folk-pop musician from Québec

Kosta Burgess
Wed 6th May
A magical evening of acoustic folk-Americana storytelling through songs old and new.
**SOLD OUT**

Iago Banet
Thu 7th May
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

Michael McGovern
Thu 7th May
THE WATER RATS
One of the most compelling new voices in contemporary folk… “I love it! What an unexpected gem!” folk legend Paul Brady
**SOLD OUT**

El Andaluz
Fri 8th May
Poetic and reflective Andalusian Nuba, trance-like Sufi music of the Sahara, delightful Turkish rhythms and classical Egyptian belly dances.

Vimala Rowe Trio
Fri 8th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
Drawing inspiration from the timeless artistry of Billie Holiday and the poetry of William Blake, blending jazz, soul, blues, and touches of Indian classical influence.

Matinée Show:
Things Found In Books
- Boo Hewerdine + Yvonne Lyons
Sat 9th May
THE WATER RATS
An album of songs written in response to a notice board in Culzean Castle’s second-hand bookshop littered with things that had dropped out of books

Matinée Performance: Nastee Chapel
Sat 9th May
Epic lyrical tales, clog dancing, flute playing, cajon stomping, guitar shredding.

Biscuit Town
Sat 9th May
An early-era swing band with a hard-driving acoustic rhythm in the finest New Orleans tradition

Strum & Blow
Sat 9th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
Tight vocal harmonies and blistering trombone and vocal solos over classic New Orleans jazz and blues songs

Matinée Show: Rebet Asker-Greek Roots Series
Sun 10th May
Greek Rebetiko… a series of songs from a selection of the greatest Greek composers…

Michael McGovern
Sun 10th May
One of the most compelling new voices in contemporary folk… “I love it! What an unexpected gem!” folk legend Paul Brady
**SOLD OUT**

Sam Casey Quartet
Sun 10th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
A chordless jazz quartet playing swinging standards

Seel & Sanders
Mon 11th May
Folk duo with influences from traditional & contemporary folk, jazz, Arabic, eastern, country, blues and Americana, among others.

Michael McGovern
Mon 11th May
THE WATER RATS
One of the most compelling new voices in contemporary folk… “I love it! What an unexpected gem!” folk legend Paul Brady
**SOLD OUT**

Damn Tall Buildings
Tue 12th May
“Bluegrass at heart, but pulling from a wide range of influences including swing, ragtime, jazz, and even a hint of contemporary perspective in the songwriting, they offer virtually unmatched energy and enthusiasm, underpinned by intelligent songs that don’t skimp on the infectiousness…” Saving Country Music

Hannah Green
Tue 12th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
Blending folk, indie, and ambient elements to craft a captivating, atmospheric sound, Green has built a reputation for immersive performances rooted in emotional honesty.

Härva Trio
Wed 13th May
A collaboration between three musicians brought together by a shared love of Roma and Balkan music, improvised expression, and cross-cultural storytelling.

Evelyn
Wed 13th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
A blend of the beauty and narrative of American and British folk songwriting with jazz, and with focus on the singularity of the everyday

Harry Diplock Trio
Thu 14th May
Rooted in the acoustic qualities of the Selmer guitar and heavily inspired by masters of both the French, Brazilian and American Jazz scene, the trio has a unique sound that is distinctly original.

Noelle Vaughn
& Her Nighthawks
Fri 15th May
Velvet-voiced jazz siren Noelle Vaughn returns to the stage at Green Note with a simmering after-dark set of smoky torch songs and red-hot standards

Dulcie May Moreno
Fri 15th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
UK based Jazz Artist Dulcie May Moreno’s music, blurs the lines between jazz, blues, latin, folk and rock to create her unique sound that is distinctive and instantly recognisable.

Matinée Show: Daniel James McFadyen
Sat 16th May
Modern folk landscape - bridging heartfelt storytelling with the communal spirit of classic Canadian songwriting.

Nathan & Jessie
Sat 16th May
“They swing hard and serenade gently, singing fluidly in 3 languages, oscillating from bittersweet jazz folk to country blues without missing a beat.” East Portland Blog

Close Keys
Sat 16th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
A collective made up of two lead guitars and double bass (James Hill) creating the upbeat Latin sound of Close Keys.

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

Tavi Nights
Sun 17th May
As the days stretch longer and the evenings glow a little warmer, we gather once again for another TAVI NIGHTS, where Poetry & Music unite.
**SOLD OUT**

Bossa Nova - Tribute to João Gilberto by Mario Bakuna
Sun 17th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
A concert dedicated to João Gilberto - the “father of Bossa Nova”

Elly O’Keeffe
+ Alan Daniel Tobin
Mon 18th May
Folk and Roots presents two Irish singer-songwriters

Marcus Bonfanti
Mon 18th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
“Utterly spellbinding” The Times / “The next British blues guitar hero” The Guardian

‘First Stages’ - Emerging Talent Showcase
Wed 20th May
Supporting young emerging songwriters! Green Note is proud to present… ‘First Stages’ - Emerging Talent Showcase

New Roots presents: Anoushka Lucas
Thu 21st May
Described by Jamie Callum as “an exceptional voice and a great songwriter”
**SOLD OUT**

Lauren Lucille
+ Silas Giron
Thu 21st May
THE BASEMENT BAR
A multi-genre journey through jazz, soul, bossa nova and pop; you will be left with a musical soul full of beauty and a heart full of love.

Spottiswoode
+ Kenny White
Fri 22nd May
Spottiswoode album release party double bill with Kenny White

Matinée Show:
Steve Ray Ladson
Sat 23rd May
Multi-talented US artist presents ‘Blackgrass Brothercana’ - on a mission to keep the ‘blues, funk, pop, soul and rock n roll’ alive!

Jacob Jolliff
& Rain of Animals
Sat 23rd May
An explosive mix of musical loves including bluegrass and irish/scottish traditions through the lens of an improvised spirit.

Porch Swing Blues
Sat 23rd May
THE BASEMENT BAR
Blues, Gospel, Ragtime and Beyond…

Pure Represents: Sunday Sessions (Matinée Show)
Sun 24th May
Pure Represents, an independent live booking agency, will be presenting an afternoon of music where the audience and musicians are encouraged to enjoy a phone free afternoon, connecting through music in an intimate setting

Julie July Band
Sun 24th May
From tender ballads to foot-tapping anthems, Julie’s captivating vocals and the band’s exquisite acoustic arrangements create an intimate and unforgettable live experience.

Diarra Walcott-Ivanhoe Trio
Sun 24th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
Compositions are distinct in their beautifully crafted melodies, filtering the array of sounds Walcott-Ivanhoe was exposed to growing up such as soul, soca and R&B through the lens of contemporary jazz.

Jenn Bostic
Mon 25th May
Soulful Nashville singer-songwriter with a hint of pop, country and gospel

Niall Connolly
Mon 25th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
Terrific. Disarming and beautifully crafted folk-pop. Connolly is a witty storyteller and not-to-be-missed songsmith.” Chicago Tribune

Audrey McGraw
Tue 26th May
TALENTBANQ Presents Audrey McGraw + a special guest
**SOLD OUT**

Imogen Clark + Andrew Leahey
Wed 27th May
A dynamic night of powerhouse vocals, masterful songwriting, and full-throttle live energy — where country soul meets rock & roll swagger.

John Muirhead
Wed 27th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
Toronto-based troubadour crafting big-hearted indie-folk songs for dreamers, wanderers, and hopeless romantics.
**SOLD OUT**

Kris Dane
Wed 27th May
THE WATER RATS
Belgian singer-songwriter with a rich tapestry of songs that have captivated and moved listeners for over two decades.

Lachlan Bryan
+ Hannah Aldridge
Thu 28th May
Southern gothic meets Australian noir, equal parts tenderness and bite, delivered by two artists at the height of their powers.

Milena & Aitzi
Thu 28th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
An intimate dialogue where original works intertwine with reimagined jazz compositions

Virginia Dirt
Fri 29th May
Blazing Americana duo stomp their way through the UK Americana scene with sell-out shows and a new EP!
**SOLD OUT**

The TJ Johnson Trio
Fri 29th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
A trail from the Smokey Jazz dives of New Orleans through the foot tapping Honky Tonks of Texas to the Gin-soaked Speakeasies of New York

Memphis Gerald (Matinée Show)
Sat 30th May
Traditional folk guitar style presenting traditional songs, reworking arrangements to reveal forgotten sentiments and connect past with present

Bespoke Pedal Club
Sat 30th May
Original compositions, reworked standards, and classic guitar tunes by Speedy West and Jimmy Bryant — drawing on jazz, country, and rhythm & blues.

The Hot Club of Jupiter
Sat 30th May
THE BASEMENT BAR
A unique brand of gypsy swing, hot jazz & songs of middle-class angst & caddish behaviour.

Steve Tilson:
Matinée Show
Sun 31st May
“The quality of his songs is beyond question; his strident vocal delivery and, particularly, his mastery of his acoustic guitar are striking and ‘Last Call’ is awash with evidence of those talents.” At The Barrier

Bob Sumner
Sun 31st May
“High class, country leaning Americana.” - Americana UK / “It takes a deft hand to put out a good, sad record…Bob Sumner nails it on Someplace To Rest Easy.” - Twangville

Oli FitzGerald Trio
Sun 31st May
THE BASEMENT BAR
Influenced by the music of legendary bassist Charlie Haden with some additional influences from Carla Bley and Kit Downes

Green Note, 106 Parkway, London, NW1 7AN http://www.greennote.co.uk

Jazz in the West Midlands - May 4th - 10th 2026.

Monday, May 04, 2026

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, blues and soul gigs to check out this week in the West Midlands area.

Monday 4
Jazz Pan Pan
Pan-Pan, 25D Floodgate St, Birmingham B5 5SL



Tuesday 5

Digbeth Jazz: Aiden Pope Quintet
The Night Owl, 17-18 Lower Trinity Street, Birmingham B9 4AG

Leo Middea (Brazil)
The Hare & Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ

Wednesday 6

Bedford Street Jazz Jam *
Bedford Street Bar, 4 Bedford Street, Leamington Spa CV32 5DY

Candlelight Jazz Club: Chris Bowden / Joe Masterson / Simon Smith / Miles Levin
Fletcher’s Bar & Eatery, 7 York Rd, King’s Heath, Birmingham B14 7SA

Alan Hess Jazz Experience
The Trumpet, 58 High Street, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14 0EP

Thursday 7

Jazz at The Courtyard with Nye Banfield
The Courtyard, 2 War Lane, Harborne, Birmingham B17 9RN

John Hallam with the Paul Hartley Trio
Alsager Golf & Country Club, Audley Rd, Alsager Stoke-on-Trent ST7 2UR

Fargo Jazz Jam with Benet Mclean
Unit 5 Fargo Village Far Gosford Street, Coventry CV1 5ED

Soul Sessions Brum: Joel Sarakula and Collective Sleep
The Night Owl, 17-18 Lower Trinity Street, Birmingham B9 4AG

Apollo Soul
The Jam House, 3-5 St Pauls Square, Birmingham B3 1QU

Friday 8

Birmingham Jazz: Across Cultural Boundaries Festival
James Borland Quartet // Carnatic Song Band // Profiles Qunitet
1000 Trades, 16 Frederick St, Birmingham B1 3HE

B:Music Free Jazz Fridays: Zoe Gilby Trio
Jennifer Blackwell Performance Space, Symphony Hall, Centenary Square, Birmingham,  B1 2EA

Jazz at the Bonded Warehouse: Zoltan Sagi’s “Swing Syndicate”
The Bonded Warehouse, Canal Street, Stourbridge DY8 4LU

Jazz Fridays with the Moloney Trio
Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL

Salt Peanuts
The Edge Arts Centre, William Brookes School, Farley Road, Much Wenlock, Shropshire TF13 6NB

South Town Blues Festival (Southbound)
Howlin’ Mat // Greg Brice // BoloHead // Two Piece Blues
Southbound Cafe & Bar, Unit 12 Victoria Business Centre, Leamington Spa CV31 2AZ

B’Spoke
The Jam House, 3-5 St Pauls Square, Birmingham B3 1QU

Saturday 9

Birmingham Jazz: Across Cultural Boundaries Festival
Jo Markland Quartet // Charlotte Glasson // Harry Christelis
1000 Trades, 16 Frederick St, Birmingham B1 3HE

Shrewsbury Jazz: Alex Hitchcock Quartet
The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury, SY1 1TE

Jazz at The Ruin: Nat Evans
The Ruin, 92 Floodgate Street, Deritend, Birmingham B5 5SR

Swing From Paris
Linton Village Hall, Linton, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7RX

B’Spoke
The Jam House, 3-5 St Pauls Square, Birmingham B3 1QU

Tom Martin’s Celtic Soul Band
Tower of Song, 107 Pershore Road South, Birmingham B30 3JX

Variations with Shy One
The Hare & Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ

South Town Blues Festival (Southbound)
Andrew Higgins // Shanade Morrow // Chessi O’Dowd // Tom Young // John Wainwright // Abi Budgen // Louis Sheuer // Macon Music // Greg Holt // Blood on Blood // Crossroad Kings
Southbound Cafe & Bar, Unit 12 Victoria Business Centre, Leamington Spa CV31 2AZ

South Town Blues Festival (Temperance)
Abi Budgen // Andrew Higgins // Jack Broadbent
Temperance, 33 Bath St, Leamington Spa CV31 3AF

Blues Club with Steve Ajao Blues Giants
The Hare & Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ

Sunday 10

Lucy-Anne Daniels Trio
The Hub at St Mary’s, Market Square, Lichfield, WS13 6LG

Birmingham Jazz: Across Cultural Boundaries Festival
Friends - Langston Hughes Tribute // Nicolas Meier World Group // Clarvis/Noble Duo
1000 Trades, 16 Frederick St, Birmingham B1 3HE

SwingShift10 with Simon Spillett
Jaguar Social Club, Fenton Road,  Coventry CV5 9PS

South Town Blues Festival (Southbound)
Blues Alphabet // Ben Clempson // Hubcap // PJ Baker’s Blues Irregulars // Mesa // Wes Finch //Jack Blackman & The Beautiful Wreck
Southbound Cafe & Bar, Unit 12 Victoria Business Centre, Leamington Spa CV31 2AZ

South Town Blues Festival (Temperance)
WLDFLWRS // The Swaps
Temperance, 33 Bath St, Leamington Spa CV31 3AF

Aquavit
The Trumpet, 58 High Street, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14 0EP

* Indicates known regular event but no lineup published by the promoter at time of writing.

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

Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley Sextet - UK live dates.

Friday, May 01, 2026

Bassist and composer Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley will lead his sextet on a series of UK live dates between May 2026 and January 2027. They will be playing music from their forthcoming album.

Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley writes;

We have a bunch of gigs which will grow as we go;

Joshua Cavanagh-Brierley Sextet

5th May Frederick’s Liverpool

7th May - Leeds Hyde Park Book Club Leeds

10th of May -  Thee Moor Club Stockport

7th August -  Zefferelis Cumbria

3rd September -  Matt and Phreds Manchester

4th October - Seven Arts Leeds

29th Jan -  Wakefield Jazz Club

I have a single coming out on the 1st of May called ‘Elvin’s Lullaby’. This is from my forthcoming album ‘The Mild Mannered and the Mortal’ which will be out on Efpi records on the 7th of August.

https://efpirecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-mild-mannered-and-the-mortal

Ibrahim Maalouf - new album and UK tour dates, June 2026.

Thursday, April 30, 2026

French-Lebanese trumpeter and composer Ibrahim Maalouf will release his new album "Trumpets of Michael Ange Vol. 2" on June 12th 2026. He will also play a series of UK live shows during June.

We have received the following press release;

IBRAHIM MAALOUF
Announces new album “TRUMPETS OF MICHEL-ANGE VOL. 2. ”
Set for release on 12 June, 2026 via Mister Ibe

Guests on the new album include Jon Batiste, Trombone Shorty, Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Richard Galliano, alongside Hamilton de Holanda, Pedrito Martinez, Las Migas, Nai
Barghouti, MonoNeon, Weedie Braimah and Anthony Evans

Listen to the first single ‘LAS TROMPETAS DE NAEL’ out today HERE;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Gm0bFGH92E

Following the success of Trumpets of Michel Ange - praised by critics, amassing millions of streams, and supported by more than 140 concert dates around the world - French-Lebanese artist Ibrahim Maalouf continues and deepens the adventure launched around the quarter-tone trumpet with his new album TRUMPETS OF MICHEL-ANGE VOL. 2, out 12 June, 2026 via Mister Ibe.

As a prelude to this new volume, he unveils the first single, “LAS TROMPETAS DE NAEL, ” On this single, Ibrahim Maalouf delivers a piece that is both festive and deeply human: a dance - a kolo - but above all a living story, a circle that expands. Born from a melody “coming from several lands at once, ” the track carries within it dance steps, children’s laughter, and that gentle melancholy unique to major celebrations. Conceived as a musical wedding, the song brings generations together without setting them against one another: traditions breathe, transform, and travel within it. The music becomes a crossroads, blending the trance and freedom of Romani music, South American pulses, and Middle Eastern ornaments, in a spirit of openness where “no one is a stranger. ”

At the heart of this celebration, Nael embodies childhood - the starting point. Through the trumpets, Ibrahim Maalouf recalls what matters most: encouraging from the very beginning, passing things on without imposing, opening paths. “LAS TROMPETAS DE NAEL” also speaks of that intimate “marriage” we make with ourselves, with the child we once were, and whom we must never abandon. Because the kolo is a collective dance, this single highlights the energy of the group: a multitude of voices that become a single force. “LAS TROMPETAS DE NAEL” is an invitation to come back together: to remember where we come from while embracing becoming something else. A tribute to inheritances and their transformation - a dance without borders, an endless celebration.

Maalouf occupies a rare position in contemporary music: a trumpet virtuoso who fills arenas. Described by Jon Batiste as a “living legend of jazz” and hailed as a “virtuoso” by The New York Times, he has become one of Europe’s most significant instrumental voices. He has filled Paris’s 17,000-capacity Accor Arena three times, performed at Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, and in 2021 played in front of the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day for six million viewers.
Last year he played both Shepherd’s Bush Empire and the Royal Albert Hall (BBC Proms). The upcoming dates mark his first full UK tour.

Born in Beirut during the civil war, he arrived in France as a child after his family fled the conflict. He has described struggling with language and integration, and how music became a refuge. Rather than presenting himself simply as a migrant artist, he speaks of growing up “between cultures” as a creative advantage, building a language in which Middle Eastern modes and Western harmony coexist. The quarter-tone trumpet invented by his father (now central to his “Trumpets of Michel Ange” initiative) has become both a technical and symbolic expression of that dual inheritance.

Across a 20-album career he has sold over one million records. Queen of Sheba (with Angélique Kidjo) earned his first GRAMMY nomination, followed by a second for “Todo Colores” from Capacity To Love, which featured De La Soul, Tank and the Bangas, Gregory Porter, Sharon Stone, and D Smoke. He is also a César Award winner and the only artist in Victoires de la Musique history to be recognised for instrumental music.

UK Tour Dates:
7 June — Cardiff, The Great Hall (Y Plas)
8 June — Edinburgh, The Queen’s Hall
9 June — Leeds, University Union (Stylus)
10 June — Manchester, O2 Ritz
12 June — London, Roundhouse
13 June — Cambridge, Corn Exchange

Follow Ibrahim Maalouf online:

https://www.ibrahimmaalouf.com/en/

https://www.instagram.com/ibrahimmaaloufofficial/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0NSO0g40h9CTj13hKPskeb?autoplay=true

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGPGRFulJR8XjsECZj37Pzw

https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/ibrahim-maalouf/266468377

Guildford Jazz Events, June 2026.

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Mick Thomas of Guildford Jazz has forwarded details of the programme for June 2026. Performers include Sarah Jane Eveleigh, Karen Sharp, Simon Spillett. Ray Gelato, Andy Davies, Steve Waterman.

Mick Thomas writes;

Sarah Jane Eveleigh Quintet at Guildford Jazz, The High Clandon Estate Vineyard, Guildford, Surrey
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
More details
Sarah Jane Eveleigh Quintet
Saturday 6 June from 13.00 to 20.00 (doors open 19.00) at the High Clandon Estate Vineyard, West Clandon, Guildford GU7 7RP
Vocalist Sarah Jane Eveleigh celebrates the legendary ladies of jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Peggy Lee. With jazz trumpeter Martin Shaw, pianist Alex Hutton, bassist Marianne Windham and Andrew Eveleigh drums. Bring a picnic or have pizzas on the lawn and, on arrival, enjoy a complementary glass of award-winning vintage Cuvee from High Clandon Estate Vineyard. All proceeds go to Cherry Trees, an organisation that provides home from home specialised short breaks for young people with complex disabilities. For more details and to book tickets visit 
https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

Karen Sharp Trio at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Institute, Guildford, Surrey
Date: Monday, June 8, 2026
More details
Karen Sharp Trio
Monday 8 June from 14.00 to 15.00 (doors open for lunch at 12.00) at the Guildford Institute, Ward St, Guildford GU1 4LH
Multi-award-winning tenor saxophonist Karen Sharp is universally admired for her melodic, accessible yet distinctive, saxophone playing. Having recorded six albums as leader she has won the British Jazz Award for best tenor saxophonist on several occasions and has been a nominee in the Rising Star category of the US Downbeat Critics Poll for baritone sax in both 2018 and 2019. With the brilliant Gareth Williams, one of the UK’s leading jazz pianists, and Marianne Windham on bass.
For more details and to book tickets visit 
https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

Simon Spillett-Ray Gelato Quintet at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Pavilion, Guildford, Surrey
Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026
More details
Simon Spillett-Ray Gelato Quintet
Thursday 11 June from 20.00 to 22.15 (doors open 19.00) at the Guildford Pavilion, Woodbridge Rd, Guildford GU1 4RP
Tenor saxophonists Ray Gelato and Simon Spillett are two of the best-loved and entertaining musicians on the UK jazz scene, Ray with his hugely popular Giants and Simon with his big band and quartet. If you love the classic, melodic, swinging sax sounds of US masters such as Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, Dexter Gordon, Illinois Jacquet and Gene Ammons then this is a gig not to be missed. With Gunter Kurmayer, piano, Marianne Windham, bass and Pete Cater, drums.
For more details and to book tickets visit
 https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

Andy Davies Quartet at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Pavilion,  Guildford ,Surrey
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
More details
Andy Davies Quartet
Wednesday 24 June from 20.00 to 22.15 (doors open 19.00) at the Guildford Pavilion, Woodbridge Rd, Guildford GU1 4RP
An outstanding evening of live jazz featuring the award-winning Welsh trumpeter Andy Davies and multi-award-winning guitar legend Nigel Price. Andy has released
several albums with his Quartet, most recently the critically acclaimed ‘Rise of The Spider Monkey’, and, as a sideman, he has performed and recorded with jazz artists such as Ian Shaw, Ronnie Scott’s All Stars, Guy Barker Big Band, Tony Kofi Quintet and Nigel Kennedy. With fantastic drummer Jamie Murray and Marianne Windham on double bass.
For more details and to book tickets visit https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

Steve Waterman’s Latin Jazz Quintet at Guildford Jazz, Loseley Park, Guildford, Surrey
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2026
More details
Steve Waterman’s Latin Jazz Quintet
Sunday 28 June from 17.15 to 19.30 (doors open 16.30) at Loseley Park, Guildford GU3 1HS
Bring a picnic and a bottle or two of your favourite tipple and join us for an exciting evening of Salsa, Samba and Tango rhythms from the outstanding UK trumpeter Steve Waterman and his quintet featuring Simon Allen, tenor sax, Alex Hutton, piano, Rob Statham, bass and Marc Cecil, percussion plus The Farnham Big Band.
Come rain or shine, this is always a fabulous event in this most beautiful of settings, raising money for GUTS, fighting bowel cancer. For more details and to book tickets visit https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

SMOKE Jazz Club, New York City, Programme for June 2026.

Thursday, April 30, 2026

SMOKE Jazz Club has announced its schedule for June 2026. Performers include John Patitucci, Danilo Perez, Teri Lyne Carrington, Eric Alexander, Brad Mehldau, Nicholas Payton, Ben Street, Adam Cruz.

We have received the following press release;

Just Announced - June Line-up at Smoke Jazz Club includes John Patitucci, Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrington and More

SMOKE Jazz Club Kickstarts Summer with an Incredible June 2026 Line-Up Including Some of Today’s Most Creative Forces in Contemporary Music

John Patitucci Quartet featuring Special Guests (June 3-7)
Danilo Pérez Trio featuring Ben Street and Adam Cruz (June 10-14)
Terri Lyne Carrington Quartet (June 17-21)
Eric Alexander Quartet featuring Brad Mehldau (June 24-25)
Eric Alexander Quintet featuring Nicholas Payton (June 26-28)

Hailed as the “#1 Jazz Club in New York City (SecretNYC),” SMOKE Jazz Club today announced an exciting line-up for June 2026. The month’s opener is one of the finest bassists of his generation, John Patitucci, making his highly anticipated bandleader debut at SMOKE with special guests Steve Wilson, Chris Potter and Michael Rodriguez. The Panamanian pianist Danilo Pérez leads an all-star trio of Ben Street and Adam Cruz followed by the return of NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington at the helm of her exceptional quartet. The month’s closer is bebop saxophonist Eric Alexander leading two different groups: first a Quartet featuring Brad Mehldau followed by a Quintet featuring Nicholas Payton. For the most updated June schedule, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com. As always, all Friday night concerts are livestreamed!

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.

JUNE 2026 @ SMOKE Jazz Club
(please note new set times)
When: Wednesday-Sunday at 6:30 p.m. + 8:30 p.m. and additional 10:00 p.m. (Fri & Sat only). Doors open at 4:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).
Where: SMOKE Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway (between 105/106th Streets), New York, NY, Train: 1 to 103rd Street.
Tickets: General $25+. Livestream $15 (Fri only). For more information and to make reservations, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

Wed-Sun June 3-7 JOHN PATITUCCI QUARTET featuring SPECIAL GUESTS
Joey Calderazzo – piano
John Patitucci – bass
Adam Cruz – drums
With special guests
Steve Wilson – alto saxophone (Wed)
Chris Potter – tenor saxophone (Thu-Fri)
Michael Rodriguez – trumpet (Sat-Sun)
“One of the finest bassists of his generation” – Pop Matters
Bassist John Patitucci makes his highly anticipated bandleader debut at SMOKE with an exciting quartet featuring pianist Joey Calderazzo and drummer Adam Cruz, as well as special guest saxophonists Steve Wilson (Wednesday), Chris Potter (Thursday & Friday), and trumpeter Michael Rodriguez. Patitucci—a multiple Grammy Award winner, accomplished on acoustic and electric basses—is a prolific powerhouse in the music world. He is well known for his extensive tenures with legendary artists Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and Herbie Hancock, Patitucci also recorded or performed with Stan Getz, Pat Metheny, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Michael Brecker, McCoy Tyner, and scores of others. Some of the many pop and Brazilian artists he has played with include Sting, Joni Mitchell, Milton Nascimiento, Astrud and Joao Gilberto, Airto and Flora Purim. His virtuosity and ability to span these genres have made him a vital force in music. He is also an accomplished and decorated composer who has written for film, chamber, and orchestral groups, as well as for jazz. While Patitucci earns frequent applause and praise from audiences and critics alike, perhaps it’s his fellow artists who are most enthusiastic. As Joe Lovano told The New York Times, “John is one of the most amazing musicians. He’s a virtuoso on his instrument, yet he plays with so much tuneful taste and feeling.” Or Chick Corea stated, “John isn’t just a bassist—he’s a musician with a deep vision.”

Wed-Sun June 10-14 DANILO PÉREZ TRIO featuring BEN STREET & ADAM CRUZ
Danilo Perez – piano
Ben Street – bass
Adam Cruz – drums
“…the packed house had been mesmerized by the trio’s twist-and-turn interplay and by the virtuosity pushed to the edge.”— Financial Times
Pianist Danilo Pérez, lauded as one of the most creative forces in contemporary music, leads an all-star trio with bassist Ben Street and drummer Adam Cruz. Panamanian-born Pérez has toured and/or recorded with artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Jack DeJohnette, Steve Lacy, Lee Konitz, Charlie Haden, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Tito Puente, Wynton Marsalis, Tom Harrell, Gary Burton, and Roy Haynes. With jazz as the anchoring foundation, Pérez’s music is a blend of his Panamanian roots, Latin American folk music, West African rhythms, and European impressionism. As National Public Radio reports, “Danilo Perez is a man with some serious jazz cred. The Panamanian pianist got his start playing with Dizzy Gillespie and continued with Wayne Shorter. As a composer and bandleader himself, he’s practically peerless.”

Wed-Sun June 17-21 TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON QUARTET
Caroline Davis – alto saxophone
Orrin Evans – piano
Matt Brewer – bass
Terri Lyne Carrington – drums
“One of the country‘s primary ambassadors of jazz music” – The Los Angeles Times
Drummer and bandleader Terri Lyne Carrington leads an exceptional quartet with saxophonist Caroline Davis, pianist Orrin Evans, and bassist Matt Brewer. Carrington—an NEA Jazz Master, four-time Grammy winner, and the 2019 Doris Duke Award recipient—is a former child prodigy who, at 10 years old, became the youngest person to receive a union card in Boston. While still in her 20s, she toured extensively with Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, among others. To date, Carrington has performed on over 100 recordings and has toured or recorded with luminary artists such as Al Jarreau, Stan Getz, Woody Shaw, Clark Terry, Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, James Moody, Yellowjackets, and Esperanza Spalding, among many others. “Carrington crafts jazz materials with the expertise of the best arrangers, as well as being a percussionist of understated power,” reports The Guardian, while All About Jazz adds that Carrington is “a great rhythm master, equal parts intellectual Max Roach and physical Art Blakey.” All About Jazz also reviewed Carrington’s celebrated residency at SMOKE, performing a Tribute to Roach, “We Insist 2025,” calling its “passion and focus… an early contender for standout jazz performance of the year.”

Wed-Sun June 24-28 ERIC ALEXANDER: QUARTET featuring BRAD MEHLDAU (June 24-25) + QUINTET featuring NICHOLAS PAYTON (June 26-28)
Wed–Thu
Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone
Brad Mehldau – piano
Alexander Claffy – bass
Carl Allen – drums
Fri–Sun
Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone
Nicholas Payton – trumpet
David Kikoski – piano
Alexander Claffy – bass
Carl Allen – drums
“One of the giants of the tenor sax.” – All Music Guide
Saxophonist Eric Alexander spends the week leading not one, but two extraordinary groups: A quartet on Wednesday and Thursday featuring the great pianist Brad Mehldau with bassist Alexander Claffy and drummer Carl Allen; and a quintet on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with the acclaimed trumpeter Nicholas Payton, pianist David Kikoski, as well as Claffy and Allen. Since he emerged in the early ’90s, Alexander has been “one of the finest bebop saxophonists in the world,” according to National Public Radio, producing an impressive discography, often collaborating with his one-time teacher, the late great Harold Mabern. In addition to leading his own groups, Alexander has worked notably with Pat Martino, Horace Silver, McCoy Tyner, George Coleman, Freddie Cole, and with the cooperative sextet, One for All. All About Jazz calls him “one of the more emotive and resourceful improvisers on the scene,” or as Downbeat put it, “one of the most blazingly bad-assed saxophonists of his generation.”

Love Supreme Jazz Festival Announces Full 2026 Line-Up.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

The Love Supreme Jazz Festival has announced its full 2026 line-up. The event takes place from Friday July 3rd – Sunday July 5th 2026 at Glyne Place, Sussex.

We have received the following press release;

Love Supreme Jazz Festival Announces Full 2026 Line-Up

Ezra Collective, Loyle Carner and De La Soul headline Europe’s largest outdoor jazz festival

Glynde Place, East Sussex - Friday July 3rd – Sunday July 5th 2026

LOVE SUPREME JAZZ FESTIVAL 2026:
Ezra Collective Presents Temple Of Joy • Loyle Carner • De La Soul
Anderson .Paak (as DJ Pee .Wee) • Jalen Ngonda • Free Nationals • Sister Sledge • Gabrielle • The Temptations & The Four Tops • Franc Moody • Maze • Durand Bernarr • Kokoroko • Samara Joy • esperanza spalding • Alex Isley • Courtney Pine • Lemar • Bill Frisell & Greg Tardy • Moses Boyd • Joe Lovano & Antonio Faraò • Olive Jones • The War & Treaty • Young Gun Silver Fox • Loose Ends • Annie & the Caldwells • Luke Una • Light of the World • CARRTOONS • Joe Webb Trio • Tony Momrelle and Natalie Williams Soul Family • Kiefer • D.K. Harrell • Emma Rawicz INKYRA and more [full line-up below]

Kofi Stone, Horse Meat Disco, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, The Bad Plus, cktrl, NYJO presents Miles Davis 100, Judith Owen, TC & The Groove Family, Olympia Vitalis and aron! among final additions

Love Supreme Jazz Festival has revealed the full line-up for its 2026 edition led by headliners Ezra Collective, Loyle Carner and De La Soul as Europe’s largest outdoor jazz festival returns to Glynde Place in East Sussex from July 3rd – 5th 2026.

Mercury Prize winners Ezra Collective will headline Friday night alongside curating the opening day programme with their Temple Of Joy, while Loyle Carner makes his Love Supreme debut as Saturday’s headliner. Legendary alternative hip-hop group De La Soul close the festival on Sunday with their only full-band UK performance of 2026.

Love Supreme Jazz Festival Programming Director Barney Dufton:
“Every year we aim to bring together the very best of jazz alongside artists pushing the music forward, and the 2026 line-up reflects that more than ever. From legends and global stars to the next generation of talent, it’s a programme that celebrates the full spectrum of jazz, soul and beyond.”

Across the weekend the line-up also features The Temptations & The Four Tops, Sister Sledge, Gabrielle, Lemar, Free Nationals, Samara Joy, esperanza spalding, Courtney Pine, Jalen Ngonda, Kokoroko, Moses Boyd, Bill Frisell & Greg Tardy, Joe Lovano & Antonio Faraò, Olive Jones, The War & Treaty, Young Gun Silver Fox, Loose Ends, and Annie & The Caldwells alongside a wide range of artists spanning jazz, soul, funk and R&B.

Final additions to the line-up include Kofi Stone, Horse Meat Disco, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, The Bad Plus, cktrl, NYJO presents Miles Davis 100, Judith Owen, TC & The Groove Family, Olympia Vitalis and aron!.

The New Generation Jazz stage returns with emerging artists including ORBIT and Tomorrow’s Warriors Junior Band, while One Jazz showcases contemporary acts such as QOW Trio and Sula. Bands & Voices also returns with a programme blending live music, movement and community-led workshops.

The festival’s late-night programme expands further in 2026. Friday night opens at Supreme Standards with Anderson .Paak performing as DJ Pee .Wee, alongside sets from Horse Meat Disco and Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy. Across the weekend, curated takeovers from Mr Bongo, re:sonate and Tru Thoughts will feature Aroop Roy, Mr Thing, Nick The Record, J-Felix, MzRizk and more, bringing global sounds and rare selections deep into the night.

Love Supreme also continues to offer a wide range of festival experiences including wellness and yoga sessions, a dedicated Kids Area with interactive activities, two Supremium VIP areas, an on-site Ottolenghi restaurant, and the Jazz Lounge, which hosts artist interviews, talks and screenings.

Love Supreme Jazz Festival takes place at Glynde Place in East Sussex from Friday July 3rd – Sunday July 5th 2026.

Tickets are on sale now from http://www.lovesupremefestival.com.

Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2026 - Full Line-Up:

Loyle Carner

Ezra Collective presents Temple of Joy

De La Soul *only UK live band show of the year*

DJ Pee .Wee (aka Anderson .Paak)

Jalen Ngonda

Free Nationals

Gabrielle

Sister Sledge

The Temptations & The Four Tops

Franc Moody

Maze

Durand Bernarr

Kokoroko

Samara Joy

esperanza spalding

Alex Isley

Kofi Stone

Courtney Pine

Lemar

Bill Frisell Trio plus special guest Gregory Tardy

Moses Boyd

Joe Lovano & Antonio Faraò

Olive Jones

Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy

Horse Meat Disco

The War & Treaty

The Bad Plus

Young Gun Silver Fox

Loose Ends

Annie & the Caldwells

Luke Una

Light of the World

CARRTOONS

cktrl

Aroop Roy

Guvna B

Joe Webb Trio

Natalie Williams & Tony Momrelle with Soul Family Band

Kiefer

aron!

Judith Owen

D.K. Harrell

TC & The Groove Family

Emma Rawicz

LULU.

Luke Bacchus

James Emmanuel

Hetta Falzon

Olympia Vitalis

Eliane Correa En El Aire Project

Kio

two kalme

Eniola

Amanda

David Kayode

NYJO presents Miles Davis 100

ORBIT

New Generation Jazz Bigband

iFADEM

Poppy Helmer & Friends

Beluga

The Ben Dwyer Xperiment

Terrarium

Billy Marrows

Tomorrow’s Warriors Junior Band

Miles Pillinger

Luke Purbrick Octet

Jazz Futures Ensemble

Guido Spannocchi

ALPHABET & OVN

Simon Savage Quintet

Olivia Cuttill

Alex Bondonno’s Monkolog

George Bloomfield

One World Jazz Orchestra

QOW Trio

Sula

Solomon Gundy Band

Mali Sheard Quintet

Red Earth Collective

Nu Establishment

Liminal People

Mr Thing

Mr Bongo vs. Lady Jane Bongo

Nick The Record

J Felix

Tim Garcia

Norsicaa

Vandorta

Perry Louis

MzRizk

Robert Luis

WheelUP ft. MC AD

Gayance

Oliver Night

Tara Lily

Sosyete ’25

Kyla Kilzer & Max Noir

Rhys Baker

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2026 - Media Release.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival has announced its line up for 2026 with more than 100 concerts taking place across the city from Fri 17 – Sun 26 July.

We have received the following media release;

Media Release

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2026

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival’s 2026 edition is ready to electrify the city with ten days of world- class music. From Friday 17 to Sunday 26 July, the city will come alive as venues across Edinburgh host an incredible line-up of jazz and blues artists from around the globe whilst also showcasing the best of homegrown music. The festival offers a genre-spanning celebration - from bebop to boogie-woogie, funk to soul, trad to hip-hop, swing to searing blues-rock. There is something for every musical mood in this year’s programme.

From Fri 17 – Sun 26 July, the festival will feature:
 More than 100 concerts taking place across the city
 Mardi Gras returns to Edinburgh’s Grassmarket
 Edinburgh Festival Carnival – Edinburgh’s largest multi-cultural event
 Edinburgh Napier University Jazz Summer School
 A host of interactive events including kid’s shows and talks

No other festival covers jazz and blues, across all the styles, with such depth and quality, and with so many unique events. Acclaimed American saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, legendary band The Bad Plus, Louisianan blues star D.K. Harrell, mesmerising Italian singer Simona Parrinello and French guitarist Nguyên Lê are some of the international stars that audiences can look forward to. These names join the previously announced gigs from New Orleans’ Tuba Skinny, American festival favourites Davina and The Vagabonds and Jerron Paxton, a celebration of world music in an Afrobeat Party, and a tribute concert in memory of Edinburgh pianist Brian Kellock.

Scottish artists are the beating heart of the programme, with an array of new and exciting bands, projects and commissions including Seonaid Aitken’s follow up to her award-winning Chasing Sakura; Fergus McCreadie playing a series of duo gigs with his musical heroes, and Konrad Wiszniewski celebrating his Scottish and Polish roots.
The festival will also see new projects from GAÏA, Norman & Corrie, Mantis Ensemble, Finlay Mackenzie and Matt Carmichael, supported by Creative Scotland through the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund.

EJBF prides itself on promoting live events all over the city with highlights including Canadian singer Michelle Willis in Meadowbank, award-winning blues guitarist Martin Harley in Oxgangs, and a jazz party at The Pitt in Granton. These venues join the core portfolio of George Square Spiegeltent and Piccolo tent, St Bride’s Centre, The Jazz Bar and The Queen’s Hall.

This year, the festival focusses on jazz from the Netherlands through our SPARK showcase. The programme features the introspective piano of Harmen Fraanje to the genre-blurring duo of Jesse van Ruller and Maarten Hogenhuis, the cross-cultural sound of Peter Somuah, and the theatrical energy of Ponga. Vocalist Carolina Gemmell and pianist Evan van der Feen centre their partnership on improvisation, while new collaborations highlight the power of artistic exchange, with Femke Mooren joining Ali Watson, Greg Irons and Simon Herberholz.

The festival partners with Edition Records to showcase three of their artists: guitarist Rob Luft, Belgian trombonist Nabou Claerhout, and pianist Sultan Stevenson, alongside a talk exploring the music of Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær. Founded in 2008 by Dave Stapleton, Edition Records has grown into one of Europe’s most respected independent jazz labels. The Edition catalogue has attracted widespread acclaim across the world and spans a wide spectrum of contemporary jazz, reflecting both emerging talent and internationally recognised artists.

As part of a series of interactive events, the festival presents Sue McKenzie’s Jazz For Kids workshops as well as and Tenement Jazz Band for Kids interactive shows, as well as talks, jam sessions and more.

The Mardi Gras brings a free afternoon of non-stop entertainment to Edinburgh’s Grassmarket on Saturday 18 July. Bands will perform across multiple stages throughout the afternoon, bringing a taste of New Orleans to the heart of historic Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Festival Carnival, Scotland’s largest and most flamboyant multicultural event, returns to the city centre on Sunday 19 July with over 800 participants from across the globe and from the heart of Edinburgh.

The full programme will be live from noon on Tuesday 28 April at http://www.ejbf.co.uk and live on social media
Facebook| Instagram

Chair of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Councillor Jason Rust said: 
“I am delighted that the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival returns for 2026 with a diverse programme that sees us presenting our events at iconic venues right across the city. I am proud to see us welcoming some of the most exciting international talent to Edinburgh while supporting the brightest and best young talent in Scotland. I am pleased to see us presenting two spectacular free events in the city centre with the Edinburgh Festival Carnival and Mardi Gras both taking place on the opening weekend of the festival.” 

Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland said ;”
This year’s Edinburgh Jazz &; Blues Festival programme reaches north, south, east and west through the city – with the grassroots celebrations of the Mardi Gras and Carnival right at the centre of the compass. The musical map is global in scale, welcoming major international stars from around the world and deepening our understanding of what’s currently hot in jazz from the Netherlands. You can never be too young to start igniting a love of jazz, so it’s great to see the Edinburgh Napier University Summer School and a dedicated series of kids’ workshops and concerts forging the artists and audiences of tomorrow.” 

Culture and Communities Convener Margaret Graham said: 
“Edinburgh Jazz &; Blues Festival has, over many years, grown into one of the most anticipated celebrations of our cultural calendar. Its continued success is testament to the enthusiasm of audiences who return year after year. I’m delighted that Edinburgh will once again play host to an outstanding programme of jazz and blues talent from across the world, whilst championing the richness of Scotland’s own music scene. With two vibrant free events taking place to kick things off and so many performances in many communities across the city, I’ve no doubt that there will be something for everyone to enjoy in this year’s programme.” 

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 www.creativescotland.com. Follow Creative Scotland on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

The festival receives core funding from City of Edinburgh Council, Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government.

606 Jazz Club, Chelsea, London - Programme for May 2026, June Previews, Jazz on the Lawn at Fulham Palace, July

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Laura Thorne of the 606 has forwarded details of the venue's full programme for May 2026 plus a preview of some of June's events and details of the Jazz on the Lawn concerts at Fulham Palace in July.

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 May 2026, a preview of June shows and this year’s Jazz on the Lawn concerts at Fulham Palace in July!

606 CLUB – MAY 2026 GIG GUIDE

Fri 1st     9:00pm   BEVERLEY SKEETE
Beverley Skeete’s career is the stuff dreams are made of. A first call singer for numerous high-profile artists including Robbie Williams, Tina Turner and Elton John she was also a pivotal member of ex-Rolling Stones’ bassist Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings. Her talent and versatility have put her in a class that few can equal. And watch out for her Special Guests: Sara & Maz Skeete-vocals.
“Skeete…came into her own with a perfectly paced version of James Brown’s ‘It’s a Man’s Man’s World’” UK Jazz News;
“Skeete is born to entertain. She’s vibrant, she has attitude and she brings a genuine passion to her music…magical” Close-Up Culture
 

Sat 2nd     9:00pm   ED JONES
Ed Jones has established himself as one of the most innovative sax players on the scene. His muscular, highly accomplished, bop-influenced tenor playing has been featured in a wide variety of settings, most notably with the jazz crossover groups “Us3” and “Incognito”. But his jazz credentials are just as solid, with work alongside artists such as George Benson, Dianne Reeves & Horace Silver. Tonight Ed will be performing a mix of jazz standards and his own fine originals including material from his most recent album “For Your Ears Only”, with a band widely considered to be one of the finest of its kind in the UK.
“formidable” Jazz UK;
“one of the UK’s most distinctive saxophonists” Guardian;
“Ed Jones has long been one of the great…delights of British Jazz” Jazzwise
       

Sun 3rd   1:30pm   SUNDAY LUNCH:    GREG DAVIS TRIO WITH SPECIAL GUEST VANESSA ROSE  
An engaging, melodic, sax player in the classic mainstream style, Greg Davis led the band ‘Henry’s Pencil’ which held the attendance record at the famous 100 Club in Oxford Street. A stalwart of the French Riviera (that’s Greg’s description, not ours!) he also performed at the Cannes Film Festival for over a decade. Today Greg will be appearing with Paul Eldridge-piano, Julian Bury-bass and Special Guest vocalist Vanessa Rose, “performing some of the known and lesser-known jazz standards”.
“Paul Eldridge…accomplished piano” Time Out

Sun 3rd 8:00pm   IAN SHAW
Producer, broadcaster, raconteur, pianist oh, and one of Europe’s finest male jazz vocalists, Ian Shaw has it all. Named Best Vocalist of the Year twice (!) at the BBC Jazz Awards and Parliamentary Jazz Awards “Vocalist of The Year”, Ian is a huge talent with the most engaging personality and an ability to make every song his own. A wry, witty and intelligent showman Ian has an enviable international reputation. Tonight he presents his latest show “Stephensong”, an exploration of Stephen Sondheim’s iconic repertoire. This is not a tribute gig but a bold retelling of one of the 20th century’s greatest composers through the lens of one of the UK’s finest interpreters of song. Also featuring drummer James Edmunds (Madeline Bell).
“One of the scene’s class acts” The Guardian;
“our finest Jazz singer” Time Out;
“bucketloads of soul” BBC;
“an artist on top of his game” Jazzwise
 

Mon 4th   8:00pm   PAULO MORELLO WITH THE LEON GREENING TRIO
Guitarist Paulo Morello is internationally recognised for his collaborations with the likes of Randy Brecker, Leny Andrade, Philip Catherine and Larry Coryell. His playing is marked by melodic sophistication, expressive depth and rhythmic subtlety, combining modern jazz language with a blues feeling and joyful Brazilian colour. Joining Paulo tonight will be the trio of renowned British pianist Leon Greening with Adam King-bass and Steve Brown-drums. Leon is admired for his deep connection to the jazz tradition, his powerful swing and his unmistakable touch at the piano. In this special collaboration, original music from Paulo‘s latest album “Moving” meets the timeless spirit of jazz classics. The result is a rich and engaging quartet sound, providing plenty of space for inspired improvisation and genuine musical exchange.
“Morello…exquisite solos…superb modern jazz” AllAboutJazz;
“Greening…endlessly inventive improvisations” Jazz Mann

Tue 5th   8.00pm   THE JAZZ PHYSICIANS: AIDAN GLOVER, ANDY GANGADEEN & NICK COHEN
The Jazz Physicians are a trio of musicians, Aidan Glover-piano/keyboard, Nick Cohen-bass & Andy Gangadeen-drums, perhaps better known for their work as performers and producers in popular music and electronica. This is no ordinary jazz trio however! With a mix of originals as well as classic and contemporary covers from Neal Hefti to Bob James the project is a vehicle for musical expression outside their usual surroundings. Aidan (Joss Stone, Celine Dion), who composes most of the original material, writes and produces for artists such as Rhys Lewis, Hajaj and Ella Henderson. Andy has played drums for an astonishing list of artists including Jeff Beck, Massive Attack and Labrinth, is the Music Director for Rudimental and worked with Chase and Status for 16 years. Nick has toured and recorded with Ernest Ranglin, Jack Bruce and Matt Bianco among others, and is a founder member of the Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion. To paraphrase a well-known quote, “It’s jazz, but not as we know it”!
“Andy Gangadeen is without doubt one of the most innovative and exciting drummers on the scene today” Drummer’s Review

Wed 6th   8:00pm   **606 CLUB SPECIAL**  JIM ALFREDSON
From Michigan, Jim Alfredson is a superb R&B, jazz & roots Hammond organ player, producer and musical director. His various musical endeavours include several albums with his jazz trio Organissimo as well as the award-winning blues/R&B outfit Root Doctor, and he was also the keyboard player for Grammy Award-nominated blues, soul, and Americana singer Janiva Magness. Passionate about and an authority on all things Hammond, Jim joins us with his Trio featuring Belgian guitarist (and wonderful organist in his own right) Dirk Van Der Linden and drummer Mark Taylor for a spectacular night of jazz, funk and soul.
“Alfredson…is a remarkable organist who seamlessly synthesizes several generations of keyboard influences” Downbeat

Thu 7th   8:00pm   **606 CLUB SPECIAL**  DAVE FRANK FT. PETER RUBIE  
NY-based US piano star Dave Frank is one of the busiest solo jazz pianists and music educators on the scene. With four critically acclaimed solo piano albums to his name he has been featured in a wide variety of gigs and festivals around the US and beyond, is a jazz ambassador for the US State Department and has been the subject of feature articles in the Boston Globe, Keyboard Magazine and The Chronicle of Higher Learning. A highly regarded educator Dave was an Associate Professor of piano at Berklee College of Music Boston, was a co-founder of the New York School of Jazz and currently directs his own Dave Frank School of Jazz. Tonight he will be performing two sets, the first a solo set featuring his unique presentation of solo piano styles along with music recorded on his “Ballads and Burners” CD, the second will see Dave teaming up with UK-born New York based guitarist Peter Rubie. Peter moved to NY in 1980, since when he has been seen with the likes of Jack Wilkins, Peter Bernstein, George Coleman, Junior Cook, & Adelaide Hall. This second set will be a piano/guitar duo with a focus on contrapuntal improvisation.
“Frank…a master” Amsterdam Jazz Journal;
“Frank, a…force to be reckoned with” AllMusic Guide;
“Dave Frank is a monster!” Pat Martino
     

Fri 8th     9:00pm   ERROL LINTON                        
Born and raised in Brixton, singer/harmonica player Errol Linton got his first break 30 years ago when heard busking by a BBC producer and has steadily built his reputation as a world-class blues talent ever since. He was nominated for ‘Best Blues Act’ in the 2019 Jazz FM Awards, featured alongside Big Bill Broonzy in BBC 2’s ‘Two Generations of the Blues’ and has been championed by radio presenters John Peel, Paul Jones, & Cerys Matthews. He has toured the world opening for artists including Bo Diddley, Dr John and Blind Boys of Alabama and released five albums, including his latest, ‘Live in London’, and ‘Packing My Bags’, produced by Grammy-winning producer Liam Watson (White Stripes). Home grown blues at its best.
“The finest blues and reggae harmonica player in Europe” BBC Radio 3;
“harmonica wizard” The Observer
     

Sat 9th     9:00pm   JAMES DAVISON/DUNCAN HEMSTOCK
Winner of the Royal Academy of Music’s Smith-Watkins Trumpet Award and Recipient of the Worshipful Company of Musicians Young Jazz Musician of the Year Award, trumpeter James Davison works with premier ensembles across both jazz and classical music, including the BBC Big Band, Royal Philharmonic Orchestras and popular West End shows. A powerful force on the UK scene, this evening James will be joined by the terrific Australian sax and clarinet player Duncan Hemstock, performing a joyful, swinging, straight ahead set celebrating the music of two of their heroes: Ben Webster and Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison, alongside compositions written in dedication by them both. Also featuring Liam Dunachie-piano, Adam King-bass, Steve Brown-drums.
“Davison…in particularly fine form…effervescent…thrilling” The Jazz Mann;
“Duncan Hemstock…giving…a knock-out performance” London Jazz News
     

Sun 10th   1:30pm   SUNDAY LUNCH: 606 GOSPEL ft NIKKI SERIKI & FEMI OSINAIKE
Under the auspices of bass player/guitarist Andre Gabriel, the 606 Gospel Group have been performing at the Club for over 20 years, building an impressive reputation. The choir is drawn from a pool of some of the finest gospel singers on the scene and have been featured as part of the London Jazz Festival as well as on BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service. Today their Special Guests will be the talented saxophonist, composer, music director & producer Femi Osinaike whose eclectic approach and style blends elements of Gospel, Smooth Jazz, Latin and African folk, all showcasing his versatility and innovative approach to music-making alongside the wonderful Award-winning Gospel singer Nikki Seriki. Ministering in song since 1989 she has performed across America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Influenced by artists such as Nat King Cole, Miriam Makeba and the Everly Brothers, her distinctive low, soft, textured tone carries a message of hope, faith and encouragement. The music will be an exciting mix of Femi & Nikki’s originals and Classic Gospel songs and don’t forget this is our Family Friendly gig, so children of any age are more than welcome.

Sun 10th 8:00pm         AMY BIRD
Best known here at the Club for her regular appearances with 606 Club favourite The Coalminers, Amy Bird is a dynamic singer and performer who started her career with New Bucks Fizz touring festivals, venues and arenas around the UK and Europe before moving on to work with the likes of The London Dance Orchestra and from there, a host of high level studio work. The Amy Bird Band featured this evening was born “online” during lockdown with a view to performing Soul, Funk and Americana with material from the likes of Chaka Khan, The Doobie Brothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band & Stevie Wonder. Joined by four fantastic musicians, Mike Redfern & Al Cherry-guitars, Dan Drury-bass & Oscar Reynolds-drums this is a show filled with good vibes and great songs! Brilliant singer, great gig!

Mon 11th   8:00pm   PHIL MULFORD’S THUNDERTHUMBS
Join us to celebrate the great Soul and Funk songs with “Thunderthumbs”, the 10-piece band inspired by the great US bass player Louis Johnson led by bassist Phil Mulford. The set runs from Louis’ time with Billy Preston through to his own band The Brothers Johnson and the Quincy Jones hits on which he played. The gig features 3 brilliant singers, Gina Foster (Swing Out Sister), Debbie Bracknell (Shakatak) & Michael Johnson, a deeply grooving rhythm section and powerhouse horns.
“Gina Foster…incredibly talented and versatile vocalist” Visit London

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   **ALBUM LAUNCH** KATE WILLIAMS TRIO
Pianist/composer Kate Williams has gained a reputation as both a distinctive writer and performer. She has released a number of recordings to critical acclaim including “Four Plus Three”, featuring her trio with string quartet, and the album with vocalist Georgia Mancio, ‘Finding Home: Kate Williams’ Four Plus Three Meets Georgia Mancio’ which won Album of the Year at the 2020 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. The launch tonight features music from Kate’s eagerly anticipated new record, “On The Wing Of A Dragonfly”. The programme will include an eclectic set of colourful new originals by Kate as well as reinterpretations of standard tunes by the likes of Fats Waller, A.C. Jobim and Cole Porter.
“Immensely likeable music” **** Editor’s Choice Jazzwise;
“Williams has a…rare…quality…a musical vocabulary…all her own” The Observer;
“great writing, effortless arranging and a super-tight band” UK Jazz News;
“one of the UK’s most distinctive composer/pianists” MOJO
 

Thu 14th     8:00pm   BECKY ALICE
A finalist in the Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Competition in Washington D.C, singer Becky Alice was named as “one to discover” by UK Jazz News. Her soulful interpretations, creative scat singing and emotional storytelling breathe life into both well-known classics and her own originals, with her first EP, released in 2025, being featured on BBC Radio 3. Accompanied by Bruno Heinen-piano, Mikele Montolli-bass & Tim Sampson-drums expect jazz standards reimagined in a new light and some exciting new compositions.
“Great young vocalist” Phil Robson

Fri 15th   9:00pm     WAYNE HERNANDEZ
Wayne Hernandez is one of those fantastic singers who has been using his considerable talents to make others sound good. He includes work with Tina Turner, Kool and the Gang and Gorillaz and more recently the Kingdom Choir, who took the world by storm performing at the wedding of Harry and Meghan. He describes his music as “…a living fusion of music styles from the Black music scene”. A brilliant set of powerful groove music from an impressive band of hand-picked musicians that defines the word “soul”.
“...it was clear that Wayne had a very special talent, his voice, it was simply breathtaking” Livemusic.fm            

Sat 16th     9:00pm     PETE HORSFALL
Trumpet player/singer/songwriter/producer Pete Horsfall is a wonderful musician who includes work with the likes of Kurt Elling, Jamie Cullum & De La Soul but is probably best known for his association with Kansas Smitty’s. He has performed at most major UK jazz venues and festivals and has made numerous international appearances, including a week at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, while his album ‘Nighthawks’ was acclaimed as ‘ravishing’ (Guardian). Tonight he returns to the 606 with his outstanding ensemble featuring Fraser Urquhart-piano to “explore new material from their deep and eclectic engagement with the jazz tradition”.
“bittersweet beautiful voice…timeless trumpet” BBC Radio 2;
“unique new voice” Jazz FM;
“individual and refreshing” Jazz in Europe

Sun 17th     1:30pm   SUNDAY LUNCH:    SARA DHILLON
Pianist/composer/arranger Sara Dhillon has worked with artists including Joss Stone, Geri Halliwell and Jocelyn Brown at the likes of the Jazz Café, Ronnie Scott’s & the Isle of Wight Festival. She debuted as a West End composer scoring a contemporary version of “Twelfth Night” and has been guest musical director for NYJO in a sold-out show at Ronnie Scott’s. She has lectured at Cambridge University and Royal Holloway and currently holds posts at the Royal College of Music, Morley College & City Lit. Today she will be appearing with Matt Smith-trumpet, Alex Wardill-sax, Mo Cook-bass, and Taro Bariquelo-drums, performing vibrant originals, timeless jazz standards and Latin-inspired classics.

Sun 17th   8:00pm   “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 (Bee Gees)-guitar. Unique and powerful.
“Nash…breathtaking” Sunday Times;
“McCalla…spine tingling” Guardian

Mon 18th     8:00pm   TODD SHARPVILLE
Blues guitarist, singer & songwriter Todd Sharpville’s 1994 album “Touch of Your Love”, won “best guitarist” and “best album” in the British Blues Awards, since when he has recorded and performed with a variety of international artists including Joe Cocker, BB King and Taj Mahal. Tonight he’ll be showcasing his “Threesome” project, featuring Marcus Porter-bass & Steve Rushton-drums, including music from his most recent studio album “Medication Time” along with new, yet to be released material. Proper, heartfelt blues played with authentic style & character.
  “Heavenly blues guitar” Blues Connections;
“One of our best blues guitarists” MOJO

Tue 19th     8:00pm     JUST EAST OF JAZZ
Back in the 1990’s JEOJ gained a reputation as one of the first and best groups to explore the connections between jazz and klezmer but quickly developed a sound and approach all their own which, over time, took in a much wider range of influences. Their writing embodied their personal and idiosyncratic concept and compositional style to create a unique collective voice. After taking a significant break they are once again performing live and tonight will be their first London date for some years. Joining the core line-up of Jeremy Shoham-sax/clarinet/EWI, Phil Scragg-bass & Rick Finlay-drums/percussion will be their most recent member, keyboard wizard Danny Manners (Happy End, Big Big Train). With a set of new compositions by all the members of the band (as well as some old favourites) drawing on their eclectic influences from jazz to classical to prog rock, this evening promises to be a unique musical event from some of the finest and most experienced musicians around.
“rapid transitions and tight unison playing…a razor-sharp ensemble sound” Guardian;
“a restlessly virtuosic display of exceptionally punchy rhythmic precision and tight…improvisation” Jazzwise

Wed 20th     8:00pm   PHIL ROBSON/JED LEVY QUARTET  
Award-winning UK-born guitarist Phil Robson’s fluent and creative playing was first recognised as something special in the 90’s. His band ‘Partisans’, co-led with saxophonist Julian Siegel became a seminal influence on the UK and European contemporary scene for over 20 years. Also known for his work with acclaimed singer/songwriter Christine Tobin, Phil has been featured with the likes of Kenny Wheeler, Barbra Streisand, Steve Lacy, Vince Mendoza & Donny McCaslin as well as leading bands featuring jazz legends such as David Liebman, Mark Turner, Billy Hart, & Marc Copland. Based in New York from 2015-2020, Phil struck up a musical partnership with acclaimed US saxophonist Jed Levy. Jed has been heard with the likes of Jaki Byard, Lonnie Smith, Cedar Walton & Tom Harrell and his compositions have been performed and recorded by such luminaries as Charlie Hunter, The Headhunters and Eddie Henderson. They soon became a regular feature in the city’s iconic venues as well as touring in the UK, Germany, Spain, Ireland and California. Though Phil is now living in Ireland, they recorded their debut album, ‘The Unpredictability of the Sea’ while in Rome on tour last year. With new compositions written by the two of them they describe the music as “innovative and contemporary whilst remaining highly melodic and groovy”, strongly rooted in tradition while providing ample opportunity for both of these exceptional musicians to express their individual character and style. Joined by Dave Whitford-bass and Shane O’Donovan-drums, this performance will be the first time listeners can hear this music live and is their only London date!
“Phil Robson’s inventiveness on the guitar is unstoppable” The Telegraph;
“Phil Robson is one of the best guitar players in the world today…a…modern giant!!”  Peter Bernstein;
“Few musicians manage to elevate their artistic vision to this level…Levy…is utterly personal…and it works” Paris-Move;
“Levy…extracts a full, clear tone from his tenor, phrases melodies fluidly and improvises…with an appealing blend of logic and invention” Washington Post

Thu 21st     8:00pm   JACKSON MATHOD
Jackson Mathod is a trumpet player and singer who, over the last 15 years or so, has established his reputation as a highly creative musician who is comfortable performing in a host of different genres. With influences ranging from Miles Davis to Dub and Hip Hop he includes work with artists as diverse as UK jazz great Julian Joseph to performing with Stormzy at Glastonbury. His 2021 album ‘Travels in a Confined Space’, which he described as having a simple and universal message “have fun, move, and enjoy” was played by the likes of BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing, Jazz FM & Jamie Cullum. Tonight he will be featuring, amongst many other groove laden originals, material from his forthcoming album which he says will have “a more psychedelic sound”! Lauded by the likes of Jamz Supernova, Mary Anne Hobbs and Jordan Rakei, this gig is exuberant and captivating.
“Mathod …compelling…talented…masterful” Vibe Rating;
“Jackson’s… ability to convey truth in his solos is a tonic and his potential as an artist excites me” Julian Joseph
   

Fri 22nd   9:00pm   SAMARA FT. LIGIA CABRAL    
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 Ligia Cabral 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 23rd   9:00pm   PAUL BOOTH
Multi-award-winning saxophonist Paul Booth has toured the world as the featured sax player with the “Riverdance” show, worked with the likes of Eric Clapton and Matt Bianco and is currently a member of the Steve Winwood Band. Widely considered to be amongst the elite musicians on the scene, tonight he’s bringing his latest jazz quintet to the Club featuring the award-winning trumpet player James Copus and the pianist/organist of choice for so many artists, Ross Stanley. The programme, as Paul describes it, will be “music written specifically for this band alongside a mix of originals from my previous albums plus some of my favourite standards”.
“Blistering saxist” Independent;
“Paul Booth…has long enjoyed a reputation as a sax player of… intensity… [as well as] an interesting composer…. the result is a delight.” Daily Telegraph;
“Paul Booth is… effortless…rich and warm of tone, he is a pleasure to listen to.” Birmingham Post

Sun 24th     1:30pm   SUNDAY LUNCH: ERIKO ISHIHARA
A fine singer and an excellent jazz pianist Eriko Ishihara has established an enviable reputation on the UK jazz scene, as well as major concert halls in Hong Kong and Korea. With four albums to her name, the latest featuring the iconic US sax legend Scott Hamilton, her intimate programme of jazz standards and bossa novas is the perfect way to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon. Also featuring Colin Oxley (Stacey Kent)-guitar.
“immaculate…stylish…passionate” New World;
“Classy!” Swing Journal Japan  

Sun 24th   8:00pm   LOUISE BALKWILL
The 2022 winner of the Riga International Jazz Voice competition, Louise Balkwill has been hailed as one of the finest singers of her generation. Most recently touring with celebrated vocal harmony trio The Puppini Sisters tonight Louise will be featuring songs from her brand-new album, “Chatterbox”, a vibrant love letter to classic vocal jazz. Known for her dazzling vocalese, joyful stage presence and heartfelt storytelling, Louise brings her trademark warmth, wit and thrilling musicianship to the gig, with a collection of sparkling new compositions and fresh re-tellings of beloved standards. Featuring Jonathan Bauer-trumpet, Rob Barron-piano, Theo Malka-Wishart-bass and Joshua Walker-Martin-drums, expect high-energy swing, soulful ballads, playful improvisation, and the kind of musical chemistry only years of friendship and collaboration can create.
“Totally bowled over by Louise Balkwill’s incredible vocals and engaging stage presence” Jazzwise

Mon 25th   8:00pm   SOPHIE ALLOWAY
Drummer Sophie Alloway has for some years been the musician of choice for a wide variety of high-profile artists. She includes Later with Jools Holland, the Mercury Music Prize, Glastonbury Festival and King Charles III on a vast cv and her featured tracks on ‘Abbey Road Masters: The Drum Sessions’ have been used on radio and TV across the world. Tonight Sophie will be presenting an outstanding show with Ross Stanley-piano, Mornington Lockett-sax & Laurence Cottle-bass.
“Goddess of groove…Sophie Alloway” Jazz FM;
“Lockett must be one of the most complete masters of the instrument alive today” Observer;
“[Cottle]… is simply one of the most incredible bassists I’ve ever heard” Global Bass  

Tue 26th   8:00pm   JON GEE FT DENYS BAPTISTE & SPECIAL GUESTS
The award-winning pianist/singer Jonathan Gee is a long established and respected bandleader and sought-after sideman who includes work with the likes of Joe Lovano, Mark Murphy & Benny Golson. Tonight he will be bringing to the Club his quintet featuring the Award-winning saxophonist Denys Baptiste (McCoy Tyner,  Manu Dibango, Julian Joseph) and the highly respected bass player Larry Bartley (Courtney Pine). Making up the quintet will be Jon’s two special guests, Ofer Portugaly-piano/keyboard and Iris Portugaly-drums/vocals who between them have worked with the likes of Sheila Jordan, Kevin Mahogany, Dave Liebman, Avishai Cohen and Frank Gambale. The music will be a mix of Chick Corea, Paul Simon, some originals, some reworked jazz standards plus Iris singing several Brazilian songs from the drum chair (which is terrific…!). Jon will also be singing as well as playing together with Ofer, so while one plays piano the other will contribute on keyboard at the same time. This promises to be both a highly musical and fun gig from five enormously experienced and skilled musicians!
“Gee…his breathlessly sparkling originality shines through” Jazzwise;
“Denys Baptiste…icon of British jazz” Time Magazine;
“Baptiste…colossal talent” AllAboutJazz;
“Ofer & Iris Portugaly…Elegant, exciting, rich in musical highlights” Vesty

Wed 27th   8:00pm   ORLANDO LE FLEMING
Originally from the UK bassist Orlando Le Fleming moved to New York in 2003 and the rest, as they say, is history. His outstanding talent was quickly recognised and over the following 20 years he found himself being first call for a host of top-level players including the likes of Branford Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Billy Cobham, Wayne Krantz, Jimmy Cobb, Seamus Blake, Jeff “Tain” Watts & Mark Turner. Now back in the UK it’s a great pleasure to welcome Orlando to the Club where he first “cut his teeth” as an upcoming young player back in the early 2000’s. Tonight he will be appearing with his latest trio, featuring Tom Cawley-piano and James Maddren-drums, performing music from his latest album “Wandering Talk”. This is the third in his “Romantic Funk” series, a paring down of the first two projects, focusing more on the softer, acoustic, side performing original music and beautiful renditions of standards shrouded in subtle rhythmic shifts. Special gig this.
“Superb… a fresh mix of energy, intelligence and groove” Jazz’n’More;
“An outstanding bassist” WBGO;
“Raw, exciting, authentic and vital” The Jazz Mann

Thu 28th   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 29th   9:00pm   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 Harry Whitty (Dana Gillespie), guitarist Marcus Praestgaard Stevens (London Blues Band), saxophonist/singer Ben Somers (Dr John, Seal) and bassist Spencer Brown (Carl Barât) 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 30th   9:00pm   ALEX GARNETT “BLUES FOR SWEET POPPA LOU”
Alex Garnett’s powerful, flowing, world class hard bop sax has been heard with the likes of Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Elling, Van Morrison, Charlie Watts and the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars. He has performed in over 30 countries, appearing at such prestigious venues as the Blue Note, Lincoln Center and Birdland in NY as well as Montreux, Oslo and North Sea Jazz Festivals. Tonight Alex brings to the Club a special programme in honour of the late legend of soul jazz, the iconic alto saxophonist “Papa” Lou Donaldson. Best known for his bebop-influenced soulful, bluesy, style Lou reached out well beyond hard-core jazz fans. Sharing Lou’s ethos, as well as world class musicianship Alex’s shows offer a great night’s entertainment.
“Alex Garnett…one of Great Britain’s most accomplished…musicians” AllAboutJazz;
“Alex Garnett held the audience spellbound” The Jazz Mann

Sun 31st     1:30pm   SUNDAY LUNCH:  SARAH-JANE EVELEIGH
Jazz vocalist/songwriter Sarah Jane Eveleigh is respected for her passionate delivery and engaging interpretations of jazz standards. A gifted storyteller who brings a level of style, accuracy and class to her performances, she is building a strong reputation as a sought-after vocalist. Today Sarah will be showcasing some of her favourite standards alongside some of her own excellent compositions.
“A fantastic performance…by Sarah Jane Eveleigh… quite superb” Lemonrock.com

Sun 31st   8:00pm     EMMA HATTON
Emma Hatton, one of the leading ladies of West End theatre, includes starring roles in ‘Tina, The Tina Turner Musical’, Evita (Eva Peron), Cats & Les Mis on an impressive cv. However, she is also a terrific jazz singer and her vinyl EP, “Thirty Three and a Third”, shot straight to Number 1 on the iTunes jazz charts. She has toured internationally as lead vocalist with the world-famous PostModern Jukebox and as support for Jools Holland. Tonight Emma will present her lovingly-curated tribute to the great singer and entertainer Nancy Wilson, “Nancy & Me” in the company of her brilliant band featuring Martin Shaw-trumpet.
“A pint-sized powerhouse… she has that ability to send a genuine shiver down your spine” Headliner Magazine

Information about all of our May events, along with photos, video clips etc are on the website now for your consumption: https://www.606club.co.uk/events/

And a few dates in June 2026 for the diaries:

7th: 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!

8th: Bob Malone - Called a “keyboard wizard” by New Yorker Magazine, US singer/songwriter/pianist Bob Malone played keyboards for John Fogerty for over a decade, has been a session player for artists such as Ringo Starr while his film & TV work includes The Grinch, NCIS New Orleans, Dr. Phil, Entertainment Tonight and more. His last four albums have been in the Top 10 on the Roots Music Report radio rock and blues charts, #1 on the IBBA UK Blues Chart, and his piano-driven take on Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” was still on the SiriusXM Bluesville Top-50 Most Heard chart a year after its release. This will be Bob’s third appearance at the 606 and therefore, with the utmost of confidence, we can say how truly amazing, indeed spectacular Bob is live – no one can resist his infectious energy, warmth and enthusiasm!

11th: Dave Bristow is a pianist and composer from Birmingham, hailed by critics and contemporaries alike as one of the most promising talents in European jazz. After graduating from Leeds College of Music he moved to Paris, forming a multinational supergroup taken from the cream of the Parisian jazz scene and winning praise for his celebrated debut album, ‘Unknown, Unknown’. Now touring with his quintet in support of his latest release, “Sides”.

17th:  Saxophonist Julian Nicholas, pianist Emil Viklicky and vocalist Imogen Ryall - Julian and Emil will draw from 35 years’ worth of shared repertoire, recorded on no fewer than six albums to date, with Imogen’s vocal and lyrical settings, plus some serious and playful takes on a diverse palette of standards from Carla Bley to Duke Ellington.

25th:  Album Launch! Husband & wife tough tenor combo - Dave O’Higgins and forensic pathologist Dr Judith O’Higgins - preview their 3rd album set, “Liquorice Allsorts”. Mixing originals, Horace Silver, Wayne Shorter, George Coleman & Lee Morgan tunes, it’s in the tradition of Ronnie Scott & Tubby Hayes Jazz Couriers, and Johnny Griffin & Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis.

JULY:  JAZZ ON THE LAWN AT FULHAM PALACE, FRIDAY 17TH AND SATURDAY 18TH: Featuring two exciting nights of music presented at this charming historic site, it’s a delightful way to spend a summer evening. https://www.606club.co.uk/events/fulham-palace-1/
Friday: The Coalminers
With their dedication to what they to refer to as “Swamp Soul” this brilliant 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. And with the addition of a 3-piece horn section, this highly impressive ensemble are guaranteed to raise the roof!
Saturday: The 606 Club All Stars
Previewing the 606 Club’s 50th Anniversary later this year, welcome the amazing “606 All Stars”! Featuring three world class vocalists - Natalie Duncan, Jo Harrop, Polly Gibbons - three internationally recognised horn players - Brandon Allen, Alec Harper, Denys Baptiste - and a rhythm section to die for, this promises to be a phenomenal night of jazz to remember.

SAVE THE DATE: The 606 Club 50 Year Anniversary celebration begins in October with a series of special events to mark this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

606 Club
90 Lots Road
Chelsea
London
SW10 0QD

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

020 7352 5953

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 26/04/2026.

Monday, April 27, 2026

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 26/04/2026, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio playlist from April 26th 2026

Available now at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Lars Danielsson Liberetto
Presto
Echomyr
ACT

Alcyona Mick and Liam Noble
Jupiter
Distant PlaINS
Caliban Sounds

Joachim Kühn
Slick Stuff
Joachim Kühn & Young Lions
ACT

Marcus Klossek
Ephyra -Third Dance
Blink 7
newarts international

Flat Earth Society
Donkey Fever (part)
Missa Asinorum
Bandcamp

Andrés Coll Cosmic Trio
Good Morning
Ride to Heaven
Xjazz

Oestetic
78 Dance
Live au Temple Allemand
Hout Records

Olivier Le Goas & Ensemble Pulse
Direction
The Chaining Loops
Double Moon Records

Vicki Rummler
Fake Brown
Snapshots
Dodicilune

Oculus
Car a Vannes
Oculus
self

André Fernandes
Glaucous
Centauri Chroma
Dox 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 7pm

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 4pm onward

Radio Hereford FC – Wednesday 10pm

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

2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival Announces Livestream Schedule.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

The Gilmore has announced that fans worldwide can now join the magic of the 2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival through an exclusive series of high-definition livestreams. Press release attached

We have received the following press release;

2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival Announces Livestream Schedule

THE 2026 IRVING S. GILMORE INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL—NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST GATHERING OF KEYBOARD ARTISTS—ANNOUNCES LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE

Free Broadcasts Featuring Alexandre Kantorow, Stewart Goodyear, Esteban Castro Trio, Eighth Blackbird, Tyler Bullock Trio, Charlotte Hu & Raquel Gonzalez, ARTEMIS, Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet, Sullivan Fortner Trio with Cécile McLorin Salvant and Ambrose Akinmusire

New Streaming Partners: The Violin Channel, Amadeus.TV and JazzTimes

New Collaboration with UMS and Pomegranate Arts Presenting the Complete Philip Glass Etudes

KALAMAZOO, MI (For Release 04.22.26) — The Gilmore today announced that fans worldwide can now join the magic of the 2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival. Through an exclusive series of high-definition livestreams and new strategic streaming partnerships with The Violin Channel, Amadeus.TV andJazzTimes, this year’s Festival offers premium broadcasts of 10 concerts by today’s leading classical and jazz artists including Alexandre Kantorow, Sullivan Fortner, ARTEMIS, and more. From April 30-May 10, 2026, select shows from Michigan’s Chenery Auditorium, Kalamazoo Civic Center, and Dalton Center Recital Hall will be available to watch free of charge on The Gilmore’s YouTube Channel.

Quote from Pierre van der Westhuizen, 
The Gilmore’s Executive & Artistic Director: “Building on the Festival’s online viewership, we are committed to expanding our digital footprint to ensure accessibility for those unable to attend in person in Michigan. Each livestream concert is unique, but all 10 bring people together for these incredible performances in real-time. We invite the world to the front row of our Festival!”

With performances spanning historic concert halls, intimate clubs, family offerings, and community spaces across Southwest Michigan, the 2026 Festival envisions the piano not merely as an instrument, but as a unifying force that transforms the region into a dynamic hub of artistic exploration, storytelling, and shared human experience. Anchored by world premieres, interdisciplinary collaborations, and the inaugural Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Awards, the Festival celebrates the piano as a catalyst for creative exchange across genres, generations, and cultures. Its programming highlights both legacy and discovery—pairing iconic artists such as Joshua Bell, Brad Mehldau, Kirill Gerstein, and Marc-André Hamelin with rising classical and jazz talents, while commissioning new works that reflect the piano’s vibrant role in today’s musical ecosystem. For the complete Festival schedule, visit http://www.thegilmore.org.

How to access the free Gilmore International Piano Festival livestreams:
●    Available FREE at http://www.thegilmore.org/Livestreams
●    Additional livestream partners for select performances include The Violin Channel, Amadeus.TV, and JazzTimes.
●    Get notified of livestreaming events by visiting YouTube.com/@TheGilmore
●    Following the digital premiere on EDT, all livestreams will be accessible to the public for 30 days (unless otherwise noted)

LIVESTREAM SCHEDULE:

SAT 4.18 AT 7:30 PM ET | THE COMPLETE PHILIP GLASS PIANO ETUDES
Presented in collaboration with the University Musical Society
Timo Andres | Inon Barnatan | Janice Carissa, 2022 Gilmore Young Artist | Vicky Chow | Aaron Diehl | Lara Downes | Lisa Kaplan | Daniela Liebman | Christian Sands | Justin Snyder
One of the most influential composers of our time, Philip Glass has had an extraordinary and unprecedented impact on the musical and intellectual life of our age. Glass has written more than 30 operas, 14 symphonies, 13 concertos, numerous soundtracks to films, nine string quartets, a growing body of work for solo piano and organ, and collaborated with artists ranging from Twyla Tharp to Allen Ginsberg, Leonard Cohen and David Bowie. He describes himself as a composer of “music with repetitive structures” and says that “If I’m to be remembered for anything, it will probably be for the piano music, because people can play it.”
Now available on YouTube until April 28, 2026. Co-streamed with UMS and Pomegranate Arts.

SAT 5.02 at 8:00 p.m. ET | ALEXANDRE KANTOROW, 2024 GILMORE ARTIST
The day after performing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, 2024 Gilmore Artist Alexandre Kantorow returns to give a solo recital. Kantorow will present the U.S. premiere of a new work by leading Swedish composer Anders Hillborg, which Kantorow commissioned through his Gilmore Artist Award; he will premiere the work at the Le Piano Symphonique Festival in Lucerne in January 2026.
J.S. BACH /arr. LISZT     Variations on Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen S. 180.
N. MEDTNER               Sonata in F Minor, Op. 5
F. CHOPIN                 Prelude in C-sharp Minor, Op. 45
A. SCRIABIN               Sonata No. 10, Op. 70
L.v. BEETHOVEN           Sonata No. 32 in C Minor Op. 111
ANDERS HILLBORG       The Kalamazoo Flow, U.S. PREMIERE,  commissioned by The Gilmore
Co-streaming with: The Violin Channel and Amadeus.TV available May 2–June 1, 2026

MON 5.04 at 2:00 p.m. ET | STEWART GOODYEAR
Canadian pianist Stewart Goodyear is renowned for his large, dramatic sound, elegant technique, and omnivorous approach to keyboard music. Goodyear has attracted particular attention for his Beethoven “Sonatathons,” a term he coined to describe his epic performances of Beethoven’s complete piano sonatas in one day.
L.v. BEETHOVEN                 Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2 (“Tempest”)
STEWART GOODYEAR         Rhapsody
L.v. BEETHOVEN                 Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (“Moonlight”)
STEWART GOODYEAR           Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso
L.v. BEETHOVEN                 Andante favori, WoO 57
                                    Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 (“Appassionata”)
Co-streaming with: The Violin Channel and Amadeus.TV available May 4–June 3, 2026
TUE 5.05 at 12:00 p.m. ET | ESTEBAN CASTRO TRIO - 2026 BELL YOUNG JAZZ ARTIST
Esteban Castro began playing piano at age four and at 13, became the youngest-ever First Prize Winner at the Montreux Jazz Piano Solo Competition. Now 20, Castro is already an in-demand bandleader and side musician. At The Gilmore, Castro and their trio will perform a mix of standards and Castro’s own award-winning compositions.
Available May 5–June 4, 2026

TUE 5.05 at 2:00 p.m. ET | EIGHTH BLACKBIRD
Four-time GRAMMY® Award-winning contemporary music sextet Eighth Blackbird is, according to The Chicago Tribune, “one of the smartest, most dynamic ensembles on the planet.” They perform Four Organs and Piano Phase, two seminal 20th-century works by pioneering American minimalist composer Steve Reich in his 90th birthday year, as well as the World Premiere of a new work written for them by Clarice Assad, commissioned by The Gilmore. A composer, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist, Assad creatively fuses elements of classical, jazz, and Brazilian music for a sound that’s completely her own.
ARI SUSSMAN           to no end
CLARICE ASSAD         WORLD PREMIERE, commissioned by The Gilmore
STEVE REICH             Piano Phase
                            Four Organs
NICO MUHLY             Doublespeak
Co-streaming with: The Violin Channel available May 5–June 4, 2026

WED 5.06 at 12:00 p.m. ET | TYLER BULLOCK TRIO - 2026 BELL YOUNG JAZZ ARTIST
The regular pianist for the Roy Hargrove Big Band, and with collaborations with Samara Joy, Sean Jones, and Dee Dee Bridgewater already under his belt, Tyler Bullock is one of the most promising pianists of his generation. His original compositions for his trio and other configurations combine the lineage of jazz with his own fresh perspective.
Available May 6–June 5, 2026

THU 5.07 at 2:00 p.m. ET | CHOPIN AND VIARDOT: A DIALOGUE
Raquel González, soprano
Charlotte Hu, piano
Pauline Viardot was an accomplished pianist who studied with Franz Liszt, a world-renowned mezzo-soprano, and a talented composer, yet her name is largely unknown today. In their collaborative recital, pianist Charlotte Hu and soprano Raquel González re-introduce Viardot to her rightful place alongside the greatest of Romantic composers, notably her friend and colleague Frédéric Chopin. Their program spans solo piano works by both Chopin and Viardot, Viardot’s piano-and-voice arrangements of Chopin’s mazurkas — which Chopin himself advised on and was pleased with — and some of Viardot’s own original songs for soprano and piano.
F. CHOPIN                   Polonaise-Fantasie, Op. 61
                              Mazurka in C-sharp Minor, Op. 63, No. 3
                              Mazurka in F-sharp Minor, Op. 59, No. 3
                              Mazurka in C Major, Op. 33, No. 3
F. CHOPIN/arr. P. VIARDOT Mazurka Op. 50, No. 2 “Seize ans!”
                              Mazurka Op. 33, No. 2 “Aime-moir”
                              Mazurka Op. 6, No. 1 “Plainte d’amour”
                              Mazurka Op. 7, No. 1 “Coquette”
                              Mazurka Op. 68, No. 2 “L’Oiselet”
                              Mazurkas Op. 7, No. 3 and Op. 7, No. 2 “Faible cœur!”
P. VIARDOT                 Mazurka
                              Deux airs de ballet
                              Serenade
F. CHOPIN                   Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60
P. VIARDOT                   Original Songs for Soprano and Piano
Co-streaming with: The Violin Channel and Amadeus.TV available May 7–June 6, 2026

FRI 5.08 at 7:30 p.m. ET | ARTEMIS
Equally beloved by audiences and critics alike, ARTEMIS conjures a powerful collective voice from its five members. Originally assembled by pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes, the all-female group is distinguished not only by the star power of its individual members, but also by its multi-national and intergenerational lineup. ARTEMIS features Renee Rosnes (piano/Fender Rhodes), Ingrid Jensen (trumpet), Nicole Glover (tenor saxophone), Noriko Ueda (bass), and Allison Miller (drums). At The Gilmore, ARTEMIS will perform tunes from their three acclaimed Blue Note albums, featuring a vibrant mix of original compositions by all five band members as well as Rosnes’s arrangements of pieces by Wayne Shorter, Burt Bacharach, and more.
Co-streaming with: The Violin Channel and JazzTimes available May 8–June 7, 2026

SAT 5.09 at 7:30 p.m. ET | CHUCHO VALDÉS ROYAL QUARTET
For over six decades, NEA Jazz Master Chucho Valdés has defined Afro-Cuban jazz through his work as a pianist, composer, and bandleader. A winner of multiple GRAMMY® and Latin GRAMMY® Awards, Valdés also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and has been inducted into the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame. His Royal Quartet features virtuosos from the next generation of Afro-Cuban jazz: Horacio El Negro Hernandez (drums), Armando Gola (bass), and Roberto Vizcaino Jr. (congas). They will pay homage to Chick Corea, Mozart, American blues, Cuban folksongs, and more, all with their signature sense of joy and creativity.
Available May 9–June 8, 2026

TUE 5.10 at 4:00 p.m. ET | FINALE: SULLIVAN FORTNER TRIO featuring CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT & AMBROSE AKINMUSIRE
Sullivan Fortner, piano
Cécile McLorin Salvant, vocals
Ambrose Akinmusire, trumpet
Tyrone Allen, bass
Kayvon Gordon, drums
The 2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival concludes with an exclusive performance created especially for this occasion, uniting three of today’s most visionary artists. Sullivan Fortner, recent recipient of The Gilmore’s inaugural Larry J. Bell Artist Award, leads his trio alongside GRAMMY® Award–winning vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant and acclaimed trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, whose distinctive sound and compositional depth have earned him international recognition. Joined by Tyrone Allen (bass) and Kayvon Gordon (drums), they will explore new musical terrain where improvisation, storytelling, and collective imagination meet in a singular finale that promises to be both intimate and transcendent.
Available Live Only: May 10, 2026

ABOUT THE GILMORE        
Created in 1989 to honor the legacy of businessman and philanthropist Irving S. Gilmore, The Gilmore is the premier institution in the United States dedicated exclusively to commissioning, presenting and awarding extraordinary piano artistry. The Gilmore has presented 16 piano festivals, commissioned over 45 new works for piano, and awarded over $3 million as part of its internationally renowned Gilmore Artists Award for both classical and jazz pianists. Based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, The Gilmore hosts its annual (previously biennial) Gilmore Piano Festival April 30-May 10, 2026, and continues to impact the lives of thousands of area children and adults through its year-round community engagement and music education programs including summer camps, music therapy, and much more.

Arts Council England backs Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club to launch ‘The Jazz Ladder’ talent incubator.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club, the independent venue in South London, has announced the launch of The Jazz Ladder, a pioneering new talent incubator programme. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Arts Council England backs Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club to launch ‘The Jazz Ladder’ talent incubator

21st April 2026

Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club, the independent venue in South London, is thrilled to announce the launch of The Jazz Ladder, a pioneering new talent incubator programme. Backed by Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Music fund, the initiative launches in April 2026 and provides a fully funded, three-step development pipeline designed to discover, support and elevate early-career musicians.

Expanding from a traditional live music venue into an active talent incubator, Toulouse Lautrec is tackling the financial and networking barriers that often hinder emerging artists. The Jazz Ladder moves away from passive open-call applications, which frequently favour those with industry connections or expensive EPK assets, in favour of a proactive scouting model based on live performance. The programme guarantees Fair Pay at Musicians’ Union (MU) rates across the events and is structured into three clear steps of career progression:

● Flagship Jams: A series of 22 open-access, non-judgemental jam sessions. Acting as the “engine room” of the project, these sessions offer a supportive networking environment where house band leaders actively scout raw, diverse talent directly from the jam session.

● First Sets: Standout musicians aged 18-25 scouted at the jams will be elevated to 15 paid support slots. Crucially, each artist will also receive professional-grade video showreels (EPKs) of their performance at no cost, equipping them with the vital assets needed to secure future bookings.

● Spotlight Sessions: The culmination of the ladder, featuring 10 headline slots for breakthrough artists ready to command their own audience.

How the scouting works: the primary route onto The Jazz Ladder is through the jam sessions. House band leaders will evaluate live performances and make direct
recommendations to the Steering Group. Audience members will also be invited to submit recommendations for which jam participants they want to see booked for
First Sets and Spotlight Sessions. Musicians attending the jams will be able to register their contact details in person, or they can apply directly online via the official application form: https://toulouselautrec.co.uk/jazz-ladder-registration-form/

To ensure the selection process is meritocratic, inclusive and reaches beyond usual networks, the project will be overseen by a newly formed expert Steering Group. This
advisory panel features industry heavyweights: award-winning saxophonist and educator Tori Freestone, leading jazz manager Danielle White, renowned Latin pianist
Pablo Barrios and Sebastian Scotney, editor of UK Jazz News.

Nolan Regent, Co-Founder of Toulouse Lautrec, commented on the launch:
“For over 17 years, Toulouse Lautrec has been a home for incredible live music, but we wanted to do more than just put on gigs and actively build the future of the London jazz scene. With the backing of Arts Council England, ‘The Jazz Ladder’ allows us to tear down financial barriers and offer genuine, paid progression for emerging artists, whether they are fresh out of a conservatoire or entirely self-taught. We are giving them the stage, the professional media assets and the fair pay they deserve. It’s about pure talent, not who you know.”

About Supporting Grassroots Music
Funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport as part of the UK Government’s Creative industries sector vision, £5 million has been invested to support Grassroots Music.

About Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club
Established in 2008, Toulouse Lautrec is an independent, family-owned jazz venue in Kennington, South London. With its distinctive red aesthetic, the club is inspired by
Parisian cabaret culture while providing a modern platform for live jazz. It has earned a reputation as one of London’s most authentic and welcoming jazz destinations.

Venue information
Address: Toulouse Lautrec, 140 Newington Butts, Kennington, London, SE11 4RN
Website: https://toulouselautrec.co.uk/
Contact: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) | 020 7582 6800

Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toulouse.london
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toulouse.london/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/toulouse_london
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@toulouse.lautrec.london
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@toulouse.london

Cheltenham Jazz Club - Programme for May and June 2026.

Sunday, April 19, 2026

Cheltenham Jazz Club has announced its programme for May and June 2026. Performers include Jon Lloyd, Eddie Gripper, Gareth Williams, Dave Green. Details attached.

From;
https://www.cheltenhamjazz.co.uk/

THE JON LLOYD QUARTET
WHEN: 8.00 pm, Monday 11 May 2026
WHERE: The Irving Studio, Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
Tickets: £22.00
Jon Lloyd – Saxophones, John Law – Piano Nick Pini - Bass, Alex Goodyear – Drums
Jon Lloyd Quartet – The European Sound.
“We play great European Contemporary Jazz. The music is both sensitive and exuberant, melodic yet harmonically exciting, and has a persuasive way of reaching an audience which some of the current complex jazz performers have perhaps lost sight of. Notable recent concerts have included Charleville Action Jazz in France, 606 club and PizzaExpress in London, Birmingham Jazz, Fleece Jazz, The Wiltshire Music Centre and Swanage Jazz Festival. Renowned Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen is also a fan!
The Everyman Theatre
Regent Street, Cheltenham, GL50 1HQ.
Box Office:
01242 572573
https://www.everymantheatre.org.uk/shows/jazz-in-the-studio/

THE EDDIE GRIPPER TRIO
WHEN: 8.00 pm, Monday 15 June 2026
WHERE: The Victory Club Ballroom Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham.
Tickets: CJ Members £19.00, non members £22.00
Eddie Gripper – Piano, Clem Saynor – Bass,  Patrick Barrett-Donlon – Drums.
Performing music from his second album Americana (released April 2025), Eddie Gripper tells the story of an 8,000 km hitch hiking journey from Alaska to California, completed in under two months during the summer of 2022. The music captures the vast landscapes and unforgettable moments along the way - from sleeping in the Alaskan wilderness to cycling down Santa Monica Pier - offering a vivid, hopeful, yet unflinching reflection on American life.
Tickets available on the door or online at http://www.ticketsource.com

THE GARETH WILLIAMS & DAVE GREEN DUOPLAY MUSIC INSPIRED BY BILL EVANS & SCOTT LA FARO
WHEN: 8.00 pm, Monday 29 June 2026
WHERE: The Victory Club Ballroom Burlington House, Lypiatt Road, Cheltenham.
Tickets: CJ Members £19.00, non members £22.00
Gareth Williams and Dave Green have agreed to recreate their “Tribute to Bill Evans and Scott la Faro” of some years ago as a testimonial to Simon Radford.
Whilst you will hear very direct influence and in-depth reworking of the original stylistic devices, you will also hear the individual skills and styles of Dave and Gareth. Gareth has immersed himself in the harmony of Bill Evans for many years and Dave is a Scott La Faro disciple, so expect a thorough investigation into the sound world of Bill Evans and Scott La Faro.
Tickets available on the door or online at http://www.ticketsource.com

Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester - new events added for June 2026.

Sunday, April 19, 2026

Music Spoken Here has added two new events to its programme with the visits of the V6 Organ Trio and the Alex Hitchcock Quartet. Full details attached.

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

V6 Organ Trio
June 11 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
£15
Hot, fiery, swingin’ and groovin’ organ trio from The Midlands.
Following his debut appearance at The Marr’s Bar with Detroitwich Funk Machine in January, Arran Shanghavi returns on Hammond Organ with the hot, fiery, swingin’ and groovin’ V6 Organ Trio – a new collaboration with guitarist Jamie McLeish and Jono Hilliam on drums.
Shanghavi brings the bluesy, funky style we all know and love! McLeish, with ‘the finest ear in The Midlands’, adds harmonic and melodic richness while Hilliam, with his big band background, adds a huge sound and exciting energy into the small ensemble setup.
Expect to hear tunes you know, tunes you don’t and some you never thought you’d hear in this setting!
TICKETS
Admission for this event is complimentary for Music Spoken Here Club Members.
Non-members are welcome – just show up and pay £15 cash or card on the door.
You can find out more about our admission and membership options at A New Approach
https://musicspokenhere.club/a-new-approach/

Alex Hitchcock Quartet
June 25 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
£15
“Tumbling with ideas, impulsive improvisations and swinging, left-field energy” – MOJO Magazine
We are delighted to welcome Alex Hitchcock back to the Marr’s Bar for the third time on our program. He first appeared with Resolution 88 in November 2022 and, as a mentor for Dan Lockheart on the Jazz Central Mentoring Scheme, he performed with Dan’s quintet in September the following year. This time, following sold-out album launches in New York and London, he’s back with his own cutting edge quartet performing music from his new album, Letters From Afar, a sonic correspondence across emotional, geographic, and artistic distances.
Described as “leading the charge of new jazz music being created in the UK” (BBC Jazz World), “an astonishingly quick thinking virtuoso” (Jazzwise magazine) and “tumbling with ideas, impulsive improvisations and swinging, left-field energy” (MOJO Magazine), saxophonist and Ivor Novello-nominated composer Hitchcock is a leading voice on the international jazz stage. Emerging from London’s fertile jazz scene and shaped by inventive collaborations across Europe, the US, and further afield, he has built an international reputation for music that balances real-world urgency with formal and stylistic exploration.
The group’s sound draws as much from film and visual art as from music itself: shimmering bitonal harmonies that bloom and fracture; layered textures of colour, density, and rhythmic asymmetry; loops and motifs that build, collide, and dissolve. Hitchcock has carved out a distinctive space in contemporary jazz – at times intense and chaotic, at others disarmingly sparse and direct. Beneath the surface of the quartet’s notated forms lies a deep commitment to free improvisation, creating music both tightly sculpted and thrillingly fluid.
This is music for curious, open-minded listeners drawn to art at the edge of beauty and disruption. Fans of Caroline Davis, Tyshawn Sorey, or Peter Evans will find familiar terrain, though this is a group never content to stay in one place for long.
The quartet features Will Barry on piano, Freddie Jensen on bass Ananda Brandão on drums.
TICKETS
Admission for this event is complimentary for Music Spoken Here Club Members.
Non-members are welcome – just show up and pay £15 cash or card on the door.
You can find out more about our admission and membership options at A New Approach
https://musicspokenhere.club/a-new-approach/

Venue
The Marr’s Bar
12 Pierpoint Street
Worcester,
Worcestershire,
WR1 1TA.

Phone
(01905) 613336

https://marrsbar.co.uk/

Jazz in the Gardens Brings Friday Night Jazz and more to Nine Elms and Battersea, London - Friday 1 May until Friday 17 July 2026.

Friday, April 17, 2026

World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens welcomes back its seasonal concert series – Jazz in the Gardens. From late spring to early summer it will host nine concerts on Friday nights. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Jazz in the Gardens Brings Friday Night Jazz and more to Nine Elms and Battersea
Friday 1 May until Friday 17 July

World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens welcomes back its seasonal concert series – Jazz in the Gardens – bringing rhythm, soul and community spirit with a diverse programme of jazz performances to its intimate music venue in Nine Elms, Battersea.

From late spring to early summer, Friday 1 May to Friday 17 July, World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens will become a vibrant live music destination for jazz lovers, showcasing nine jazz concerts on Friday nights from world-class jazz musicians to rising stars, including legendary saxophonist, Jean Toussaint, Tony Kofi Quartet and jazz pianist, Julian Joseph.

Kicking off the series is saxophonist and composer Trish Clowes album launch ‘Try Me’ featuring her band MY IRIS and cellist Louise McMonagle (Friday 1 May); followed by a double bill from two emerging stars on the London jazz scene Emile Hinton Trio + Nnamdi Nnachi-Cole Quartet (Friday 15 May); Samuel Sesay, a young and promising talent whose work spans the fields of jazz, hip-hop, electronic, and rock The c-se quartet (Friday 22 May 2026); Filomena Campus Quartet blending jazz, improvisation and spoken word Filomena Campus Quartet (Friday 29 May); a return to Embassy Gardens for Grammy Award-winning Jean Toussaint, formerly of Art Blakey’s ‘Jazz Messengers’ Jean Toussaint Quintet (Friday 5 June); award-winning, London-based jazz bass player, composer and arranger Misha Mullov-Abbado Group (Friday 12 June); one of the UK’s finest alto saxophonists, known for his powerful sound, fearless improvisation, and deep-rooted connection to jazz Tony Kofi Quartet (Friday 19 June); spanning jazz, R&B, soul, funk, Latin and gospel, with a strong grounding in straight-ahead jazz and modern improvisation Zeeks and the Brotherhood (Friday 26 June); and to conclude, hailed as one of the finest jazz pianists to emerge on this side of the Atlantic, Julian Joseph will perform standards from the jazz classics as well as his own original compositions Julian Joseph: 60th Birthday Concert (Friday 17 July).

Alongside its Friday night concert series, World Heart Beat champions arts and community engagement through a free, vibrant Jazz in the Gardens Trail and café concerts across Nine Elms and Battersea. In collaboration with local organisations and venues, the neighbourhood will come alive with rhythm and jazz, offering the community an immersive and uplifting musical journey. If you are a local organisation who would like to be part of the Jazz in the Gardens Trail, please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

With every ticket, audiences are treated to world-class jazz performances in an intimate setting—while also helping nurture the next generation of talent at World Heart Beat Music Academy. Each purchase feeds into the charity’s bursary programme, opening doors for young musicians who face financial or social barriers, and giving them the chance to find their voice through the power of music.

The full Jazz in the Gardens line up can be found here;
https://worldheartbeat.org/whats-on/festival/jazz-in-the-gardens-2026/

May

Jazz in the Gardens: Trish Clowes: ‘Try Me’ album launch ft. MY IRIS + Louise McMonagle, Friday 1 May 2026
Saxophonist and composer Trish Clowes launches her new album ‘Try Me’ released by UK indie label Stoney Lane Records, featuring her band MY IRIS, with Chris Montague (guitar), Ross Stanley (piano/Hammond organ), and Joel Barford (drums). Cellist Louise McMonagle also appears as a special guest.

Jazz in the Gardens: (Double Bill) Emile Hinton Trio + Nnamdi Nnachi-Cole Quartet, Friday 15 May
Emile Hinton is an award-winning jazz pianist and composer emerging from the heart of the London jazz scene. A mentee of renowned UK pianist Julian Joseph, Emile graduated with first-class honours from Trinity Laban Conservatoire and recently spent three months at the Tribeca Jazz Institute in NYC, studying with some of New York’s top musicians. 
Nnamdi Nnachi-Cole is a young pianist with a beautiful flowing integrity of sound; his ballad playing is insightful and mature coupled with an effortless urgency when the music is powerful and fast pace. He will perform in a quartet alongside South London musician Ellis Gates, crowned the Young Drummer of the Year, securing his place in drumming history at the Zildjian Young Drummer contest, testament to his extraordinary talent and dedication.

Jazz in the Gardens: The c-se quartet, Friday 22 May 2026
Samuel Sesay, simply known as ‘c-sé’, is a young and promising talent whose work spans the fields of jazz, hip-hop, electronic, and rock. With influences such as Herbie Hancock, Horace Silver, and Joe Armon-Jones, he presents a set of mostly original jazz compositions, reflecting his upbringing in Hackney and the culture around him.

Jazz in the Gardens: Filomena Campus Quartet, Friday 29 May 2026
The Filomena Campus Quartet presents a special preview of their forthcoming album, offering a rare chance to experience the music live in the very space where it was recorded. Blending jazz, improvisation and spoken word, the performance unfolds as a vibrant and theatrical musical journey. The programme features original multilingual compositions co-written with Steve Lodder and Charlie Pyne, alongside new arrangements from Campus’ rich repertoire and international collaborations, including a vocal solo interpretation of a Jobim classic.

June

Jazz in the Gardens: Jean Toussaint Quintet, Friday 5 June 2026
An exciting visit from the Grammy Award-winning Jean Toussaint, formerly of Art Blakey’s ‘Jazz Messengers’. His blistering technique and lyrical sound have earned Jean acclaim from across the world, and the band leader has 12 albums under his belt. Toussaint is also often invited to join tours with US musicians visiting Europe and most recently was on tour with pianist Cedar Walton and Donald Brown, trumpeter Eddie Henderson and an extensive tour of Europe the Middle East and New York with the great Jeff Watts.

Jazz in the Gardens: Misha Mullov-Abbado Group, Friday 12 June 2026
Award-winning, London-based jazz bass player, composer and arranger Misha Mullov-Abbado is a musician who combines great imagination with raw talent and a clear vision.
A BBC New Generation Artist and with three critically acclaimed albums on Edition Records under his name, his most recent offering Effra showcases his ‘melodic gift’ (John Fordham, The Guardian) and ability to masterfully combine beautifully crafted compositions with free-spirited improvisation.

Jazz in the Gardens: Tony Kofi Quartet, Friday 19 June 2026
Tony Kofi is renowned as one of the UK’s finest alto saxophonists, known for his powerful sound, fearless improvisation, and deep-rooted connection to the jazz tradition. A graduate of the legendary Berklee College of Music, he has built an extensive career performing with the likes of the World Saxophone Quartet, Courtney Pine, Abdullah Ibrahim, Branford Marsalis, and many leading UK ensembles.

Jazz in the Gardens: Zeeks and the Brotherhood, Friday 26 June 2026
Ezekiel Ajie, aka Zeeks, is a former boxer turned double bassist and electric bassist, now firmly established as a versatile and in-demand musician on the UK jazz scene. His work spans jazz, R&B, soul, funk, Latin and gospel, with a strong grounding in straight-ahead jazz and modern improvisation. He has performed with leading figures including Wynton Marsalis, Tony Kofi, Byron Wallen, Leon Garner, Andy Davies and Jas Kayser and is known for his solid time, clear melodic sense and adaptability across genres.

July

Jazz in the Gardens: Julian Joseph: 60th Birthday Concert, Friday 17 July 2026
In celebration of his 60th birthday, and to conclude the Jazz in the Gardens concert series, Julian will perform a selection of the most beautiful standards from the jazz classics as well as original compositions by Joseph himself; never ceasing to inspire with his mastery of the keyboard, versatility of musicality and boundless creative imagination. Hailed as one of the finest pianists to emerge on this side of the Atlantic, for over two decades Julian Joseph has been a towering figure in contemporary jazz.

Venue Details:
Address: World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens, 3 Ponton Rd, Nine Elms, London SW11 7BD
Tel: 0204 547 1075

About World Heart Beat
In 2023, World Heart Beat opened World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens, a state-of-the-art digital music education and concert venue in Nine Elms, featuring a 200-capacity auditorium and industry-standard recording studio. Through our Music Leader and EMERGE training programmes, and GLA-funded South London Music Mentors, programme we are supporting Black, culturally diverse, female and LGBT+ South London talent to find their path in the music industry. 
Wandsworth-based World Heart Beat Music Academy was founded in 2009 to meet the need for affordable music education, from grassroots to professional level, for South Londoners, no matter what their age, background or skills. Fronted by award-winning musician and educator Sahana Gero MBE, World Heart Beat is a leading music educator and hub – supported by Arts Council England as an NPO, and known for its inclusive global music programmes, youth-led approach and contribution to a more diverse and representative music sector. 
The charity provides music tuition and performances opportunities for c.446 young people each year outside of school hours. World Heart Beat’s mission is to provide opportunities for all, with an ‘open door’ approach that welcomes any young person interested in learning music. This commitment sees them providing bursaries and free instruments to more than half of the students that come through their door.

Public nominations are now open for the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

Friday, April 17, 2026

Public nominations are now open for the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Entries are open to anyone. Public nominations open on Fri 17th April with the final deadline set for midnight on Fri 15th May.

We have received the following press release;

Public nominations are now open for the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards
             
             
Public nominations are now open for the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Entries are open to anyone. Public nominations open on Friday 17th April with the final deadline set for midnight on Friday 15th May 2026. The Parliamentary Awards celebrate and recognise the vibrancy, diversity, talent and breadth of the jazz scene throughout the United Kingdom.

“These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the talents and energies of the great musicians, educators, promoters, record labels, jazz organisations, blogs, jazz magazines and journalists who keep jazz flourishing, in spite of the challenges they faced in the last couple of years”. Lord Mann and Dame Chi Onwurah MP, Co-chairs of APPJG and Jo White MP.

The Awards will take place at World Heart Beat on Tuesday 13th October 2026 at 7pm

To nominate please go to: Nominations Parliamentary Jazz Awards
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWFZDI0c7FwOV1v_xHKCUB3znJJuapKQN0ER81zMK2YAa78Q/viewform

Here is another link for the avoidance of doubt:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWFZDI0c7FwOV1v_xHKCUB3znJJuapKQN0ER81zMK2YAa78Q/viewform

Voting closes on Friday 15th May 2026 at Midnight

Please note the criteria for the different categories:
Jazz Album of the Year (released in 2025 by a UK band or musicians).
Services to Jazz Award (to a living person for their outstanding contribution to jazz in the UK).
Jazz Newcomer of the Year (UK-based artist, musician or group with a debut album released in 2025).
Jazz Education Award (to an educator or project for raising the standard of jazz education in the UK).
Jazz Media Award (including broadcasters, journalists, magazines, blogs, listings, photographers and books).
Jazz Venue of the Year (including jazz clubs, venues, festivals and promoters).
Jazz Ensemble of the Year (UK-based group who impressed in 2025).
Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year (UK-based musician who impressed in 2025).
Jazz Vocalist of the Year (UK-based vocalist who impressed in 2025).

The awards are organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), co-chaired”. by Dame Chi Onwurah MP and Lord Mann.

The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) currently has over 73 members from the House of Commons and House of Lords across all political parties. Their aim is to encourage wider and deeper enjoyment of jazz, to increase Parliamentarians’ understanding of the jazz industry and issues surrounding it, to promote jazz as a musical form and to raise its profile inside and outside Parliament. The Group’s officers as at the Annual General Meeting on 20th November 2025 are the Chair, Dame Chi Onwurah MP and Deputy Chair, Lord Mann. The Officers are Jo White MP, Baroness Nicholson, Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, Sarah Champion MP and Lord Spellar.

Recent reports and submissions from APPJG can be seen here:

Submission to the open consultation on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence from Chris Hodgkins
https://chrishodgkins.co.uk/2025/02/19/open-consultation-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence-the-culture-media-and-sport-committee-state-of-play-consultation-2/submission-to-the-open-consultation-on-copyright-and-artificial-intelligence-from-chris-hodgkins/

Review of Jazz in England March 2025
https://appjag.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/review-of-jazz-in-england-march-2025.pdf

State of Play: submission to the Culture Media and Sport committee
https://chrishodgkins.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/State-of-Play-DCMS-Submission.pdf

ACE Review a response from the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group
https://appjag.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ace-review-a-response-from-the-all-party-parliamentary-jazz-group-1.pdf

Charter Review: MPs launch inquiry on future purpose, governance and funding of BBC
https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/culture-media-and-sport-committee/news/212648/charter-review-mps-launch-inquiry-on-future-purpose-governance-and-funding-of-bbc/

Submission to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on the future of the BBC
https://chrishodgkins.co.uk/2026/03/28/the-culture-media-and-sport-committee-is-inviting-written-submissions-on-the-future-of-the-bbc-as-part-of-a-new-inquiry-into-the-royal-charter-review/submission-to-the-culture-media-and-sport-committee-on-the-future-of-the-bbc/

The Secretary is Chris Hodgkins with the assistance of Simon Jennings and Will Riley-Smith of NorthPoint Strategy and Andrew Lansley. The Secretary operates on a strictly pro bono basis and no expenses of any kind are paid to the Secretary. The contact address is: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and the website is https://appjag.org/

Shez Raja - Summer Tour 2026.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Bassist & composer Shez Raja will be touring in the UK during June, July & August in support of his latest album "Spellbound". His band will include guitarist Guthrie Govan. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Shez Raja Announces UK Summer Tour 2026 with Guthrie Govan – Following Acclaimed Album Spellbound

Following the acclaimed release of Spellbound in 2025, trailblazing bassist and composer Shez Raja returns to the road this summer with a UK tour, joined throughout by renowned guitar virtuoso Guthrie Govan.

Spellbound marked a significant milestone in Raja’s artistic journey, an ambitious and immersive project blending deep grooves, intricate rhythms and rich Eastern influences with contemporary jazz fusion. Featuring a world-class lineup including Dennis Chambers, Guthrie Govan, John Etheridge, Roopa Panesar, Tony Kofi, Vasilis Xenopoulos and more, the album received widespread praise for its virtuosity, musical depth and cross-cultural vision.

Now, in 2026, audiences will have the opportunity to experience this music live, with Raja and Govan leading a formidable touring ensemble across a series of standout venues nationwide. The pairing brings together two of the most distinctive voices in contemporary fusion, Raja’s deeply expressive, groove-driven bass work (performed on his custom 5-string Fodera bass) and Govan’s extraordinary virtuosity and improvisational firepower.

The tour culminates in a return to London’s iconic Jazz Cafe in Camden on 29 August, bringing the journey full circle following last year’s celebrated launch show.

With its fusion of East and West, tradition and innovation, the Spellbound live experience promises an uplifting evening of high energy and captivating musical storytelling.

Tour Dates – Summer 2026

Sat 20 June – Luton, Bear Club - Sold Out

Wed 8 July – Oxford, Spin Jazz Club

Sat 11 July – Bristol, Strange Brew

Sun 12 July – Swindon, The Victoria

Wed 22 July – Birmingham, The Jam House

Thu 23 July – Rutland, Goldmark Gallery - Sold Out

Fri 24 July – Birkenhead, Future Yard

Sat 25 July – Nottingham, Peggy’s Skylight

Wed 29 July – Leicester, 2Funky Music Cafe

Thu 30 July – Leeds, City Varieties Music Hall

Fri 31 July – Manchester, Band on the Wall

Sat 1 August – Peterborough, Met Lounge

Sat 29 August – London, The Jazz Cafe, Camden

Tickets for all shows available from http://www.shezraja.com

Kings Place Announcement re Renell Shaw’s performance of “The Windrush Suite & Echo in the Bones” which will take place At Kings Place, London on June 25th 2026.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

The full lineup has been announced for this live premiere, including Orphy Robinson, Ayanna Whitter-Johnson, Jean Toussaint, Romarna Campbell, Nathaniel Cross, Kezia Abouma, Mark Crown, Mutale Chashi

We have received the following press release;

LIVE PREMIERE
RENELL SHAW
THE WINDRUSH SUITE AND ECHO IN THE BONES

THE UK’S FINEST MUSICIANS ACROSS JAZZ, CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC ASSEMBLE FOR A LANDMARK CONCERT OF CONNECTION, REFLECTION AND
CELEBRATION, HONOURING THE WINDRUSH GENERATION

KINGS PLACE, JUNE 25, 7.30PM

Live premiere of The Windrush Suite & Echo in the Bones. A multi-sensory performance of music, storytelling, visuals and recordings of the pioneering voices of the Windrush Generation.

Inspired by Ivor Novello recipient, Platinum-selling composer and songwriter Renell Shaw’s Caribbean roots. 

Featuring a roll-call of 12 of the finest musicians in the UK blending Jazz, Classical and Contemporary music, led by Shaw. The ensemble includes Orphy Robinson
MBE, Cellist Ayanna Witter-Johnson and legendary saxophonist Jean Toussaint.

The third and final chapter of this musical trilogy, Remember Us Tomorrow, a new Kings Place commission, premieres October 9 2026. Full line-up to be announced.

Kings Place today announces a roll call of some of the UK’s finest musicians, spanning jazz, classical, and contemporary music who will perform in Ivor Novello recipient, Platinum-selling songwriter and producer Renell Shaw’s award-winning composition The Windrush Suite and its electrifying sequel, Echo in the Bones. The extraordinary concert on June 25 marks the first ever performance with a full live ensemble of this award-winning masterpiece. Distinguished musicians directed by Shaw include multi-
instrumentalist Orphy Robinson MBE; renowned classical crossover cellist Ayanna Witter- Johnson; Rudimental trumpeter Mark Crown, Trombonist Nathaniel Cross; Charlie Laffer who plays for Maverick Sabre, on guitar; Jorga Smith bassist Mutale Chashi; Olivier-award winning composer Romarna Campbell (Sleepova) on drums, award-winning Jazz ensemble Tomorrow’s Warriors alumni Kezia Abouma on piano and not least, Grammy-award-winning and legendary tenor saxophonist Jean Toussaint.

Vocalists include the powerhouse voice of Afronaut Zu (lead singer of Afro-punk band Steam Down), OFFIE Award-winner Rochelle Rose (Best Performance in musical Black Power Desk) and the modern soulfulness of artist Nandi (on ITV’s The Voice 2018).

Shaw’s work bridges theatre, contemporary composition and artist led music. Known for combining emotional depth with a strong connection to audiences, he has collaborated with artists including Rudimental, Anne-Marie, Nile Rodgers, Emeli Sandé and Nitin Sawhney, while building a distinct compositional practice with credits including The Crucible and Othello for Shakespeare’s Globe, Is God Is for the Royal Court Theatre, and Yasuke, an original opera developed with Music Theatre Wales.
This, his year-long Artist Residency at Kings Place forms a central part of the venue’s Memory Unwrapped season which invites artists to explore the extraordinary power of music to stir innermost recollections, to preserve history and to honour the unforgettable.

The Windrush Suite pays homage not only to Shaw’s grandparents’ journey from the Caribbean to Britain telling their stories of love, pain, struggle, and triumph through a fusion of jazz, spoken word and Caribbean traditions but it is also a heartfelt tribute to all of the trailblazers who arrived in Britain in 1948 building lives, community and culture against the odds. Echo in the Bones explores what it means to be Black British through the eyes of the Windrush generation’s children - weaving music, history, and storytelling into a moving portrait of resistance, legacy, and belonging. Listen to the albums HERE;
https://open.spotify.com/album/718lGoKV7Bb9IpGXkjqVzC
https://open.spotify.com/album/6r1IaAyFAlYmM4Ts5Tbmx7

A brand-new commission titled Remember Us Tomorrow will be the closing statement to this three-part concert series. This powerful new work will premiere during Black History Month, on October 9 and importantly asks what it means to be of Afro-Caribbean heritage after three generations in Britain, raising a fourth generation in a world that is both hyper-connected and deeply divided. What stories must we protect? And how do we ensure we are remembered as tomorrow takes shape. Shaw’s most personal work to date, is both a love letter to community and a bold act of cultural preservation.

Shaw, who is of Jamaican and Dominican heritage, says:
“Staging The Windrush Suite and Echo in the Bones at Kings Place right now feels deeply significant to me because these works are about memory, inheritance and the stories that continue to shape who we are. They honour lives, histories and emotional truths that deserve to be heard in full. I hope audiences leave feeling moved, expanded and more connected to the human depth within these works. Through this journey I have learnt that my role is not just to compose, but to hold space for memory, truth and transformation through music.”

Sam McShane, Artistic Director of Kings Place adds:
“The Windrush Suite & Echo in the Bones brings together everything that makes Renell Shaw such an important artistic voice. These works honour the Windrush generation while giving powerful expression to the experiences of those who followed, weaving music, memory and storytelling into something deeply moving and contemporary. This performance sits at the heart of Renell’s residency at Kings Place, an ambitious statement of heritage, identity and creative evolution.”

Previous praise for Renell Shaw’s work and for The Windrush Suite

“A breath of fresh air. Very atmospheric.”
Jazzie B OBE

“Renell is a multi-talented producer and songwriter who has been instrumental in the making of our songs.”
Rudimental

“Deeply rooted in the tradition of his ancestry, Renell Shaw is a remarkable musician and composer, an important voice of our time.”
Ayanna Witter-Johnson

Full Line-Up;

Renell Shaw Composer, musical director, conductor and vocalist
Orphy Robinson Marimba
Ayanna Witter Johnson Cello
Romarna Campbell Drums
Charlie Laffer Guitar
Mutale Chashi Bass
Kezia Abouma Piano
Mark Crown Trumpet
Nathaniel Cross Trombone
Jean Toussaint Sax tenor
Nandi Vocalist
Afronaut Zu Vocalist
Rochelle Rose Vocalist

LISTINGS INFORMATION

Where: Kings Place, 90 York Way, King’s Cross, London, N1 9AG
Socials: Instagram and FB @kingsplacelondon @renellshaw
Thu 25 Jun | Hall One 7.30pm
THE WINDRUSH SUITE & Echo In The Bones
An evening that celebrates history, identity, and the power of music. Featuring a world-class live ensemble, intimate family recordings, and striking visuals, Renell Shaw turns memory into music, bringing the Windrush story to life with depth and soul. The second half presents Echo in the Bones, Shaw’s electrifying follow-up to The Windrush Suite.
Ticket Prices: £20 – £25
Booking Link: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/jazz/renell-shaw-the-windrush-suite-echo-in-the-bones/
Running Time: 140 mins with interval

Fri 9 Oct | Hall One 7.30pm
REMEMBER US TOMORROW
The world premiere of this newly commissioned third and final chapter of his acclaimed work The Windrush Suite. With Remember Us Tomorrow, Renell Shaw turns towards the future. This powerful new work asks what it means to be of Afro-Caribbean heritage after three generations in Britain, raising a fourth generation
in a world that is both hyper-connected and deeply divided.
Ticket Prices: £20 – £25
Booking Link: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/jazz/renell-shaw-remember-us-tomorrow/
Further information to be announced.

About Renell Shaw’s 2026 Residency at Kings Place
As a central pillar of his 2026 residency at Kings Place, Renell Shaw leads a mentoring programme, The Artist’s Room. This is a bespoke masterclass series designed to bridge the gap between creative intuition and professional longevity. Drawing on the themes of his acclaimed The Windrush Suite, Shaw offers participants an intimate look into his multidisciplinary process, focusing on how personal heritage and identity can fuel meaningful artistic innovation. By mentoring two distinct cohorts, Young Artists (16–18) and an Open Room (19+), Shaw fosters a collaborative environment where aspiring musicians and creators can refine their musicality while gaining essential industry insights directly from a master storyteller.

About Renell Shaw
Renell Shaw is a composer, songwriter, producer, and performer building a distinctive creative world through music, story, and live experience. His work brings together theatre, contemporary composition, songcraft, and performance in ways that feel cinematic, immersive, and emotionally direct. Rather than treating these disciplines as separate lanes, he uses them as part of one larger artistic language, creating work that moves people, deepens perspective, and leaves a lasting impression.
An Ivor Novello Award winning composer and platinum selling songwriter, Renell works across stage, studio, and collaboration with a voice that is culturally grounded and forward facing. His credits include The Windrush Suite, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons of the Caribbean, Othello and The Crucible at Shakespeare’s Globe, and Is God Is at the Royal Court. He has also written and collaborated with artists including Rudimental, Anne-Marie, Nile Rodgers, Emeli Sandé, and Nitin Sawhney. Alongside this, he is one half of 2fox, a project rooted in soulful house, live musicianship, and contemporary Black British sound, which has built an audience of over 30 million streams and more than 250,000 monthly listeners.

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/

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 12/04/2026.

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 12/04/2026, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist from April 12th 2026

Available now at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz
My personal playlist of Mike Westbrook tracks, and my preview of Cheltenham Jazz in the Parabola are also available there

Tomasz Chyła Quintet
It’s Not A Fake, It’s A Replica
It’s Not A Fake, It’s A Replica
Alpaka Records

Alex Ho & Donovan Haffner
Odd Humour
Serendipity
Bandcamp

Benjamin Herman
NRFS
The Tokyo Sesssions
Dox Records

Anton Hunter Trio
Many Rivers to Cross
Live at the Lescar
Bandcamp

Chrome Hill & Dōjō
Point of No Return
Free Rangers
Clean Feed

Andy Emler
Incipit
There is Another Way
La Buissonne

OZMA
The Day we Decided to Live at Night
The Day we Decided to Live at Night
Berthold Records

Rokost
Jazon Hunter Strikes Again!
Rokost
Selftape Records

Let Spin
Have A Go, Hero
I am Alien
Discus

People in Orbit
Synchronised Whalestuff
Viewpoint
April Records

Driftwood Quartet
Insomnia
Elements
Insomnia

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 7pm

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 4pm onward

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

Kings Place, London - Programme for June 2026.

Monday, April 13, 2026

Kings Place has announced its programme for June 2026 including some performances that are likely to be of interest to jazz listeners. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Kings Place in June - Renell Shaw presents award-winning ‘Windrush Suite’; Olivia Chaney gives London debut of new Purcell album; Manchester Camerata perform ‘Eight Songs for a Mad King’ and more

KINGS PLACE IN JUNE

Memory Unwrapped continues with Manchester Camerata and Idunnu Münch, the Gavin Bryars Ensemble perform with singer Jess Walker, Artist-in-Residence Renell Shaw presents his Windrush Suite and Olivia Chaney gives the London debut of material from her new Purcell album

Manchester Camerata performs Peter Maxwell Davies’ Eight Songs for a Mad King in a programme conducted by John Andrews and directed by Ruth Knight

The Gavin Bryars Ensemble performs his arrangements of iconic songs by Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Kurt Weill, with acclaimed singer Jess Walker and others

Artist-in-Residence Renell Shaw celebrates history, identity and the power of music by performing his Ivor Novello Award-winning Windrush Suite

Lauded folk singer Olivia Chaney presents the London debut of material from her new album reimagining the music of Henry Purcell

CLASSICAL | CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL  

Sat 6 Jun | Hall One 7.30pm
MANCHESTER CAMERATA
EIGHT SONGS FOR A MAD KING
Memory Unwrapped
Errollyn Wallen By Gis and by Saint Charity
Judith Weir Blue Green Hill
Schumann Kreisleriana
Peter Maxwell Davies Eight Songs for a Mad King
Idunnu Münch mezzo-soprano |  Manchester Camerata
John Andrews conductor |  Ruth Knight director
Broken sounds and broken instruments: an uncompromising portrayal of the mind. Eight Songs for a Mad King is a melodrama with a libretto based on the real-life observations of King George III, presenting an extravagant and disturbing portrayal of his condition. Vocalising weirdly as he bemoans his fate, trying to teach his instrumentalist-birds to sing – the ensemble’s musicians becoming projections from within his own mind.
£25 – £40

Sun 7 Jun | Hall Two 5pm
LAURA BOWLER AND LOVEMUSIC COLLECTIVE
THE SAD ALBUM
Laura Bowler The Sad Album (2025)
Laura Bowler voice and keyboard |  Emiliano Gavito flute |  Adam Starkie clarinet
Emily Yabe violin |  Céline Papion cello |  Christian Lozano Sedano electric guitar
Marin Lambert percussion |  Finbar Hosie electronics and sound |  Sam Redway stage director
The Sad Album is a powerful, exhilarating new music-theatre work by Laura Bowler and lovemusic collective. Blending raw personal stories with explosive sound, movement and dark humour, it transforms grief into a thrilling live experience. Through virtuosic performance and choreographed chaos, the show invites audiences into an intense, intimate and unforgettable journey through loss, laughter and survival.
£25

Thu 11 Jun | Hall One 7.30pm
RIOT ENSEMBLE
PLAY STEVE MARTLAND’S DANCE WORKS – MUSIC OF RESISTANCE AND STILLNESS
Memory Unwrapped |  Composer-in-Focus: Steve Martland
Steve Martland Dance Works
Lisa Streich Falter
Frederic Rzewski Coming Together & Attica
Riot Ensemble |  Aaron Holloway-Nahum conductor
Riot Ensemble unites three uncompromising voices whose music dances between protest and poise. Martland’s Dance Works surges with raw, rhythmic energy, while Rzewski’s Coming Together and Attica transform repetition into resistance. In contrast, Lisa Streich’s Falter offers a fragile stillness — a quiet meditation on breath, fragility, and the aftermath of movement.
£20 – £40; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Fri 12 Jun | Hall One 7.30pm
GAVIN BRYARS ENSEMBLE AND JESS WALKER
AFTER THE RAIN
Memory Unwrapped
Leonard Cohen A Singer Must Die; Song of Bernadette; That’s no way to say Goodbye
Kurt Weill Lost in the Stars
Tom Waits Georgia Lee; A Little Rain; Lullaby; The Briar and the Rose; Johnsburg, Illinois
Neil Young Only Love can Break your Heart
Gavin Bryars and Yuri Bryars bass / piano |  Jess Walker voice |  Audrey Riley cello
James Woodrow acoustic & electric guitar |  Morgan Goff viola |  Roger Heaton multi-wind
Gavin Bryars, recipient of the 2024 Ivors Innovation Award, is one of the most influential composers of our age. For After the Rain he reunites with the remarkable singer Jess Walker to build on their Tom Waits collaboration, Mercy and Grand. This new programme with the Gavin Bryars Ensemble includes his hypnotic arrangements of iconic numbers by Waits, Leonard Cohen, Kurt Weill and Neil Young.
£25 – £32; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Fri 26 Jun | Hall One 7.30pm
BRODSKY QUARTET AND LAURA VAN DER HEIJDEN
SCHUBERT QUINTET
Memory Unwrapped |  Brodsky Quartet at Kings Place
JS Bach Violin Sonata No. 3 in C, BWV 1005 (arr. Paul Cassidy)
Britten String Quartet No. 3 in G, Op. 94
Schubert String Quintet in C, Op. 163 (posth.), D. 956
Krysia Osostowicz and Ian Belton violin |  Paul Cassidy viola
Jacqueline Thomas and Laura van der Heijden cello
As part of Memory Unwrapped, The Brodsky Quartet continue their Kings Place 2026 residency with one of their recent collaborators – the young cellist, Laura van der Heijden, to perform Schubert’s String Quintet. This evening’s programme spans over two centuries of musical expression, showcasing the intimate yet powerful voice of chamber music through three distinctive works.
£20 – £35; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Sat 27 Jun | Hall One 7.30pm
OLIVIA CHANEY
SONS OF ART
Memory Unwrapped |  Artist in Residence: Olivia Chaney
Olivia Chaney’s deep connection to the music of Henry Purcell runs throughout her life. This show will be the London debut of material from Olivia’s new Purcell album, featuring a star-studded chamber ensemble. Come and hear a modern English songwriter at the height of her powers interpreting one of England’s great composers in a refreshingly natural and contemporary way.
£22 – £30; Half-price concessions

FOLK  

Sat 13 Jun | Hall Two 8pm
MIQAYEL VOSKANYAN QUARTET
Songlines Encounters Series
For this world premiere performance Armenian tar virtuoso and vocalist Miqayel Voskanyan assembles an internationally renowned quartet. Centred on the tar – a traditional plucked lute – Voskanyan explores Armenian modes in contemporary compositions and improvisations, shaped by profound jazz sensibility, unusual meters, steady grooves, and detailed rhythmic interaction between four masters of their instruments.
£22

Thu 18 Jun | Hall One 8pm
GNOSS
Gnoss’ signature sound is a rich tapestry of acoustic layers; outstanding musicianship, deep traditional roots and contemporary compositional flair combine to create songs and tunes brimming with character. Triple Scots Trad Music Awards nominees, Gnoss has built an invested following through their forward-thinking take on traditional music and the unique warmth of their live shows.
£19.50; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Fri 19 Jun | Hall Two 8pm
SIAN
Sian are a Scottish Gaelic folk band whose acclaimed sophomore album araon won Album of the Year at the 2025 Scots Trad Music Awards. Formed in 2016 through Blas Festival, the band is made up of Ceitlin Lilidh, Eilidh Cormack and Ellen MacDonald, alongside multi-instrumentalist Innes White. With roots in Lewis, Skye and North Uist, Sian’s music is grounded in Gaelic song, shaped by close, carefully balanced vocal harmonies.
£23; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Sat 20 Jun | Hall Two 7.30pm
CORMAC BEGLEY
Cormac Begley is widely regarded as one of the most innovative voices in contemporary Irish traditional music.In this special solo performance, Begley brings his singular focus on the bass and baritone concertina to the fore. His acclaimed album B is the first of its kind to centre entirely on the lower registers of the instrument, revealing a rich, resonant sound world that is both intimate and powerful.
£25; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Thu 25 Jun | Hall Two 8pm
RANT
A bold, ambitious and reflective collection, SPIN is an album of reinterpretation – RANT’s take on influential tracks from their formative years. Music of bands and players from across the globe who inspired them individually and collectively. The album is a tribute to those influences, and whilst nostalgic by nature has a fresh, confident, energised approach synonymous with the band’s well-established resonant sound.
£23; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

JAZZ

Sat 6 Jun | Hall Two 8.30pm
SHADOWLANDS – KINSELLA/DOWNES/FINCKER
KIT DOWNES, LAUREN KINSELLA AND ROBIN FINCKER
Inspired by a blend of early music, folk and plainchant Shadowlands weaves a form of contemporary chamber music rich in sonic textures. Thus the language of Kit Downes, an essential pianist of the new British scene, mixes with that of the Anglophile saxophonist and clarinetist Robin Fincker and the Irish singer Lauren Kinsella in a common desire to question slowness and good gestures. 
£20; Half-price concessions

Sun 14 Jun | Hall One 3pm
SUNTOU SUSSO AND THE GAMBIAN SUPERSTARS
Songlines Encounters Series
Kora master Suntou Susso is joined by his all-Gambian ensemble, the Gambian Superstars, and UK-based saxophonist Tomoya Forster for their debut UK performance blending kora, balafon, percussion, drums, bass, keys and saxophone. Rooted in a 700-year-old griot tradition, their electrifying sound fuses Mandinka heritage with funk and jazz influences in a joyful, high-energy celebration of West African music.
£26 – £30; Half-price concessions

Sun 21 Jun | Hall Two 7.30pm
JONNY MANSFIELD QUINTET, NOAH STONEMAN, SAM NORRIS, OLLY CHALK
RESONANT POSTCARDS – IN THE ROUND
Founded by Jonny Mansfield, Resonant Postcards is an artist-led label presenting original voices through long-term collaboration and a shared musical language. The label exists as a home for developing musical ideas, telling stories and presenting sound worlds carved through collaboration and community. This evening brings together four of the label’s core artists for a programme that traces the breadth of its output so far.
£25; £10 Under-30s

Thu 25 Jun | Hall One 7.30pm
RENELL SHAW
THE WINDRUSH SUITE
Memory Unwrapped |  Artist-in-Residence: Renell Shaw
Renell Shaw The Windrush Suite; Echo in the Bones
Renell Shaw musical director / conductor / vocalist
Join Artist-in-Residence Renell Shaw for an evening that celebrates history, identity, and the power of music. Featuring a world-class live ensemble, intimate family recordings, and striking visuals, Shaw turns memory into music, bringing the Windrush story to life with depth and soul. The second half presents Echo in the Bones, Shaw’s electrifying follow-up to The Windrush Suite.
£20 – £25

Sat 27 Jun | Hall Two 8pm
OLGA AMELCHENKO
HOWLING SILENCE
Edition Records and Kings Place presents
Born in Siberia, shaped by years in Germany, and now immersed in the Paris jazz scene, Olga Amelchenko draws from her rich background to create music imbued with both resilience and passion. Howling Silence gives voice to unspoken truths, while also inviting the audience to reflect on the interplay between silence and expression. It explores the space between the desire to express oneself and the weight of silence.
£25

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 spaces 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

Rest in Peace - Mike Westbrook OBE 1936 - 2026.

Monday, April 13, 2026

Peter Conway Management has issued a press release following the passing of pianist, composer and arranger Mike Westbrook OBE on 11th April 2026.

We have received the following statement;

Press Statement
Sunday 12 April 2026

Mike Westbrook OBE
Born 21 March 1936

It is with very great sadness that I announce the death of jazz composer, pianist and band leader Mike Westbrook who died peacefully at the Royal Devon and Exeter
Hospital yesterday 11 April. He is survived by his wife, musical collaborator and muse Kate Westbrook and by his son Guy, daughter Joanna and his step children Josie, Clio and Jason Barnard.

Mike’s huge importance for European jazz is summed up by German journalist and festival director Bert Noglik :
“Mike Westbrook has not only incorporated some of the best minds in jazz in the UK into his bands, he has also given European jazz its own sound. The way he has managed to absorb the very essence from the American pioneers, and then moved forward innovatively to reflect European culture from the perspective of a jazz- inspired musician is without parallel anywhere. His work, combining the best from the two worlds, has created one of its own. Here, music and art, sound and poetry, complement and sustain each other. In his inspirational collaboration with Kate Westbrook, works have been created that, for all their diversity and richness, represent what amounts to a genre. Just as Mike often took Duke’s Birthday as the opportunity to give concerts, it is in sincerest gratitude that we salute Mike Westbrook.”

Mike will be missed by us all. May he Rest in Peace
Peter Conway Manager

https://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk/

Music Spoken Here, Worcester - Programme for April and May 2026.

Tuesday, April 07, 2026

Music Spoken Here has announced its programme for April and May 2026. Events take place fortnightly at The Marr's Bar, Worcester.

From;
https://musicspokenhere.club/

Philip Clouts Quartet
April 9 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
£15
Gospel-powered earthiness, highly melodic, rhythmically varied and stylistically and culturally diverse compositions.
Cape Town-born pianist/composer Philip Clouts’ South African roots have inspired a voyage of discovery that has led to him soaking up the joyful passion of Caribbean calypso, the bluesy melodies of middle eastern praise songs, the exuberant sway of Cuban dance music and the tuneful essence of Gospel while honouring jazz heroes including Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Charles Lloyd.
As a key member of the popular London-based world jazz ensemble Zubop and its offshoot ZubopGambia, with BBC World Music award-winner Juldeh Camara, Clouts created a solid body of work with African roots and since moving to Dorset in 2006 he has responded to his new surroundings with impressionistic compositons that complement his world music interests, resonating with strong themes and packing a mighty rhythmical punch.
The latest CD from the Philip Clouts Quartet is one of the first wave of releases on the jazz imprint from prestigious label Odradek Records. On this album, entitled Umoya (named from the Zulu word for life force), Clouts’ African inspirations extend beyond Cape jazz to Gnawa music and Afrobeat, and further to pan-European folksong and soul-jazz. Joined by rising star saxophonist Samuel Eagles, bassist Marcus Penrose and drummer Ted Carrasco, he brings his musical journey alive with superb musicianship and infectious vigour.

Poppy Daniels
April 23 @ 7:30 pm - 10:30 pm
£15
‘Go-to’ trumpet player on the London scene brings her own music blending London roots with jazz, latin and hip-hop.
Londoner Poppy Daniels has become an integral part of the UK jazz scene, and ‘go-to’ trumpet player for the likes of Blue Lab Beats, Daniel Casimir, Celeste, Jordan Rakei, Arlo Parks, Hak Baker and more, at world renowned venues at home and abroad.
After an extensive career thus far, Poppy is now focusing on her own music, blending her London roots with jazz, latin and hip hop influences. In 2025 she released her debut EP ‘Keep On Going’, on the progressive Jazz Re:freshed label. The EP was co-written with bassist Alley Lloyd (Colectiva, Fleur East, Poppy Ajudha, Yasmin Lacey) and features Allexa Nava, who played for us in November.
Poppy will be performing with her band featuring Eddie Lee (keys), Kian Cardenas (guitar), Patrick Hand (bass) and Lox (drums).

Shapeshifter Trio
May 14 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
£15
A new trio featuring three very special creative voices of the UK scene.
Saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Mark Lockheart (Loose Tubes, Polar Bear) brings his new project Shapeshifter to Worcester, featuring Huw V Williams (Di-Cysgodion, George Crowley, Laura Jurd) on bass and Jay Davis (Alex Hitchcock, Laura Jurd, Rob Luft) on drums.
This new trio creates a unique sonic experience, shifting moment to moment, gracefully and spontaneously stitching together sound landscapes and grooves. The three members share the writing credits alongside a few carefully chosen works by Bill Frisell, Joe Henderson and Paul Motion.
Taking the exploratory spirit of groups like Polar Bear and Malija, the band move together through a common language of jazz, rock, classical and free improvisation exploring dark textures and dramatic musical shifts as they revel in the unexpected.

Tomorrow’s New Quartet
May 28 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
£15
One of the most exciting jazz bands emerging from the British scene
Tomorrow’s New Quartet is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the most exciting jazz bands emerging from the British scene. Taking inspiration from Chick Corea’s ‘Return To Forever’ and Keith Jarrett’s ‘European Quartet’, Tomorrow’s New Quartet has been thrilling audiences all over the country with its engaging brand of modern jazz.
Led by drummer / composer Rod Oughton, the band released its debut album ‘All Together, Now!’ on the Ubuntu Music label in 2022. Following a successful launch tour, which culminated in a sold-out show at Pizza Express Dean Street, the album was named ‘Editor’s Choice’ by Jazzwise Magazine, and dubbed ‘very fresh’ by Jumoké Fashola on BBC Radio 3.
The band features several young heavyweights from the next generation of British jazz, namely Tom Smith on Sax, Sam Watts on piano and for this performance, Pete Komor on electric bass.
“A terrific performance from a hugely talented quartet” The Jazz Mann
“A quartet for today as well as tomorrow” Jazzwise

TICKETS
Admission for these events is complimentary for Music Spoken Here Club Members.
Non-members are welcome – just show up and pay £15 cash or card on the door.
You can find out more about our admission and membership options at A New Approach
https://musicspokenhere.club/a-new-approach/

Venue
The Marr’s Bar
12 Pierpoint Street
Worcester,
Worcestershire WR1 1TA

Phone
(01905) 613336

https://marrsbar.co.uk/

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, Cheltenham Jazz Festival Preview, first broadcast 05/04/2026.

Monday, April 06, 2026

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 05/04/2026, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio show broadcast 5th April 2026

This show is a one off preview of the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, with a focus mainly on the programme in the Parabola Arts Centre

Tracks from:
Intro: Joshua Redman
BlackSabbathMode
China Moses
Hedwig Jankos (from 2025 Conservatoires)
Ladies of Midnight Blue
Elaine Mitchener
Matt Carmichael
Theon Cross
Robinson Khoury
Camilla George
Emma Rawicz
Yazz Ahmed
Close: Courtney Pine

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 7pm

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

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

SMOKE Jazz Club, New York City, Programme for May 2026.

Thursday, April 02, 2026

SMOKE Jazz Club has announced its schedule for May 2026. Performers include Steve Wilson, Jeremy Pelt, Billy Childs, Luciana Souza, Eddie Henderson, Gary Bartz, Billy Hart.

We have received the following press release;

Announcing SMOKE Jazz Club’s May 2026 Line-up Including Miles Davis Centennial Celebration, Record Release Concerts by Steve Wilson, Billy Childs, and Jeremy Pelt, and More

Steve Wilson Quintet Enduring Sonance (Apr 29-May 3)

Jeremy Pelt Quartet featuring Buster Williams and Lenny White (May 6-10)

Billy Childs Trio (May 13-17)

Luciana Souza (May 20-24)

Miles Davis Centennial Celebration with Eddie Henderson Quintet featuring Gary Bartz and Billy Hart (May 27-31)

NEW YORK, NY — Hailed as the “#1 Jazz Club in New York City (SecretNYC),” SMOKE Jazz Club today announced an exciting line-up for the month of May 2026. Three powerhouse artists celebrate their respective record releases: Steve Wilson Enduring Sonance, Jeremy Pelt Our Community Will Not Be Erased, and Billy Childs Triumvirate. Coinciding with Miles Davis’s May 26th birthday, SMOKE continues its annual Miles Davis Celebration with a 2026 Centennial concert series. A very special group of Davis’s former bandmates and mentees convene to reflect on Miles’s impact: NEA Jazz Masters Gary Bartz and Billy Hart, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, and more. For the most updated May schedule, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com. As always, all Friday night concerts are livestreamed!

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.

MAY 2026 @ SMOKE Jazz Club
(schedule subject to change)
When: Wednesday-Sunday at 6:00 p.m. + 8:00 p.m. and additional 10:00 p.m. (Fri & Sat only). Doors open at 4:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted).
Where: SMOKE Jazz Club, 2751 Broadway (between 105/106th Streets), New York, NY, Train: 1 to 103rd Street.
Tickets: General $25+. Livestream $15 (Fri only). For more information and to make reservations, please visit http://www.smokejazz.com.

Wed-Sun Apr 29-May 3 STEVE WILSON QUINTET ENDURING SONANCE Record Release
Steve Wilson – alto & soprano saxophone, flute
Joe Locke – vibraphone
Renee Rosnes – piano
Jay Anderson – bass
Kendrick Scott – drums
“Wilson has the rare ability to say more with less and to let the space between each note breathe and resonate.” – The San Diego Tribune
Beloved saxophonist Steve Wilson makes his debut at SMOKE Jazz Club as a bandleader with a brilliant quintet celebrating the release of his new masterpiece, Enduring Sonance (tbr 05.01.26 SMOKE Sessions Records), where he also convened vibraphonist Joe Locke, pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Jay Anderson, and drummer Kendrick Scott for a deeply personal and illuminating program. In celebration of the new album, JazzTimes will present the Friday shows (05.01.26) as complimentary livestreams on JazzTimes.com.
Wilson brings that same clarity, artistry, and depth to Enduring Sonance, a collection of compositions that have resonated across his life—from standards to contemporary compositions, all interpreted with his distinctive voice. From Billy Childs, George Cables, and Eliane Elias, to Quincy Jones, Gino Vannelli, and Milton Nascimento, this quintet and the selections from Enduring Sonance are full of surprises.
One of jazz’s most lyrical voices, Wilson has performed and recorded with luminaries including Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Maria Schneider, Billy Childs, and Dianne Reeves. His career has been celebrated in DownBeat Critics and Readers Polls, as well as by the Jazz Journalists Association over several years. His versatility as a player—from alto and soprano saxophone to flute—has made him one of the most respected collaborators in the studio and on bandstands.
The Wall Street Journal reports, “Mr. Wilson is essential to this city’s jazz landscape.”

Wed-Sun May 6-10 JEREMY PELT QUARTET featuring BUSTER WILLIAMS AND LENNY WHITE Record Release
Jeremy Pelt – trumpet
Orrin Evans – piano
Buster Williams – bass
Lenny White – drums
“Pelt is a technical marvel. He executes intricate solos with ease, plays gorgeous ballads in a tasteful manner, and never lacks flair or sensitivity.” – JazzTimes
Trumpeter Jeremy Pelt leads an incredible all-star quartet featuring pianist Orrin Evans and two living legends: bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White, performing music from Pelt’s latest release Our Community Will Not Be Erased (HighNote). One of the leading trumpet voices of his generation, Pelt’s approach and style place him firmly in the tradition of jazz giants like Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard, while pushing the boundaries of modern jazz.
His new album, featuring this band, Pelt says is “profoundly a recording of love.” Burning Ambulance aptly describes Pelt as being on “an extended journey, capturing snapshots along the way,” urging jazz fans to join him on this musical adventure. JazzTimes adds, “Pelt has amassed a body of work that’s imbued with electricity — even when electric instruments aren’t present.”

Wed-Sun May 13-17 BILLY CHILDS TRIO Record Release
Billy Childs – piano
Matt Penman – bass
Ari Hoenig – drums
“One of the most critically acclaimed pianists in modern jazz” – All About Jazz
Renowned pianist and composer Billy Childs performs the music for his new album, Triumvirate (Mack Avenue Records), his first trio recording in 25 years. This exciting new release harnesses the energy and creative prowess of his touring group — bassist Matt Penman and drummer Ari Hoenig — who appear with him here.
A native of Los Angeles, Childs grew up immersed in jazz, classical, and popular music influences, which he blends in a powerful and personal compositional and performing voice. A child prodigy who started performing at age six and studying at USC at 16, he was “discovered” by trumpet legend Freddie Hubbard, with whom he embarked on a successful performing and recording tour.
He also recorded and performed with several other influential jazz musicians, including J.J. Johnson, Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Jack DeJohnette, and Dave Holland, among many others, and with such varied artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Sting, Renee Fleming, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Kronos Quartet.
Downbeat reports, “The same creative spirit that’s propelled him from the bands of bop giants as a twenty-something side-player to a composer renowned throughout concert halls and across jazz festival stages remains unhampered.” The Los Angeles Times adds, “As a pianist, he possesses the improvisatory skills and powerful sense of swing one associates with world-class artists… Childs is an inventive composer and arranger whose effort in those areas consistently expand the dimensions of the jazz genre - and beyond.”

Wed-Sun May 20-24 LUCIANA SOUZA SMOKE debut
Luciana Souza – vocals
Chico Pinheiro – guitar
Rogério Boccato – percussion
“[Luciana Souza] continues her captivating journey as a uniquely talented vocalist who organically crosses genre borders.” — Billboard
Marking her SMOKE Jazz Club debut, Grammy-winning vocalist Luciana Souza joins guitarist ChicoPinheiro and percussionist Rogerio Boccato in a captivating, intimate trio exploring Brazilian music, jazz improvisation, and lyrical storytelling. Born in São Paulo to a family of Bossa Nova innovators, Souza has released more than a dozen critically acclaimed recordings, receiving multiple Grammy nominations, and has collaborated with Herbie Hancock, Paul Simon, James Taylor, and Bobby McFerrin. Entertainment Weekly notes that her performances trace “a landscape of emotion that knows no boundaries.” Souza “uses her voice as an instrument of empathy and intimacy, cultural linkage and poetic disquisition… singing wordlessly but with full expressive intent,” writes The New York Times, bringing profound depth to every note and transforming each performance into a storytelling journey that is both personal and universal.

Wed-Sun May 27-31 MILES DAVIS 100TH CELEBRATION WITH THE EDDIE HENDERSON QUINTET featuring GARY BARTZ AND BILLY HART
Eddie Henderson – trumpet
Gary Bartz – alto saxophone
Billy Hart – drums
“Miles Davis was the artist who defined jazz for me, and who, in his own way, defined American music in the 20th century.” – Quincy Jones
A very special group—with numerous connections to the great Miles Davis—convenes for the 2026 edition of our Miles Davis Festival, celebrating his life and music, as well as his Centennial — Davis was born on May 26, 1926. The five-night festival features a powerhouse acoustic quintet featuring trumpeter Eddie Henderson—praised by DownBeat as “a masterful improviser with a deeply expressive voice”—and alto saxophonist Gary Bartz, whom Connecticut Public Radio hailed as “one of the music’s all-time great alto saxophonists,” and drum legend Billy Hart, described by The Guardian as “one of the great modern jazz drummers.”
Each also has personal connections to Miles: NEA Jazz Masters Bartz and Hart appeared, in the 1970s, on his groundbreaking albums Live-Evil and On the Corner, respectively, while Henderson often credits his remarkable career in music to advice and encouragement from Miles, a close friend of his parents. In fact, Davis stayed with the Hendersons in 1958 and took a young Eddie Henderson, still in high school, with him to the gig where he heard Miles’ sextet with John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones. It was a decisive moment for Henderson, and the rest is history.

Warren James Gig List - April and May 2026.

Thursday, April 02, 2026

Guitarist & vocalist Warren James has forwarded his live performance schedule for April & May 2026, featuring his playing with a variety of different line-ups.

Warren James writes;

Jug Bands and Spring Gigs

And just like that, the first quarter of 2026 is completed, and the nights are getting lighter with a slight warmth in the air now and then.

Gigs for the Jake Leg Jug Band, Warren James, and other associated bands, including Rich Bennett’s New Orleans All Stars, are included below.

April 2026

Fri 3 – Nantwich, Jazz & Blues Festival, Nine Mill Street – Warren James & His Lonesome Travellers @ 1pm – check festival for tickets – featuring Duncan Wilcox and Phil Shotton.

Sat 4 – Darlington, New Orleans Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 12:30pm – pay on the door

Sun 5 – Nantwich, Jazz & Blues Festival, Crown Hotel – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 1pm – check festival for tickets

Sun 5 – Leeds, The Domino Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 6:30pm – pay on the door

Mon 6 – Rainford Jazz Guitar Club, Rainford Junction – Warren James & His Lonesome Travellers @ 8pm – tickets contact Rae Owens on 07960011815. Featuring Jim Swinnerton and Phil Shotton.

Fri 10 – Saltburn, Arts Centre – The Jake Leg Jug Band – pay on the door

Sun 12 – Colchester Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 7pm – pay on the door

Tues 14 – Leeds – PRIVATE ENGAGEMENT, Warren James & Andy Henderson @ 12pm to 4pm

Tues 14 – Leeds Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 8pm – pay on the door

Wed 15 – Sutton Coldfield Jazz Club – Warren James & His Lonesome Travellers @ 8pm – pay on the door. Featuring Richard Exall & Rich Bennett

Thur 16 – Carlisle Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 8pm – pay on the door

Fri 17 – Edinbugh Jazz & Jive Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 7:30pm – pay on the door

Sat 18 – Street, Wessex Hotel, Ellie B Jazz Weekend – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 8pm – weekend tickets available

Sun 19 – Worcester, The Chetsnut Tree – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 6pm – free entry

Tues 21 – Leeds, Jazz Club – Warren James & His Lonesome Travellers @ 8pm – pay on the door. Featuring Richard Exall and Rich Bennett.

Thurs 23 – Leeds, The Domino Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 9:45pm

Fri 24 – Bristol, The Greyhound – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 8pm

Sat 25 – Cranford, The Old Forge – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 5pm – ticketed

Sun 26 – Uttoxeter, The Vaults – Mike Owen’s Revaulting Band @ 4pm

Wed 29 – Amersham Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 7:30pm – pay on the door

Thur 30 – Watford, Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 8pm – pay on the door

May 2026

Fri 1 – Bristol, Mr Wolfs – The Jake Leg Jug Band – ticketed

Sat 2 – Hay-on-Wye, The Globe – The Jake Leg Jug Band – ticketed

Sun 3 – Totton, Hanger Farm Arts Centre – The Great American Folk Songbook @ 4pm – ticketed. Featuring Warren James, Duncan Wilcox, Phil Shotton and Danny Blyth

Mon 4 – Dorset, Corscombe, The Fox Inn – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 2pm – 4:30pm – check entry with venue

Thur 7 – Dringhouses Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 1pm – pay on the door

Fri 8 – Holmfirth Folk Festival – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 8:30pm

Sun 10 – Worcester, The Chestnut Tree – Warren James’ Jazz & Blues Trio @ 6pm – free entry

Mon 11 – Rural Tour – Private

Tues 12 – Rural Tour – Private

Wed 13 – Rural Tour – Private

Thur 14 – Rural Tour – Private

Fri 15 – Caterham, London R&B Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 8pm – pay on the door

Sat 16 – Birkhamsted Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 8pm – pay on the door

Sun 17 – Coventrt, Jazzamatazz – The Jake Leg Jazz Club @ 12:30pm – pay on the door

Tues 19 – Hampton in Arden, Feltham Hall, Roger’s Supper Club – The Story of Skiffle @ 7pm – pay on the door

Wed 20 – Gosport, Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 8pm – pay on the door

Thur 21 – Swindon, The Beehive – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 9pm – free entry

Fri 22 – Bristol, The Old Duke – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 9pm – free entry

Sat 23 – Stroud, The Nailsworth Festival – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 7:30pm – check the festival for prices

Sun 24 – Cheddleton, The Black Lion – The Jake Leg Jug Band – see venue for details

Tues 26 – Calne Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 7:30pm – pay on the door

Wed 27 – Warmley, Jazz Club – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 8pm – pay on the door

Fri 29 – Scarborough, St Mary’s Church – The Jake Leg Jug Band Gospel Show – ticketed

Sat 30 – Dringhouses, St Edward Church – The Jake Leg Jug Band – ticketed

Sun 31 – Uttoxeter, The Vaults – The Jake Leg Jug Band @ 4pm to 7pm – free entry

Links;

https://warrenjamesguitar.com/

https://www.thejakelegjugband.com/

https://warrenjamesguitar.com/rich-bennett-new-orleans-all-stars/

Royal Albert Hall announces second season of Late Night Jazz for 2026.

Thursday, April 02, 2026

London's Royal Albert Hall has unveiled the line-up for its first season of the popular Late Night Jazz series for 2026, with 11 shows running from late April to early July. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Spring season of Late Night Jazz announced by Royal Albert Hall

Tickets for all shows on sale now from the Royal Albert Hall website

The Royal Albert Hall has just unveiled its second season of Late Night Jazz artists for 2026, boasting its largest programme yet with eleven acts billed across the spring. All but one of the upcoming season’s artists are debutants on the Elgar Room stage, with sounds ranging from classical and ambient jazz to afro beat-influenced and future soul-infused subgenres.

In celebration of International Jazz Day on Thursday 30 April, Gary Crosby CBE and Cameron Pierre Quartet will open the spring season in the 200-capacity Elgar Room alongside Jamaican virtuoso guitarist Ernest Ranglin OJ OD, BBC Young 2022 Jazz Musician of the Year finalist Luke Bacchus on piano, and Olivier award-winning composer Romarna Campbell on drums.

The first of five performances in May comes from Elysia Biro on Friday 1 May. The 26-year-old’s song writing blends modern pop structures and classical technique with jazz sensibilities. Her expressive and introspective songs, paired with her warm, soulful vocals reflect her journey through self-discovery and love, which has quickly amassed a dedicated audience through social media.

The following week (Thursday 7 May) Rosie Turton and Miryam Solomon present their new duo album maar as a Relaxed Late Night Jazz event. The album is an exploratory conversation between voice, modular synthesizer and trombone. Rosie Turton has been named ‘One To Watch’ by The Guardian and nominated for Jazz FM’s ‘Breakthrough Act of the Year’, blending meditative soundscapes with acoustic and electronic elements, while London-based vocalist Miryam Solomon has most recently been recording and performing with Florence + The Machine.

Christoper White Collective perform on Thursday 14 May, having been a presence in the London music scene for nearly three decades. Alongside his work with Van Morrison, Christopher continues to compose for film and television and leads his own ensemble, Christopher White Collective, a project that explores the intersection of jazz, ambient, and cinematic sound worlds.

Bradley Miller, known artistically as cktrl (pronounced “control”), is a self-taught producer and classically trained clarinettist whose music blends classical, ambient, jazz, and RnB influences, exploring themes of love, healing, vulnerability, and Black identity. He will perform tracks from his debut album on Thursday 21 May.

Making her Elgar Room debut on Thursday 28 May, Gabrielle Stravelli will present an adventurous set of songs from jazz, pop, the American Songbook and beyond. Gabrielle specializes in presenting rarely heard gems from the jazz repertoire, alongside her original lyrics, melodies and instrumental solos.

Matt Todd, Director of Programming at the Royal Albert Hall, said, “We’re immensely proud of what our Late Night Jazz series has become, going from strength-to-strength over the last 15 years. With another programme of progressive, inventive and intimate performances scheduled, the Elgar Room has well and truly established itself as being at the heart of the London jazz scene. We’re excited for this new season to get underway so we can continue to platform artists who both honour the rich legacy of jazz while also redefining and shaping its sound for future generations.”

June sees Summer Pearl (Thursday 4 June), known for her free-spirited live performances and razor-sharp lyricism, make her Late Night Jazz debut. With four independently released EPs and mixtapes, she has built an international reputation as one of the UK’s most compelling emerging voices, headlining tours across Europe. Her third project outmysystem led to a sold-out headline at the London Jazz Festival. Career highlights include five sets at SXSW, touring South Korea and Australia with Steam Down, and two upcoming sold-out shows at Ronnie Scott’s, with new releases on the horizon.

On Thursday 11 June, multi-instrumentalist Audrey Powne performs with her distinctive blend of future jazz and soul. Championed by BBC Radio 2, Powne released her debut album From the Fire in 2023 has since performed headline shows at Ronnie Scott’s, Jazz Café London, Brick Lane Jazz Festival and EFG London Jazz Festival. She will release her second LP Bodies of Water with three single releases slated before the full album in September.

South London’s classic jazz trio ABNA bring their bold, energetic sound to the Hall on Thursday 18 June, merging saxophone, bass, and drums with electronic textures that balance Afrobeat, hip-hop, dub, grime bebop, soul, and RnB genres. ABNA have performed at notable events like Jazz Refreshed, We Out Here, and the Brick Lane Jazz Festival, as well as receiving airplay on Jazz FM and BBC Radio stations.

Influenced by alternative folk, film soundtracks, and poetry, Nadine Khouri gives an exclusive one- off performance accompanied by her London band on Thursday 25 June. She will be performing songs from her catalogue alongside a first look at unreleased material from a forthcoming album. Her debut release The Salted Air was selected as one of Rough Trade’s ‘Albums of the Year’.

The Royal College of Music Junior Department Jazz Ensemble makes its sixth appearance for Late Night Jazz on Thursday 2 July to conclude the season. Their repertoire features music from the swing era of the 1930’s right up to the present day, including works by Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Charles Mingus, Michael Bublé, Herbie Hancock, The Yellowjackets, Gordon Goodwin and Snarky Puppy.

Tickets for all Late Night Jazz shows 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 

Late Night Jazz: Gary Crosby CBE and Cameron Pierre Quartet
Thu 30 Apr, 9:30pm
Tickets: £15

Late Night Jazz: Elysia Biro
Fri 1 May, 9:30pm
Tickets: £15

Late Night Jazz: Rosie Turton and Miryam Solomon
Thu 7 May, 9:30pm
Tickets: £15

Late Night Jazz: Christopher White Collective
Thu 14 May, 9:30pm
Tickets: £16.50

Late Night Jazz: cktrl
Thu 21 May, 9:30pm
Tickets: £15

Late Night Jazz: Gabrielle Stravelli
Thu 28 May, 9:30pm
Tickets: £16.50

Late Night Jazz: Summer Pearl
Thu 4 Jun, 9:30pm
Tickets: £15

Late Night Jazz: Audrey Prowne
Thu 11 Jun, 9:30pm
Tickets: £15

Late Night Jazz: ABNA
Thu 18 Jun, 9:30pm
Tickets: £15

Late Night Jazz: Nadine Khouri
Thu 25 Jun, 9:30pm
Tickets: £16.50

Late Night Jazz: RCM Juniors
Thu 2 Jul, 9:30pm
Tickets: £20

About the Royal Albert Hall:
The Royal Albert Hall is the world’s most famous stage. For 155 years, it has played host to legendary artists, from Giuseppe Verdi to Beyoncé.

Guildford Jazz Events May 2026.

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Mick Thomas of Guildford Jazz has forwarded details of the organisation's programme for May 2026. Performers include Derek Nash, Marianne Windham, Tony Kofi, Denys Baptiste.

Mick Thomas writes;

Derek Nash Quartet at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Pavilion, Guildford,Surrey
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
More details
Derek Nash Quartet
Wednesday 6 May from 20.00 to 22.15 (doors open 19.00) at the Guildford Pavilion, Woodbridge Rd, Guildford GU1 4RP
Irrepressible saxophone star of the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, DerekNash is one of the hottest, funkiest players on the UK scene. He exudes an irresistible exuberance as both bandleader of his distinguished group Sax Appeal and as a distinguished jazz soloist and composer in his own right. With David Newton, (16 times winner of the British Jazz Awards for Best UK Jazz Piano Player) on piano, Sebastian de Krom on drums, and Marianne Windham on bass.
For more details and to book tickets visit
https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

Marianne Windham Trio at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Institute, Guildford, Surrey
Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
More details
Marianne Windham Trio
Monday 11 May from 14.00 to 15.00 (doors open for lunch at 12.00) at the Guildford Institute, Ward St, Guildford GU1 4LH
Guildford Jazz anchor Marianne Windham, recipient of the ‘Services to Jazz’ Award in the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, brings her chosen instrument to the fore to
explore the role of the bass in the history of jazz and considers the bass players who have influenced her playing and musical journey. With the brilliant and versatile Steve Lodder (whose career includes touring with the pop group Simply Red and musical collaborations with Paul McCartney) on piano and Martin Pyne on drums.
For more details and to book tickets visit 
https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

Kofi/Baptiste Quintet at Guildford Jazz, The Guildford Pavilion, Guildford, Surrey
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026
More details
Kofi/Baptiste Quintet
Thursday 21 May from 20.00 to 22.15 (doors open 19.00) at the Guildford Pavilion, Woodbridge Rd, Guildford GU1 4RP
Two of the UK’s most acclaimed saxophonists, Denys Baptiste and Tony Kofi celebrate one of the most iconic front-line partnerships in jazz history: Julian “Cannonball” Adderley and John Coltrane. Steeped in the Coltrane tradition, tenor saxophonist Baptiste’s playing combines technical authority with emotional depth while Tony Kofi, one of the UK’s finest alto saxophonists, is renowned for his powerful sound, fearless improvisation, and deep-rooted connection to the jazz tradition.
With Bruno Heinen (pno), Mikele Montoli (bs) and Winston Clifford (dr).
For more details and to book tickets visit 
https://www.guildfordjazz.org.uk

Mid Wales Rhythm & Blues Club - Forthcoming events.

Monday, March 30, 2026

Based in Brecon MWR&BC has announced its programme from April to June 2026. Events take place at various venues within the town including The Muse and The Brecon Tap. Full details attached.

From;
http://midwalesrandb.club/events/category/events/

MWR&BC Presents live music at The Brecon Tap with GWYN ASHTON…
April 3 @ 9:00 pm - 11:30 pm
FREE EVENT
Gwyn Ashton (born 1960, Wales) is a Welsh–Australian blues, rock guitarist and singer-songwriter.
He has released ten albums and continues to tour Australia, Europe and North America.
Gwyn Ashton, one of the hardest working and powerful one-man bands, is back touring a new solo album titled Mojosoul and a brand new single Get Outta Town with Guns N’ Roses guitarist Richard Fortus and members of Australian bands Cold Chisel and Superjesus.
In 2023 he’s smashed stages across The Netherlands and Belgium with prog rockers Wishbone Ash, co-headlined the Adelaide Guitar Festival in Australia and relentlessly blazed his way across Wales, England, Serbia, Bosnia, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia and Poland. 2024 dates include an Australian tour and he’s booked for a mainstage performance at the prestigious Great British R&B Festival.
Ashton is on the top of the list of the new wave of modern blues rock artists, as spearheaded by The Black Keys, Jack White, Seasick Steve et al. A first class entertainer he oozes stagecraft and showmanship, combining songs and stories from a road well-travelled with dextrous guitar playing, blasting out drum beats on Bill Ward’s old Black Sabbath drum kit, grinding fuzz bass lines with his thumb while he viciously attacks his guitar with a bottleneck slide, singing and blowing blues harp into a lofi radio microphone.
Inspired by the likes of Hendrix and David Lindley, his “guit-arsenal” includes a rack full of electric and acoustic instruments including lap slide, resonator, 12-string and old pawn shop guitars.
Ashton has had multiple Tracks of The Week in the UK’s prestigious Classic Rock Magazine from 10 of his commercially released albums on which he’s collaborated with Don Airey (Deep Purple), Neil Murray (Whitesnake), Robbie Blunt (Robert Plant) and Rory Gallagher’s band.
“The most versatile performer we’ve had” – Deep Ellum Blues Club, Dallas, Texas. “The king of feel” – Robert Plant. “A true bluesman” – Johnny Winter. “A real player” – David Crosby. With these accolades and every recording garnishing numerous Albums of The Week/Month/Year from UK and European guitar and rock press Ashton’s incredible live show keeps growing stronger and he’s bringing it to a town near you soon!
Formerly with Virgin Records, France, Gwyn Ashton was lead guitarist in Europe with Band of Friends (Rory Gallagher’s band) and in Australia with Stevie Wright (Easybeats) and Jim Keays (Master’s Apprentices). He has shared stages with BB King, Buddy Guy, Ray Charles, Peter Green, Van Morrison, Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf), Mick Taylor, Status Quo, The Yardbirds, Slade, Robin Trower, Steve Hackett, Wishbone Ash, The Troggs and more. He has been invited onstage to jam with Mick Fleetwood, Canned Heat, Walter Trout, Elliot Randall (Steely Dan) and many others.
https://www.gwynashton.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@GwynAshtonMusic
The Brecon Tap 9pm / free admission
PA Supplied and run by Graham Strangward
Brecon Tap
6 Bulwark
Brecon, Powys LD3 7LB

MWR&BC Presents LIZ JONES & BROKEN WINDOWS with SGA DISQUE BLEU…
April 18 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
£20
Live music at THE MUSE in BRECON (Home of the MWR&BC)
After a very successful event at The Muse with Liz Jones and Suzy Cargill from Scottish act LIZ JONES & BROKEN WINDOWS on Sep 13th 2025.
http://midwalesrandb.club/2025/09/14/liz-jones-suzy-cargill-from-liz-jones-broken-windows-with-special-guest-act-disque-bleu/
Liz & Suzy return with Liz’s full band some 7 months later (Re 18th April 2026)
Twists of roots, blues and psychedelia, in a vibe that lies firmly with the 60s spirit of free music. Liz Jones & Broken Windows sound only like themselves, but have been compared to Little Feat, The Faces and Fleetwood Mac, with similarities lying in group buzz on stage and a wave goodbye to neat boxes, each tune simply taken on the path it carves. Live shows are a wild mix of personal expression, genre celebration and individual musicianship.
Corralling some of Scotland’s best players, this six-piece have the talent to roam beyond the prescribed pentatonic box …
the title track (to Double Measures) is a winningly wonky gypsy-jazz lurch.
Classic Rock Magazine
Favourite review from the audience!
“When this group of eclectic, casual looking musicians join a stage, you could be forgiven for thinking they’d be there to ‘entertain’, a leg up from some decent gigging bar in their home town. At the end of the gig, you are a fan, wondering why they aren’t widely celebrated in the rockin live music world. There’s so much to love. Vocally, musically, in spirit and in energy, they deliver original songs in a way that make you feel part of the band. You’re accepted because you are in it for the music, for the songs, the smiling, the realness of confused genres, stage wobbles and the shared secret that wild and free music is underground, and it doesn’t care.” AUDIENCE REVIEW AFTER EDINBURGH FRINGE SHOW 2022!
https://lizjonesmusic.com/brokenwindows
Special Guests on the night will be DISQUE BLEU (who supported Liz & Suzy first time round)
Comprising of Ian Jones on bass and vocals and Julian Lewis on rhythm and lead guitar. An interesting mix of laid-back blues, country and other genres.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561761297608
http://midwalesrandb.club/
The Muse at Brecon
The Muse, Glamorgan Street
Brecon, Powys LD37DW

MWR&BC 12TH ANNIVERSARY GATHERING THE MUSE BRECON…
May 16 @ 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm
£25
Celebrating the 12th anniversary of the MWR&BC the confirmed line-up is listed below with approximate timings (both subject to change) doors should be open at 3pm with background music played until and in between all acts —
JON AMOR TRIO…
2026 UK BLUES AWARDS NOMINEES – Band of The Year
Delivering high-energy Blues Funk.
Jon Amor fronts the trio, known throughout Europe & North America for his time with The Hoax, but now well-established as a performer in his own right. He has taken the stage alongside the likes of Van Morrison, Buddy Guy and Billy Bragg, and recorded with Robert Plant.
Bass virtuoso Jerry Soffe has recorded and played live with Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake), Larry Garner, John Etheridge, and Louisiana Red.
Dynamic drummer Tom Gilkes has toured and recorded with Marc Ford (Black Crowes) Ian Siegal, Elles Bailey, Muddy Manninen (Wishbone Ash), Willie & The Bandits, and John Cornfield (Muse, Oasis).
https://jonamor.tumblr.com/
THE TERRAPLANES BLUES BAND (DUO)…
Authentic Delta Blues & R’n’B. Formed in 2013 as a duo, with a shared appreciation of Mississippi country blues.
Nick Scrase always in fine voice, gritty and soulful – alongside his powerful lead guitar soloing is inventive, blistering… in short, just right.
Eduardo Allen (surely the sharpest-dressed harmonica player in the West) is an incredible showman, with a remarkable physical presence on stage.
https://www.theterraplanesbluesband.com/
CARLEY’S WRECK & RUIN (DUO)…
A British blues duo with a dark, unmistakable edge. Primitive and raw – Blues from the underworld!
A British duo with a dark, unmistakable edge. Blending gritty blues and roots music, it’s raw, rhythmic, and possessed by something older than rock ‘n’ roll itself! The music is the beat-up brainchild of Jo Carley (vocals, mandolin, washboard, percussion) and Tim Carley (battered archtop guitar, rattlin’ shoe, kick drum, distorted vintage amps, backing vocals), from JO CARLEY & THE OLD DRY SKULLS.
http://www.wreckandruin.uk
ELSIE FRANKLIN (SOLO)…
Elsie Franklin brings an enchanting blend of acoustic country blues, ragtime and jazz played on her trusty National resonator, all delivered with a beautifully authentic touch. Drawing from early masters like Memphis Minnie, Bessie Smith and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Elsie’s fingerstyle and slide guitar playing is steeped in history yet utterly fresh. In the words of blues legend Dave Kelly: “Elsie Franklin is the most natural blues singer I’ve heard in years… she’s the whole package.”
https://www.elsiefranklin.com/
PAUL KEDDLE & FRIENDS
Local Bluesman Paul Keddle has been playing across the Brecon area and beyond for well over 4 decades with several line-ups under this belt he will open our 12th anniversary gathering alongside a variety of fellow musicians from across the area and will also compare the entire day.
Running order subject to change.
8.30PM JON AMOR TRIO
7.15PM THE TERRAPLANES BLUES BAND (DUO)
6PM CARLEY’S WRECK & RUIN (DUO)
5PM ELSIE FRANKLIN (SOLO)
4PM PAUL KEDDLE & FRIENDS
SO (ISH -?)
4PM (45 min set)
5PM (45 min set)
6PM (45 min set)
7.15PM (45 min set)
8.30PM (1 hour 30 min set)
TICKETS £25
That can be reserved via Angus Kings
Angus Kings 0786 6000 596
http://www.midwalesrandb.club
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
https://www.facebook.com/midwalesrhythmandblues
https://www.instagram.com/themidwalesrandb/
We will have a fully licensed bar more details to follow.
The Muse at Brecon
The Muse, Glamorgan Street
Brecon, Powys LD37DW

The Mid Wales R&B Club Presents the return of Jack J Hutchinson to The Muse in Brecon…
June 6 @ 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
£14.00
London based blues rock guitarist Jack J Hutchinson has announced THREE intimate acoustic performances for the summer of 2026 the middle one being for the Club & The Muse in Brecon the only WELSH date.
Showcasing the blues and roots side of his playing, the shows will feature new material written especially for the run, plus select covers of blues artists who have influenced his song-writing.
The dates come on the back of a successful year for Hutchinson which saw his latest album ‘Battle Scars’ crash-land in the Official Blues Chart Top5. Classic Rock raved about the release describing it as “genuinely spiritual”.
In recent years Hutchinson has completed headline tours of Europe, plus shows in America and Brazil. He has also supported acts like FM, King King and Ocean Colour Scene’s Steve Cradock, and played festivals alongside BlackBerry Smoke, the Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson and Jeff Beck.
He is currently recording his fifth studio album at Momentum Studios, Plymouth, with producer Josiah J Manning, and will be hitting the road in support t of the release throughout 2026.
Jack J Hutchinson
Acoustic Dates:
29 May-Eric Morecambe Centre, Harpenden
6 June- The Muse, Brecon for the MWR&BC
7June-The Half Moon, Putney
Special Guest Act for June 6th TBC
To know more about the Mid Wales R&B Club date please PM me all the very best Angus
Tickets will be £14 and can be booked on-line via the link below.
https://jackjhutchinsonmusic.com/
http://www.midwalesrand.com
The Muse at Brecon
The Muse, Glamorgan Street
Brecon, Powys LD37DW.

606 Jazz Club, Chelsea, London - Programme for April 2026 plus preview for May 2026.

Friday, March 27, 2026

Laura Thorne of the 606 Club has forwarded details of the Club's programme for April 2026, plus a short look at some the events due to take place in May. 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.

Further details about our April events, along with photos, video clips etc are on the website now for your consumption: https://www.606club.co.uk/events/

One other big announcement that is a preview of things to come – 2026 is the 50 Year Anniversary of the 606 Club! The celebration begins in October with a series of special events to mark this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

606 CLUB – APRIL 2026 GIG GUIDE

Wed 1st   8:00pm   DOMINIC MILLER
Guitarist Dominic Miller is probably best known as Sting’s “right hand man” and co-writer of “Shape of My Heart”, amongst a number of other co-collaborations. In the 25+ years that he has worked with Sting he has appeared with him on over 1,000 live gigs, 8 albums and 6 world tours. But Dominic’s terrific guitar playing has not been exclusive to Sting, in his early career he worked with Phil Collins, The Pretenders, Level 42, Tina Turner, Backstreet Boys and Ronan Keating. He has also released twelve albums under his own name, including his latest, ‘Vagabond’ on the highly regarded European label, ECM Records. Also featuring Nicolas Fiszman-bass and Ziv Ravitz-drums.
“Guitarist Dominic Miller contributed searing electric fretwork as well as crystalline acoustic chords” The Washington Times;
“Miller is capable of just about any guitar style…edgy, lightning leads…[or]...delicately plucked fluid, classical arpeggios” The New York Post

Thu 2nd   8:00pm   DOMINIC MILLER with Special Guest: JASON REBELLO
See Wednesday 1st – tonight with Special Guest Jason Rebello-piano  
           

                   
Fri 3rd   9:00pm     JOE WEBB QUARTET
Pianist Joe Webb has become a force to be reckoned with on the UK jazz scene. It was as a member of the Kansas Smitty’s House Band, the swinging, mainstream jazz outfit dubbed London’s ‘new swing princes’, that his profile reached new heights and since then he has gone on to work with the likes of Hailey Tuck, Adrian Cox & Jools Holland as well as appearing on Jamie Cullum’s Christmas album. Joe’s own 2024 recording ‘Hamstrings & Hurricanes’ was shortlisted for a Mercury Prize with the Times saying, “With his talent, Webb really could be the bearer of jazz to Gen X & beyond” and watch out for his latest trio album “Neath Beat” due out soon. Tonight Joe will be appearing with his wonderful quartet featuring the brilliant sax of Alec Harper.
“[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 4th     9:00pm   RACHAEL COHEN
A beautifully fluent and inventive saxophonist, composer and arranger Rachael Cohen is widely considered one of the leading voices of her generation. Listed in American magazine ‘Downbeat’ as a “Rising Star” two years in succession she was the first female artist to be signed to Whirlwind Records. She regularly leads her own trio with New York drummer Jason Brown (Monty Alexander) and her quartet, featuring vibraphonist Lewis Wright (Empirical), and has toured with the Blue Note supergroup ‘Artemis’, led by pianist Renee Rosnes. Rachael’s quartet this evening features three terrific musicians, 2016 Musician’s Company’ “Young Jazz Musician Award” recipient Will Barry-piano, Tom Sheen-bass and Kai Macrae-drums. An exceptional player with an impressive band.
“Cohen’s…playing…astonishing coherence and flow” UK Jazz News

Sun 5th   1:30pm   SUNDAY LUNCH: SHIREEN FRANCIS’ “CARIBBEAN ISLAND PROJECT”
The Caribbean Island Project is 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, Mark Cherrie-steel pan, Neville Malcolm-bass & Kenrick Rowe-drums this is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
“brilliant vocalist” Jazzwise;
“A beautiful artist with real depth and heart” Jazz UK

Sun 5th   8:00pm   LIANE CARROLL
The first artist ever to win two BBC Jazz Awards in the same year, for Best Vocalist and Best of Jazz, Liane Carroll is a dynamic performer whose amazing talent has been captivating audiences around the world. World-class, her powerful, blues-tinged voice combined with strong piano playing and exciting infectious material, not to mention a wicked sense of humour, make this a truly remarkable gig.
“Liane Carroll…seems in some magical way to be made out of music” The Observer  
     

Mon 6th   8:00pm   NORDIC BLUE: ANNIMARIA RINNE, TERO SAARTI & THE DAVID GORDON TRIO
Two of Finland’s leading musicians, vocalist Annimaria Rinne and trumpeter Tero Saarti, are joined this evening by UK pianist David Gordon and his Trio for a programme they’ve titled “Nordic Blue”. Annimaria is equally at home in jazz, classical or folk music settings. Highly rated in her native Finland she has regularly received much critical acclaim for her poetic writing and consummate vocal performances. Tero’s fluent and melodic playing has been a feature of the multi-Award winning UMO Helsinki Big band for over 30 years and has been heard with high profile bands in Finland and beyond. Pianist David Gordon, “a richly gifted player” Independent, is a leading light of the UK jazz scene. His performances and albums have been consistently well received, with his album ‘Alexander Scriabin’s Ragtime Band’ named MOJO’s Jazz CD of the Year. The combination of these outstanding musicians with this unique programme promise to create an unforgettable musical evening.
“Annimari…elegant and magnificent voice” perinnejazz.ry; “
Saarti… imaginative yet controlled” MusicWeb;
“Gordon… brilliant pianist” UK Jazz News

Tue 7th   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 23 years and still going!
“impressive hard-bop saxophonist” Time Out

Wed 8th   8:00pm   **ALBUM LAUNCH** EDDIE GRIPPER
Having “already garnered comparisons with the greats” (Jazzwise) following the release of his debut album ‘Home’, pianist Eddie Gripper has rapidly established himself on the UK jazz scene. For this album launch Eddie and his trio, Clem Saynor-bass and Patrick Barrett-Donlon-drums, will perform music from Eddie’s second album, “Americana”, which tells the story of his 8,000km journey from Alaska to California. Evoking the beauty and atmosphere of vast landscapes and unforgettable moments, the music captures the listener’s imagination with a relaxed, easy virtuosity.
“Gripper’s original material was thoroughly convincing…and the…imaginative treatment of…standards was also genuinely impressive” The Jazz Mann

Thu 9th   8:00pm   **606 CLUB SPECIAL** FRASER SMITH W. SPECIAL GUEST CHUCK ISRAELS
Tonight UK tenor sax player Fraser Smith is joined by the legend that is bassist Chuck Israels (Bill Evans, Stan Getz), Finnish guitarist Jonas Metsakyla and UK drummer Steve Brown for a once in a lifetime London show. From an early age saxophonist Fraser Smith was drawn to the music of the golden age of swing jazz, from Kansas City in the 30’s to New York in the 60’s and for going on two decades now he has built a significant reputation on the UK scene, with his latest album “Lifeline!” being added to both the Times and Jazzwise’s ‘Best Jazz Albums of 2025’ lists. Chuck Israels is a composer/arranger/bassist who is best known for his 5 years with the Bill Evans Trio. Following that he worked with a host of iconic musicians including Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Herbie Hancock and John Coltrane, was Director of the National Jazz Ensemble for 8 years and has only recently retired from directing jazz studies at Western Washington University. The word “legend” could not be more appropriate and we are truly honoured to host this exciting quartet at the Club this evening!
“…it’s Israels who constantly catches the ear…still making…jazz…which features…sonorous, singing solo[s] from the bass doyen. Timeless.” Jazzwise;
“Smith…Nonchalantly confident and very hard swinging” UK Jazz News

Fri 10th   9:00pm   DENNY ILETT/PETE LONG’S R&BEBOP  
Denny Ilett is a versatile guitarist/singer who has worked with the likes of US stars Lillian Boutte & PeeWee Ellis as well as members of Goldfrapp & Portishead. Saxophonist/singer Pete Long is a renowned jazz musician, who’s CV includes work with Jools Holland, Tom Jones and Lionel Richie. Tonight these two master musicians join forces…over to them: “It’s the late 1940’s - the bebop revolution is in full swing. At the same time, a proto-rock n roll known as Rhythm & Blues was developing with artists such as Louis Jordan. Put these two together and you have R&Bebop, an exciting and innovative moment in time”. Denny & Pete have unearthed a treasure-trove of captivating rhythms and intoxicating melodies guaranteed to be both exciting and fun!
“Ilett…a knockout guitarist, soulful and jazz-tinged”
Guitarist Magazine; “[the band]…played with all the panache, drive and…good-hearted energy that Long…engenders” Jazzwise

Sat 11th   9:00pm   ALEC HARPER
Alec Harper has established himself as one of the leading tenor saxophonists of his generation. Formerly a member of the wildly popular UK outfit Kansas Smittys, you can also find him fronting his own group or appearing as an in-demand sideman for artists such as Tom Misch & Soft Cell. He has performed with the likes of the WDR Big Band (Cologne) and at venues around the world, including North Sea Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s & Dizzy’s (NYC). Tonight he brings his All-Star, swinging quartet featuring Alcyona Mick-piano.
“Harper…a leading contender among the heavies” BeBop Spoken Here

Sun 12th:    1:30pm   SUNDAY LUNCH:    606 GOSPEL BRUNCH FT. NOEL ROBINSON
Involved in worship ministry for over 30 years Noel Robinson, with five MOBO nominations, is a leading figure on the International gospel scene. Former Music Director of the BBC’s ‘Songs of Praise’ he was founder of The Kingdom Worship Movement (KWM) and has been associated with dozens of Christian ministries and festivals around the world. He has released eight albums and is currently signed to Integrity Music, the first British Worship leader of Caribbean Descent to be signed to this label. For this 606 performance Noel and his band will play songs from his more recent releases, including his latest album, “‘Change the Atmosphere”.

Sun 12th 8:00pm   MO PLEASURE
One of the great multi-instrumentalists of his generation bass player/pianist/trumpeter Morris “Mo” Pleasure has been at the forefront of US popular music for more than 30 years. He began his professional career with Ray Charles before moving to work with the likes of Natalie Cole, Dianne Reeves and Chaka Khan. In 1994 he became musical director for the legendary group Earth, Wind & Fire, then toured with Janet Jackson, was on the ill-fated Michael Jackson tour and most recently MD’d for Bette Midler. Tonight’s line-up also features the wonderful vocalist Kedma.
“Pleasure proves that jazz can still be made which is smooth yet textured…varied and interesting… Superb” Soul Express

Mon 13th   8:00pm   PHIL MULFORD’S THUNDERTHUMBS
Join us to celebrate the great Soul and Funk songs with “Thunderthumbs”, the 10-piece band inspired by the great US bass player Louis Johnson led by bassist Phil Mulford. The set runs from Louis’ time with Billy Preston through to his own band The Brothers Johnson and the Quincy Jones hits on which he played. The gig features 3 brilliant singers, Jacqui Hicks, Debbie Bracknell (Shakatak) & Simon Foster (Flying Pickets), a deeply grooving rhythm section and powerhouse horns.
“Hicks…a singer of warmth, poise and intelligence” Yorkshire Post;
“Take Stevie Wonder, Joe Cocker, that dude from The Commitments…roll them up into one and you get something resembling the virtuosity that Simon Foster shows” RARB.org

Tue 14th   8:00pm   FRASER URQUHART FT. LUCY WIJNANDS
This exciting collaboration pairs Scottish pianist Fraser Urquhart with the winner of the 2021 Ella Fitzgerald Vocal Jazz Competition, US born and now New York based Lucy Wijnands. A powerful, swinging and impressive vocalist Lucy has toured the world, held down a 16-week residency with the renowned Birdland Big Band and shared the stage with the likes of Jon Faddis, Ron Carter & Joe Magnarelli.  Fraser Urquhart is rapidly becoming one of the UK’s foremost jazz pianists. His fluent and exciting playing has been heard at all the major jazz venues as well as the Edinburgh & Glasgow Jazz Festivals, both in his own right and as accompanist to a host of high-profile jazz musicians including the Award-winning Scottish vocalist Georgia Cecile. Joined by Tom Farmer-bass and Luke McCarthy-drums, this swinging, stellar quartet will play beloved standards and rare gems from the Great American Songbook.
“Wijnands…A formidable vocal talent” Hot House Jazz Magazine;
“Urquhart…unfailingly elegant piano playing” Bebop Spoken Here;
“Extremely tasty…piano” Jamie Cullum, BBC
 

Wed 15th   8:00pm   STEVE BUCKLEY/CHRIS BATCHELOR “ZONE B” 
Founding members of the iconic band Loose Tubes back in the 1980’s the partnership of saxophonist Steve Buckley and trumpeter Chris Batchelor has been long and fruitful. Their music has always been highly eclectic, drawing on everything from Latin American to East European Folk, Congolese Soukous and even a touch of free jazz. Previous projects include the internationally acclaimed, BBC Award winning, trans-Atlantic group Big Air, described in Jazzwise as “adventurous…well played and all done with good humour, intelligence and soul” and All About Jazz as “funky and unbuttoned as a chimp on acid”! Tonight they bring to the Club “Zone b”, their latest project of vibrant original music with an emphasis on groove and featuring a world class rhythm section of guitarist Rob Luft, bassist Tom Herbert and drummer Gene Calderazzo. “Buckley…perkily unpredictable…palpably fresh…superbly realized” MOJO;
“Batchelor, a fine trumpeter who intriguingly blends Miles Davis’s shrewd pacing and evocative…sounds with…Harry Beckett’s bubbly phrasing” Guardian

Thu 16th   8:00pm   DULCIE MAY MORENO
Influenced by the likes of Nina Simone, Billie Holiday & Sarah Vaughan singer Dulcie May Moreno is emerging as a versatile jazz artist with range and poise. Tonight she will be appearing at the Club with her quintet featuring Steve Fishwick-trumpet, whose fluent, melodic playing has been heard with a who’s who of jazz greats, including Anita O’ Day, Ron Carter, Peter Erskine & Cedar Walton.  Together they will perform a mix of her excellent jazz-influenced originals alongside, as she says “carefully curated classic standards by some of my greatest influences”. Also featuring Stephen Bridgland-guitar, Frances Knight-piano.
“A class act” Bebop Spoken Here
     

Fri 17th   9:00pm   SHEZ RAJA FT. DENYS BAPTISTE & ARUN GHOSH  
Voted one of the ‘Hottest Bass Players in the World’ by Bass Player magazine, Shez Raja is an electrifying performer whose fusion of Indo-jazz, funk and groove has propelled him to the forefront of the UK jazz scene. His albums have earned him universal critical acclaim and with his latest highly praised record “Spellbound” Shez brings this exciting new music to the 606. Expect a thrilling fusion of East and West, tradition and innovation, groove and mysticism. For this unique show Shez has invited two special guests, both true legends of their instruments: Arun Ghosh, one of the UK’s most distinctive and expressive clarinettists, renowned for his genre-defying blend of jazz, Indian classical music and raw improvisational energy and saxophonist Denys Baptiste, a multiple award-winner who includes the “Mercury Music Album of the Year” and “MOBO Award for Best Jazz Act” alongside collaborations with the likes of Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Courtney Pine, Julian Joseph & Manu Dibango on a remarkable cv. Completing this stellar line-up are long-time collaborators Chris Jerome (Courtney Pine)-keyboards and Sophie Alloway-drums.
“Chic, contemporary and groove-laden” The Musician; “
Raja…is fearless” All About Jazz;
“Baptiste…the icon of British jazz” Time Magazine;
“Arun Ghosh…his playing is thrilling and beautiful, uproarious and irresistible” Telegraph

Sat 18th   9:00pm   BINKER GOLDING
Saxophonist Binker Golding has a host of Awards to his name, including two Jazz FM awards, a Parliamentary Jazz Award and a MOBO Award for Best Jazz Act. Perhaps best known for the exciting duo “Binker & Moses” his fluent, creative playing has been heard in a wide variety of musical contexts and his albums have cemented his reputation as an important voice on the UK jazz scene. Tonight he makes a welcome return to the Club to “play some of my favourite jazz standards and traditional blues numbers” alongside Billy Adamson-guitar, Daniel Casimir-bass & Jamie Murray-drums.
“Golding… considerable depth…fiery, intricate, and engaging” AllAboutJazz
     

Sun 19th   1:30pm   SUNDAY LUNCH:  ZOE FRANCIS FT. JIM MULLEN
Zoe Francis started singing jazz while living and working in New York, soon becoming a regular fixture on the scene. Her first three albums showcasing her beautiful voice as well as her exquisite choice of material were all received with much praise, and today Zoe will be performing a mix of classic standards alongside material from her latest album, ‘Somewhere in the Night’. Zoe’s knack for capturing the nature of these songs brings them to life and elevates her performances to the exceptional. Also featuring iconic guitarist Jim Mullen (Morrissey/Mullen), Liam Dunachie-piano, Calum Gourlay-bass and Steve Brown-drums.
“Great interpreter of the Great American Songbook” Jazz Journal;
“a classy, poised singer” London Jazz News

8:00pm   HAMISH STUART & THE HAMISH HORNS
Probably best known for his work as the original lead singer/guitarist with The Average White Band, Hamish Stuart has had an illustrious career as both songwriter and performer. He has worked with the likes of Diana Ross, George Benson and Chaka Khan (for whom he wrote the No. 1 chart hit ‘Whatcha Gonna Do For Me’) culminating in six years with Paul McCartney. A regular member of Ringo Starr’s All Star band Hamish’s shows are always a special occasion. Tonight he will be appearing with his powerhouse 10-piece band: Jim Watson & Ross Stanley-keyboards; Adam Phillips-guitar; Steve Pearce-bass & Ian Thomas-drums, plus the 4-piece HS Horns.
“We love Stuart, the funky…singer/guitarist… still playing a superior blend of soul and jazz …while his voice has that unique smoky soul allure.” Time Out        
     

Mon 20th     8:00pm   HAMISH STUART & THE HAMISH HORNS  
See Sunday 26th For this second night Hamish is back again with his powerhouse 10-piece band. Trust us, this you can’t miss!     

                     
Tue 21st   8:00pm   **EP LAUNCH** MADDIE MARTIN
Mentored by the great Claire Martin (who knows a thing or two about singers) Maddie Martin is an exciting new voice on the UK jazz scene. Rapidly becoming known for her distinctive, “old soul”, tone and gift for storytelling Maddie brings a strong technical foundation to her approach, along with an affection for a wide range of styles including soul, blues, the Great American Songbook and contemporary jazz. Tonight, Maddie will be launching her debut EP, fittingly named “Part One”. Recorded with five-time Grammy-nominated producer James McMillan and co-produced by Claire Martin, the material is a combination of high energy arrangements of swinging standards, 70’s soul and original compositions written by trumpet and flugelhorn player Gabriel Taylor. The rest of the band features Columbus Sandor-piano, Guy Dempsey-bass, Kai MacRae-drums, Joe Evans-trombone and Zac Taylor Schindler-tenor sax.
“Maddie Martin is a star in the making. As soon as I heard her, I knew she was special. She has a warmth and beauty in her voice.” Claire Martin OBE

Wed 22nd   8:00pm   BEN CROSLAND’S BIRTHDAY GIG!
Bass player, composer and arranger Ben Crosland has been an ever-present force on the British jazz scene for over 40 years. He includes work with numerous iconic musicians, including Spike Robinson, Harry Allen, Ken Peplowski, Bobby Wellins, John Surman, Tim Garland & Andy Sheppard on a remarkable cv. He has run his own record label Jazz Cat since 1995 releasing albums by Alan Skidmore, Dave O’Higgins and more and as a bandleader, has released numerous albums including two volumes of the Ray Davies Songbook - an adventurous reimagining of the songs made famous by the Kinks. Tonight’s show, celebrating Ben’s 75th birthday, will be a retrospective of his work featuring an “All Star” lineup, all of whom have been associated with Ben through the years: John Etheridge & Chris Allard-guitars; Steve Lodder-piano/keys; Steve Waterman-trumpet; Theo Travis-sax/flute & Nic France-drums. Promises to be pretty special and a lot of fun!
“An unaffectedly lyrical composer” UK Jazz News;
“rich in memorable melodies and the playing…resonant and inventive” Jazzwise;
“Crosland…highly accomplished” The Jazz Mann
 

Thu 23rd   8:00pm   TRIBUTE TO PETER PALLAI (written by Steve Rubie)
Back in 2003 a charismatic man introduced himself to me with what I was later to find out was his characteristically engaging manner and said, “I’m the Jazz Curator for the Hungarian Cultural Centre in London and you need Hungarian Jazz musicians playing here!”. And so the Anglo-Hungarian Exchange between the 606 Club and Budapest Jazz Club was born. That man was Peter Pallai and his passionate advocacy and unbridled enthusiasm for jazz was unbounded. Over the ensuing 20+ years I was to discover that he was no ordinary enthusiast. A survivor of the Hungarian uprising in the mid-1950s he ended up in London where he first was a teacher before becoming a correspondent for the BBC World Service for almost 30 years. I also discovered that back in Hungary this generous and thoughtful man was enormously respected, both as an award-winning journalist and also, to quote a well-known Hungarian commentator, “a defining figure…[who] worked tirelessly to elevate Hungarian jazz to its rightful place”. Sadly Peter unexpectedly passed away towards the end of last year and so tonight we have gathered together just some of the many UK musicians he championed to celebrate this remarkable man. The lineup is a veritable who’s who of leading UK musicians, including Liane Carroll-vocals/piano; Art Themen, Iain Ballamy, Julian Siegel, Paul Booth-saxes; Gareth Williams, Matyas Gayer, Tim Lapthorn-piano; Misha Mullov Abbado, Steve Watts, Arnie Somogyi-bass & Winston Clifford, Sophie Alloway-drums. And from Hungary the wonderful singer Gina Kanizsa. This promises to be a fabulous night of wonderful music in memory of a unique and much missed force of nature!
“Liane Carroll…seems in some magical way to be made out of music” The Observer;
“Themen, a veteran master” Jazzwise;
“Ballamy…A major international voice” The Times;
“Seigel…superb musician” UK Jazz News;
“Booth…blistering saxist” Independent
Please note music money collected this evening will be donated to Peter’s lasting legacy The Harmónia Műhely Alapítvány

Fri 24th   9:00pm   SAMARA FT. FRANCESCA CONFORTINI & STEVE RUBIE
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 wonderful vocalist Francesca Confortini 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 25th   9:00pm   MORNINGTON LOCKETT QUINTET FT. ALISTAIR MARTIN
Saxophonist, composer and teacher Mornington Lockett first came to prominence with the Ronnie Scott Quintet in the 1990’s before releasing four critically acclaimed albums of his own, winning the 2002 British Jazz Award for Best Small Group. One of the UK’s great sax players! Mornington’s Special Guest is trumpeter/composer Alistair Martin. Although still relatively new to the scene Alistair has already established himself as a highly respected fluent and creative performer across multiple genres. Also featuring legendary bassist Laurence Cottle, one of the UK’s premier pianists Ross Stanley and the highly-regarded drummer Sophie Alloway, described by Jazz FM as the “goddess of groove”.
“Lockett…one of the most complete masters of the instrument alive today.” The Observer;
“Martin…a remarkable talent” Jazzthing
     

Sun 26th   1:30pm   SUNDAY LUNCH: CLOSED PRIVATE EVENT  

Sun 26th   8:00pm   DANA GILLESPIE & THE LONDON BLUES BAND
A five-time winner of Blues Connection and Blueprint Magazine’s “Top British Female Blues Vocalist” award, blues singer Dana Gillespie has now entered their Hall of Fame. Appearing with the London Blues Band featuring Dino Baptiste on piano & vocals, Dana’s music is full of style, character and most of all, heart. Quintessential Blues at its very best.
“…she literally beats the pants off anything done by a British bluesman these last 10 years” Essential Blues        

Mon 27th     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

Tue 28th   8:00pm   EMILE HINTON TRIO
Emile Hinton is an Award-winning pianist/composer and the 2023 winner of the Musicians’ Company “Tina May Young Jazz Musician Award”. He has performed extensively in high profile venues around the capitol and can be heard with the likes of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, the iconic UK-based US jazz musician Jean Toussaint, Ricky Ford and rising star Allexa Nava. Appearing this evening with his terrific trio Toby Yapp-bass & Kai MacRae-drums the programme will feature a blend of originals from his recently released debut album alongside newer compositions and classic jazz standards.
“Emile is a joy…I predict that he will…be a musical force to be marvelled at” Jean Toussaint

Wed 29th   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 Clarke 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 along with her standout quartet - Dave Newton-piano, Dave Green-bass & Steve Brown-drums. Her latest album “Out of the Woods” celebrates the legacy of the famed altoist Phil Woods, one of Alex’s primary inspirations. Featuring a selection of classic tunes as well as lesser-known gems associated with Woods alongside original compositions this is a terrific swinging gig.
“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 30th   8:00pm   **INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY** ZOE GILBY W. SPECIAL GUEST: TONY KOFI
Tonight we celebrate International Jazz Day with a band featuring not one but two Award winning musicians! Winner of the Parliamentary Jazz Awards Jazz Vocalist of the Year Zoe Gilby is a vocalist and songwriter who is making a serious impression on the UK scene. This evening she will be performing material from her album ‘Aurora’ (a tribute to trumpet player and composer Tom Harrell with lyrics by Zoe), her Carmen McRae-inspired lyrical interpretations of Thelonious Monk compositions plus some of her own excellent original songs. Zoe’s Special Guest tonight is the multi-Award-winning saxophonist Tony Kofi, who first came to prominence in the 1990’s with the likes of The Jazz Warriors and Courtney Pine. The first UK musician to be featured in the iconic US band the World Saxophone Quartet his awards include the 2005 Parliamentary Jazz Award, BBC Radio 3 Album of the Year and the BBC Jazz Award.
“…excellent performance from Gilby… the standard of…singing and playing was exceptional throughout” Jazz Mann;
“Kofi…a great musician” The Arts Desk
; “Kofi…passionate… superb… heartfelt” Guardian

And a few dates in May 2026 for the diaries:

6th: Jim Alfredson – From Michigan USA, Jim Alfredson is a superb R&B, jazz & roots Hammond organ player, producer and musical director. His musical output includes several albums with his jazz trio Organissimo as well as the award-winning blues/R&B outfit Root Doctor, and he was also the keyboard player for Grammy Award-nominated blues, soul, and Americana singer Janiva Magness for several years.

7th: Dave Frank (US) - From New York, jazz pianist & educator Dave Frank was on the faculty at Berklee College of Music and was the co-founder of the New York School of Jazz. Also the author of the best-selling book and video series, “Joy of Improv” and “Breakthrough to Improv” he’ll be joined on their rare UK date by UK-born, NYC based guitarist Peter Rubie!

13th: Kate Williams – Album Launch – the highly regarded, Parliamentary Jazz Award-winning pianist/composer/arranger releases her new album, “On the Wing of a Dragonfly” - an eclectic set of colourful new originals by Kate as well as reinterpretations of standard tunes by the likes of Fats Waller, A.C. Jobim and Cole Porter

20th:  Phil Robson/Jared Levy – Award-winning UK-born guitarist Phil Robson (Partisans) teams up with US saxophonist Jed Levy (Jaki Byard, Lonnie Smith, Cedar Walton) as they launch their debut album, ‘The Unpredictability of the Sea’- the only London date.

27th: Orlando Le Fleming – World-renowned bassist Orlando Le Fleming has worked with a dizzying array of high-profile jazz artists such as Branford Marsalis, Bill Charlap, Mark Turner, Jimmy Cobb, Jason Rebello and many more. For this 606 show he plays music from his latest record “Wandering Talk”, the third album of his Romantic Funk project, with his Trio – Tom Cawley-piano and James Maddren-drums.

606 Club
90 Lots Road
Chelsea
London
SW10 0QD

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

020 7352 5953

EFG London Jazz Festival announces first names for 2026.

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

EFG London Jazz Festival returns from 13–22 November 2026. Artists already announced include Samara Joy, Morcheeba, Fatoumata Diawara and Ben Folds. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

EFG London Jazz Festival
Announces First Names For 2026
Including Samara Joy, Morcheeba, Fatoumata Diawara, Ben Folds and more
13 - 22 November
Tickets available here
https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/

Now entering its 34th year, the global celebration of music EFG London Jazz Festival returns from 13–22 November, bringing ten days of headline concerts, intimate club dates, bold new commissions and community events across venues big and small in the capital. The first wave of announcements introduces a mix of groundbreaking songwriters, adventurous ensembles and cross-genre collaborators led by artists as diverse as Samara Joy, Fatoumata Diawara, Ben Folds, and Morcheeba, alongside major projects such as marking the centenaries of Miles Davis and John Coltrane and orchestral collaborations that expand the sound of jazz.

Jazz is an open conversation, and the EFG London Jazz Festival has always been a place where that conversation extends across cultures, generations and styles, layer upon layer, creating memorable moments from large-scale commissions to intimate, revelatory club shows. These first names set the tone for a festival that values surprise, story and musical explorations. None of this would be possible without the support of title sponsor EFG Private Bank, which helps to facilitate the broad mix of shows that the Festival is known for.

The EFG London Jazz Festival will open at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall with Jazz Voice, the glittering opening gala for which the full roster of vocalists will be announced in due course. The mix of singers performing alongside Guy Barker’s EFG London Jazz Festival Orchestra always offers surprises and, much like the festival as a whole, is curated from a diverse range of performers to create unique live moments.

Malian singer-songwriter Fatoumata Diawara brings her luminous storytelling and driving West African grooves to the Roundhouse (Wed 18 Nov), while Grammy-winning jazz singer Samara Joy returns to the festival, following her sold out headline appearance in 2023 and her Jazz Social conversation and stripped back performance in 2024, to close proceedings at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall (Sun 22 Nov). American pianist and songwriter Ben Folds fills the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall (Fri 20 Nov) with the wry, cinematic piano-pop that has made him a rare crossover figure between songwriting and jazz-inflected concert performance, as trip-hop pioneers Morcheeba will delight with a widescreen set at the Troxy (Fri 13 Nov).

2026 marks the centenary of two of jazz’s biggest and most enduring figures, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. To celebrate this, the festival will present large-scale projects and ambitious collaborations including a major tribute at the Barbican with Coltrane 100: Both Directions at Once (Fri 13 Nov), assembling a searing cast of musicians including Joe Lovano, Melissa Aldana, Nduduzo Makhathini, Linda May Han Oh and Jeff “Tain” Watts, for an evening devoted to Coltrane’s spirit of inquiry. On the same evening (Fri 13 Nov) at the EartH Theatre in Hackney, Emma-Jean Thackray presents an event titled Dear Miles - A Love Letter in which she takes inspiration from Miles Davis’s electric era, pushing further into electronic territory, with beat-driven re-imaginings that blur the lines between jazz improvisation and dance music culture. On the second weekend (Sat 21 Nov), two greats and festival favourites join forces to celebrate Coltrane’s legacy; saxophonist Branford Marsalis and vocalist Dianne Reeves will take to the newest venue in Olympia, the British Airways Arc, for a very special performance.

Three-time Grammy-award winning singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, whose latest album Oh! Snap is nominated for a Jazz FM award, is one of the most creative and impressive performers of her generation. In association with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, she will reimagine an intimate vocal jazz evening on an orchestral scale (Sun 22 Nov). The world renowned Kronos Quartet are performing their tribute to the late great gospel singer Mahalia Jackson for an intimate appearance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (Fri 20 Nov) in support of their album Glorious Mahalia which arrives next month and underlines the festival’s appetite for adventurous repertoire that crosses into contemporary classical and experimental worlds.

Interwoven with those statement shows are performances that favour the intimacy of voice and lyricism. Lizz Wright sings at Cadogan Hall (Sun 15 Nov) with the gospel-tinged warmth that has become her signature, accompanied by collaborator Kenny Banks Sr. Elsewhere the festival points to adventurous sounds: Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem performs his latest ECM release After the Last Sky at the Barbican alongside Anja Lechner on violoncello, Django Bates on piano and Mats Eilertsen on double bass, for a set where Arab classical motifs meet improvisation. Cuban musicians Alfredo Rodríguez and Pedrito Martínez bring a night of virtuosic rhythm and electrifying musicianship to KOKO to close the festival’s opening weekend (Sun 15 Nov). Rodríguez’s dazzling piano playing and Martínez’s explosive percussion have made them two of the most compelling ambassadors of contemporary Cuban music, blending jazz improvisation with Afro-Cuban tradition in performances that promise both technical brilliance and irresistible groove. The following two nights see GoGo Penguin return to the venue (Mon 16 + Tue 17 Nov), bringing their propulsive, electro-inflected sound to Camden. Famed for their kinetic live shows, the Manchester trio fuse jazz instrumentation with the pulse of electronic music and minimalist composition, creating immersive performances that have earned them a devoted international audience. London four-piece PREP bring their sleek, sun-soaked blend of jazz-inflected pop to KOKO (Wed 18 Nov), offering a rare chance to step inside their warm, immaculate sonic world.

Sam Gendel and Sam Wilkes (Tue 17 Nov) come together for a special performance at Union Chapel. Gendel, a highly sought-after producer, composer and collaborator, has become one of the most intriguing figures in contemporary jazz and experimental music, known for his enigmatic stage presence and distinctive sonic world. Live appearances from the LA-based artist are rare, making this collaboration with bassist and longtime creative partner Wilkes an especially anticipated moment in the festival programme. Mercury Prize-shortlisted Scottish pianist Fergus McCreadie presents a brand new work at Kings Place (Fri 13 Nov) written for classical piano trio for the first time, a co-commission by the venue and Chamber Music Scotland, where he is Artist in Residence.

EFG London Jazz Festival Director Pelin Opcin said of the 2026 edition: “The EFG London Jazz Festival 2026 promises another vibrant celebration of creativity, bringing together outstanding artists from the UK and across the globe this November. We’re delighted to unveil the first names in this year’s programme, welcoming internationally renowned performers to the line-up - including Samara Joy, Fatoumata Diawara, and Anouar Brahem - with more major stars set to be announced later in the year. This year’s Festival will place large-scale shows and ambitious orchestral projects at its core, alongside our continued commitment to create unique, once-in-a-lifetime moments - from brand new commissions to exciting collaborations that reflect the ever-evolving spirit of jazz. We are grateful to our title sponsor, EFG Private Bank, whose ongoing partnership helps us champion artistic innovation and diversity. We look forward to welcoming audiences this November to share in the energy, discovery and joy that live music brings.”

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. Keep an eye out for the EFG Elements Series; this series of shows are an integral part of the Festival programme and will be announced in the coming months.

Again for 2026, Turkish Airlines will present the Global Connections series. With the shows to be announced soon, the series will spotlight artists from around the world, embodying the same spirit of connection that defines Turkish Airlines’ global network. Serious would like to extend their thanks to Turkish Airlines for their continued support of this important strand of the Festival, which highlights the global perspective and diversity of the programme.

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.

EFG London Jazz Festival 2026

Fri 13 Nov
Jazz Voice - Royal Festival Hall
Coltrane 100: Joe Lovano, Melissa Aldana, Nduduzo Makhathini, Linda May Han Oh, Jeff “Tain” Watts - Both Directions at Once - Barbican
Morcheeba - Troxy
Emma-Jean Thackray presents Dear Miles - A Love Letter - EartH Theatre
Fergus McCreadie - Kings Place

Sun 15 Nov
Anouar Brahem - Barbican
Lizz Wright with Kenny Banks Sr. - Cadogan Hall
Alfredo Rodriguez and Pedrito Martinez - KOKO
The Meltdown - Jazz Cafe

Mon 16 Nov
GoGo Penguin - KOKO

Tue 17 Nov
GoGo Penguin - KOKO
Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes - Union Chapel

Wed 18 Nov
Fatoumata Diawara - Roundhouse
PREP - KOKO
Rymden - Jazz Cafe

Fri 20 Nov
Ben Folds - Royal Festival Hall
Kronos Quartet - Queen Elizabeth Hall

Sat 21 Nov
Branford Marsalis + Dianne Reeves Celebrate John Coltrane - British Airways ARC
Emma Rawicz’s Cloudwalker - Kings Place

Sun 22 Nov
Samara Joy - Royal Festival Hall
Cécile McLorin Salvant with BBC Concert Orchestra - Queen Elizabeth Hall

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/

The James Hunter Six Announces U.S. Summer Tour Dates.

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

UK soul / jazz vocalist James Hunter will be touring in the Us from April to August in support of his latest album "Off The Fence".

We have received the following press release;

The James Hunter Six Announces Return to the U.S. With Summer Tour

New Album Off The Fence Available Now Via Easy Eye Sound

“...the very best of Hunter’s skill set.” – Relix

“Hunter brings savoir-faire and authentic grit throughout.” – MOJO (4/5)

“Never a museum piece, nor even a throwback oldies act…Hunter hews closest, perhaps, to the great Lee Fields in his ability to sing soul music as if the 1970s on simply never happened.” – Living Blues Magazine

March 24, 2026 – Today, The James Hunter Six announced that the band will return to the U.S. for the first time since 2024 with a summer tour that begins July 1 in Denver and will take them through Nashville, Minneapolis, Chicago and more. This follows a duo of shows where Hunter supported Van Morrison in Boston earlier this month and a three-show run in Washington, DC, Sellersville, PA and New York City next month. The band will be celebrating the release of their critically-acclaimed new album Off The Fence (Easy Eye Sound), which garnered praise from Relix, MOJO, No Depression, PopMatters, AllMusic, WBGO and many more.

See a full list of dates below and find more information here:www. jameshuntermusic.com/tour.html

On the tour, Hunter shares: “It’s been a bit of a wait this time around but the U.S. Embassy finally granted me the official ‘Oh Go On Then If You Must’ certificate and we’re all set. We’ve had fun knocking these tunes together (one of them is quite good) and we’re looking forward to inflicting them on you at the earliest opportunity. See you soon!”

Dubbed “The United Kingdom’s Greatest Soul Singer” by MOJO, the British singer, songwriter and GRAMMY-nominated James Hunter has been a legendary fixture in the scene for over three decades. His eleventh studio album delivers another dose of timeless rhythm & soul and marks 40 years since his recording debut. Featuring twelve self-penned gems, each song is delivered with Hunter’s customary blend of smooth vocal control coupled with heart-worn grit and wit.

From the infectious blues blaster “A Sure Thing” to the beautifully moving “Here And Now” and even a rare duet with legendary Irish singer Van Morrison called “Ain’t That A Trip,” Off The Fence is the perfect amalgam of everything great about Hunter’s songwriting, delivery and outlook. He is accompanied by a band of masterful musicians that includes Myles Weeks (double bass), Rudy Albin Petschauer (drums), Andrew Kingslow (keyboards, percussion), Michael Buckley (baritone saxophone) and Drew Vanderwinckel (tenor saxophone).

Off The Fence Tracklist
1. Two Birds One Stone
2. Let Me Out Of This Love
3. Gun Shy
4. Believe It When I See It
5. Here And Now
6. Off The Fence
7. Ain’t That A Trip (feat. Van Morrison)
8. One For Ripley
9. Trouble Comes Calling
10. Particular
11. A Sure Thing
12. Only A Fool

The James Hunter Six 2026 U.S. Tour
April 19 – Washington, DC @ The Hamilton
April 20 – Sellersville, PA @ Sellersville Theater
April 21 – New York, NY @ Iridium
July 1 – Denver, CO @ The Bluebird
July 2 – Vail, CO @ Vilar Performing Arts Center
July 8 – Nashville, TN @ Franklin Theater
July 10 – Kent, OH @ Kent Stage
July 11 – Ann Arbor, MI @ The Ark
July 12 – Milwaukee, WI @ Vivarium
July 14 – Minneapolis, MN @ Dakota
July 15 – Minneapolis, MN @ Dakota
July 16 – Evanston, IL @ Space
July 18 – St Louis, MO @ Music at Intersection
July 19 – Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads
August 5 – Natick, MA @ The Center for Arts in Natick (TCAN)
August 7 – Fall River, MA @ Narrows Center
August 8 – Shelter Island, NY @ Sylvester Manor
August 9 – Old Saybrook, CT @ The Kate

https://www.jameshuntermusic.com/

https://www.instagram.com/jameshuntersix/

https://www.facebook.com/TheJamesHunterSix/

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 22/03/2026.

Monday, March 23, 2026

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 22/03/2026, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist from Sunday 22nd March 2026

Available now at mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Gueorgui Kornazov & Brass Spirit Quintet
October Sky
Autumn Impressions
Bandcamp

Brian Molley Quartet
Dance of the Waves
Tùs/Origin
Bandcamp

Jon Henriksson
Ses vid horisonten
Shapeshifter
April Records

Jasper Høiby’s 3Elements
High Sky
Conversations of Hope
Edition

Soft Machine
Lemon Poem Song
Thirteen
DYAD Records

Blankrooms
Dark Desire
Look at something closely
JazzHalo

De Beren Gieren
The Entrance
Fuzzy Bears
Marcel Records

Marcello Arrabito
Marti’s smile
Different Ways
Alfa Music

Julius Windisch: immerweiter
Lichtblik
Live at Morphine Raum
Bandcamp

Peter Somuah
Roundabout
Walking Distance
Unit

Matthieu Mazué Trio
Fibule
Turn of Events
577 Records

Christoph Irniger / Marc Perrenoud
Gizmo
New Lines
Unit

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 7pm

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

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

5th Anniversary edition of Battersea Jazz Festival to take place in London in June 2026.

Monday, March 23, 2026

This year’s edition of the annual Battersea Jazz Festival will take place from June 3-13, celebrating national & international jazz talent across a range styles across venues in and around Battersea.

We have received the following press release regarding this event;

Press release

Anniversary edition of Battersea Jazz Festival taking place this June

Battersea, London, March 23 - This year’s edition of the annual Battersea Jazz Festival will take place from June 3-13. The fifth edition of the jazz festival that celebrates national and international jazz talent will once again offer a multitude of styles and sounds across venues in and around Battersea.

The festival will open with a bang: nothing less than a jazz ballet. The Hugo Jennings Big Band and Battersea’s E33 Dance Company come together for a night of music and dance featuring a brand new jazz arrangement and choreography of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet at the iconic Clapham Grand. The legendary American jazz tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton will also feature. Together with Nat Steele he will bring a programme of swing and straight-ahead jazz to St. Mary’s Church in Battersea. Other festival gigs include QOW Trio, Genevieve Namazzi Quartet, Deschanel Gordon Trio, Jim Davison Quartet, and Emily Masser-Alex Clarke Quintet. The full programme can be found at http://www.batterseajazzfestival.co.uk.

The festival’s anniversary edition comes with several changes that reflect its five-year development and growth: A fresh look and feel with a renewed logo; a Festival Pass on offer that gives jazz enthusiasts heavily discounted access to all performances in the programme; and to top it off, the festival will host performances in two new venues: Battersea Barge and Arches Lane Theatre.

Founder Hugo Jennings said:
“This fifth edition of the festival is a special one for me. What started as one weekend in 2022 has grown into a celebrated annual event in the London jazz calendar which brings some of my favourite musicians in the world to the local area. This year we have performances across even more venues than before, offering a wider audience the opportunity to experience the joy of jazz.” 

Full programme:

June 3: Romeo and Juliet and Swing - The Clapham Grand

June 4: QOW Trio - The Landor Space

June 5: Genevieve Namazzi Quartet - St. Mary’s Battersea

June 6: Deschanel Gordon Trio - St Mary’s Battersea

June 6: The Dukes - St. Mary’s Battersea

June 7: Scott Hamilton & Nat Steele - St Mary’s Battersea

June 11: Jim Davison Quartet - The Landor Space

June 12: Emily Masser - Alex Clarke Quintet - Arches Lane Theatre

June 13: Closing Party at Battersea Barge

Tickets for performances can be purchased via the website. Super Early Birds £14 until April 1st; Early Birds £17 until May 1st; Full Price after May 1st and on the door £20. Opening night jazz ballet excluded. A Festival Pass for unlimited access to gigs can be purchased for £72.

For the full programme and more information, please visit http://www.batterseajazzfestival.co.uk or follow @batterseajazzfestival on Instagram or Facebook.

The Battersea Jazz Festival was founded in 2022 by pianist, singer, and conductor, Hugo Jennings. He came up with the idea for the festival when he was composing a “Jazz Mass” for the choir of St. Mary’s Battersea, and wanted to create a platform for jazz musicians in London, and to celebrate the community of Battersea. This year will see the fifth edition, with both local and international musicians performing at various locations in the Battersea area. http://www.batterseajazzfestival.co.uk/ 

Battersea Jazz Festival is a Community Interest Company (CIC), registered in England and Wales, company number 14633499.

2026 Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival International Partner Announcement.

Thursday, March 19, 2026

The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival is to present SPARK: Jazz from the Netherlands, the festival’s international showcase celebrating the creativity, innovation & global influence of Dutch jazz.

We have received the following press releae;

SPARK: Jazz from the Netherlands brings the vibrant Dutch jazz scene to the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival

The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival is proud to present SPARK: Jazz from the Netherlands, the festival’s flagship international showcase celebrating the creativity, innovation and global influence of Dutch jazz.

Running throughout the festival in July, SPARK highlights both emerging and internationally acclaimed artists from the Netherlands, introducing Scottish audiences to some of the most exciting voices shaping Europe’s contemporary jazz landscape.

At its core, SPARK aims to strengthen artistic connections between Scotland and the Netherlands. The programme provides meaningful international performance opportunities for musicians while encouraging collaboration between artists, promoters and cultural organisations in both countries.

The 2026 programme brings together a diverse range of artists representing the breadth of the Dutch jazz scene. Performances include the acclaimed duo of guitarist Jesse van Ruller and saxophonist Maarten Hogenhuis, and a solo appearance from renowned pianist and composer Harmen Fraanje. Trumpeter Peter Somuah and his group present music that bridges modern jazz with the highlife traditions of his native Ghana, while the adventurous trio Ponga explores the possibilities of free improvisation and genre-crossing performance.

A special collaboration pairs Dutch saxophonist Femke Mooren with rising Scottish musicians Ali Watson, Simon Herberholz and Greg Irons, highlighting the spirit of international exchange at the heart of the programme.

The imaginative vocal-jazz quartet Evan and Carolina’s Super Duper Group & Fun open the series, which also includes a discussion led by music writer Henning Bolte exploring the Dutch jazz scene and its connections with Scotland.

Long recognised for producing musicians of remarkable creative independence, the Netherlands has built one of Europe’s most influential jazz ecosystems. Supported by world-class conservatoires, innovative venues and a culture that values experimentation as much as tradition, Dutch jazz continues to shape the evolving language of improvised music.

SPARK: Jazz from the Netherlands brings this dynamic scene directly to Edinburgh, contributing to the festival’s wider ambition to serve as a platform for international discovery and positioning the city as a meeting point for artists and audiences from across the world.

SPARK: Jazz from the Netherlands is funded by the Performing Arts Fund NL and the Scottish Government’s EXPO Fund and delivered in partnership with inJazz / Buma Cultuur and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the United Kingdom.

The full programme will be live from noon on Tuesday 17 March at http://www.ejbf.co.uk and live on social media Facebook| Instagram

manchester jazz festival is back with the UK’s largest piano trail for mjf2026.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

manchester jazz festival and Forsyth Music Shop have joined forces once again for the mjf2026 piano trail competition to find Manchester’s hidden talents across a trail of 18 street pianos .

We have received the following press release;

manchester jazz festival is back with the   UK’s largest piano trail for mjf2026!

manchester jazz festival and Forsyth Music Shop have joined forces once again for the mjf2026 piano trail competition to find Manchester’s hidden talents across a trail of 18 street pianos – the largest piano trail in the UK - at locations across Manchester city centre and beyond into Greater Manchester. 

From 29 March – 31 May, the mjf piano trail competition encourages everyone to get creative and just have fun. And for those who want to take part, there’s a chance to enter a competition to win a Yamaha digital piano and many more prizes! 

There will be two ‘celebrity’ pianos from the BBC joining the piano trail this year. They’ve been in BBC Radio studios for decades and have been played by lots of famous people and bands, most recently the Verve and Rufus Wainright and back in the day, Paul McCartney and David Bowie! 

THE LAUNCH
We’re delighted to announce that Emma Loat, Manager of Forsyth Music Shop, will launch the mjf2026 piano trail competition, which will take place from 2-3pm on Sunday 29 March at Trafford Palazzo, in recognition of International Piano Day. The launch will feature a live performance from local singer-songwriter Charlie Cooper and other guests to be announced soon on manchester jazz festival’s social media channels. 

PRIZES
The prizes up for grabs so far are:
Yamaha Digital Piano
HOME Bar & Kitchen: Two course meal for two (including bottle of wine/soft drinks)
mjf friends’ membership and tickets to an mjf2027 event of their choice
Oldham gift card
Plus more to be announced

PLAY IT FORWARD: STREET PIANO FUND
manchester jazz festival and Forsyth’s Music Shop are joining forces to fundraise for a BIGGER and better piano trail with their Play it Forward: Street Piano Fund campaign; to maintain and expand the current network of street pianos to reach new venues, boroughs and communities across Greater Manchester all year round. To find out more and how you can support, please visit: http://www.manchesterjazz.com/playitforward 

PIANO TRAIL WALKING TOURS
After three years of sold-out tours, the piano trail walking tours are back! Join Josh from Free Manchester Walking Tours (FWMT) and his band, Sherpa K, as they follow manchester jazz festival’s famous piano trail across the city centre on Sunday 17 and Sunday 24 May (£12 per adult, children go free). There will also be live performances at some of the pianos on the trail, more information to be announced soon. 

HOW TO ENTER THE COMPETITION
To be in with a chance of winning a prize, simply capture a short video of your tune, 5 minutes max, and post the video to your social media account (*not as a story). The competition closes at midnight on 31 May 2026. Tag mjf @manchesterjazzfestival on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok and use the hashtag #mjfpianotrail
There are no rules regarding who can apply, just have fun and get creative! At the end of the piano trail, mjf and Forsyth’s will select all winners, whose entries will be showcased on social media and YouTube.
Visit manchesterjazz.com/pianotrail to find out more about the piano trail, the walking tours and how to take part in the competition.

The mjf piano trail competition is delivered in partnership with the world-renowned Forsyth Music Shop of Deansgate and Yamaha pianos and is part of manchester jazz festival (mjf2026) which will take place at 12 venues across and beyond Manchester city centre from 15 - 24 May 2026. Visit http://www.manchesterjazz.com for more information and to book tickets.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
“This city-region has music running through its veins, and the mjf piano trail will take music back out onto the streets of Manchester, giving more people the chance to try their hand at playing and to encounter the vibrant music of our city in a really unique way.”

Emma Loat, Manager of Forsyth’s Music, said:
“For many years, we’ve had a street piano at the front of the Forsyth’s shop on Deansgate, so we know that Manchester and the surrounding areas is full of talented musicians and those willing to have a go. We’re really excited to supply 18 pianos to a growing number of venues for the mjf piano trail and we’d urge all those budding performers to come forward, have a go and be in with a chance of winning some fantastic prizes.”

James Sargeant from Yamaha, one of this year’s piano trail sponsors, said:
“We are thrilled to be working with the manchester jazz festival again this year in support of the mjf piano trail 2026. This fantastic initiative enables anyone and everyone to enjoy playing and listening to the piano, in some iconic locations across the city and of course, with the chance to win a Yamaha digital piano this is not an opportunity to be missed! We look forward to hearing lots of new talent which will no doubt emerge during the trail.”

The 18 piano locations are: Piccadilly Station, Manchester Arndale, HOME, Victoria Station, Great Northern, Spinningfields, Royal Exchange Arcade, Central Library, Forsyth Music Shop, Aviva Studios, Manchester Art Gallery, Salford Shopping Centre, Trafford Palazzo, Grand Arcade (Wigan), The Market at Spindles Shopping Centre (Oldham), Portland Basin Museum (Ashton-under-Lyne), Heywood Market (Rochdale) and Middleton Arena (Rochdale).

Follow manchester jazz festival:
Facebook at /manchesterjazzfestival
Instagram @manchesterjazzfestival
TikTok @manchesterjazzfestival
Hashtag for piano trail: #mjfpianotrail

Forsyth Music Shop, 126 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2GR   http://www.forsyths.co.uk
The mjf piano trail is delivered in partnership with Forsyth Music Shop of Deansgate. This 5th generation family business has been at the heart of music in Manchester for 169 years and offers an unrivalled selection of musical instruments, music and accessories in its five storey historic premises. Acoustic pianos have always been their speciality – with well over 100 pianos on display and their onsite full workshop facilities they are Manchester’s premiere piano specialists - well worth a visit.  Their magnificent first floor piano showroom is also host to a special event as part of mjf2026 – Olivia Cuttill & Friends play the Legends of Jazz on Thursday 21 May. 

Free Manchester Walking Tours http://www.fmwt.co.uk
Free Manchester Walking Tours was set up nearly a decade ago, by storyteller, History MA graduate and Mancunian, Josh. They’ve since grown into a small team dedicated to sharing Manchester’s story with the world. They run a tour every day at 11am from the Alan Turing Memorial, as well as offering specialised LGBTQ. 

manchester jazz festival
manchester jazz festival is the city’s longest-running music festival and is unlike any other on the jazz festival circuit. mjf champions regional artists and celebrates musical innovation. Accessible to all, mjf features ten days of contemporary jazz from the north and across the UK, with national premieres of original work and a range of free events.
mjf takes place from 15 – 24 May 2026 All the latest news, tickets and booking information can be found at http://www.manchesterjazz.com     
Winner of the 2016 Europe Jazz Network Award for Adventurous Programming.
UK’s first festival signatory to Keychange, supporting a 50/50 gender balance across our stages. Founder Member of the Black Lives in Music charter, 2020.
Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.

Visit http://www.manchesterjazz.com/pianotrail to find out more about the competition and piano locations and http://www.manchesterjazz.com/playitforward to find out more about the Street Piano Fund: Play it Forward.

Special thanks to Forsyth’s for their support with the mjf2026 piano trail and to Yamaha pianos for supplying the grand prize of a Yamaha digital piano, and to the Free Manchester Walking Tours for collaborating with mjf for this year’s trail. 

Marquis Hill - new EP and US and European tour dates, March, April and May 2026.

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Trumpeter and composer Marquis Hill will be touring in the US and Europe in support of his recently released EP "Beautifulism (Sweet Surrender)".

Publicist Matt Merewitz writes;

I’m writing today about the trumpeter Marquis Hill in relation to a new EP that dropped on March 13, 2026.  His EP Beautifulism (Sweet Surrender) is released via his label Black Unlimited Music Group, his longtime self-run label, distributed by Big Shoulders (Kurt Elling’s new label venture). 

Three mixes of the title track were released February 6, and the track “Water (Feelings, Emotions)” featuring Immanuel Wilkins was released on Friday, February 27.

Hill is a native Chicagoan and winner of the 2014 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Trumpet Competition.  His work engages a trumpet lineage that includes Donald Byrd, Russell Gunn and Roy Hargrove, all players who incorporated R&B and hip-hop elements into their music.

Originally conceived as a trio recording with bassist Junius Paul and drummer Marcus Gilmore, the EP expanded to include alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, vocalists Manasseh, Zacchae’us Paul and Amyna Love, and MCs Kumbayaa and Cisco Swank, who appear on “Free #1A” and “Free #1B.”

VILLAGE VANGUARD DEBUT + MORE TOURING
After sharing the stage at the Vanguard with Walter Smith III, Gerald Clayton and Joel Ross in past years, from March 17–22, 2026, Hill will lead an almost entirely Chicago-bred band at the legendary New York venue.  These musicians are Hill’s long-time peers—many of whom he has previously recorded with or extensively collaborated or toured with—plus the emerging hottest young musician on the NY scene, guitarist Emmanuel Michael from North Dakota.
The Village Vanguard
178 Seventh Ave South
New York, NY 10014
Lineup:
Marquis Hill (trumpet)
Josh Johnson (alto saxophone)
Emmanuel Michael (guitar)
Junius Paul (bass)
Makaya McCraven (drums)
Sets at 8 PM & 10 PM nightly

U.S. TOUR DATES:
March 17-22 – The Village Vanguard, New York, NY
March 28 — The Point, Knoxville, TN (Big Ears debut as part of Josh Johnson’s curation)
April 11: Orpheum Theatre, Omaha, NE (with Unlimited Miles: Miles Davis at 100)
April 12: Eisemann Center, Richardson, TX (with Unlimited Miles: Miles Davis at 100)
May 13: Mondavi Center, Davis, CA (with Unlimited Miles: Miles Davis at 100)
May 14: Presidio Theatre, San Francisco, CA (with Unlimited Miles: Miles Davis at 100)

EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:
April 15 — Bimhuis, Amsterdam
April 16 — Theater Heerlen, Heerlen, Netherlands
April 18 — Ronnie Scott’s, London
April 19 — Cabaret des Péchés, Brno-město, Czechia
April 21 – Jazzclub Unterfahrt - Munich, Germany

Further information at;
https://www.marquishill.com/

Line-up for 54th Annual Stanford Jazz Festival, June 21-July 31 2026.

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Tthe 54th annual Stanford Jazz Festival will take place Sunday, June 21 to Friday, July 31, 2026, across multiple venues on the Stanford University campus. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

54TH ANNUAL STANFORD JAZZ FESTIVAL PRESENTS SIX WEEKS OF VIBRANT LIVE MUSIC ON STANFORD UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, JUN 21-JUL 31

Centennial Celebrations: Miles @ 100 featuring Jeremy Pelt +
Jimmy Heath @ 100 with Jeb Patton and David Wong

Veteran Masters Billy Childs and Branford Marsalis Lead Their Respective Quartets

Acclaimed Latin Jazz Artists including Luciana Souza, Marcel Camargo, Camila Meza, Yilian Cañizares + Aldo López-Gavilán

Today’s Top Vibraphonists: Stefon Harris + Sasha Berliner

Tickets go on sale April 3 at http://www.stanfordjazz.org.

The Stanford Jazz Workshop today announced details of the 54th annual Stanford Jazz Festival taking place Sunday, June 21 to Friday, July 31, 2026, across multiple venues on the sprawling Stanford University campus. Having grown in both size and reputation since it first began in 1972, the Festival–which draws thousands of fans to the Bay Area–has become a destination for all arts lovers in one of the most bucolic settings in the nation. This year’s Festival celebrates jazz’s rich roots and its global connections, featuring an exceptional line-up spanning generations and styles. From acclaimed world-class headliners such as Billy Childs, George Cables, Branford Marsalis, and Anat Cohen to local Northwest natives such as The Westerlies, Nick Rossi, Nicolas Bearde, and Sasha Berliner, to innovative jazz fusings with Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and Indian music, the 25+ events include Festival debuts, world premieres, family-friendly concerts, and more. As always, the Festival presents annual fan favorites including SJW alum Taylor Eigsti, Guitar Night, Ruth Davies’ Blues Night, and the All-Star Jam session closing out the Festival in what has become the biggest jazz celebration of the summer. For program details, updated line-ups, and tickets, please visit http://www.stanfordjazz.org.

Quote from Cory Combs,    Executive Director, Stanford Jazz Workshop:
“This year’s Festival brings together some of the most powerful voices in jazz today, led by the visionary Branford Marsalis Quartet on June 26. Branford’s singular quartet has defined modern jazz for decades, and we’re honored to welcome them back to Stanford. From that opening weekend forward, the Festival reflects jazz as a living, global force, honoring its deep American roots while embracing the international sounds shaping its future. From Indian Jazz Journey to bold contemporary voices presented throughout the six-week Festival, audiences will experience the full heartbeat of this music, reflecting its diversity, dynamism, and unifying power.”

2026 Stanford Jazz Festival Performers
Aldo López-Gavilán · Anat Cohen · Anisha Rush · Ben Flocks · Billy Childs · Branford Marsalis · Camila Meza · Christina Galisatus · Dan Wilson · Dr. David Hart · David Wong · George Brooks · George Cables · Gretchen Parlato · Jeb Patton · Jeremy Pelt · Luciana Souza · Mahesh Kale · Marcel Camargo · Marcus Shelby · Michael Mayo · Nick Rossi · Nicolas Bearde · Ruth Davies · Sasha Berliner · Sean “Mack” McDonald · Stefon Harris · Taylor Eigsti · Victor Lin · The Westerlies · Yilian Cañizares · Zack Grooves
Plus surprise special guests and more!

About Stanford Jazz Workshop
Founded in 1972 by saxophonist, arranger, and educator Jim Nadel, Stanford Jazz Workshop is an intensive summer education program staffed with acclaimed musicians who are also many of the Stanford Jazz Festival’s featured performers. The synergy between the Workshop and the Festival manifests at every concert, as all the students enrolled in a session receive complimentary tickets, bringing an infusion of youth to the venues.

About Stanford Jazz Festival
Over the past 54 years, the Stanford Jazz Festival has consistently presented the finest performers on the scene. Audiences have heard legendary performances by Dizzy Gillespie, McCoy Tyner, and Stan Getz, along with virtuosic modern masters like Joshua Redman, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Taylor Eigsti. The Festival is unique and adventurous, presenting over 30 celebrated artists and bands over several weeks. From family-friendly matinees to groundbreaking premieres, the Stanford Jazz Festival proudly keeps the torch of live jazz burning bright.       
   

2026 STANFORD JAZZ FESTIVAL
When: Sunday, June 21 – Friday, July 31, 2026
Where: Dinkelspiel Auditorium (471 Lagunita Drive) and Campbell Recital Hall (541 Lasuen Mall) on the Stanford University campus, Stanford, CA 94305
Tickets: Tix go on sale to the general public at 10:00 a.m. PST on Friday, April 3, 2026. To reserve, visit http://www.stanfordjazz.org.

SUN 6.21 at 4:00 p.m. | INDIAN JAZZ JOURNEY FEATURING MAHESH KALE AND GEORGE BROOKS
No American-born jazz musician has forged deeper or more extensive ties throughout the expansive world of Indian classical music than Berkeley tenor saxophonist George Brooks. Over the past two decades those relationships have manifested in a kaleidoscopic array of combinations at his Stanford-exclusive Indian Jazz Journey, and in recent years the concert has focused on his ever-evolving communion with Mahesh Kale. Born and raised in Pune, the cultural capital of the western Indian state of Maharashtra, Kale was a disciple of Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, a hugely influential figure who revived the Marathi musical theater tradition in the 1950s. In 2015, Kale won the best playback singer award at India’s equivalent of the Oscars for a classical piece in the film Katyar Kaljat Ghusli, a breakout role that catapulted him into stardom. As in past concerts, Brooks has assembled a sensational cast of players ideally equipped to join him and Kale in exploring musical landscapes defined by the world’s two most sophisticated improvisational traditions.

FRI 6.26 at 7:30 p.m. | BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET
Branford Marsalis, tenor and soprano saxophones | Eric Revis, bass | Joey Calderazzo, piano | Justin Faulkner, drums
There’s no ensemble in jazz quite like the Branford Marsalis Quartet, a celebrated ensemble that has honed telepathic interplay over thousands of high-energy gigs. The eldest sibling in the illustrious New Orleans jazz clan, tenor and soprano saxophonist Branford Marsalis spent his early career seizing a series of extraordinary opportunities. From his first international exposure with the Art Blakey Big Band and Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, he went on to formative stints with Herbie Hancock, Sting, and his brother Wynton Marsalis’s epochal first quintet. Branford launched his own era-defining band 40 years ago with the late pianist Kenny Kirkland, bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, and he’s been one of the music’s most dependably eloquent improvisers ever since. The near-legendary stability of his quartet allows for breathtaking interplay, starting with the band’s most recent arrival, Justin Faulkner, who’s held down the drum chair since he turned 18 in 2009. Pianist Joey Calderazzo joined in 1998, the year after bassist Eric Revis signed on, and the group has earned renown as one of the most muscularly cohesive on the scene. With last year’s reimagining of Belonging, the 1974 ECM album that introduced Keith Jarrett’s European quartet, Marsalis and his comrades have worked the thrilling material deeply into the quartet’s book.

SAT 6.27 at 7:30 p.m. | BILLY CHILDS QUARTET
Long before Los Angeles-based pianist Billy Childs gained recognition as one of the country’s preeminent composers he was dazzling Bay Area audiences as a sideman. After a brief stint with trombone great J.J. Johnson, the Los Angeles native started regular treks north when trumpet legend Freddie Hubbard assembled a prodigious young band in 1978 that also featured bassist Larry Klein (who earned greater renown producing albums by Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock, Luciana Souza, and Childs’ own 2014 jazz-chart topping project Map of The Treasure: Reimagining Laura Nyro). After years of playing funk and fusion, Hubbard had returned to straight ahead jazz sounding fierier than ever. For Childs, who was in his early 20s, heading upstate to perform at Keystone Korner, Kuumbwa and Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society with Hubbard’s band was trial by blowtorch on every gig. He’s been making trips north ever since, both as an accompanist for masters such as Bobby Hutcherson and Dianne Reeves and leading his own bands, giving audiences regular updates on his extraordinary evolution as a six-time GRAMMY Award-winning composer, arranger and improviser. Indeed, he’s carved out an anomalous career path with his pen, and makes a living via commissions. Writing for orchestras and chamber ensembles has become Childs’ bread and butter over the past two decades, which means every opportunity to stretch out with his band is an opportunity he seizes with both hands.

SUN 6.28 at 11:00 a.m. EARLY BIRD WITH DAVID HART
This annual jazz jam is a perfect morning for kids of all ages! Dr. David Hart and the Zookeepers get families swinging, singing, and clapping. This interactive family-friendly concert lets kids discover the joy of jazz and the inspiration that comes from playing instruments.

SUN 6.28 at 7:30 p.m. LUCIANA SOUZA’S NEW MOON
One of jazz’s most celebrated vocalists, Luciana Souza introduces New Moon, a lustrous new project with fellow São Paulo native Marcel Camargo on guitar and his arrangements incorporating string quartet. Whether she’s interpreting Brazilian Songbook standards, deploying her voice like a horn with an orchestra or singing her original compositions transforming beloved poems into songs, Souza is a musician of the highest order. Long based in Los Angeles, she’s probably best known for a series of intimate, Grammy and Latin GRAMMY-winning recordings pairing her with a superlative cadre of Brazilian jazz guitarists, including Romero Lubambo, Toninho Horta, and Marco Peirera. Her latest project New Moon finds her taking the duo foundation into lustrous new territory with guitarist/composer Marcel Camargo. He’s toured internationally with Michael Bublé, led, produced and arranged vocalist Gretchen Parlato’s Flor project, and shared the stage or studio with the likes of Sérgio Mendes, Herb Alpert, and Macy Gray. New Moon pairs the duo with a string quartet, fulfilling a longtime dream of Souza’s. Together, she and Camargo, who like Souza hails from an eminent musical family, reimagine Brazilian classics and debut new co-written songs. His delicately calibrated arrangements create lyrical soundscapes rich in texture and emotion for one of jazz’s most alluring singers.

FRI 7.10 at 7:30 p.m. | THE MUSIC OF DUKE ELLINGTON WITH NICK ROSSI’S JAZZOPATERS
An eminent scholar of pre-World War II jazz, ace guitarist Nick Rossi leads the West Coast’s only combo devoted to classic small group recordings by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and star soloists. Based in San Francisco, Rossi is one of the world’s foremost experts on pre-World War II jazz, both as a practitioner and a scholar. A few years ago, he realized that the Bay Area was clearly in need of a band devoted to the small group music recorded by Ellington, Billy Strayhorn and the orchestra’s featured soloists such as baritone saxophonist Harry Carney, altoist Johnny Hodges, and trumpeter Cootie Williams. Thus, was born the nine-piece Jazzopaters, which has been delighting audiences and dancers at the Bay Area’s finest clubs and venues for the past two years. Stacked with some of the region’s finest improvisers, the group proudly keeps seldom-performed tunes by the nonpareil Ellington in circulation.

SAT 7.11 at 7:30 p.m. NICOLAS BEARDE QUINTET
Inhabiting a sparsely populated zone between masculine R&B fervor and cool jazz styling, the effortlessly soulful Nicolas Bearde is a Bay Area treasure who knows that vulnerability and passion go hand in hand. He earned an avid following as an R&B solo act, but he’s evolved over the past decade into a captivating jazz singer who brings easy-going authority to ballads and swaggering mid-tempo standards. He made his Stanford debut in 2024 focusing on a program from his album I Remember You: The Music of Nat King Cole, and will be casting a wider net for this performance. Bearde first gained widespread notice in the late 1980s as a founding member of Bobby McFerrin’s innovative, improvisation-steeped a cappella ensemble Voicestra. He spent much of the 1980s and ‘90s pursuing a dual-track career as a musician and an actor, working on stage and television. Thankfully, music has been his primary pursuit in recent years. Whether he’s navigating Billy Strayhorn’s rueful “Lush Life,” Eden Ahbez’s beatific cantorial chant “Nature Boy,” or Alan Jay Lerner and Burton Lane’s impetuously grooving “Come Back to Me,” Bearde finds the emotional core of every lyric.

SUN 7.12 at 7:30 p.m. | MARCUS SHELBY SEXTET: THE LANGUAGE OF CHARLES MINGUS
Marcus Shelby walks in the footsteps of iconic bassist/composer Charles Mingus, creating epic works that tell overlooked stories from Black history with blues and swing. Shelby has never shied away from extending his creative reach. From his early years as a young lion recording for some of jazz’s most vaunted labels, the San Francisco bassist, composer, bandleader and educator has earned renown for his leadership on a wide array of fronts. He’s best known for his ambitious, historically informed works like 2006’s Port Chicago (Noir Records), a suite for his jazz orchestra inspired by the World War II miscarriage of justice, and 2018’s Black Ball: The Negro Leagues and the Blues, a suite commissioned by the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival. He served as a musical foil for playwright and actor Anna Deavere Smith throughout the interview-driven creation of her one-woman show about the school-to-prison pipeline, Notes From the Field. And since taking over as artistic director of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival in the Fall of 2020, he has greatly expanded the already internationally recognized organization. While his temperament is a mirror image of the tempestuous Mingus’s, Shelby is steeped in his music and is ideally placed to offer insight into his composing, bandleading, and gift for coaxing superlative performances from his collaborators.

MON 7.13 at 7:30 p.m. | CHRISTINA GALISATUS QUINTET PLAYS JONI MITCHELL
Now living in Los Angeles, Christina Galisatus has gained recognition in recent years as one of the brightest young artists on the vibrant Southland scene. A quadruple creative force as a pianist/multi-instrumentalist, composer, vocalist, and songwriter, she’s released several critically hailed albums, including 2023’s Without Night and 2025’s Hold Still, which introduced her lustrous vocals. Raised on the Peninsula, she graduated from Stanford with honors and practically grew up at the Workshop, and has surprised exactly none of her Bay Area fans by thriving in LA. She returns to campus with her new Joni Mitchell project, which delves into the extraordinary songbook of one of her primary influences. Though she approaches Mitchell’s music with reverence, Galisatus infuses the songs with her particularly harmonic and melodic sensibility, turning them into highly personal vehicles for emotional expression. She’s joined by a cadre of longtime collaborators including reed expert Michael Blasky.

TUE 7.14 at 7:30 p.m. | JIMMY HEATH CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION WITH JEB PATTON AND DAVID WONG
Inveterately swinging pianist Jeb Patton and veteran bassist David Wong celebrate the legacy of their mentor and former employer Jimmy Heath (1926-2020), the brilliant saxophonist, composer and arranger. Jimmy Heath would likely give a wry smile over the fact that his 100th birthday is destined to be overshadowed by the centennial milestone celebrations for Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Hailing from one of jazz’s most distinguished families, Heath was both universally esteemed by his peers but underappreciated, particularly when it came to his prowess on the tenor saxophone (he was also formidable on flute and soprano sax). His success as an arranger and composer–Heath wrote at least a half dozen standards, including “Gingerbread Boy,” “Gemini,” “C.T.A.” and “For Minors Only”–meant that he never quite got his due as an improviser. Pianist Jeb Patton and veteran bassist David Wong experienced the creative intensity of Heath’s horn first -and as members of the Heath Brothers band (with drummer Tootie Heath). They’ve led distinguished careers accompanying other masters who got their start in the 1940s, including drum legend Roy Haynes, saxophone great George Coleman and alto sax powerhouse Charles McPherson. They co-lead this celebration of Jimmy Heath’s music, tunes that defined the hard-bop era.

WED 7.15 at 7:30 p.m. | VICTOR LIN: GERSHWIN REIMAGINED
Pianist/violinist Victor Lin brings fresh perspective to the music of George Gershwin in an evening of lively, imaginative interpretations. Lin always brings a thoughtful and imaginative game plan to the Festival. A mainstay at the Stanford Jazz Workshop since the late 1990s, he has emerged in recent years as a savvy producer with a gift for conceptual concerts that highlight both repertoire and relationships among Workshop faculty. This year, Lin turns his attention to the music of George Gershwin, re-examining one of America’s most enduring composers through a contemporary jazz lens.
With this new program, Lin brings the same spirit of curiosity and collaboration to Gershwin’s songs and orchestral works, revealing their rhythmic vitality, harmonic sophistication, and deep jazz roots. His gift lies not only in the material he chooses, but in the musicians he gathers–a rotating cast of friends and colleagues who bring fresh perspective, shared history, and joyful spontaneity to the music.

THU 7.16 at 7:30 p.m. | MICHAEL MAYO QUARTET
Every generation seems to produce an exceptionally talented male jazz vocalist or two, and the ‘20s will be remembered for the emergence of Michael Mayo, a lithe, soul-steeped improviser devoted to direct emotional expression. Growing up in Los Angeles, Mayo seemed destined to a life in music. His father is a vocalist and saxophonist who performed with Earth, Wind & Fire and Sérgio Mendes, while his mother’s distinguished career as a background vocalist includes work with Beyoncé, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, and Whitney Houston. A credit to nature and nurture, he’s emerged over the past decade as a supremely talented vocalist, composer, songwriter, and arranger. A graduate of New England Conservatory and the Thelonious Monk Institute (now the Hancock Institute of Jazz), Mayo has honed an enthralling sound steeped in jazz, neo-soul, and R&B. He’s toured with Herbie Hancock, recorded with drummer Nate Smith, and collaborated widely with Taylor Eigsti, singing on the title track of the pianist’s GRAMMY-winning 2021 album Tree Falls. Since then, Mayo has released two acclaimed albums of his own, firmly establishing himself as one of the most exciting young vocalists in jazz.

SAT 7.18 at 7:30 p.m. | ANAT COHEN
Fresh off a series of major events marking her 50th birthday, from Jazz at Lincoln Center to SFJAZZ, tenor saxophonist and clarinetist Anat Cohen returns to Stanford, where her jazz festival performances are an annual highlight. Since arriving in New York City in 1999 she has played trad jazz in ensembles devoted to the early music of Louis Armstrong and post-bop with her generation’s cutting-edge improvisers and composers. She soared in orchestral settings, celebrated Benny Goodman with Benny Green at the Village Vanguard, and danced tightrope in duet with Fred Hersch at Healdsburg (all captured on albums). She’s embraced her brothers (trumpeter Avishai and soprano saxophonist Yuval) in 3 Cohens and navigated Oded Lev-Ari’s intricate compositions for the Anat Cohen Tentet. Her love of Brazilian music has often been the focus of her annual Festival appearances, where she’s collaborated with some of the world’s greatest Brazilian musicians. Whether she’s exploring the music of overlooked genius Moacir Santos or MPB superstar Milton Nascimento, playing choro, bossa nova or Brazilian jazz with her Quartetinho, Cohen is a nonpareil clarinetist and suavely swinging tenor saxophonist at the peak of her craft.

SUN 7.19 at 7:30 p.m. | THE WESTERLIES
A singular chamber jazz ensemble, The Westerlies have honed a gorgeous, intricately calibrated approach that brings uncommon intimacy to the unique two trumpet, two trombone lineup. Featuring trumpeters Riley Mulherkar and Chloe Rowlands and trombonists Andy Clausen and Addison Maye-Saxon, The Westerlies sound like no other group in jazz. Introducing a new instrumental concept after more than a century of jazz-powered innovation is no small task, but The Westerlies combine the dynamic precision of a string quartet, the sonic punch of a rock band, and the derring-do of a circus act. Across 10 acclaimed studio albums the ensemble has arranged and performed music by a dazzling array of composers and collaborators, including Caroline Shaw, Nico Muhly, Conrad Tao, Wayne Horvitz, Robin Holcomb, and Theo Bleckmann. Last year the group released two major projects, Paradise, a breathtaking reimagination of the Shape Note choral tradition, and Songbook, Vol. 3, a live EP and concert film celebrating friends and recent collaborators, including Samora Pinderhughes, Anaïs Mitchell, Aoife O’Donovan, and Joanna Newsom. This year The Westerlies are presenting a major retrospective of new music by key mentor Bill Frisell and an adaptation of Maria Schneider’s GRAMMY-winning song cycle Winter Morning Walks featuring South African vocalist Vuyo Sotashe.

MON 7.20 at 7:30 p.m. | ANISHA RUSH QUARTET & BEN FLOCKS MOONSHADES
A potent double bill pairs two stellar saxophonists, with bands led by rising star Anisha Rush and mid-career master Ben Flocks, who’s celebrating the release of a powerhouse trio album Moonshades. An integral part of the Workshop family since he was a teenager, Flocks has earned widespread esteem while performing and recording with a glittering constellation of jazz stars, from Dave Brubeck, Patrice Rushen and Joshua Redman to Antonio Sanchez, Javier Santiago and Caili O’Doherty. He’s focused on writing and performing with a stripped-down trio, honing an approach that’s intensely lyrical and palpably physical. Sharing the evening is Colorado Springs-reared, New York City-based saxophonist, composer and educator Anisha Rush, an intrepid improviser who draws from the kindred currents of jazz, soul, R&B, and gospel. A rising bandleader in her own right, she’s made a powerful impression as a sidewoman with veteran masters such as Makaya McCraven, Ron Miles, Matt Wilson, and Art Lande.

TUE 7.21 at 7:30 p.m. | MILES CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION FEATURING JEREMY PELT
A prodigious trumpeter, producer and composer who’s been at the center of the New York jazz scene for a quarter century, Jeremy Pelt has released some two dozen albums as a leader exploring a wide array of instrumental settings. The Los Angeles native has traversed similarly expansive terrain as a sideman on some five-dozen albums with both veteran masters (such as Gerald Wilson, Cedar Walton, Louis Hayes, and Wayne Shorter) and contemporaries (including Camille Thurman, Somi, and Jaleel Shaw). Embracing his role as an established veteran, he’s taken to mentoring younger players while sharing wisdom from well-traveled cats in a series of books featuring his interviews with jazz masters, Griots: Examining the Lives of Jazz’s Great Storytellers. Many of the veterans he’s conversed with are Miles Davis alumni and Pelt is ideally prepared to celebrate Miles’ centennial, as both a player and raconteur.

WED 7.22 at 7:30 p.m. | RUTH DAVIES’ BLUES NIGHT
Returning for its 23rd edition, Ruth Davies’ Blues Night is a bona fide Stanford Jazz tradition that ensures that the music’s essential roots are explicitly recognized and honored. When John Lee Hooker needed to put some boom in his “Boom Boom,” he gave Ruth Davies a call. When R&B great Charles Brown sought a supple pulse for his cool West Coast blues, Davies supplied the beat. And when Elvin Bishop required extra propulsion for a new band, Davies provided the fuel. Over the past four decades she’s been the bassist of choice for dozens of masters in blues, jazz, R&B and beyond, from Taj Mahal and Barbara Dane to Clark Terry and Maria Muldaur. At Stanford, she’s taken it upon herself to ensure that the blues is always on the program, bringing in a special guest each season. This year’s featured artist is 23-year-old Sean “Mack” McDonald, an Augusta, Georgia-raised guitarist who is part of a wave of brilliant young Black musicians revitalizing the art form. Steeped in Chicago and West Coast post-war blues, he’s absorbed the sounds of Bobby “Blue” Bland, Louis Jordan, T-Bone Walker, and early BB King.

THU 7.23 at 7:30 p.m. | STEFON HARRIS & BLACKOUT
The contemporary jazz scene is amid an unprecedented wave of vibraphone innovation, and no artist deserves more credit for this development than Stefon Harris. Since emerging in the late-1990s with a series of highly acclaimed albums for Blue Note Records, the New York native has mentored many of the brightest young players to come up in his wake (like Sasha Berliner). But for the past two decades, he’s been a scarce presence in venues and recording studios. His latest album, 2018’s Sonic Creed (Motéma), features his band Blackout, and is a brilliant and lushly produced program of Harris originals and hard-bop standards by Horace Silver, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Timmons and Bobby Hutcherson. And like much of his work since he made a highly productive trip to Cuba in 2008 the album digs into the kindred roots of jazz and rumba (via percussion great Pedrito Martinez). An ambitious composer, startlingly eloquent improviser and savvy bandleader, he’s always looking to expand and deepen the Blackout musical family. He brings the band’s latest iteration west for a rare Stanford sojourn.

SAT 7.25 at 7:30 p.m. | YILIAN CAÑIZARES
After her jaw-dropping appearance last summer as a special guest with percussion maestro John Santos, it was obvious that Cuban violinist/vocalist Yilian Cañizares needed to return and present her own band. Cañizares is on the cusp of becoming a major figure on the North American jazz scene. Introduced to Bay Area audiences just before the advent of the pandemic via her collaboration with piano great Omar Sosa, with whom she recorded the gorgeous, spiritually charged 2018 album Aguas, the Swiss-based Cañizares has been looking for opportunities to return ever since. Born in Havana, she was 14 when she moved to Venezuela in 1997 to study at El Sistema founder José Antonio Abreu’s Academia Latinoamericana de Violin in Caracas. Three years later she relocated to Switzerland to complete her studies at the Fribourg/Freiburg conservatory and ended up settling in Lausanne. Increasingly interested in fusing her Cuban roots with jazz, she launched her first band, Ochumare, which means rainbow in Yoruba. The trio became a proving ground for her rapidly evolving music, which has been fueled by collaborations with Cuban piano stars such as Chucho Valdés, Omar Sosa, and Roberto Fonseca. But she’s reached far beyond her homeland in her quest for musical adventures, performing with Lebanese trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf, Romani flamenco legend Diego El Cigala, South Korean vocalist Youn Sun Nah, Tunisian oud master and vocalist Dhafer Youssef, and Cameroonian bass maestro Richard Bona.

SUN 7.26 at 8:00 p.m. | SASHA BERLINER
San Francisco-reared vibraphonist Sasha Berliner, who last performed at the Festival two years ago co-leading a tribute to vibes legend Bobby Hutcherson and drummer Eddie Marshall, returns for his Festival debut as a headliner with her state-of-the-art band. On a jazz scene bristling with brilliant young vibraphonists, she has distinguished herself with a lithe electro-acoustic group sound that’s rooted in post-bop improvisation and deeply informed by contemporary musical currents. Now based in Los Angeles, the San Francisco native spent formative years at the Workshop. The first of the three times she attended in high school she was still focusing on drums, but on her return trips she had switched to vibes and recalls soaking up invaluable experience in a combo led by Victor Lin. Sessions with Ambrose Akinmusire and Billy Hart set her up well for New York City and studies at the New School. She’s been soaring ever since as a bandleader, sidewoman and composer. Last year she released her third studio album, Fantôme (Outside In Music), a supple, lyrically charged project laced with electronic textures and production. Last fall the storied German jazz outfit the Frankfurt Radio Big Band performed a concert of arrangements of her compositions, and Berklee concluded a seminar focusing on her compositions with a program by the Sasha Berliner Berklee Ensemble. With jazz stars like Christian McBride, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Tyshawn Sorey calling her for gigs, she is flourishing as a full-spectrum creative force.

MON 7.27 at 8:00 p.m. | GUITAR NIGHT FEATURING CAMILA MEZA & DAN WILSON
A long-running, ever-changing showcase for jazz’s finest guitar practitioners, Guitar Night brings together two extraordinary bandleaders with very different sounds this season. Chilean-born Camila Meza first gained widespread attention on the New York scene in the late aughts working widely in bands led by Cuban pianist Fabian Almazan and trombonist Ryan Keberle (who started incorporating her vocals into arrangements for his Pan-American band Catharsis). She’s carved out her own identity as a composer, most vividly with her eight-piece Nectar Orchestra. Dan Wilson also came to renown as a sideman, via widespread touring with Hammond B3 great Joey DeFrancesco, and later bass star Christian McBride. Deeply inspired by guitar maestros Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, Joe Pass, and George Benson, he came up playing in church and every note is marked by his sanctified origins. With the release of his fourth album as a leader last year,Things Eternal, Wilson cemented his status as one of jazz’s most accomplished and expressive guitarists.

TUE 7.28 at 8:00 p.m. | GEORGE CABLES SEXTET FEATURING STANFORD JAZZ WORKSHOP FACULTY
At 81, pianist George Cables is jazz royalty. As an accompanist, composer and bandleader he’s been at the center of jazz’s progressive mainstream since the late 1960s, with a resume that rivals any living peer and a book of beloved compositions in regular circulation. A treasured presence at the Workshop for years, George Cables made a name for himself on a series of classic recordings by era-defining musicians, including Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Joe Henderson and Woody Shaw. As a bandleader and composer, he’s made his mark with some two dozen albums, most recently his 2024 trio session I Hear Echoes with bassist Essiet Essiet and drummer Jerome Jennings. Since his recording debut on the 1968 album Electrifying Sounds of the Paul Jeffrey (a quintet session with drummer Billy Hart, his bandmate in the all-star combo The Cookers), Cables has distinguished himself with his bright, voluptuous sound and vivifying combination of elegance and grit. Altoist Art Pepper famously dubbed him “Mr. Beautiful” for his sublime melodic sensibility, but he could just as easily have been talking about Cables as a man. A composer of arrestingly alluring tunes, he’s made a deep mark wherever he’s spent time, nowhere more so than in Northern California, where his regular presence at Keystone Korner was an essential part of the storied North Beach venue’s creative mojo.

WED 7.29 at 8:00 p.m. | ALDO LÓPEZ-GAVILÁN
Even in a country with a glorious tradition of extravagantly talented pianists, Havana-reared Aldo López-Gavilán is a conspicuously commanding musician. Steeped in jazz, Afro-Cuban and European classical music, he’s a celebrated composer who hails from an illustrious musical clan. His father, Guido López-Gavilán, is an esteemed conductor and composer, and his late mother, Teresita Junco, was an acclaimed concert pianist. His older brother, violinist Ilmar Gavilán, is a founding member of the Harlem Quartet (their long thwarted but eventually successful efforts to perform together became the subject of the 2020 documentary Los Hermanos/The Brothers by award-winning Bay Area filmmakers Ken Schneider and Marcia Jarmel). After making his professional debut at age 12 with the Matanzas Symphony Orchestra, López-Gavilán went on to perform Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto with the National Symphonic Orchestra of Cuba. At the same time, he was delving into the classical canon, López-Gavilán was honing his skills as an improviser. Invited to perform at the Havana Jazz Festival with Chucho Valdés, he made such a powerful impression that the legendary pianist called him “simply a genius, a star.” He’s been living up to the praise ever since.

THU 7.30. at 8:00 p.m. | TAYLOR EIGSTI GROUP FEATURING GRETCHEN PARLATO & ZACK GROOVES
Since the turn of the century no artist has been more deeply identified with Stanford Jazz than pianist Taylor Eigsti, a prodigy who went on to carve out a brilliant career as an accompanist, composer and two-time GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist.
Eigsti’s annual performance at Stanford typically falls in the Festival’s last week, providing a bold exclamation point to the previous weeks of musical adventures. Though he’s never hidden his incandescent talent under a bushel, Eigsti did wait a decade between albums, a drought that came to an end with 2020’s Tree Falls, which earned a GRAMMY Award. His 2023 follow-up, Plot Armor, scored another GRAMMY, and he’s joined at this concert by the brilliant vocalist Gretchen Parlato, who sang on both projects. Eigsti has also toured widely with Parlato and recorded on several of her albums. They’re thrilled to regroup with a more recent connection, YouTube sensation Zack Grooves (aka Zack Graybeal). A stellar drummer who was known mostly as a busy sideman around North Carolina, he’s turned his YouTube channel into a bustling educational resource for fellow trap set acolytes with close to a half-million subscribers. Zach Grooves has been touring with Eigsti over the past couple of years, including a 2024 European jaunt featuring Parlato and tenor saxophonist Ben Wendel and a fall 2025 European tour with vocalist Becca Stevens.

FRI 7.31 at 8:00 p.m. | ALL-STAR JAM
At this lovingly curated annual jam session, audiences will hear pairings and combinations of jazz artists rarely heard anywhere else. In duet, trio, quartet, and larger ensembles, these amazing top-tier players will let their unbridled creativity soar. Artists TBA.

Africa Oyé 2026 - first names announced.

Saturday, March 14, 2026

The next Africa Oyé festival, celebrating African and Caribbean culture, will take place on 20th and 21st June 2026 in Sefton Park, Liverpool. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Africa Oyé 2026 | International Artists Announced so far.

Returning as a ticketed event for the first time in 2026, Africa Oyé is the UK’s biggest celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture.

The Sunday night headliner for Oyé ’26 is Grammy-nominated guitarist and singer Fatoumata Diawara, who is set to make a triumphant return to Liverpool’s Sefton Park this summer - fifteen years after her first UK festival performance at Africa Oyé!
Having fled Mali at the age of 19, Diawara continues, at 43, to examine society’s flaws while celebrating her dual life as an artist and a mother. Through her vibrant voice, Diawara addresses crucial subjects including female genital mutilation and forced marriage - personal hardships that she transforms into a universal message of hope and resilience.
The Afrofuturist chanteuse blends jazz, funk and folk with traditional Wassoulou music - singing in her mother tongue, Bambara, Diawara’s live shows make her audiences laugh, cry and above all, dance.
“one of the most significant Afrofuturist musicians”
Far Out Magazine

Making his Liverpool debut at this year’s festival is multiple award-winning Nigerian musician, Patoranking.
A visionary in the African music industry and a cultural ambassador for Afrobeats, Patoranking blends the genre with reggae and dancehall to create a unique sound that resonates worldwide. He is a an MTV Africa Music Awards winner and earned recognition in Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 class of 2020.
Patoranking’s career achieved prominence when he released his hit single “My Woman My Everything” in 2016, which played a pivotal role in the global recognition of Afrobeats. With a series of successful releases under his label Amari Musiq including tracks such as “Babylon” “Abule” and “Kolo Kolo” and collaborations with the likes of Major Lazer, Wizkid, and Davido, his music has collectively amassed nearly a billion streams on YouTube alone.

Joining him on the line-up is an exciting band who sadly missed out on their scheduled Sefton Park performance in 2024 due to ill-timed power cuts at Manchester Airport.
Fulu Miziki roughly translates as “music from garbage” which is in a literal sense is an accurate description of the thrillingly chaotic ‘Eco-Friendly-Afro-futuristic-Punk-Assemble’ collective of artists who ‘come straight from a future where humans have reconciled with mother earth and with themselves’.
This multidisciplinary collective of artists is based in the heart of Africa, in the Congolese capital city Kinshasa. For several years now, its members have spent an amount of time conceptualising an orchestra made from objects ‘found in the trash’, constantly changing instruments, and always in search of new sounds. Making their own instruments, performance costumes, and masks is essential to the approach of Fulu Miziki’s musical core ideology.
Their unique sound supports a pan-African message of artistic liberation, peace and an uncompromising look at the ecological situation of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the whole world. For Fulu everything can be ‘recovered and re-enchanted’.

The first Black British female reggae artist to have a number one in the UK; a feminist trio from Togo with a transcendent live show; and an Afrofuturist singer-songwriter will also play Africa Oyé this June.
Queen of Lovers Rock, Janet Kay, makes her Oyé debut in 2026. The multi-award winning artist is best known for her stellar hit single ‘Silly Games’, which placed her in the Music Guinness Book of Records as the first Black British born Female Reggae artist to hit the top of the UK Pop Charts. As a ‘sixties child’, Kay was exposed to the singing greats - especially those from the Tamla Motown stable - and her love for singing was born. She has since been produced by a host of legendary producers/artists, including the late great Alton Ellis, Jackie Mitto and Sugar Minot.
Kay’s impact on the UK reggae scene has been inspirational - and her sweet, heartwarming vocals continue to win her many fans around the world. Joining the line up for Sunday at the festival, she will be sure to bring an unforgettable performance to Oyé.

Also announced to perform as part of Oyé’s Sunday line-up is Nana Benz Du Togo. The group consists of 3 formidable feminist voices. Armed with nothing more than their vocals and a vintage Korg keyboard, this powerful ensemble create a unique blend of voodoo tradition and soul.
Nana Benz du Togo channels an organic sound steeped in sub-bass and layered with complex polyrhythms, creating a hypnotic foundation for the voices of these three electrifying electro-soul preachers. Their transcendent live shows are nothing short of spiritual - a blend of ancestral energy and modern fire.
“Stellar vocal performance… the party never stops” Songlines Magazine

Afrofuturist singer-songwriter and pioneer of Congolese Electric music Kizaba returns to Oyé in 2026 with a full ensemble, after successfully opening the 2022 festival as a solo artist.
He skilfully blends ancestral vocals with the vibrant sounds of Congolese soukous and Afrobeat - rooted in an ‘afro-pun philosophy’, and framed by a futuristic aesthetic - with seminal performances at the New Orleans Jazz festival and WOMAD Chile.
The Kizaba live show delivers a truly unique musical experience. Driven by a vibrant and authentic energy, the performance invites audiences on an Afro-futuristic journey - a tribute to ancestral heritage reimagined through the modern sounds of today’s world. Kizaba perform on the Saturday at Oyé ’26.

Paul Duhaney, Artistic Director Africa Oyé:

“Patoranking is a giant of Afrobeats and an artist we’re delighted to be able to bring to Liverpool this summer. As well as being a fantastic performer, his commitment to promoting the abundance of positivity coming out of Africa and championing of young talent from the continent also chimes perfectly with our ethos as a festival.”

“…with Fulu Miziki, it was a no brainer to book them for this summer after forces outside of their control meant they missed out at our last festival before the fallow year. They’re a sight to behold on stage and I can promise Liverpool that they’ll be worth the wait!”

“I first met Fatou at Oyé when she was performing as part of the legendary Oumou Sangare’s band way back in the early days of the festival. She handed me a CD and told me she was launching a solo career. You could tell back then she was destined for big things and we booked her in 2011 for one of her first UK solo shows. It’s amazing to see how far she’s come since then and to be able to bring her back as a headliner this year.”

The UK’s biggest celebration of African and Caribbean music and culture makes its return to Liverpool on 20th and 21st June this summer, following a fallow year in 2025 due to rising infrastructure costs, changing legislation, and the increasingly difficult challenge of keeping the event free.
The organisers of the ‘jewel in Liverpool’s festival crown’ are committed to making it as affordable as possible for its audience, with low ticket prices and children under 12 receiving free entry to the event (with a paying adult).
The Africa Oyé festival began back in 1992 as a series of gigs in Liverpool city centre, originally coming out of the monthly “Club Corinto” nights which were produced by the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign. Its growth over the last 33 years has seen the festival take place in multiple locations including Birkenhead Park, Princes Park, and Concert Square. Africa Oyé  has taken place in the picturesque surroundings of Sefton Park since 2002.
This year’s celebration will be the first ticketed Oyé in Sefton Park in the festival’s history, and as ever, the event will be an eclectic mix of international live acts, emerging talent, community performances, family friendly workshops, DJs, world cuisine, arts & crafts and much more.

Festival tickets are on sale now via http://www.ticketquarter and www.africaoye.com.

About Africa Oyé
Africa Oyé is the UK’s biggest celebration of African music and culture. Beginning in 1992 as a series of small gigs in Liverpool’s city centre, the event has gone from strength to strength, moving to its present Sefton Park home in 2002 to cope with demand.
With too many negative representations of Africa entrenched in images of war, disease, poverty and famine, Oyé seeks to redress the balance and highlight the fantastic range of cultures, foods, music and artists that make this great continent one of the most vibrant and inspiring in the world.
“This isn’t just the largest festival of African and Caribbean music in Britain, it’s the best” – The Sunday Times
The festival is a truly diverse and international event that harnesses the spirit of multiculturalism. It has played host to artists from nations right across Africa and also programmes music from The Caribbean, South America and the wider Diaspora, as well as main stage slots for emerging musicians, DJs and community performances.
But Africa Oyé is about more than music. Over 90 stalls selling the best food, drink, arts and crafts and fashion from Africa and beyond make up the vibrant and eclectic Oyé Village - which also includes a brand new Family Zone for ‘26, the returning Oyé Active Zone and our Trenchtown and Freetown DJ stage.

The 2026 Festival: A New Era
The next Africa Oyé festival will take place on 20th and 21st June 2026 in its Grade 1-listed, 200 acre home of Sefton Park – the largest open space in Liverpool.
For over 30 years Oyé has welcomed people from every demographic to the festival each year, to enjoy incredible live music and and DJs from across Africa, the Caribbean and the Diaspora, as well as the famed Oyé ambience.
Oyé celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2022, and in 2024 enjoyed its busiest ever festival, attracting over 80,000 people. In 2026, with rising costs, changes in legislation, and the charity’s ongoing desire to ensure a safe event for all, Oyé will be fenced and ticketed for the first time. Oyé will continue to provide a welcoming atmosphere as the festival begins this new chapter of an incredible journey.

For more information, please visit http://www.africaoye.com.

One Jazz to host 48-Hour Miles Davis Celebration.

Saturday, March 14, 2026

One Jazz Radio will present ‘Miles Runs The Weekend Down - 100 years of Miles Davis in 48 hours' over the weekend of 23 & 24 May 2026. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

‘Miles runs the Weekend down’
100 years of Miles Davis in 48 hours on One Jazz.

In May 1926, one of the most influential and iconic figures in jazz was born: Miles Davis. In what is set to be one of the most ambitious and expansive radio tributes to the visionary trumpeter ever staged, jazz radio platform One Jazz presents Miles Runs the Weekend Down, 48 hours of non-stop programming celebrating Miles’ legacy and global impact, marking what would have been his 100th birthday.

One Jazz broadcasts a diverse and rich schedule of hosted shows from a worldwide community of passionate jazz tastemakers, 24/7. Some thirty of these will come together to curate two days of shows highlighting a wide range of Miles music and the musicians he has directly influenced.

One Jazz began its celebration in January with Miles and Miles, a 60-minute programme of Miles music broadcast at 6pm (UK) each and every day throughout 2026. Across the weekend of 23 and 24 May, more than 30 programmes will broadcast non-stop, each celebrating a different aspect of Miles’ peerless career.

Uniquely, most hosts spotlight Miles through the signature themes of their own shows: DJ Lubi’s monthly Manteca brings Latin reinterpretations of Miles classics, while Daniel Spicer’s free jazz programme dives into some of his most adventurous ‘out there’ explorations. Caroline Fontanieu, host of One Jazz’s newest show The ECM Records Podcast, traces how the spirit of Miles resonates across the label’s artists and Tony Higgins’s Japanese jazz show explores his close connection with the country and Miles’s place in Japanese jazz culture.

Elsewhere, we discover how Miles shook, yet inspired the 1970’s UK jazz scene, spotlight overlooked gems from across his career and hear exclusive archive interviews with some of his most famous sidemen, and, of course, encounter the man himself. All this and much, much more Miles.

“There is no greater icon in the history of jazz than Miles Davis.  He’s deservedly well known to all music fans because of his classic works like the peerless Kind Of Blue. But beyond that he’s the man who set the pace for re-inventing the music time after time, tapping into the zeitgeist of an era but always progressing the form. One Jazz is the world’s only 24/7 global jazz radio station and we set it up for moments just like this. Moments when we can tear up the schedule and dedicate 48 hours to a single genius. We have hosts from all over the world who specialise in a wide range of genres and all of them are bringing their expertise to this special weekend. It’s going to be a jazz radio event like no other”.  Jez Nelson, Co-Founder, One Jazz

PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS

A – Z
Audio Gold Miles Mix Tape with Robin Brunson
Former Ninja Tune artist Robin Brunson presents the monthly Audio Gold Mix Tape, which for this special, explores Miles covers and rarities interspersed with vocal snippets from the man himself.

Brasil Novo: ‘Tudo azul’ Miles Davis with Billzinho
Ex Brazil resident presents a show dedicated to Brazilian Jazz. In Tudo Azul, we hear Miles’s own covers of bossa nova tunes alongside segments on his work with Hermeto Pascoal and Airto Moreira

Break a Vase: Miles’ blindfold tests with Alexander Hawkins
Miles took part in many Blindfold Tests throughout his career, and in this special show, Alexander unveils Miles’s personality through his often cutting, or wickedly funny
assessments of his contemporaries’ music.

East of the Sun presents: Miles Davis and Gil Evansl with Maria Grapsa
Jazz pianist explores the groundbreaking collaborations between Miles Davis and Gil Evans whose recordings pushed beyond the boundaries of big band and bebop into
cinematic, deeply expressive territory.

ECM Loves Miles with Caroline Fontanieu
Host of the ECM Podcast and a newest edition to the One Jazz team, Caroline explores Miles’s connections to the legendary ECM label; from ECM artists who shared his stage or studio to some striking interpretations, tracing ways his spirit resonates across the label’s catalogue.

Ekaya special - Miles Deep Cuts with JH Catchpole
James digs into Miles’ catalogue, spotlighting overlooked gems from across his career.

Fuse: Miles Davis and Film Soundtracks with Debra Richards
Miles composed and played on few soundtracks yet established jazz as an emotive force in film. Debra explores the music of Miles’ soundtracks alongside his recordings that have featured in countless films.

J Jazz Masterclass: Miles in Japan with Tony Higgins
Renowned curator of Japanese jazz compilations, Tony traces Miles’s live performances in Japan, his ties to the country, and his place in Japanese jazz culture.

Jazzwise Editor’s Choice: A Miles Special with Mike Flynn
Jazzwise editor Mike Flynn explores tracks Miles Davis’ ground-breaking nights at themPlugged Nickel in 1965 and the effect of his music on UK musicians today.

Jazz Progression presents: British Brew with Mike Gavin
Seasoned jazz label figure, Mike Gavin devotes his monthly show to British jazz history.For his Miles Special, he explores Miles’ s move from acoustic to electric in the 1970’s, a shift that both shook, inspired and influenced the British jazz scene.

Jazz Thing: Miles Sings with Götz Bühler
From Germany, music journalist and Artistic Advisor to the jazzahead! trade fair, Götz presents a Jazz Thing Special spotlighting those bringing vocalese to Miles’s music.

Konos kulturalny: Miles Polish Connection with Krzystof Komórek
Polish journalist Krzysztof explores the legacy of Polish jazz in Donos Kulturalny; in this edition, he examines Miles’ influence on Polish jazz and how Polish musicians reinterpret his music.

Manteca Miles with DJ Lubi
Lubi Jovanovic, a leading light in the UK Latin music/salsa scene devotes his monthly Manteca show to Latin covers of Miles classics.

Miles Davis, Somethin’ Else with Jez Nelson
One Jazz Co-Founder presents a Somethin’ Else Exclusive featuring archive clips with Miles’s sidemen talking about their time with the master, accompanied by the classic
music they made together. Those featured will include Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland and John Scofield.

Miles Gets Organised with Greg Boraman
Organist Greg Boraman devotes his monthly Hammond – flavoured show, Organisms to B3 takes of Miles classics

Miles Out with Daniel Spicer
In his show The Mystery Lesson, Spicer showcases free-jazz improvised music, here, he delves into Miles’ more ‘out’ moments, in particular the lost quintet circa 1969 and the Agharta -era recording.

North Star Sounds Miles Special with Jon Greenbaum and Rick Petrie
This monthly show explores the edges of creative improvised music; in this special they focus on Miles’ second great quintet and the polyrhythms of his electric period.

Smooth Miles with Matt Smooth
As the name suggests, smooth jazz Miles tunes!

Soundshift: Miles at 100 special with Rouhangeze
Multi-disciplinary artist Rouhangeze focuses on Miles as a force of motion constantly reshaping jazz. Here she frames Miles as a producer, bandleader, and modernist whose work still underpins contemporary music today.

The Interchange: Miles in Los Angeles with Paul Bennun
Broadcasting his monthly show from Los Angeles, Bennun argues that although Miles called himself a New Yorker, his career was born in LA. He spotlights their mutual
influence from his early years to his final performance at the Hollywood Bowl.

The Vibes Describes with Orphy Robinson
Award-winning multi-instrumentalist takes a deep dive into the African Miles Diaspora. From the Miles ancient to the future encyclopaedia of sound!

Miles Runs the Weekend Down is broadcast on http://www.onejazz.net and on smart devices from midnight on 22 May – 24 May. Miles and Miles is broadcast daily at 6pm (UK)
Updates and information on schedules will be posted HERE https://www.onejazz.net/news/miles-runs-the-weekend-down/

https://www.onejazz.net/

One Jazz is a 24/7 global online jazz radio platform delivering expertly curated, uninterrupted music, from essential new releases and timeless classics to in-depth artist specials. The station features hosted shows from an international community of jazz tastemakers — artists, labels, festival curators and magazine editors — broadcasting from the UK, USA, Japan, Australia, Finland and across Europe. Together, they span the full jazz spectrum, from free and avant-garde to Latin, electronic and hot-off-the-press new discoveries. One Jazz was founded by veteran jazz broadcasters Chris Philips and Jez Nelson and is not-for-profit and volunteer run.  One Jazz can be found at onejazz.net, via its own app, on Tune-In and on smart devices.

Kings Place, London - Programme for May 2026.

Friday, March 13, 2026

Kings Place has announced its programme for May 2026 including some performances that are likely to be of interest to jazz listeners. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Kings Place in May: GBSR Duo, Thomas Hampson and Songlines Encounters

KINGS PLACE IN MAY

Memory Unwrapped continues with Artists-in-Residence GBSR Duo performing with Beatrice Dillon, Thomas Hampson and Ksenija Sidorova collaborate for a programme centred around Schubert’s Winterreise and Songlines Encounters returns to Kings Place for its 15th anniversary.

GBSR Duo collaborate with London producer Beatrice Dillon for the first time, performing a new work through the d&b Soundscape system American baritone Thomas Hampson and accordionist Ksenija Sidorova perform selections from an arrangement of Winterreise.

The Songlines Encounters series highlights music from around the world and has three distinct, diverse programmes in May.

CLASSICAL | CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL

Sat 2 May | Hall One 7.30pm
CATRIN FINCH
NOTES TO SELF
Catrin Finch performs Notes to Self, a series of reflective and deeply personal new tracks she has composed for Katy, her 13 year-old-self, and her first album of solo compositions in a decade. Notes To Self weaves together Catrin’s experiences, emotions, and introspections. Through her music, she explores themes of vulnerability, expectation, transformation, and the unpredictability of a life played out under the public eye.
£20 – £24; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Fri 8 May | Hall Two 8pm | Soundscape
GBSR DUO AND BEATRICE DILLON
Memory Unwrapped
Kings Place Artists-in-Residence, GBSR Duo, team up with boundary-pushing London producer Beatrice Dillon for their first-ever collaboration. Expect a brand-new work from the duo and Dillon, premiered through our immersive d&b Soundscape system. The night also features a set from Tabitha Thorlu-Bangura, the London cultural programmer whose work flows between live music, radio and visual art.
£22

Wed 13 May | Hall One 7.30pm
PIATTI QUARTET AND NORIKO OGAWA
REMEMBRANCE AND RENEWAL
Memory Unwrapped
Mendelssohn String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13
Joseph Phibbs Piano Quintet (world premiere)
Brahms String Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 51, No. 1
Michael Trainor and Emily Holland violin |  Miguel Sobrinho viola Jessie Ann Richardson cello |  Noriko Ogawa piano
The Piatti Quartet join Noriko Ogawa for an evening shaped by reflection, passion, and musical rebirth. This programme weaves together a landmark new commission with two era-defining masterpieces, exploring how composers respond to memory, longing and transformation. From Mendelssohn’s youthful intensity to Brahms’ turbulent majesty, the concert journeys through deeply expressive sound worlds.
£20 – £30; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Thu 14 May | Hall One 7.30pm
THE CARICE SINGERS
MARTLAND
Memory Unwrapped |  Composer-in-Focus Steve Martland |  Steve Reich at 90
Steve Martland ‘Dance to your Daddy’ and ‘Fire down below’ (from Sea Songs); Summer Rounds;
Street Songs; Skywalk;
Steve Reich Know what is above you
Luke Lewis [new work]
Louis Andriessen Un beau baiser
Julia Wolfe Guard my tongue
The Carice Singers |  George Parris conductor
Steve Martland was interested in the energy and the vitality of the human voice throughout his career; the Carice Singers will perform his major works for choir. Works of driven directness from American minimalist composers Steve Reich and Julia Wolfe give context to Martland’s aesthetic, and the programme also includes a piece from Martland’s teacher Louis Andriessen and a new work by Luke Lewis.
£20 – £45; £10 Concessions; £10 Under-30s

Sat 16 May | Hall One 7.30pm
BRITTEN SINFONIA WITH ELIZABETH WATTS
BRITTEN IN AMERICA
Memory Unwrapped
Britten Young Apollo; Les Illuminations
Copland Appalachian Spring;  Clarinet Concerto
Bowles Six Preludes
Elizabeth Watts soprano |  Oleg Shebeta-Dragan clarinet Huw Watkins piano |  Britten Sinfonia
50 years since Britten’s death, Britten Sinfonia present a programme that focuses on the years he spent in North America during World War II. Sensuous music with a bright sheen written in Canada and the USA is paired with music by his ‘very dear friend’ and mentor, Aaron Copland, from the same decade and piano works by his student Paul Bowles, who would later become better known as the author of The Sheltering Sky.
£20 – £45; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Thu 28 May | Hall One 7.30pm
THOMAS HAMPSON AND KSENIJA SIDOROVA
SCHUBERT’S WINTERREISE
Memory Unwrapped
Schubert Selections from Die Winterreise, D911
Stravinsky Tango
Sergey Voytenko Revelation
Kurt Weill Dirge for Two Veterans; It Never Was You; Speak Low (arr. Roland Pöntinen); Youkali;
September Song; Mack the Knife
Astor Piazzolla Tanti Anni Prima (Ave Maria)
Thomas Hampton baritone |  Ksenija Sidorova accordian
With more than 150 recordings, 80 operatic roles and a career that has taken him to the world’s greatest concert halls, Thomas Hampson is one of the most influential baritones of our time. For this special London appearance, he joins the electrifying accordionist Ksenija Sidorova, a trailblazer for her instrument and a collaborator with artists from Nemanja Radulović to Paavo Järvi, for a strikingly original programme.
£30 – £60; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Sun 31 May | Hall One 3pm
I FAGIOLINI
PURCELL DIDO & AENEAS
Memory Unwrapped |  I Fagiolini at Kings Place
Purcell Dido & Aeneas; ‘The sparrow and the gentle dove’ (from Hardy Climes);
‘Mark how readily’ (Raise, raise the voice); Pavan in 4 parts / Hornpipe (King Arthur)
Julia Doyle Dido |  Frederick Long Aeneas |  Rowan Pierce Belinda Martha McLorinan Sorceress |  I Fagiolini |  Robert Hollingworth director
I Fagiolini’s semi-staged take on Purcell’s masterpiece – written when he was just 29. So much variety in a single hour: great tunes, sparkling instrumental interludes, hysterical witches, dance music and of course the great lament, ‘When I am laid in earth’. Purcell’s varied genius is also celebrated in I Fagiolini’s amuse-bouche, perfect miniatures from Britain’s Orpheus.
£25 – £65; Half-price concessions

CONTEMPORARY

Fri 1 May | Hall Two 8pm
KIIŌTŌ
BLACK SALT – ALBUM LAUNCH
Kiiōtō’s second album, Black Salt, is the latest release from multi-platinum songwriter and keyboardist Rohan Heath & Mercury nominated singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes (formerly of Lamb). Black Salt draws from a wider palette; looking inwards at their relationship with one another and then boldly outwards to the many facets of their interface with the outside world.
£20

Sat 2 May | Hall Two 8pm
JACK JENNINGS & OMAR PUENTE
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. Bringing nature’s voice to the project is wildlife sound recordist Martyn Stewart in collaboration with The Listening Planet.
£28; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Thu 7 May | Hall One 7.30pm
BASSEKOU KOUYATÉ & AMY SACKO
Songlines Encounters Series
Bassekou Kouyaté is a legendary musician from Mali and the undisputed master of the ngoni, a traditional, historic small West African instrument somewhere between a banjo and a lute. In this, his latest project – visiting the UK for the first time – Bassekou performs as a duo with his wife, the revered griot singer and exceptional vocalist Amy Sacko, following the release of their album Djudjon, L’Oiseau de Garana in 2024.
£25

Fri 8 May | Hall One 8pm
ERDAL ERZINCAN
Presented by ArtStage & Vaak Records
Join us for a captivating evening with Erdal Erzincan, one of Turkey’s most celebrated musicians, a true master of the bağlama and a leading figure in Anatolian folk music. Drawing from centuries-old traditions and enriched by his own innovative approach, his signature technique—the selpe (a form of tapping unique to the bağlama)—creates rhythmic textures and melodic depth rarely heard on any instrument.
£30 – £70

Fri 15 May | Hall One 7.30pm
MOSTAR SEVDAH REUNION
Songlines Encounters Series
Mostar Sevdah Reunion is an exceptional collective of artists united by a single, profound passion. Some might say they live for Sevdah – that this centuries-old music is not merely their vocation, but their reason for being. Interpreting a musical tradition more than 400 years old, rooted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is no easy task. Yet despite war, loss, and countless obstacles, Mostar Sevdah Reunion has endured.
£25 – £35; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Thu 21 May | Hall Two 8pm
BELLE SCAR
Presented by Plastic Sound Records
Captivating, glamorous and bold, Belle Scar is a distinctive singer-songwriter, producer and artistic director originally from Montreal but now based in London. She will be accompanied by several guest musicians and there will be a special performance from her choir, The London Creative Singers. This concert presents her new album due for release in June 2026.
£25 (Tickets can be booked via EventBrite)

Sat 23 May | Hall One 7.30pm
AHMET ASLAN
Presented by ArtStage & Vaak Records
A passionate advocate of the culture of the Zaza people who live on the border between Iran and Turkey, Ahmet Aslan has earned admiration throughout Turkey, especially after his music was featured in the popular crime series Eşkiya Dünyaya Hükümdar Olmaz. He developed the Di-Tar (a hybrid of a classical guitar, a flamenco guitar and a bağlama) while studying at the world music programme at Codarts in Rotterdam.
£35 – £55

Fri 29 May | Hall Two 8pm
COCANHA
FLAME FOLCLÒRE
Songlines Encounters Series
Cocanha are two singular voices, those of Caroline Dufau and Lila Fraysse, carried by the pulsation of ‘tambourins à cordes’ or string drum, feet and hands. The two musicians deliver their complementary vocal personalities, built over 12 years of artistic complicity. Their latest album Flame Folclòre placed the group in this exciting generation emanating from traditional music, like San Salvador or Rodrigo Cuevas.
£22; Half-price concessions

FOLK

Thu 7 May | Hall Two 8pm
STEVENS & POUND
ASCENDING TOUR
Alternative classical / left-field folk duo Stevens and Pound use traditional melodeon and harmonica colliding with a dizzying array of percussion instruments. Together they deliver an unprecedented collaboration, following the creative evolution of the classical composers who were inspired by folk. Ascending features Stevens & Pound’s maverick re-compositions of iconic classical pieces.
£18; Half-price concessions

Sun 10 May | Hall Two 8pm
WARSI BROTHERS
TRADITIONAL SUFI QAWWALI
The Warsi Brothers are widely regarded as among the finest living custodians of traditional qawwali in the subcontinent. Their powerful performances, rich vocals, and mastery of classical compositions have made them central figures in preserving this art form. Their qawwali performances reflect a tradition rooted in Sufi teachings, in which music serves as a form of devotion and spiritual expression.
£35; £10 Under-30s

Thu 14 May | Hall Two 8pm
NORTHERN RESONANCE
Northern Resonance is the Scandinavian string trio that takes newly composed folk music into enormous soundscapes. With their previously untested combination of instruments; Anna Ekborg, Hans-Ers (viola d’amore) Petrus Dillner (nyckelharpa) Jerker “JJ” Hans-Ers (hardanger fiddle) they let Scandinavian music meet explosive rhythms and grand chamber-like arrangements that takes folk music in a new direction.
£22; Half-price concessions

Thu 21 May | Hall One 8pm
BLUE ROSE CODE
Following headline performances at Cambridge Folk Festival and Gate To Southwell with his nine-piece Caley Soul band, as well as a sold-out bravura show for Celtic Connections at Glasgow’s 1,400-capacity Pavilion Theatre, these shows workshopped new songs for 2026’s new Blue Rose Code studio album.
Blue Rose Code is launching his new album with an exclusive London show at Kings Place.
£25; Half-price concessions

Thu 28 May | Hall Two 8pm
KIM CARNIE
Celebrated for her ‘velvet-voiced authority’ (The Scotsman), Kim Carnie blends traditional Gaelic roots with cinematic, contemporary soundscapes. One of Scotland’s most compelling musical voices, performing with her own band, as well as the lead singer of the multi-award-winning band Mànran and a founding member of the experimental folk ensemble Staran.  Kim returns with her highly anticipated second album, A’ Chailleach.
£20; Half-price concessions

Sat 30 May | Hall Two 8pm
KARAN CASEY TRIO
Irish Music and Dance in London
Internationally renowned Irish singer-songwriter and pianist Karan Casey has been blazing a trail for more then 25 years. A lover of ballads, love songs and searing versions of social justice songs, fond of a good yarn, she has toured the world making deep connections with her audience. The evening will feature material from her 12th album Nine Apples of Gold and more. With support from In Good Company.
£18; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

JAZZ

Sun 24 May | Hall One 8pm
JOE WEBB TRIO
Edition Records and Kings Place presents…
Joe Webb is regarded as one of the most formidable new jazz pianists to emerge in recent years – a musician with fearless technique, unmistakable swagger and a melodic instinct that lands with clarity and purpose. Joined by bassist Will Sach and drummer Sam Jesson, Webb continues his “mixtape” concept on ’Neath Beat, merging the spark of his live sets with carefully crafted compositions.
£20 – £35; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

Sat 30 May | Hall One 7.30pm
CALLAM AU BIG BAND
SING SEVEN SEAS
Callum Au and his all-star big band mark the launch of his new album Sing Seven Seas; a blazing two-volume celebration of orchestral jazz. Sing Seven Seas is the culmination of long standing musical relationships, that push world class musicians to their technical and expressive limits. With 14 brand new pieces for jazz orchestra that crackle with Callum’s signature directness and flair for melody.
£25– £40; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s

WORDS / COMEDY

Mon 11 May | Hall One 7pm
STEVE RICHARDS
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL POLITICS
Political commentator and broadcaster, Steve Richards, presents the latest behind-the-scenes guide to the epic dramas and the characters shaping seismic events. How have we got here? What’s going to happen next? Are there any answers to these questions? Come along and find out.
£18; Half-price concessions; £10 Under-30s; £11 KPlayer broadcast

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 spaces 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

Hanna Paulsberg Named European Jazz Musician of the Year 2025.

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Norwegian saxophonist and composer Hanna Paulsberg received the prestigious award for European Jazz Musician of the Year at the French Académie du Jazz awards ceremony in Paris. Press release attached

We have received the following press release;

Hanna Paulsberg Named European Musician of the Year 2025

On Monday evening, Hanna Paulsberg received the award for European Jazz Musician of the Year at the prestigious Académie du Jazz ceremony in Paris.

On Monday evening, the Norwegian saxophonist and composer Hanna Paulsberg received the prestigious award for European Jazz Musician of the Year at the French Académie du Jazz awards ceremony in Paris, in front of an audience of 700 people. During the ceremony, Paulsberg performed one of her own compositions together with the Italian guitarist Federico Casa Grande, who was also nominated for the award.

Previous recipients of the prize include musicians such as Tomasz Stańko, Paolo Fresu, Django Bates and Arild Andersen.

In her acceptance speech, Paulsberg thanked the musicians in her quartet Hanna Paulsberg Concept, who have been playing with her for more than 15 years:
“My work is built on their work, and without them I would not be the musician I am today.”

Académie du Jazz is a French organization founded in 1954 to promote and recognize jazz music. Each year it presents several prestigious jazz awards to musicians, albums and other contributions to the jazz field. The prizes are decided by a jury consisting of jazz journalists, producers and musicians.

https://www.instagram.com/hannapaulsberg/

https://www.facebook.com/hannapaulsbergconcept/?locale=nb_NO#x3D;nb_NO

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3phucAa4KxA7iLtOgIqV4x?si=IeF6E_P_TZihh43psPHLOg&nd=1&dlsi=e8f922ef60a848b3

Tŷ Cerdd and FOCUS Wales create Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the #WelshMusicAbroad partnership.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

FOCUS Wales and Tŷ Cerdd | Music Wales have announced their new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the international profile of Welsh music under the banner of #WelshMusicAbroad.

We have received the following press release;

Tŷ Cerdd and FOCUS Wales create MOU to strengthen the #WelshMusicAbroad partnership

Leading Welsh music development organisations FOCUS Wales and Tŷ Cerdd | Music Wales have today announced their new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance the international profile of Welsh music under the banner of #WelshMusicAbroad.

The agreement formalises a shared commitment to collaborate strategically – while maintaining their independent missions – to develop, promote and support international opportunities for Welsh artists across musical genres. The MOU takes forward a partnership approach forged in 2023 (along with Trac Cymru), with the aim of amplifying opportunities for Welsh artists.

A shared vision for global growth

Through this partnership, both organisations will work to:
Expand international showcasing opportunities for Welsh artists
Strengthen export across existing and emerging markets
Support artists working in both commercial and non-commercial pathways
Share market intelligence, networks and resources to maximise impact
Champion Wales as a dynamic music nation
Both organisations have demonstrated an increased focus on international working in recent years. FOCUS Wales supports emerging export ready artists to showcase at leading international music industry events, with partnerships with events including SXSW, ESNS, Reeperbahn, M for Montreal, BreakOut West, Zandari Festa, among many others. Tŷ Cerdd supports opportunities for music-creators through routes such as ISCM (International Society for Contemporary Music), as well as leading the Welsh presence at WOMEX, Classical:NEXT and jazzahead!, in partnership with Wales Arts International.

This MOU recognises the breadth and diversity of Welsh music and seeks to ensure artists and industry professionals from every background and genre have access to meaningful international opportunities.

Andy Jones, FOCUS Wales Director and Head of Music, said: “This MOU reflects our shared commitment to continue to support and deliver high impact career development opportunities for our artists an industry wanting to work internationally. Through collaborating in this spirit, we’re excited for what this will mean for Welsh music industry professionals, who can benefit from our shared networks and experience moving forward.”

Deborah Keyser, Tŷ Cerdd Director, said: “International working has never been more important to Tŷ Cerdd and the music-creators we support. The partnership with FOCUS Wales has been developed over a number of years, with trust and collaboration at its core, and it’s a powerful message to our sector in Wales and to markets overseas. Many of the artists we are supporting at Tŷ Cerdd work outside of more apparent routes and pathways – eg contemporary classical composers and experimental artists – and the connections and platforming #WelshMusicAbroad can provide is invaluable to them.”

While both organisations will continue to deliver their own programmes and partnerships, the MOU underscores #WelshMusicAbroad’s framework for coordination – from tangible export routes, to shared artist development initiatives, from inbound exchange activity, to dissemination on best practice around sustainable touring.

By aligning efforts under #WelshMusicAbroad, the partnership aims to provide clarity for international industry partners and create stronger, more sustainable international relationships. Both partners are committed to working with other Wales-based organisations to deliver the best opportunities for artists.

Supporting artists at every stage

The initiative will focus on supporting artists at multiple career levels – from emerging talent seeking first export opportunities to established acts building long-term international strategies. The MOU also places emphasis on diversity, accessibility and cultural representation, ensuring that Welsh-language and bilingual artists, as well as those from underrepresented communities, are actively supported on the global stage.

The MOU signals an ongoing commitment to strengthening Wales’s international music footprint. By combining expertise, networks and shared ambition, FOCUS Wales and Tŷ Cerdd aim to create a more coordinated, resilient export ecosystem for Welsh music.

The work of FOCUS Wales and Tŷ Cerdd is supported by Arts Council of Wales (with Wales Arts International) and Creative Wales.

http://www.welshmusicabroad.com

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FOCUS Wales
FOCUS Wales is a not-for-profit organisation, established to provide the annual new music showcase event for the Welsh Music Industry. Our core work centres around the delivery of our international multi-venue showcase festival taking place in Wrexham each year, which places the music industry spotlight firmly on the emerging talent that Wales has to offer the world, alongside a selection of the best new acts from across the globe. FOCUS Wales 2026 will mark the festival’s 16th edition, and will welcome over 25,000 people to the town, building upon 2025′s record attendance across a jam-packed weekend of events. There’s no place like Wrexham during FOCUS Wales, as we showcase 250+ artists from across the world, fill out a variety of spaces and music venues, using 20 stages, and hosting a full schedule of interactive industry sessions, arts events, and film screenings, throughout the festival. In addition to the delivery of the FOCUS Wales festival, we also deliver a number of international FOCUS Wales events throughout the year.

Tŷ Cerdd | Music Wales
Music in Wales. Music of Wales.
Based at Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, Tŷ Cerdd | Music Wales aims to bring Welsh music to audiences in Wales and globally, protect Welsh musical heritage, and drive the development of new Welsh music, across genres. Tŷ Cerdd supports music-creators through a range of talent development pathways, and has an in-house recording studio, two record labels (Tŷ Cerdd Records and Sionci) and a publishing imprint. The organisation also distributes Lottery funds on behalf of Arts Council of Wales, including a new traditional music scheme, Cronfa Tradd Fund.

Tŷ Cerdd | Music Wales
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

NYJO Welcomes Musicians and Educators Jas Kayser and Giulia Marro to Board of Trustees.

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

NYJO has announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees, musicians Jas Kayser & Giulia Marro, internationally acclaimed artists with an inspiring commitment to music education.

We have received the following press release;

NYJO Welcomes Musicians and Educators Jas Kayser and Giulia Marro to Board of Trustees

NYJO (The National Youth Jazz Orchestra), a charitable organisation dedicated to nurturing the next generation of jazz musicians, is thrilled to announce the appointment of two exceptional new members to its Board of Trustees, Jas Kayser and Giulia Marro. Both appointees bring a wealth of contemporary industry experience and a profound dedication to music education.

“We are incredibly lucky and excited to welcome Jas and Giulia to the Board,” said Projjol Banerjea, Chair of the Board of Trustees for NYJO. “Their phenomenal achievements on the global stage, combined with their grassroots dedication to teaching and mentoring, make them perfect additions to our charity. We are eager to channel their fresh perspectives and dynamic energy into our mission of empowering the next generation of jazz musicians.”

Jas Kayser is a professional drummer, educator, and band leader with extensive experience performing, touring, and recording internationally. Currently, Kayser performs as the drummer for the Lenny Kravitz Band. Her prior experience includes touring and recording with high-profile artists such as the Jorja Smith Band and Alfa Mist. A highly decorated musician, she was named Jazz FM Breakthrough Artist and Parliamentary Jazz Newcomer in 2021. Kayser is also a dedicated educator who has previously taught at and worked with NYJO. Her teaching portfolio extends to mentoring students at the World Heartbeat Academy and the Danilo Perez Foundation. She holds
degrees in Contemporary Performance from the Berklee Global Jazz Institute and in Contemporary Writing and Production from Berklee College of Music.

Jas Kayser speaks of her appointment, “It’s a pleasure to be joining the board of NYJO. This is my first trustee role, so I’m honoured and excited to contribute to NYJO’s development and the inspiring journey ahead.”

Giulia Marro is a dynamic jazz clarinettist, vocalist, and educator who has been an active member of the Birmingham and London jazz scenes. As a band leader, she released her debut album, ‘A Portrait of Giulia,’ in March 2025. Marro has performed sold-out shows at major UK jazz festivals, including the Manchester, Birmingham, Cheltenham, and London Jazz Festivals. Alongside her performance career, she also brings valuable teaching experience to the board. Currently, she serves as a Woodwind Specialist at Lambeth Music Service and a Piano Tutor at St Bartholomew’s Primary School. Marro holds a BMus (Hons) in Jazz Clarinet from The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.

Giulia Marro states, “I am so excited to join NYJO as a Trustee. As a working jazz musician with a strong passion for jazz education, I’m thrilled to support the next generation of artists and help ensure they have access to the opportunities and mentorship that will enable them to find their own artistic voice.”

Yvette Griffith, NYJO Chief Executive, comments on the appointments, “I’m really pleased to be welcoming working professional musicians into NYJO’s trustee community. Their lived experience of today’s industry brings invaluable insight to our governance, ensuring decisions are rooted in the realities our young musicians may be stepping into. Their contribution will meaningfully strengthen NYJO’s vision and strategic direction, and I’m excited about the energy and perspective they will bring to the next chapter of our work. “

These appointments reinforce NYJO’s commitment to pairing artistic excellence with educational leadership to shape a bold and inclusive future for jazz.

About NYJO
NYJO is a registered charity and an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation with a mission to bring jazz and improvised music to young musicians aged 14-25, and audiences across the country. We strongly believe in the power of jazz as a tool for social change and work to creatively nurture young people, empowering them to develop, personally and artistically, through high-quality, accessible, and inclusive learning programmes and professional live performances.
With a strong commitment to making jazz and music making opportunities more evenly distributed across the UK, we work in collaboration with likeminded partners around the country to address access barriers to music education and deliver bespoke programmes that inspire young people to use jazz as a form of self-expression.

https://nyjo.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/nyjouk

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nyjouk

NYJO Launches Digital Jazz Education Hub – Sat 21 March 2026.

Monday, March 09, 2026

NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra) are excited to announce the launch of our NYJO Network Digital Hub - a new online platform designed to help teachers, music leaders, and practitioners.

We have received the following press release;

NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra) are excited to announce the launch of our NYJO Network Digital Hub - a new national online platform designed to help teachers, music leaders, and practitioners build confidence and unlock the joy of improvised music-making. Created in response to feedback from educators working in diverse settings, the Hub is grounded in real-world teaching practice. It offers practical, creative tools such as modular teaching resources, workshop plans, and reflective practice materials for all skills and experience levels, making it easier than ever to bring jazz education into classrooms and community spaces.

On Saturday 21 March (1-5pm), NYJO will be launching the NYJO Network Digital Hub — a new national online platform designed specifically to support musicians and teachers in delivering high-quality jazz and improvisation in classrooms, hubs and community settings. 

The resources have been developed and curated by NYJO’s learning team in collaboration with its emerging professional musicians — practitioners who are actively performing, composing and leading workshops across the country. The result is a bank of modular teaching resources, workshop plans, pedagogical approaches and reflective materials which we hope will become the place to share best practice in delivering jazz education. It is designed not just as a resource library, but as a sustainable professional development tool to help embed improvisation-led approaches across the sector and address the teacher confidence gap in jazz and improvisation.

Beth Ismay, NYJO Learning Programmes Producer, says:
‘We’re really excited to be launching our new NYJO Network Digital Hub, to round out the end of our celebrations for 60 years of NYJO! We hope that this will help build on the sustainability of the jazz education ecosystem for another 60 years to come, giving music educators across the country the confidence to include improvised music-making practices within their session delivery, and thereby enabling even more young people to experience the joy that this form of music-making can bring.’

The NYJO Network Digital Hub forms part of NYJO’s wider commitment to professional development, nurturing young musicians, and championing access to high quality, accessible learning opportunities. The organisation continues to work collaboratively with music hubs, schools, and community partners to embed creative, improvisation-led approaches across the sector.

Vikki Maudave, NYJO Programmes & Operations Director, says:
‘We’re incredibly proud of the national outreach projects delivered by NYJO Learning in recent years. The Network Hub brings together a curated selection of resources from these projects and offers an exciting opportunity to work even more closely with our national partners in a responsive, collaborative way. 
By strengthening the sustainability of our learning offer and expanding access to practical resources, the Hub supports music education partners across the country. We’re excited to see teachers, music services and education organisations use these resources in innovative ways, as we continue to learn together and share best practice nationwide.’

The Hub will officially launch at a free, in-person event on Saturday 21 March, 1–5pm, at Woolwich Works, Greenwich. The event will bring together young musicians, educators, and sector partners to explore the platform, take part in hands-on professional development workshops, and connect with peers from across England. The day will close with a performance by Steam Down - an artist collective, weekly event and music community based in Deptford, South-East London, founded by one of NYJO’s Resident MDs, Ahnansé. Attendance at the launch event is free, with advance registration required by Saturday 7 March. Press and sector partners are warmly invited to attend. 

About NYJO
NYJO is a registered charity and an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation with a mission to bring jazz and improvised music to young musicians aged 14-25, and audiences across the country. We strongly believe in the power of jazz as a tool for social change and work to creatively nurture young people, empowering them to develop, personally and artistically, through high-quality, accessible, and inclusive learning programmes and professional live performances.
We work in collaboration with likeminded partners around the country to address access barriers to music education and deliver bespoke programmes that cater to the needs and aspirations of local young people. With a strong commitment to making jazz and music-making opportunities more evenly distributed across the UK, we focus on traditionally underserved and marginalised communities to inspire young people to use jazz as a form of self-expression. 

https://nyjo.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/nyjouk

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nyjouk

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist, first broadcast 08/03/2026.

Monday, March 09, 2026

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 08/03/2026, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist from March 8th 2026

Available now at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Tim Garland & Geoffrey Keezer
To the one who flies
Mezzo
Tim Garland Music

Mark Lockheart
Come on Over
Shapeshifter
Edition

Taupe
Lemonade Tycoon
Waxing-Waning
Minority Records

Ravi Ramsahye
Distant Glow
Prototype
Neuklang

Chloé Marsigny Sextet
Conspicuous Dance
10 Seconds To Lift-Off
Unit Records

Pierpaolo Zenni
Dedication
N.O.P.E
AUT

Giuseppi Bassi
Ima
Ima Ora
Dodicilune

Marius Neset
The Unknown
Time to Live
ACT

Aadal
Brockenspekter
Aggressive hymns, energetic ballads
Losen

Mammal Hands
Alia’s abandon
Circadia
ECN

Emmeluth’s Amoeba
Amoeba 1
With Love
Moserobie

Xangorchestra
Funambolee
Quando Le Tigri Fumavano
AUT

Paul Jarret
Branches
Tilia
BMC

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 7pm

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

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

42nd Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival - Venues and first tranche of artists announced.

Saturday, March 07, 2026

The festival will take place from July 24th to August 2nd 2026 at various venues in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands. The majority of events are free of admission. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

42nd Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival
Friday 24th July to Sunday 2nd August 2026

With confirmed band bookings now over the 100 mark, and the festival’s now partner hotel in place, this is a good news week for The 42nd Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival.

The festival will take place from July 24th to August 2nd this year – a little later than usual thanks to the World Cup football – we thought it better not to have a clash of dates – it wouldn’t have been fair to damage the attendance numbers of that football spectacular.

The festival hotel is the historic hotel and former coaching inn, The Plough & Harrow which dates back to 1704, making it probably the oldest hotel in the city – where both horses and guests could have stayed overnight. Among its many famous guests were Edward VII, when he was Prince of Wales who regularly stayed there, and J.R.R. Tolkien who stayed there in 1916 while recovering from illness during World War I.

Neither of the above would recognise the Plough & Harrow during the festival, award with partying musicians and jazz and blues fans all having a rocking great time.

With 59 venues already on board and more ready to sign up, we will certainly reach our target of last year’s figure of 100 – spread throughout the City and Sandwell, as well as in Wolverhampton, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield and, waiting for final confirmation, Dudley and Walsall.

We are still in the process of booking the bands, but here’s a list to give some idea of what’s in store:

VENUES:

Winterbourne House
New Oscott Village
No. 18 Coffee & Wine Bar
The Red Lion, West Bromwich
AC Hotel
The Exchange
Botanical Gardens
Plough & Harrow
The Wellington
The Junction
Millennium Point
Bacchus Bar
All Bar One
Fighting Cocks
Omnon
Saint Paul’s Market
Vieni
Red Lion, Jewellery Quarter
The New Inn, Harborne
The Brasshouse
Old Joint Stock
Bournville Gardens Village
Longbridge Village
Barabara’s Bier Haus
Lightwoods House
Dishoom
Hilton Garden Inn
Core Theatre, Solihull
Water’s Edge Bandstand
West Bromwich Indoor Market
Ibis Birmingham New Street
Cote, Solihull
Moseley All-Services Club
Mailbox
Bar Estilo
Museum Collection Centre
Aston Hall
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery
Blakesley Hall
CBSO Centre
Cosy Club
Sarehole Mill
Thinktank
Wednesbury Museum
Haden Hill House
Bromwich Hall
Oak House
Chamberlain Square
La Bellezza
Albert Schloss
Dishoom

Would your venue like to get involved in the Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival this year? Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call the office on 0121 454 7020, and get involved in 10 days of fun, community and the very BEST of jazz and blues.

Headliners & Artists

King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys are currently on tour celebrating a most impressive 40 years on the road. BBC Broadcaster Paul Jones, long-time member of The Blues Band and Manford Mann, reckoned that King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys were “The hardest act to follow since the parting of the Red Sea,” while The Guardian wrote “Behind the fun and rollicking good times lies an outfit skilled enough for the horns to come on with the bite and precision of the Basie Band.”

Another headliner will be the now legendary, all star tribute to Billie Holiday, LADY SINGS THE BLUES, which will feature at The Core Theatre, Solihull on Friday 31st July. It’s a Best of British line-up with the finest of UK female jazz singers, Val Wiseman, along with Bruce Adams, trumpet, Mike Hall, tenor saxophone, Ian Bateman, trombone, Dave Newton, piano, Dave Green, double bass and Eric Ford, drums.

As always, more than 95% of the performances will be free admission, and here are just some of the sheer multitude of fine bands and musicians that can be seen and heard without having to pay for a ticket:
Stacy Mitchhart (USA)
Miho Hazama (Japan) with Soweto Kinch, Ivo Neame, Tom Farmer and Sharne Forbes
The Swing Cats (Spain)
La Voodoo Jazz (Spain)
Ben Toury (France)
B D Lenz (USA)
Andres Roots (Estonia)
Tipitina
Alan Barnes Quartet
Hit Parade Heroes
The Shufflepack
Rip Roaring Success
Jump, Jive & Wail
James Oliver Band
Django Chutney
The Too Hot Trio
Birmingham Big Band
Hot Club of Halifax
Carley’s Wreck & Ruin
Sheila Waterfield
Suzi Woods
Roy Forbes
Hannah Brine

CBSO - Mizo Hazama
On Birmingham Jazz & Blues Festival Eve (Thursday 23rd July) we will be partnering with the CBSO to welcome multi-Grammy-nominated composer, Miho Hazama, to the home of the CBSO for an electrifying evening of jazz. Hazama joins forces with an ensemble of CBSO musicians and a stellar band, starring saxophonist and friend of the CBSO, Soweto Kinch, alongside Tom Farmer, Sharne Forbes and Ivo Neame. From Hazama’s original compositions to the works of jazz legends Herbie Hancock and Thelonious Monk, this performance takes audiences on a thrilling journey through jazz - past and present.
8:00pm at the CBSO Centre, 23rd July 2026. Tickets available below:
Get Your Tickets Here
ttps://cbso.co.uk/events/birmingham-jazz-blues-festival-miho-hazama-at-the-cbso-centre

A New Way To Support The Festival

And just when you thought that this good news week couldn’t get any better, we are delighted to share that we are now registered with easyfundraiser.co.uk, allowing donations to be made to the festival at no cost to you WHATSOEVER!

How does it work?
Whenever you buy from companies that are partnered with EasyFundraiser (e.g., amazon, ebay, royal mail, Tesco online), the company will make a small donation to the festival - a bit like a credit card that offers cashback!
These costs are in no way passed on to the customer, so by signing up you can make FREE donations to the festival!
(P.S. We will soon be opening our usual crowdfunding campaign alongside this free donation campaign - so stay tuned!)
To sign up, simply click on the button below.
Click Here to Start Raising Free Donations today!
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/birmingham-jazz-and-blues-festival-cic/

Love Supreme Jazz Festival Announces Over 25 Additional Acts.

Saturday, March 07, 2026

Love Supreme Jazz Festival has added over 25 artists to its 2026 programme. The events takes place at Glynde Place, East Sussex from Friday July 3rd – Sunday July 5th 2026. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Love Supreme Jazz Festival Announces Over 25 Additional Acts // De La Soul, Anderson .Paak, Sister Sledge, Gabrielle, Free Nationals, Courtney Pine, Lemar, Franc Moody, Durand Bernarr, Alex Isley

LOVE SUPREME JAZZ FESTIVAL 2026 ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL ACTS

De La Soul (full band), Anderson .Paak (as DJ Pee .Wee), Free Nationals, Sister Sledge, Gabrielle, Franc Moody, Durand Bernarr, Alex Isley, Courtney Pine, Lemar, Bill Frisell Trio & Greg Tardy, Luke Bacchus, Loose Ends, Joe Lovano & Antonio Faraò, Light Of The World, Young Gun Silver Fox, Emma Rawicz INKYRA, Kiefer, Joe Webb Trio among over 25 new names joining line-up for Europe’s largest outdoor jazz festival

*De La Soul announced as Sunday headliners for their only UK full band show of 2026*

*Brit Award and Mercury Prize-winning Ezra Collective confirmed as Friday headliners and will curate “Temple Of Joy”, a celebration of the artists and community that inspire them, bringing together a genre-spanning line-up throughout the day ahead of their headline performance*

** Loyle Carner makes his Love Supreme debut with Saturday headline slot**

Love Supreme 2026 Full Line-Up To Date (more acts TBA):
Ezra Collective Presents Temple Of Joy (Friday headline) • Loyle Carner (Saturday headline) • De La Soul (Sunday headline) • Jalen Ngonda • Free Nationals • Sister Sledge • Gabrielle • The Temptations & The Four Tops • Franc Moody • Maze • Durand Bernarr • Kokoroko • Samara Joy • esperanza spalding • Alex Isley • Courtney Pine • Lemar • Bill Frisell & Greg Tardy • Moses Boyd • Joe Lovano & Antonio Faraò • Olive Jones • The War & Treaty • Young Gun Silver Fox • Loose Ends • Annie & the Caldwells • Luke Una • Light of the World • CARRTOONS • Joe Webb Trio • Tony Momrelle and Natalie Williams Soul Family • Kiefer • D.K. Harrell • Emma Rawicz INKYRA
and more

Glynde Place, East Sussex from Friday July 3rd – Sunday July 5th 2026

Tickets are on sale now from http://www.lovesupremefestival.com

Love Supreme Jazz Festival has added over 25 artists to its 2026 programme including its Sunday headliner, the revolutionary alt jazz hip-hop outfit De La Soul (performing with a full band). The recent additions expand a line-up that already includes Ezra Collective (Friday headline), Loyle Carner (Saturday headline), Samara Joy, Jalen Ngonda, The Temptations & The Four Tops, Kokoroko, Esperanza Spalding, Moses Boyd, Annie & The Caldwells and The War and Treaty.

Newly announced artists include DJ Pee. Wee - the alter ego of 9x Grammy-winning artist and producer Anderson .Paak; enduring US vocal group behind a string of hits including We Are Family, He’s The Greatest Dancer and Lost In Music Sister Sledge; boundary-pushing British saxophonist Courtney Pine, who celebrates 40 years since the release of his acclaimed debut album Journey From Within; BRIT Award-winning singer-songwriter Gabrielle; multi-platinum-selling British soul star Lemar; and Anderson .Paak’s live band, the American funk/R&B outfit Free Nationals.

Also joining the line-up are visionary electric guitarist Bill Frisell celebrating his 75th birthday this year; US jazz giant Joe Lovano with Italian pianist Antonio Faraò; London funk collective Franc Moody; British R&B outfit Loose Ends, whose 1985 hit Hangin’ on a String made them the first UK act to top the US Billboard R&B chart; LA pianist and producer Keifer; indie R&B singer Durand Bernarr, whose recent album secured Best Progressive R&B Album at this year’s Grammys; influential British jazz-funk pioneers Light of the World; Grammy-nominated US vocalist Alex Isley; Mercury Music Prize-nominated pianist Joe Webb; fast-rising British saxophonist and composer Emma Rawicz; and BBC Young Jazz Musician finalist Luke Bacchus.

For the first time, Love Supreme will feature three full days of main stage programming, opening on Friday July 3rd with a headline performance from Ezra Collective. Having first performed at the festival as an emerging act in 2016 - a show they describe as a career breakthrough - and following acclaimed sets in 2018 and 2022, the group have since risen to become one of the UK’s most celebrated and internationally recognised jazz acts and return in 2026 as main stage headliners. In addition to their headline performance, the group will curate the opening day programme, titled Temple Of Joy, presenting artists who reflect their influences and collaborative ethos.

Saturday’s headline will be multi-award-winning British rapper and songwriter Loyle Carner, whose introspective, jazz-infused hip-hop and socially conscious lyricism have earned widespread acclaim and a global fanbase. Carner’s show comes after a landmark 2025 which included a Glastonbury Other Stage headline, four sold-out nights at Brixton Academy and the release of Top Five album Hopefully.

Love Supreme will once again feature an array of festival experiences including a new restaurant, wellness and yoga sessions, a new, expanded Kids area, two Supremium VIP areas, and the Jazz Lounge with artist interviews, talks, and screenings. The Bands & Voices and Blue In Green areas will also offer cabaret, spoken word, swing dance lessons, and late-night performances in the woods.

Full line-up to date:

Loyle Carner
Ezra Collective - presents Temple of Joy
De La Soul - Only UK Full Live Band Show of 2026
Anderson .Paak (as DJ Pee .Wee)
Jalen Ngonda
Free Nationals
Sister Sledge
Gabrielle
The Temptations & The Four Tops
Franc Moody
Maze - UK Festival Exclusive
Durand Bernarr
Kokoroko
Samara Joy
esperanza spalding
Alex Isley
Courtney Pine
Lemar
Bill Frisell & Greg Tardy
Moses Boyd
Joe Lovano & Antonio Faraò
Olive Jones
The War & Treaty
Young Gun Silver Fox
Loose Ends
Annie & the Caldwells
Luke Una - É Soul Cultura
Light of the World
CARRTOONS
Joe Webb Trio
Tony Momrelle and Natalie Williams Soul Family
Kiefer
D.K. Harrell
Emma Rawicz INKYRA
LULU.
Luke Bacchus
James Emmanuel
Hetta Falzon
Eliane Correa En El Aire Project
Guvna B
Kio
two kalme
Eniola
Amanda

Tickets are on sale now from http://www.lovesupremefestival.com.

Nick Dewhurst - forthcoming gig schedule, March - June 2026.

Thursday, March 05, 2026

Lichfield based trumpeter / guitarist Nick Dewhurst has forwarded details of some of his forthcoming live appearances with a variety of different line-ups.

Nick Dewhurst writes;

On Wednesday 18th March I’m going to playing as part of the Lichfield Jazz House Band as we welcome our next special guest to the Cathedral Hotel.  For this month, we’ve got Jazz Trumpeter Antony Stevens!  Tickets cost £15, and are available on the door.  Doors open at 7pm, and the music starts at 7.30pm. For more information please see Lichfield Jazz.
https://www.facebook.com/lichfieldjazz/

On Friday 20th March I’m playing with the Walsall Jazz Orchestra at Wrekin College in Telford.  The concert will be a joint concert with the school Jazz Band performing too.  Tickets & Info available here;
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/wrekinarts/jazz-night-wrekin-jazz-band-welcome-back-special-guests-walsall-jazz-orchestra/e-vraype

The 6-Piece Nick Dewhurst Band gets an outing on Sunday 12th April at the Hub at St Mary’s in Lichfield as we play our ‘Jazz & Funk Roadshow’, playing a selection of funky originals and covers.  Tickets available here
https://thehubstmarys.co.uk/events/jazz-funk-roadshow-nick-dewhurst-band/

On Wednesday 6th May I’m absolutely delighted to be playing with the brand new West Side Jazz Orchestra at Campus West in Welwyn Garden City.  This debut performance of the West Side Jazz Orchestra will feature some of the UK’s top session musicians from the BBC Big Band, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and Syd Lawrence Orchestra - playing the big band repertoire of: Bob Florence, Sammy Nestico, Thad Jones, Gordon Goodwin, Count Basie and Tom Kubis. Not to be missed!  Tickets & Info here;
https://www.westsidejazz.com/

Finally, I’m looking forward to another performance at the Hub in Lichfield, as part of the brand new Lichfield Jazz Weekender. On Thursday 4th June, I’ll be doing a concert with the ND Band plus very special guest vocalist Lydia Rae. Tickets available here
https://thehubstmarys.co.uk/events/nick-dewhurst-band-feat-lydia-rae/

That’s all for now - it’d be great to see some of you at the Cathedral Hotel on the 18th March for our next Lichfield Jazz night!

All the very best,
Nick

Nick Dewhurst Music
@nickdewhurstmusic
http://www.nickdewhurst.com

Shrewsbury Jazz Network announce programme for April, May and June 2026.

Wednesday, March 04, 2026

Shrewsbury Jazz Network has announced its programme for spring and early summer 2026. Events take place at The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury. Fully detailed schedule attached.

PROGRAMME – April to June 2026
* Saturdays at 7pm. Performance area opens 6:30pm.

Let Spin April 11 £25/£12 U22
Let Spin are an egalitarian four-piece whose members Chris Williams (saxophones & flute), Ruth Goller (bass & vocals), Moss Freed (guitar), & Finlay Panter (drums) are active contributors to the fertile London, UK and European jazz scenes. The result is an explosive mixture of stylistic influences. Their collaborative way of working, with a focus on improvisation, leads to incendiary live performances as experienced at the Hive in 2023. Their next performance will be based on material from their fifth album ‘I am Alien’ which sees an expansion of their sound worlds and explorations with the additions of Ruth Goller’s vocals and Chris Williams’s baritone saxophone and flute. This has taken the band’s interplay and fusing of composition and improvisation to a whole new level, with spectacular results. Be ready!
‘Electrifying live band whose grooves could wake the dead ....’ The Guardian

Alex Hitchcock Quartet
May 9 £25/£12 U22
Following sold-out album launches in New York and London, Saxophonist and composer Alex Hitchcock brings a cutting-edge quartet with Joe Downard (bass), Will Barry (piano) & Luke McCarthy (drums). This exciting band will be performing music from the acclaimed new release. ‘Letters from Afar’, a sonic correspondence across
emotional, geographic, and artistic distances. This is music for curious, open-minded listeners drawn to art at the edge of beauty and disruption.
‘Leading the charge in terms of new jazz music being created in the UK..’ BBC Jazz World

Gaz Hughes Trio
June 13 £25/£12 U22
Drummer Gaz Hughes returns to SJN at the Hive with his exciting trio partners Gavin Barras (double bass) & Andrzej Baranek (piano). Rooted in the timeless tradition of the piano trio, they breathe fresh life into standards and mix in a few of their own original compositions for good measure. The result showcases seamless interaction, bold creativity, and an infectious joy. Classic Sound with a Modern Twist.
‘A high level of swing and musicality…Jazz Journal

The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury, SY1 1TE

https://events.hiveonline.org.uk/

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

01743 234970

Emily Masser - March newsletter.

Tuesday, March 03, 2026

Vocalist Emily Masser has forwarded her latest newsletter, including details of forthcoming live appearances.

Emily Masser writes;

March Newsletter - Emily Masser

MARCH NEWSLETTER
Welcome (or welcome back!)
If you’ve just joined, thank you very much for signing up - I’m looking forward to staying in touch.
It’s been a minute since I last popped into your inbox, it’s been a busy few months! I’ve had some great gigs with some some of my favourite musicians and friends. I thought I’d give you a quick recap of some of my highlights.

Before I get carried away with what I’ve been up to, let me tell you about what’s coming up…
On Friday 6th March I’m heading to Bodle Street Green with Alex Clarke, joined by Matyas Gayer, James Owston and Steve Brown. I would absolutely love to invite you… but it sold out weeks ago.
However — the very next night, Saturday 7th March, my quartet will be at Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham for two evening shows.
I’ll be joined by the same ridiculously swinging rhythm section (minus Alex this time). I’m really looking forward to this gig as we will be playing some new arrangements (which might be appearing on my next album!)
If you’ve never been, it’s such a great place for a gig and some of the best food (you can make a whole evening of it — dinner and a show, very civilised, you don’t get that in Wigan!).
If you can make it to Nottingham, I’d love to see some friendly faces in the audience.
Ticket link;
https://peggysskylight.co.uk/events/emily-masser-quartet-7th-march-2026/

Scarborough Jazz Festival
We kicked things off at Hull Jazz Club on the Thursday night. Alex, Robin Aspland, James, Steve and I had booked an Airbnb en route. The plan was to grab a takeaway, but we drove past a Tesco just before closing time and thought, “Oh this is sensible.”
Worst. Decision. Ever.
We arrived after 11pm and spent a solid ten minutes staring at a lockbox. Five professional musicians… and not one of us could find the key. We’re much better when there is a chart in front of us!
Eventually we got in, only to begin phase two: the pitch-black shuffle around the house trying to locate the light switch. Once illuminated, there was of course the traditional childish sprint to claim bedrooms (don’t worry, we gave the elders the nicest rooms).
Then came the “cooking”.
Robin very kindly took on the responsibility of preheating the oven for our Indian ready meals. Unfortunately, he preheated it to what I can only assume was “surface of the sun” and never turned it back down. The result? Molten plastic gently infused into our chicken tikka masalas.
Nothing bonds a band quite like the threat of plastic poisoning.
The next day we set off for Scarborough Jazz Festival, where I was completely blown away by how well looked after we were - seamless parking (despite me not letting them know we’d be driving), lovely hospitality, even free drinks appearing at just the right moment. It really is one of the best festivals.
We played our quintet set, and then a quick outfit change before heading straight back on stage for the Oscar Peterson Centenary concert with the Dean Stockdale 11, celebrating the late, great Oscar Peterson.
We organised to stay for the whole weekend and upgraded ourselves to another Airbnb - this one with multiple bedrooms, a short walk from the venue, and lovely sea views.
We had a rotating cast of lodgers each night, but this time we were absolutely spoilt at dinner.
Mark Armstrong was cooking up a storm, and Steve Brown was on Negroni duty (not that any of us can particularly remember them… which probably tells you everything you need to know).
The food was so good that word spread quickly — before we knew it we had representatives from all corners of the British jazz scene appearing at the door.
I’m very glad to report there was a dishwasher. Otherwise I think I’d still be in Scarborough, elbow-deep in plates.
I’m aware I’ve mostly talked about food here, but you already have to listen to me sing — I won’t also make you read detailed descriptions of each gig.
Anyway… that’s the weekend wrapped up.
(Wrap… see what i did there? You could say I’m a chip off the old block!)

Saxophone and bass clarinet debut at Cadogan Hall
Swingin’ With Strings - The Jazz Repertory Company (Pete Long Orchestra)
Featuring Claire Martin, Iain Mackenzie
I was unbelievably excited to be in the sax section for this gig, great fun (despite never having played bass clarinet before this gig).

Sheffield Jazz Club
It was my first time driving myself to a gig - I’ve recently passed my driving test so It was quite freeing to not have to rope Alex into driving me to the nearest train station after the gig. We had a great time playing with Graham Harvey, James Owston and Matt Home. Unfortunately I didn’t get any photos of the band but I did get a photo of my reverse bay parking attempt. (I’ll spare you the picture…)

PARISH NOTICES :
06/03 - Bodle Street Green
07/03 - Peggy’s Skylight (please come!)
20/03 - Chichester Jazz Club
16/04 - Alsager Jazz Club
13/05 - Shrivenham Jazz Club

https://emilymasser.co.uk/

Jammin’ Colours artists on tour, March, April and May 2026.

Tuesday, March 03, 2026

Three acts associated with the Belgian music agency Jammin' Colours will be touring in Europe during Spring. They are Christie Dashiell 4tet, Joe Sanders' Parallels, Sachal Vasandani.

We have received the following press release;

Come listen to one of these beautiful concerts !

CHRISTIE DASHIELL 4tet
“Journey in Black”
Nominated “BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM” 
Grammy Awards 2025 & 2026
Christie Dashiell - vocals
Danny Grissett / Tony Tixier - piano
Reggie Washington - bass
Yoràn Vroom / Arnaud Dolmen - drums
TAKE YOUR TICKETS
6 to 9 March - Half Note - Athens, Greece
11 March - Blue Moon Sessions - Nantes, France
13 March - Jazz à l’Étage - Saint Malo, France
28 March - Transition Festival - Utrecht, Netherlands
31 March - Unterfahrt - Munich, Germany
4 April - De Warande - Turnhout, Belgium
9 May - Espace Sorano - Vincennes, France
More info;  https://www.jammincolors.com/artists/christie-dashiell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqIVCGjkdus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_02ai6Mt5Ro
“Journey in Black should solidify Dashiell’s position as one of today’s most innovative vocalists and composers” – Downbeat‍
“Une nouvelle chanteuse de jazz contemporain hors clichés qui mérite d’être suivie de près !” - Soul Bag
“Une écriture sensible, des arrangements super, une voix qui transperce le cœur.” - Le Soir
★★★★★ - Downbeat (USA)
★★★★ - Soul Bag (FR)
★★★★ - Jazzwise (UK)
★★★★-  Le Soir (BE)
★★★★-  Written In Music (NL)
Spectacularly creative vocalist Christie Dashiell releases her long-awaited second album, Journey in Black.
The daughter of jazz bassist Carroll Dashiell Jr, Washington DC-born and North Carolina-raised Dashiell has been singing for as long as she can remember and brings a deeply rooted musical lineage to her performances.
Recognized for her improvisational prowess, a stratospheric scatting ability and her effortlessly rich and clear tone, Dashiell has become one of the most sought-after artists on the international jazz scene today. She has appeared with master drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, vibraphonist Stefon Harris, the collective Black Lives, saxophonists Lakecia Benjamin and Marcus Strickland, producer Adam Blackstone and many other leading performers.
“Journey in Black” strongly emphasizes Dashiell’s character and enhances her reputation. Already the recipient of a rare 5-star review from Downbeat Magazine, the album features seven original compositions and two arrangements that explore themes of freedom, legacy, grief and joy. Featuring both straight-ahead jazz and soul-influenced songs, the album gives an honest depiction of Dashiell’s life and musical influences.

JOE SANDERS’ PARALLELS
feat. Seamus Blake, Will Vinson & Greg Hutchinson
Joe Sanders - bass
Seamus Blake - tenor sax
Will Vinson / Plume - alto sax
Greg Hutchinson - drums
TAKE YOUR TICKETS
18 March - AMR Genève - Genève, Switzerland
21 March - Nasjonal Jazz Scene - Oslo, Norway
23 March - NEW MORNING - Paris, France
24 March - Unterfahrt - Munich, Germany
26 March - Porgy & Bess - Vienna, Austria
27 March - Jassmine - Warsaw, Poland
28 March - Jazz Club Ferrara - Ferrara, Italy
29 March - Colonna Jazz Club - Bertinoro, Italy
https://www.themusicofjoesanders.com/about
https://www.jammincolors.com/artists/joe-sanders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcZjYNeDHLE
“An openness to different forms of musical expression lies at the very heart of this latest release from bassist Joe Sanders.” - Jazz Journal
“Sanders’s has given us a tantalising look into his musical world that embraces such diversity with open arms, and shows how one can utilise such differing musical approaches in a way that it is truly creative.” - Jazzviews
“Captivating” - Record Collector
“Everything is melodious, warm and modern but with a solid foot in tradition” - Tor Hammerø
“Parallels” devrait réussir à séduire les amoureux du blues, du swing et du groupe, ceux qui aiment la musique qui se mélange et se marie à d’autres sons.” - Jazz Radio
“Joe Sanders est l’un des grands contrebassistes de sa génération, tant par la qualité de son sens de l’accompagnement, la puissance de sa sonorité que dans ses talents de soliste” - La Terrasse
“Intense, profond et réjouissant” - Jazz Magazine
“De l’inventivité, de l’audace, du groove et de la décontraction. On est fan” - Le Soir
Being a conduit for emotion and awareness through the bass, Joe Sanders does the utmost to constantly and creatively be in the moment with every note he plays.
As a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin he developed an appetite for various musical styles throughout his adolescence, from hearing blues on the radio to exalted voices in the Baptist Church.
Joe has been fortunate to perform and learn alongside such luminaries as Dave Brubeck, Christian McBride, Terence Blanchard, Ron Carter, Roy Hargrove, John Clayton, Jimmy Heath, Charlie Haden, Herbie Hancock, Charles Lloyd, Wayne Shorter, Geri Allen, Gerald Clayton, Justin Brown, Christian Scott, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Walter Smith III.
These collaborations with members of his generation and the influence of his elders pushed Sanders into a newfound way of conceptualizing the bass, music, and life.

NEW ALBUM - 27 MARCH 2026
SACHAL VASANDANI
“Best Life Now”
Sachal Vasandani - vocals
Dayna Stephens / Erwin Vann - saxophone
Jon Cowherd - piano
Reggie Washington - bass
Tyson Jackson - drums
TAKE YOUR TICKETS
21 March - Jazz à Toute Heure - Saint-Rémy-Lès-Chevreuse, France
22 March - Musig Im Pflegidach - Muri, Switzerland
24 March - NEW MORNING - Paris, France
https://www.sachalvasandani.com/
https://unitedmasters.com/m/best-life-now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq9kdJXdf1I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C8APR—wq0
“Best Life Now puts forth a seamless amalgam of pop songwriting, tight R&B grooves and jazz textures and sonorities in the mix…Vasandani’s voice occupies a smooth zone reminiscent of D’Angelo, Robert Palmer and David Sylvian, while his intelligent songwriting rises above mere pop-soul genre generics.” - DownBeat
“Sachal Vasandani returns with the vastly expanded textural palette and head-nodding grooves of Best Life Now…the album immerses listeners in a soundtrack that authentically captures both the highs and lows of contemporary relationships.” - Jazzwise
“The Warmth and Soulful Groove of Sachal Vasandani: The singer Sachal Vasandani has become known for his distinctive takes on jazz standards, and for his wide ranging covers, from Bob Dylan to Billie Eilish. But Sachal is also a songwriter himself, and his new album, Best Life Now, is largely a collection of original songs musing on stories of sensuality, heartbreak, and other love struggles.” - WNYC
The Best Albums 2025 - NPR Music
Sachal Vasandani is recognized for his singular voice, with a tone and unique phrasing that mark him as one of the most compelling artists on the scene today. Thoroughly rooted in jazz, Sachal has the swagger to front the most swinging big bands and the vulnerability to present definitive takes of classic ballads.
He performs with artists of all styles, and has sung alongside musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Bobby McFerrin, Milton Nascimento, Bill Charlap, Natalia LaFourcade and Michael Feinstein.
His deeply creative approach to improvisation across lyrics, melodic changes and time signatures is always soulful, and he has come to be regarded as one of the eminent vocal improvisers of his generation.
​
His new album “Best Life Now” draws listeners into their own romantic relationships with a soundtrack reflecting the ups and downs of modern love. .
Sachal has performed to enthusiastic audiences at all major festivals, theaters, and clubs across the world.

Hejira - Gig list 2026.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Hejira the seven piece band that celebrates the music of Joni Mitchell's 'jazz period' and in particular the live album 'Shadows and Light' will be touring again in Spring and in Autumn 2026.

Guest contributor Colin May has provided the following information;

Hejira the seven piece band that celebrates the music of Joni Mitchell’s ‘jazz period’ and in particular the live album ‘Shadows and Light’ will be touring again in Spring and in Autumn this year.

In between on 10th July they have been invited to play at the Syracuse Jazz Festival, New York.

The band now has a pool of three singer/guitarists with Jana Varga or Immy Churchill fronting the band on occasion as well as Hattie Whitehead who has been fronting Hejira since it started as an unnamed band playing what was expected to be a one-off gig at The Spin, Oxford in December 2022 . The band’s gig at The Spin on 30th April this year already has sold out.

Gig list 2026

March
16: London: Jazz Cafe
26: Cambridge: The Junction
27: Barrow-in-Furness: Town Hall
29: Huddersfield: Town Hall
30: Ambleside: Zeffirellis
31: Milton Keynes: The Stables

April
3: Manchester: Band on the Wall
4: Cumbernauld: Lanternhouse
5: Leeds: City Varieties Music Hall
8: Portsmouth: Guildhall
9: Lyme Regis: The Marine Theatre
29: Bristol: St.Georges
30: Oxford: The Spin* ( Sold Out)

May
1: Aberteifi/Cardigan: Mwldan*
2: Totnes: Civic Hall*

July
10: Syracuse Jazz Festival (New York)

September
4: Ambleside: Ambleside Days Festival*
5: Ludlow: Assembly Rooms*
6: Swansea: Jazz Festival*
9: Leicester Jazz House**
18: Guildford: Jazz Festival

October
4: Exeter: Phoenix Theatre
8: Cardiff: Acapela Studio
9: Twickenham: The Exchange

November
6: Kendal: Brewery Arts Centre
7: Liverpool: Tung Auditorium
13: Stroud: Sub Rooms
14: Hungerford: Croft Hall

December
3. Nottingham: Bonnington Theatre

All of the above are fronted by Hattie Whitehead, except:
*Jana Varga
**Immy Churchill

Tickets are available via https://www.peteoxley.com/projects/hejira#gigs

Guido Spannocchi - latest newsletter.

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Alto saxophonist Guido Spannocchi has forwarded his latest newsletter including details of new recordings and forthcoming live dates.

Guido Spannocchi writes;

Springtime Movements!
A new tune dedicated to Seven Dials in the heart of London plus a bunch of wonderful shows coming up!
Be part of the movement by choosing culture and live music!

The first single of my upcoming album “Pensées/Meditations” is enjoying significant airplay and great feedback, loosely based on Schoenberg’s second string quartet (1st movement) it offers a moment of reflection and as we progress into spring we slowly find our way in the dynamic of this new year while we figure out how to set ourselves up for the seasons to come.
You can find the first single here https://kud.li/audioguido33

The second single “Seven Dials Triptychon” is dedicated to the maze like environment of central London which features a number of exciting clubs and late night sessions.
Recording expertly mixed by Raphael Spannocchi, mastered by Simon Kummer. James Larter vibraphone & tubular bells, Danny Keane cello, Andrea Di Biase bass
The stranger who finds himself in the Dials for the first time…at the entrance of Seven obscure passages, uncertain which to take, will see enough around him to keep his curiosity awake for no inconsiderable time… (Charles Dickens)
“Seven Dials Triptychon” available from Friday 28th Feb on all platforms,
pre-save now via: https://kud.li/audioguido34

The full album “Kammermusik” will be out on 24.April,
On 14th May we will be celbrating the release by playing the repertoire in its entirety at World Heart Beat concert hall in Embassy Gardens, London. This state of the art brand new concert hall excels through cutting edge programme and incredible sound.
Truly a very special show, get your tickets now before they sell out, I’d absolutely love to share this music with you in this wonderful setting:
14.May World Heart Beat Tickets:
https://worldheartbeat.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173674824

Some nice local shows this March are:

4.March 8pm with Jason Simpson bass & James Larter percussion at Portuguese Love Affair 326 Hackney Road;

11.March 8pm at the brand new Flamingo Club in Kingley Court just off Carnaby Street with Pete Whittaker on organ and Filippo Galli on drums plus special guests;

26.March 8pm at 542 Brixton doing a South Africa Special with Federico De Vittor on piano, Jason Simpson on bass & Wes Gibbens on drums, tickets available here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/542-jazz-nights-an-evening-with-guido-spannocchi-tickets-1983262688088?aff=oddtdtcreator

Pre-order new album “Kammermuzik”
https://kud.li/audioguido32

Website;
https://audioguido.com/

https://www.youtube.com/guidospannocchi

https://x.com/audioguido

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3kJWwaSVs6IKAtBxYupIhx

https://audioguido.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/audioguido

https://soundcloud.com/audioguido

Alex Clarke Quartet:  “Out of The Woods” Album Tour, February to October 2026.

Friday, February 27, 2026

Saxophonist Alex Clarke will be touring her new quartet album "Out of The Woods" around the UK during 2026. Schedule attached.

Alex Clarke writes;

‘Out of the Woods’: Album Tour

Hello All,
We are taking our new quartet album Out of the Woods on the road this year! See below for details of when & where we are playing, and how you can purchase tickets.

Fri 27th Feb | Birmingham
Birmingham Jazz | 1000 Trades

Sun 8th Mar | Market Harborough
Harborough Jazz | The Three Swans, Lunchtime event

Thurs 12th Mar | Ross-on-Wye
Corn Exchange | Kings Head Hotel

Fri 13th Mar | Stourbridge
Bonded Warehouse

Tue 17th Mar | Southampton
Southampton Jazz | Stage Door

Sat 21st Mar | Brighton
The Verdict

Tue 24th Mar | Marlow
Marlow Jazz Club | The Barn Club

Wed 25th Mar | Eastleigh
The Concorde Club

Sat 28th Mar | Crowmarsh
Crow Jazz | Crowmarsh Village Hall

Sat 11th Apr | Topsham
Topsham Festival | Matthews Hall

Wed 29th Apr | London
606 Club | Chelsea

Tue 12th May | Coventry
Corner Pocket Jazz Club | Westwood Club
Details (tickets on the door)

Mon 8th June | Southport
Southport U3A | The Grand

Thu 9th July | Cambridge
Cambridge Modern Jazz | Hidden Rooms

Sat 11th July | Swanage
Swanage Jazz Festival

Wed 19th Aug | Twickenham
Exchange Theatre

Thu 10th Sep | Cheltenham
Steamin’ Jazz | Steam & Whistle

Fri 30th Oct | Derby
Derby Jazz | Chapel Street Arts

Album Reviews;

Jazzwise ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“it reveals again her willingness to challenge herself, her ideas and certainty of intention key elements to its success”

The Jazz Mann ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“this recording is a cut above the rest thanks to the intelligent writing and arranging and the quality of the playing from all involved”

Jazz Views
“Quite simply this is timeless small group jazz of the highest quality and unreservedly recommended.”

Bebop Spoken Here
“Three fabulous musicians backing a fabulous younger generation musician makes Out of the Woods an essential purchase.” 

https://alexclarkejazz.co.uk/

Harborough Jazz Club - Programme March - June 2026.

Tuesday, February 24, 2026

Harborough Jazz Club has announced its programme for Spring 2026. Events take place on Sunday lunchtimes at The Three Swans Hotel, Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

From;
https://harboroughjazz.com/

Welcome to Harborough Jazz

Who Are We?
Harborough Jazz Club focuses on promoting modern and mainstream forms of Jazz. We stage a monthly Sunday gig and a local jam session. We have an excellent reputation for providing jazz sessions from national and international names. Join as a club member and enjoy special rates and booking privileges. 

Where to Find Us
We look forward to seeing you at our lunchtime sessions on the second Sunday in every month at The Three Swans Hotel, Market Harborough, UK to enjoy a friendly relaxed atmosphere, good food and the best in modern jazz. Our open jam sessions are held on the last Tuesday in the month the Coach and Horses pub in Lubenham (see Local Jazz News). https://harboroughjazz.com/local-jazz-news

Sunday sessions at The Three Swans Hotel 2025/6 season;
PLEASE HELP US BY PURCHASING TICKETS IN ADVANCE

Alex Clarke Quartet
Sun 8 Mar 2026,
12:30PM - 2:45PM
The Three Swans
Market Harborough
Finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, Alex is known to be one of the most in-demand and versatile saxophonists to have emerged on the British jazz scene. Her total respect for the heritage of the music can be heard in a fiery, melodic approach inspired by the likes of Phil Woods, Cannonball Adderley and Vincent Herring. As a bandleader, Alex’s quartet features some of the UK’s finest musicians: David Newton, Dave Green and Steve Brown.
Tickets;
https://www.ticketsource.com/booking/select/jlmoybwgvvmy

Chris Coull
The Three Swans, Market Harborough, LE167NJ
Sunday 12th April 2026
Chris has based himself in Brighton where his playful be-bop style has been in evidence in the clubs and festivals around the area. Chris has played with and led many collaborations including Alan Barnes, David Newton, Andy Panayi, and Toni Kofi.  Chris has appeared at many festivals and jazz clubs including, Appleby Jazz festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Love Supreme, Leeds Jazz Festival, and Band On The Wall.
“Chris is a beautiful lyrical trumpet player who embraces the great musical lineage of jazz.” Dominick Farinacci, International jazz trumpeter and Wynton Marsalis protégé.
Tickets;
https://www.ticketsource.com/booking/select/yvdedmzezzoe

The Dean Stockdale Quartet
The Three Swans, Market Harborough, LE167NJ
Sunday 10th May 2026
Dean Stockdale is a highly regarded jazz pianist, arranger and composer known for his sensitive, swinging style, and regularly appears around the UK with his trio and with some of the best names in UK jazz. His biggest influences in jazz are the piano styles of Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Gene Harris, Mulgrew Miller and Erroll Garner. He enjoys the tradition of mainstream jazz with a passion for the American Songbook. Also featured will be Tim Williams guitar, Gavin Barras bass and Gaz Hughes drums.
Tickets;
https://www.ticketsource.com/booking/select/zjkyakqmenen

Pete Oxley’s Time is of the Essence
The Three Swans , Market Harborough, LE167NJ
Sunday 14th June 2026
Pete Oxley: Time is of the Essence
Inspired by the stunning 1999 album by Michael Brecker, Time is of the Essence is an ‘organ quartet’: sax, guitar, organ and drums.  Formed in 2010, the band features original music along with pieces by the likes of Michael Brecker, Steely Dan, Wes Montgomery and Eddie Harris, falling very much into the ‘groove’ category of jazz!
Ollie Weston ~ Saxophones,  Pete Oxley ~ Guitars,  Martin Pickett ~ Organ, Keith Fairbairn ~ Drums
Tickets;
https://www.ticketsource.com/booking/select/npkpedezpxbg

The Three Swans Hotel,
21 High Street,
Market Harborough,
Leicestershire,
LE16 7NJ

01858 466644

https://threeswans.co.uk/

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 22/02/2026.

Monday, February 23, 2026

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 22/02/2026, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Available now at wwww.mixcloud.com/ukjazz and at Camp Radio

Dave Holland, Norma Winstone
Will you walk a little faster
Vital Spark
Edition

Sara Colman & Rebecca Nash
Little Light
Ribbons
Stoney Lane

Geoff Eales & Maggie Nichols
Put out the Stars
Beautiful Love
33 Jazz

Freysteinn
Thoughts
Thoughts
Protomaterial

Shake Stew
Ascendence
Ten One Two
Traumton

Niklas Lukassen
Estuary
Still Waters
Heartcore

Marc Jufer
Scary Night
Another Part Of The World
Unit Records

CC Syndicate
The Day The World Smiled Back
Flying High

Hutman & Cissokho
Klezmandingo
The Following
Frémeaux & Associés

Fred Thomas
Stella By Starlight
Spinning Threads
Bandcamp

Cimota
Blues for the end of the world (part)
[ˈkɪmɔtɑː]
Sonic Transmissions

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 7pm

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

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

Jazz North announces latest roster of Northern Line.

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Jazz North has announced its latest roster of Northern Line - the live talent development programme for jazz artists across the North. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Northern Line 2026 is Revealed

Jazz North announces its latest roster of Northern Line - the live talent development programme for jazz artists across the North

Rory A. Green, SwanNek, Hang Linton, Rivkala & Ancient Infinity Orchestra 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:
“After over a decade, Northern Line is firmly established as the most exciting talent development programme for jazz across the entirety of the North. Demonstrated perfectly by this latest cohort of exceptional musicians.
Previous alumni and artists on the current roster have already been singled out by key industry individuals, organisations and influencers as artists to watch, so keep a close eye on the forthcoming national and international success of these names.
With this round of Northern Line, Jazz North proudly presents five of the region’s premier breakthrough jazz artists, representing the cream of northern talent.”

The PRS Foundation launched its inaugural Ones to Watch list, featuring 25 exciting artists hand-picked by the PRSF team, one of which is current Northern Line artist, Hang Linton, an indie artist known for poetic storytelling that demands your attention.

Hailing from Northumberland, Leeds, North East, Manchester and Liverpool: Rory A. Green, SwanNek, Hang Linton, Rivkala & Ancient Infinity Orchestra join the celebrated cohort of artists and will be available to book for activity starting in September 2026.

On joining the roster, Bex from Rivkala, says:”
I couldn’t be more excited to receive Jazz North’s support in organising my first UK tour with the full Rivkala band. We’ve been working hard to develop the show into a uniquely theatrical experience, to give new audiences a taste of the bitter and twisted world inside the Crushed Velvet cabaret”.

On joining the roster, Rory A. Green, says:
“I am delighted with this opportunity to grow my skills & network while levelling up my touring with an experienced team to support the journey. As a DIY independent artist who is planning to release their debut album this year, this support means everything & couldn’t have come at a better time.”

Northern Line artists were chosen with the support of an esteemed advisory panel of promoters, radio producers, artists and festival teams - Aisling Doherty, Thomas Rees, Josh Aitman, Ni Maxine, Rianne Thomspon, Bob Walker and David Porter.

The programme provides essential support to artists’ live touring ambitions. Each of the five bands will receive a live touring bursary from £1500 and tailored 1:1 support across an 18-month period.

Audiences can see the full roster perform live at the Northern Line showcase at manchester jazz festival (mjf) on 16th & 17th of May 2026 as part of the festival’s opening weekend at First Street.

mjf is the North’s most celebrated and longest-running music festival, with a reputation for fostering rising jazz talent through their own bespoke development schemes and innovative events programme.

Industry guests are invited to attend a networking reception on the Sunday afternoon (17th May), hosted by Jazz North.

Promoters can contact artists directly or via Jazz North for round 12 bookings from September 2026.

Currently available Northern Line artists include Ex-Easter Island Hear, Ellen Beth Abdi, Ferg’s Imaginary Big Band, Amy Thatcher & Francesca Knowles and The Exu.

Visit http://www.jazznorth.org/northern-line for more information

Northern Line Artist Bios:

Rory A. Green
Rory A. Green classical guitar / Eleanor Colee tenor saxophone / Zac Hemming drums
Ghanaian-English guitarist, composer and producer Rory A. Green, inspired by his mixed heritage background, uses the sensitivity of acoustic instruments combined with infectious rhythms to create heavily layered, atmospheric environments for his music.
With a dynamic, conversational approach to the guitar and improvisation, Rory has been using music to tell stories and captivate audiences in his hometown of Manchester and across the UK, sharing stages with Laura Misch, Kessoncoda and Marysia Osu.
https://www.facebook.com/roryalexgreen
https://www.instagram.com/roryagreen

SwanNek
Mollie Birmingham vocals / Olly Styles tenor saxophone / Jacob Egglestone guitar / Alexa K Palmer Campiglia cello / Findlay Hewitson keyboards / Jake Baines bass / John Hirst drums
SwanNek is a boundary-pushing contemporary jazz collective from Northumberland, renowned for crafting music that celebrates the people and places closest to their hearts.
SwanNek draw deeply from their own experiences, weaving personal stories into a dynamic and powerfully emotive sound: a fusion that reflects the rich and diverse musical identity of their hometown. 
Their emotive, innovative and welcoming live shows have drawn praise from Radio 3’s Soweto Kinch and BBC Introducing’s Shakk (“a collective of musical superheroes”), consistently attracting an eclectic and ever-growing fanbase.
“Innovative. Dynamic. A combustion of musical talent.” - Glasshouse ICM
https://www.instagram.com/swan_nek

Hang Linton
Hang Linton vocals, guitar, harmonica, sampler, synthesisers
A fearless sonic force, Hang Linton is a boundary-pushing artist from Leeds, fusing avant-funk, dance-punk, psych-rock and breakbeats into a raw and unapologetic sound. Armed with a sampler, synths and an unrelenting energy, Linton dismantles the polished and predictable, channelling the spirit of DIY counterculture with every performance.
Explosive, chaotic, and fiercely authentic, Hang Linton brings a live show that’s part protest, part party, a cathartic release that challenges convention and demands your attention. 
https://www.instagram.com/hang_linton/
https://www.tiktok.com/@hang_linton

Rivkala
Rivkala vocals / Faye MacCalman saxophones, clarinet / Billy Bradshaw trumpet / Ben Lawrence keyboards / Luke Elgie guitar / Katy Trigger double bass, bass guitar / Mark Johnson drums
Self-proclaimed showgirl Rivkala - along with her esteemed band - blends jazz, soul, funk, and klezmer to build the twisted world of the Crushed Velvet cabaret bar, where she delivers biting yet playful social commentaries. The Mancunian singer-songwriter has made the North East her home over the past seven years, working across a range of projects and co-founding Jam Sandwich, an improvised contemporary jazz jam.
Winner of Youth Music Video of the Year (2025), Youth Music Ones to Watch (2026), BBC Introducing: One to Watch (2025), and Drake Music’s Emergent Artist (2023), Rivkala delivered exhilarating performances in 2025 for BBC Proms (broadcast on Radio 3’s ‘Round Midnight), MOBO Fringe, Sofar Sounds, SXSW Roadshow and TV features for BBC Look North and ITV Tyne Tees.
https://www.instagram.com/rivkalalala
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089946803664
https://www.tiktok.com/@rivkalalala 

Ancient Infinity Orchestra
Ozzy Moysey double bass / Joel Stedman flute, bass clarinet, congas / Matt Cliffe flute, alto flute, tenor saxophone / Khemi Shabazz oboe / Jacob Rider alto saxophone / Hugh Vincent piano / Elliot Roffe double bass / John Arnesen drums
Ancient Infinity Orchestra emerged in the North of England as a joyous, communal force, rooted in collective music-making and shared intention. Led by Leeds-based composer-double bassist Ozzy Moysey, the ensemble weaves melody, with expansive, uplifting improvisation, creating music that feels both intimate and cosmic.
Their latest recording, It’s Always About Love, blossoms with warmth, texture, and emotional depth, shaped by a rich palette of acoustic sounds and open-hearted collaboration. Affiliated with jazz, folk, classical, and devotional music traditions, the Orchestra offers generous, healing music that invites listeners into a shared experience of unity, openness, and joy.
https://www.instagram.com/ancientinfinityorchestra
https://ancientinfinityorchestra.com

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 15-24 May 2026, lighting up venues across the city, mjf2026 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

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts, New York City, announces Spring 2026 season of its free POP-UP CONCERTS - March, April, May 2026.

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Miller Theatre’s hour-long, musician-curated Pop-Up Concerts—free, informal, and intimate—bring the audience right onto the stage. Spring 2026 programme attached.

We have received the following press release;

Miller Theatre announces Spring 2026 season of its free POP-UP CONCERTS (3/31 - 5/18)

Miller Theatre at Columbia University School of the Arts announces the spring season of POP-UP CONCERTS
Free & informal “happy hour” concerts with the audience onstage

Tuesday, March 31
Alexis Gerlach
Bach’s Cello Suites

Monday, April 6
Eleonore Oppenheim
Bass Pairs

Tuesday, April 28
Alice Teyssier and Friends
Adventures of La Maupin

Monday, May 18
Imani Winds
The French Connection

Free admission • Doors at 5:30PM, music at 6PM
at Miller Theatre (2960 Broadway at 116th Street)

Pop-Up Concerts
Onstage seating is first-come, first-served
Concerts start at 6PM and doors open at 5:30PM

Miller Theatre’s hour-long Pop-Up Concerts—free, informal, and intimate—bring the audience right onto the stage, inches from virtuoso performers who share not only their music but the stories behind it. The unique setting “feels closer to a loft party than a formal concert” (ODEA). One loyal audience member calls it “the greatest hour of culture in New York.”

“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

“Even after the weekend’s over, if you’re craving world-class music, you can hear some for free at neighborhood gem The Miller Theater at Columbia University.”
— West Side Rag

Tuesday, March 31
Alexis Gerlach
Bach’s Cello Suites
A familiar presence on the Miller stage, the expressive cellist Alexis Pia Gerlach makes her Pop-Up Concerts debut with an intimate recital of Bach’s timeless Cello Suites.
Program:
J.S. Bach Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007
J.S. Bach Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011

Monday, April 6
Eleonore Oppenheim
Bass Pairs
Eleonore Oppenheim, bass; Cameron Mesirow, voice
Jessie Montgomery, violin; Ashley Bathgate, cello
Nathan Koci, accordion
In Bass Pairs, adventurous bassist Eleonore Oppenheim curates an intimate evening of duo performances that reimagine the double bass in conversation. Collaborating with extraordinary musicians, the program moves fluidly from Romantic lyricism to bold contemporary soundscapes.
Program:
Julia Wolfe Retrieve (2016) for cello and double bass
Giovanni Bottesini arr. Oppenheim Elegy No. 1 in D Major
Bottesini arr. Oppenheim Elegy No. 3
big dog little dog set of original compositions
Glasser duo arrangements

Tuesday, April 28
Alice Teyssier and Friends
Adventures of La Maupin
Alice Teyssier, voice; Michael Weyandt, baritone
Peter Evans, trumpet; Benjamin Katz, harpsichord
Alice Teyssier presents a new cantata-style work inspired by the life and legend of La Maupin, the late-17th-century queer opera singer and swordswoman renowned for her rapturous voice and fabled adventures. Joined by a small ensemble, Teyssier embodies La Maupin at the end of her life, conjuring the arias La Maupin might have sung, the duels she may have fought, and her fearless displays of passion.

Monday, May 18
Imani Winds
The French Connection
Brandon Patrick George, flute; Mekhi Gladden, oboe; Mark Dover, clarinet
Kevin Newton, French horn; Monica Ellis, bassoon
Renowned for their electrifying performances and adventurous programming that bridges tradition and innovation, the Grammy-winning quintet Imani Winds presents a program spotlighting three composers shaped by French culture, jazz, and folk traditions.
Program:
Valerie Coleman Suite: Portraits of Josephine Baker (2016)
Lalo Schifrin La Nouvelle Orleans (1987)
Henri Tomasi Cinq Danses Profanes et Sacrées (1959)

About the Artists

Alexis Gerlach
Cellist Alexis Pia Gerlach has been lauded in the press for her “gripping emotion” and “powerful artistry,” qualities which have led to a career as a solo artist and chamber musician, with performances across the U.S. and in 15 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and South America. As the founding cellist of Trio Solisti, Gerlach performed for 19 years at major American venues and series, recorded extensively, and gave the premieres of many new works. In addition, she was a founding member of the sextet Concertante, with whom she toured for 15 years throughout the U.S., and recorded much of the string sextet repertoire. A frequent collaborator with dancers, Gerlach collaborated as solo cellist with the Paul Taylor Dance Company on tour in India and at New York’s City Center, and in a duo with New York City Ballet principal dancer, Damian Woetzel. She has performed at many chamber music festivals including Marlboro, Aspen, Caramoor, Bridgehampton, and La Musica di Asolo, and as a guest artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. With Musicians From Marlboro, she has toured both in the U.S. and internationally. Gerlach studied cello at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division, and at The Yale School of Music and The Juilliard School.

Alice Teyssier
http://www.aliceteyssier.com
“An arresting soprano, in all senses” (Los Angeles Times), Brooklyn-based Alice Teyssier has appeared as a soloist with the San Diego Symphony, International Contemporary Ensemble, Talea Ensemble, San Francisco New Music Players, Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, the 21st Century Consort, Bourbon Baroque, and Bach Collegium San Diego, among others, and is also a regular performer on Los Angeles’ renowned Monday Evening Concerts series. A core ensemble member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), Teyssier performs frequently with Peter Evans and his ensembles SYMPHONY and Being & Becoming, the quartet Trinket, and The Atelier. This season, she appears at the Museum of Modern Art, Symphony Space, Tenri Cultural Institute, the Museum of the City of New York, Bohemian National Hall, the Century Club, Miller Theatre at Columbia University, Roulette Intermedium, and Pioneer Works, among other New York City venues. She will premiere new works by Iceberg New Music composers Camila Agosto, Joshua Biggs, Rick Burkhardt, Modney, David Sanford, Nina Young, and Jue Wang, and will also present and record her own compositions. Since 2018, much of her creative life has been shaped by her role as a mother; through her Thresholds project, she composes, devises, and collaborates around themes of life transitions. In 2021, Teyssier co-founded MATRICALIS, a project and community hub reflecting on the impact of motherhood on individual musicians through resources, open forums, and advocacy. She holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (B.M., M.M.), the Conservatoire de Strasbourg (Specialization Diploma), and the University of California, San Diego (D.M.A.), and serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Performance in the Music Department at New York University.

Eleonore Oppenheim
http://www.eobass.com
Eleonore Oppenheim is a genre surfing musical polyglot. Her current projects include big dog little dog (a duo with composer/violinist Jessie Montgomery), an acoustic trio with art-pop auteur Glasser and multi-instrumentalist Robbie Lee, and the avant folk-jazz supergroup The Hands Free (with James Moore, Caroline Shaw, and Nathan Koci), among others. Oppenheim has an exciting repertoire of commissioned solo pieces and has also worked with established composers including Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and Meredith Monk, in composer-led ensembles like Missy Mazzoli’s “all-star, all female” bandsemble Victoire and Florent Ghys’ low strings and drums powerhouse Bonjour, with the Bang on a Can All-Stars, and with many other artists from the indie rock, jazz, and folk worlds. In addition to writing and arranging music, she has established herself as a go-to chamber musician, soloist, recording artist, and large ensemble player. Oppenheim enjoys working in the theater as well and spent the better part of 2019 and 2020 performing in Daniel Fish’s groundbreaking reimagining of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! off- and on Broadway. Also a music educator, she currently runs a new music program for teens called Face the Music at the Kaufman Music Center and teaches and manages ensembles at Special Music High School. She is an alumna of The Juilliard School, the Yale School of Music, and Stony Brook University.

Imani Winds
http://www.imaniwinds.com
Celebrating nearly three decades of transformative music-making, the Grammy-winning and four-time Grammy-nominated Imani Winds has led both a revolution and an evolution of the wind quintet. Their repertoire bridges the traditional and the contemporary—featuring core chamber works, reimagined arrangements, and newly commissioned pieces by both renowned and rising composers. Imani Winds’ programming reflects the urgency and diversity of our times, amplifying stories and voices too often left unheard. Their 2024 release, BeLonging—a collaboration with composer Andy Akiho exploring the issue of mass incarceration—earned a 2025 Grammy nomination. Other recent highlights include a double quintet by Arturo Sandoval, featuring Boston Brass; Jessie Montgomery’s work inspired by her great-grandfather’s migration north; and Carlos Simon’s tribute to African American icons. These works are part of the ensemble’s ongoing Legacy Commissioning Project, encompassing dozens of world premieres. Now in their 29th touring season, Imani Winds regularly appears on major chamber music series and at leading performing arts centers and summer festivals, including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Chamber Music Northwest, Banff Centre, and the Chautauqua Institution. Internationally, their reach extends across Asia, Europe, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2019, Imani Winds founded the Imani Winds Foundation, followed by the creation of Imani Winds Media—a record label spotlighting artists of color.

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 Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, the Howard Gilman Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, the Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, and the Howard and Sarah D. Solomon Foundation.

Support for contemporary music at Miller Theatre is provided by the Aaron Copland
Fund for Music, the Amphion Foundation, and the Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Program with funding from the Chamber Music America Endowment Fund.

Columbia University’s Miller Theatre is located north of the Main Campus Gate at 116th St. & Broadway on the ground floor of Dodge Hall.

Directions and information are available online at http://www.millertheatre.com  or via the Miller Theatre Box Office, at 212/854-7799.

Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival 2026 -  second wave of artists announced.

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival has announced the 2nd round of acts for this year's event. Artists include Jordan Rakei, Soul II Soul, Cymande, Don West, Sampa The Great, Craig Charles, Goldie.

We have received the following press release;

Birmingham’s Mostly Jazz Festival 2026 announce second wave of artists

Jordan Rakei
Soul II Soul • Cymande,
Goldie • Sampa The Great • Craig Charles,
Don West • Emma-Jean Thackray
Jamz Supernova • Somewhere Soul • Sol Paradise,
Quantic • Neal Sugarman (Daptone Records),
Nightmares On Wax
+ more

Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival
Friday 10 to Sunday 12 July 2026
Moseley Park, Birmingham

Birmingham’s Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival have revealed their second round of acts for this summer’s event (Friday 10 to Sunday 12 July 2026).

Leading the announcement are Jordan Rakei, Soul II Soul, Cymande, Don West, Sampa The Great, Craig Charles and Goldie.

They join the previously announced Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra (Friday headliners) and the soulful Jalen Ngonda (Sunday headliner).

Saturday headliner Jordan Rakei is a former Artist In Resident at the iconic Abbey Road Studios. Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, though now resident in London, the singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist has worked with such artists as Tom Misch, FKJ, Loyle Carner, Bonobo and Jalen.

R&B collective Soul II Soul (Friday) revolutionised British music with 1989’s ground-breaking debut album, Club Classics Vol. One. Emerging from London sound system culture, Jazzie B and crew’s sophisticated sound earned them a run of era-defining global hits, including Keep On Movin and Back To Life.

Having originally disbanded in the mid-70s, Cymande (Saturday) reunited after discovering their unique brand of funk, soul, reggae, jazz, rock and African rhythms was being increasingly sampled by a new generation of artists – among them De La Soul, Wu-Tang Clan and The Fugees. Never resting on their laurels, recent collection, Renascence, continues Cymande’s creative renaissance, reconfirming their legendary status.

The forthcoming third album from Sampa The Great (Saturday) sees the rapper/musician reconnect with her Zambian roots for a bold contemporary reimagining of 1970s Zamrock. Introducing elements of hip hop, soul and spoken word into the classic Afro rock/ funk genre, it’s a sound she’s dubbed ‘Nu Zamrock’.

Further acts revealed as heading to the boutique Birmingham festival include Jazz FM Award-winner Emma-Jean Thackray (Sunday) whose deeply personal Weirdo was shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Prize; fast-rising charismatic Australian Don West (Sunday), one of the freshest voices in modern soul music; Mostly Jazz fave DJ Craig Charles (Saturday) and fellow BBC 6Music presenter Jamz Supernova (Sunday); drum’n’bass pioneer Goldie, with a DJ set (Friday); Nightmares On Wax (DJ set, Friday), whose seminal In A Space Outta Sound album is being expanded to celebrate its 20th anniversary; music curator/DJ Somewhere Soul (Sunday); nature-inspired genre-blurring multi-instrumentalist Sol Paradise (Sunday); James Emmanuel (Sunday), whose journey has taken him from karaoke nights to appearing at the Royal Albert Hall for BBC Proms; and Neal Sugarman (Sunday) co-founder of the seminal Daptone label, home to Jalen Ngonda and Thee Sacred Souls.

Other line-up additions include the ever-evolving Quantic, Newcastle’s Knats, Jazz FM Instrumentalist Of The Year Dan Casimir and his Big Band, West African singer/percussionist Falle Nioke, vocalist Olympia Vitalis (with a new EP, Lady Luck, incoming), DJ Dick, Ishmael Ensemble (DJ Set) and alt.rapper Saiming.

Plus from Birmingham and the surrounding area, Leftfoot DJs, Sam Redmore, Wobble’s Phil Gifford, queer disco specialists Horse Meat Disco, Billy Green and Fools In The House DJs, the surreal Diddy Sweg Big Band, The Atlantic Players, SoundLab Brum, bassist Riley Mamvura, pianist Josh Bailey, the chilled improvjazzlab, Blow Water DJs, and B:and Together, while Brum institution Attic will be ensuring there’s plenty of craft beer available throughout the festival.

In addition to the massive artist drop, the Mostly Jazz team have also announced that Jazz FM are returning as the festival’s radio partner for the fourth consecutive year. They’ll be on-site for the weekend, broadcasting unique content including exclusive interviews and stripped back sessions.

John Fell, Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul’s Manager, said: “We’re excited to add the legendary Soul II Soul to our Friday line-up, alongside Fabio & Grooverider’s drum’n’bass celebration and the mighty Goldie, while Jordan Rakei, Cymande and Sampa The Great give us a totally different vibe on Saturday, and Sunday oozes with soul, thanks to Neal Sugarman, Thee Sacred Souls and Jalen Ngonda.”

Taking place in the idyllic surroundings of Moseley Park, the annual three-day event is a short distance away from Birmingham’s city centre, yet a world away from city life. With sloping grounds, creating a natural amphitheatre in front of a beautiful lake, it hosts some of the best jazz, funk, soul and dance artists from across the UK and further afield.

Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival runs from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 July 2026 at Moseley Park, Birmingham. Tickets on sale from Friday 13 February 2026, 10am. For full details, see: http://www.mostlyjazz.co.uk

Friday 10 to Sunday 12 July 2026
Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival
Moseley Park and Pool, 93b Alcester Road, Birmingham B13 8DD
Details / tickets: http://www.mostlyjazz.co.uk

TICKETS:
Tier 1: SOLD OUT / Tier 2: SOLD OUT
Tier 3: [On sale from 10am, Friday 13 February 2026] Adult Weekend £177.50; Adult Day £65.40; U18 Weekend £69.80; U18 Day £36; U12 FREE; Family Weekend £387.50.
(Booking fees included)
Payment plans on all orders with Kaboodle - split over 4 months.

Social media:

http://www.facebook.com/mostlyjazz

http://www.x.com/mostly_jazz

http://www.instagram.com/mostly_jazz/

http://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyjazz/

http://www.youtube.com/user/mostlyjazz

Hashtag: #mostlyjazz

FRIDAY 10 JULY 2026
Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra
Soul II Soul
Goldie (DJ set)
Nightmares On Wax
Sam Redmore B2B Matt Beck
Olympia Vitalis
Saiming
improvjazzlab

SATURDAY 11 JULY 2026
Jordan Rakei
Cymande
Sampa The Great
Craig Charles
Gabriels (DJ Set)
Annie & The Caldwells
Close Counters
Diddy Sweg Big Band
Falle Nioke
Riley Mamvura
Josh Bailey & Friends
B:and Together
Phil Gifford (Wobble)
Horse Meat Disco
Knats
Leftfoot DJs
Ishmael Ensemble (DJ set)
DJ Dick

SUNDAY 12 JULY 2026
Jalen Ngonda
Thee Sacred Souls
Somewhere Soul
Don West
Jamz Supernova
Emma-Jean Thackray
Neal Sugarman (Daptone Records)
Quantic
Sol Paradise
Olive Jones
The Dan Casimir Big Band
The Atlantic Players
James Emmanuel
Billy Green & Fools In The House DJs
Blow Water DJs
SoundLab BRUM

Radio Partner: Jazz FM

With more artists to be announced ...

ABOUT MOSTLY JAZZ FUNK AND SOUL FESTIVAL
Debuting in 2010, Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival is a diverse, vibrant festival, celebrating ground-breaking, innovative UK music alongside international trailblazers. Held in Moseley Park, a stunning 11-acre woodland glade in the heart of Moseley Village, the festival is just two miles from the centre of Birmingham, yet is a world away from city life. With sloping grounds, creating a natural amphitheatre in front of the beautiful lake, it’s the perfect setting for a festival. Each year Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul brings incredible artists, workshops, arts, crafts, and a selection of Birmingham’s most loved street food and drinks vendors to Moseley, for one epic party weekend.
Previous headliners include Ezra Collective, Maribou State, Chic feat. Nile Rodgers, Public Enemy, Gregory Porter, Chaka Khan, De La Soul, Bonobo, The Specials, The Wailers, Goldie, Fat Freddy’s Drop, KC and The Sunshine Band, Kool and The Gang, The Jacksons, Yussef Dayes, The Blackbyrds, and Leftfield.

manchester jazz festival 2026 announces headliners.

Monday, February 09, 2026

manchester jazz festival (mjf2026) will take place between 15-24 May 2026 at venues and sites across Manchester. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

manchester jazz festival: bringing in the next 30 years of jazz!

Manchester’s longest-running music festival is back this Summer for 10 days of jam-packed festival fun and musical vibes across the city this May!

manchester jazz festival (mjf2026) will take place between 15-24 May 2026 at venues and sites across Manchester, celebrating the latest up and coming talent from across the North, and the best names in contemporary jazz.

Headliners include: China Moses, Andy Sheppard Trio, Yellowjackets, Toni Kofi/Denys Baptiste Quintet, Cassie Kinoshi’s seed., Bel Cobain, Lau Noah, NOUT, Cotonete, Sarsen Drift + Tom Cawley, Olivia Cuttill & Friends, Orchestra Mambo International and many more…

Jazz lovers rejoice – manchester jazz festival is back for its 31st edition in 2026. Lighting up venues across the city, mjf2026 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 was first staged in the summer of 1996, hosting nine bands in one venue over the course of a single day. Who could have known that this would mark the start of what is now Manchester’s longest running music festival, radiating across the city for 10 whole days each year. And yet, for all it’s grown, mjf’s spirit remains the same, rooted in the joyful celebration and genuine support of the contemporary jazz world’s diverse and local artists.

Building on the success of the last few years, manchester jazz festival (mjf2026) begins with a spectacular FREE opening weekender at the vibrant neighbourhood: First Street (mjf @ First Street) from 15 – 17 May. There will be two event stages: Main Stage and the Ask Garden Stage, each celebrating the breadth and individuality of our home-grown scene and beyond: bands emerging through mjf’s artist development programmes alongside a host of northern success stories giving their homecoming performance at mjf (Lara Jones, Thanda Gumede). The opening night shines a light on tomorrow’s talent, including a pop-up performance curated by mjf’s Youth Advisory Board, with family-friendly activities on Saturday morning and food and drink offers throughout the weekend. 

New for this year, a series of programme partnerships (Manchester Folk Festival, Oldham Coliseum Theatre) will bring mjf artists to new audiences and new artists to mjf audiences. You’ll see mjf spread across our usual range of venues and music nights: Matt & Phreds, RNCM, Forsyth Music Shop, The Stoller Hall, Low Four Studios, Stage & Radio and The Carlton Club. The festival closes with an extended weekend-long party at Band on the Wall, and an afternoon triple-bill at Aviva Studios, home of Factory International, that shines a light on three contrasting approaches to songwriting, against the backdrop of the special Women in Jazz Photography exhibition on display there throughout. 

Featured in that triple bill will be Satnam Galsian, who’ll be presenting 2026’s mjf originals new work premiere, and whose music blends the rich tradition of Punjabi folk with contemporary, feminist storytelling. It’s a compelling piece that we’ve co-commissioned with Oldham Coliseum, Wigan Old Courts and Khushi Festival.

The mjf piano trail competition is also making a comeback! manchester jazz festival and Forsyth Music Shop have joined forces once again for the mjf2026 piano trail competition: to find Manchester’s hidden talents across a trail of at least 18 street pianos at locations across Manchester city centre and beyond, including Rochdale, Trafford, Salford, Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne, and Wigan. From 29 March (which happens to be World Piano Day!) to 31 May, the mjf2026 piano trail competition encourages everyone to get involved and share their creativity and just have fun! For those who want to take part, there’s a chance to enter a competition to win a Yamaha electric piano and many more prizes, and there will be live performances at some of the pianos on the trail, more information to be announced soon. 

Alongside the piano trail itself, there will also be two bespoke piano trail walking tours available, run by Free Manchester Walking Tours (FMWT), on the 17 and 24 May (£12 per adult, children go free) with some of the proceeds from the tours going to support the Play it Forward: Street Piano Fund, run by mjf and Forsyth Music Shop, which aims to expand the current network of street pianos across more boroughs and communities across Greater Manchester all-year-round. 

Ticket prices for the festival start from £7.50 and there’s plenty of free-to-access music and activities taking place at locations across the city centre, including the entire opening weekender: mjf @ First Street, and gigs in the Copper Bar at Band on the Wall and at Matt & Phreds. 

Festival fans have come to expect international debuts at mjf; this year we welcome artists from France, Spain, Poland, Italy, Cuba and Brazil. You’ll hear them first at mjf!
Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 13 February at manchesterjazz.com

Highlights of the festival programme are as follows:

mjf @ First Street, 15 - 17 May
As well as some of the North’s leading artists gracing the Main Stage on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (15 - 17 May), there will be family-friendly activities launching the Saturday (16 May) morning vibes on the Ask Garden Stage, followed by performances from mjf’s talent development programme alumni, and on Sunday 17, mjf partners with Jazz North to present the Northern Line showcase: profiling five acts selected for the touring scheme by industry leaders. 

The Stoller Hall 15 & 22 May (main venue and *Carole Nash Hall)
Andy Sheppard Trio
Andy Scott & Carmel Smickersgill + Simeon Walker + Her Revelation (triple bill)*

RNCM Theatre 16 & 23 May
Cassie Kinoshi’s seed. 
Legacy - Coltrane and Cannonball: Tony Kofi & Denys Baptiste Quintet

Matt and Phreds, 15 - 24 May
Hijack Horns, M&P’s Big Band Brunch ft. DG Kollective, Kemani & Friends, Chinese Marbles, Tom Sharp Jazz Orchestra, M&P’s Big Band Brunch ft. DG Kollective, Three or Four Shades of Mingus, Hania Derej Trio, Beyond the Blue, The Plimp Souls, M&P’s Jazz Brunch ft. The Grant Russell Quartet, Suboptimal, Alligator Gumbo and mjf Wrap Party Jam ft. Ed Kainyek Quartet.

The Carlton Club, 18-19 May
Big Ideas x mjf and Brume x mjf

Low Four Studios, 20 May
mjf presents a special double-bill performance in the intimate surroundings of Low Four Studios.
Sarsen Drift + Tom Cawley (double-bill)

Whittles, Oldham, 20 May
OCT x mjf presents: Vipertime + support

Forsyth Music Shop, 21 May
Olivia Cuttill & Friends play the Legends of Jazz

George St Chapel, Oldham, 21 May
OCT x mjf presents: Her Revelation + Lullaby - Sonic Cradle

Band on the Wall, 19 - 24 May
Main venue: Yellowjackets, Bel Cobain + support, Lau Noah, Cotonete + support, Tara Lily, China Moses + support. 
Copper Bar gigs: Beat the Jams x mjf: Tom Thorp & George King, Calico, Finite Experience, Yoni Mayraz, Thiara Collective, Manchild, Jon Onabowu, Nout, Flo/ra and Band on the Wall Jazz Workshop Band. 

Stage & Radio, 22 May
The GreensKeepers Jam x mjf

The Social, Aviva Studios, 24 May
Dilettante, Caraway and Satnam Galsian + Special Guests.

Steve Mead, mjf CEO and Artistic Director, said: 
“After last year’s bumper 30th anniversary celebrations, we’re heading purposefully into our fourth decade with mjf’s trademark array of contemporary sounds, surprising discoveries and the promise of good times.  Festivals are a prized possession for a city: no other occasion presents so many opportunities to come together with friends old and new, to embark upon curious adventures and to simply spend time surrounded by exceptional music of the highest calibre. Music offers something valuable to each of us – be it cultural nourishment, escape or good company.  In a time of ongoing financial, social and political challenges, music has the power to unite us and remind us of the values that are important for us all. I hope you’ll choose to spend some of your valuable time in our company and be rewarded at mjf this summer.”

mjf2026 will take place from 15 – 24 May 2026 in venues across Manchester city centre. Tickets go on sale at 10am on 13 February at http://www.manchesterjazz.com

Leading Persian and Middle Eastern Artists To Perform Across The UK In 2026.

Tuesday, February 03, 2026

Artstage - the world’s premier promoter of non-mainstream Persian and Middle Eastern music – presents a series of live performances from some of the region’s most celebrated artists. Press release att

We have received the following press release;

Leading Persian and Middle Eastern Artists To Perform Across The UK In 2026

*Artstage - the world’s premier promoter of non-mainstream Persian and Middle Eastern music – presents a series of live performances from some of the region’s most celebrated artists*

Highlights for 2026 include the internationally acclaimed kamancheh virtuoso Kayhan Kalhor; a Barbican headline for 2008 Eurovision representatives for Turkey mor ve ötesi; one of the most iconic Kurdish singers of her generation Anyur; master of the baglama and one of Turkey’s most revered musicians Erdal Erzincan; and London-based Syrian oud player Rihab Azar.

ARTSAGE UK CONCERTS 2026

Full listings HERE.
https://artstage.com/

MOR VE ÖTESI
Wednesday 4th February 2026 – Barbican, London
mor ve ötesi have been a powerhouse of modern Turkish rock for the last twenty years and will perform their biggest UK show to date with a headline performance at the Barbican. The group represented Turkey in the 2008 Eurovision in Belgrade and have released eight studio albums since their debut in 1996.
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2026/event/mor-ve-otesi

DAVID BERGMÜLLER
Friday 6th February 2026 – Kings Place, London
Austrian musician David Bergmüller brings the lute into the 21st century with his new album Know Thyself, shaped by minimalist grooves, subtle loops, and delicate electronic textures. Surrounded by effect pedals reminiscent of electric guitarists, several synthesisers and a computer, Bergmüller creates luminous, atmospheric tracks for various lutes; imbued with hints of minimal music and wistful, dreamlike melodies.
https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/contemporary/david-bergmuller/

RANA FARHAN
Saturday 28th February 2026 – World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens, London
Rana Farhan grew up in Tehran but now lives in New York where she sings in Persian and English drawing inspirations from the likes of Billie Holiday, and creating a unique cultural product of both her native Iran and adopted country, the US. She combines the rich oral traditions of Persia with traditions that originated in American culture. Rana continues to push boundaries with her latest album Persian Soul; a new 10-track collection which returns to the poetry of Rumi, weaving his timeless words into original compositions that blend blues, soul and Persian influences in Rana’s signature style.
https://worldheartbeat.org/events/rana-farhan/

ANYUR
Saturday 28th March 2026 – Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham
Monday 30th March 2026 – The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh
Thursday 2nd April 2026 – Barbican, London
One of the biggest voices in Kurdish music, Anyur and her ensemble return to London to present her acclaimed album Rabe, a culmination of over two decades of artistic evolution. Aynur’s impressive voice and extraordinary musical narration represent the Kurdish music heritage of her cultural roots as a global genre. Her unique voice infuses traditional Kurdish folk music with the contemporary sensibility of Western music.
https://bmusic.co.uk/events/aynur-do%C4%9Fan 
https://www.thequeenshall.net/whats-on/aynur-dogan-tickets-edinburgh
https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2026/event/aynur

RIHAB AZAR QUARTET
Thursday 2nd April 2026 – Kings Place, London
While deeply rooted in the authentic Middle-Eastern character of the Oud, Rihab Azar’s music possesses a uniquely rich and intimate identity of its own. The quartet will perform original works from Rihab’s debut album Dandelion, alongside compositions from Hamza El Din, Ahmad Alkhatib, Feras Charestan, Adnan Abushamat and more.
https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/contemporary/rihab-azar-quartet-dandelion-debut-album-launch/

KAYHAN KALHOR
Friday 24th April 2026 – Colyer-Fergusson Hall, Kent
A creative force in today’s global music scene, Kayhan Kalhor is an internationally acclaimed virtuoso of the kamancheh (spiked fiddle). Renowned for his evocative performances of traditional Persian music and his groundbreaking collaborations across cultures, Kalhor has played a vital role in bringing Persian music to international prominence. His artistry continues to captivate audiences worldwide, bridging musical traditions with remarkable depth and sensitivity.
https://thegulbenkian.co.uk/events/kayhan-kalhor/

ERDAL ERZINCAN
Friday 8th May 2026 – King’s Place, London
One of Turkey’s most celebrated musicians and a true master of the baglama, Erdal Erzincan is renowned for his profound interpretations of Anatolian folk music and brings to the stage a deeply expressive and technically brilliant solo performance that transcends borders.
https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/contemporary/erdal-erzincan/

AHMET ASLAN
Friday 22nd May 2026 – The Stoller Hall, Manchester
Saturday 23rd May 2026 – Kings Place, London
A passionate advocate of the culture of the Zaza people who live on the border between Iran and Turkey, Ahmet Aslan has earned admiration throughout Turkey, especially after his music was featured in the popular crime series Eşkiya Dünyaya Hükümdar Olmaz. His success also has a European connection where he developed the Di-Tar while studying at the world music programme at Codarts in Rotterdam.
https://stollerhall.com/whats-on/ahmet-aslan/
https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/contemporary/ahmet-aslan/

Ten Free Jazz Concerts in Newark, New Jersey, USA this Spring.

Tuesday, February 03, 2026

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) will present a series of free live jazz events at various venues around Newark during February, March, April, May and June 2026. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

10 Free Jazz Concerts in Newark Thanks to the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), February-June 2026
Sponsored in part by TD Bank

Sat 2.07 @ 6:00 p.m. Baptist Church Jazz Vespers | Joe Locke Trio  
Co-presented by Bethany Baptist Church and NJPAC, the free monthly Bethany Vesper Concert Series continues combining jazz music and worship. February welcomes the Joe Locke Trio. It’s always “good vibes” when jazz vibraphonist Joe Locke takes the stage. He plays with personality, emotion and incredible skill, practically dancing with his instrument. This unique combo features force-of-nature Allyn Johnson on the organ and master drummer Tim Horner. 
Tickets: FREE. This event will be held at Bethany Baptist Church, 275 W. Market Street, Newark, NJ.

Thu 2.19 @ 7:30 p.m. Jazz Jams at Clement’s Place
Co-presented by NJPAC’s Jazz Advisory Committee and Rutgers RU_N’s Institute for Jazz Studies, Jazz Jams at Clement’s Place is a monthly Jazz Jams Session concert series featuring top-flight New Jersey musicians directed by pianist and bandleader, James Austin, Jr. T.  Audience members immerse themselves in the relaxing sounds of jazz music that stimulate the player’s and listeners’ minds. All novice and seasoned jazz musicians and singers are welcomed to jam and improv with the professional band throughout the night. Co-producers: Wayne Winborne, Executive Director, IFJS and Eyesha Marable, AVP, Comm Engagement, NJPAC.
Tickets: FREE. This event will be held at Clement’s Place, 15 Washington Street, Newark, NJ.

Sat 3.07 @ 6:00 p.m. Baptist Church Jazz Vespers | James Carter Quartet  
Co-presented by Bethany Baptist Church and NJPAC, the free monthly Bethany Vesper Concert Series continues combining jazz music and worship. March welcomes saxophonist James Carter and his formidable quartet: pianist Sharp Radway, bassist Hilliard Greene and drummer Kahlil Kwame Bell. The New York Times lauds Carter as “one of the most charismatic and powerful soloists in jazz” with “access to every riff ever recorded.”
Tickets: FREE. This event will be held at Bethany Baptist Church, 275 W. Market Street, Newark, NJ.

Thu 3.26 @ 7:30 p.m. Jazz Jams at Clement’s Place
Co-presented by NJPAC’s Jazz Advisory Committee and Rutgers RU_N’s Institute for Jazz Studies, Jazz Jams at Clement’s Place is a monthly Jazz Jams Session concert series featuring top-flight New Jersey musicians directed by pianist and bandleader, James Austin, Jr. T.  Audience members immerse themselves in the relaxing sounds of jazz music that stimulate the player’s and listeners’ minds. All novice and seasoned jazz musicians and singers are welcomed to jam and improv with the professional band throughout the night. Co-producers: Wayne Winborne, Executive Director, IFJS and Eyesha Marable, AVP, Comm Engagement, NJPAC.
Tickets: FREE. This event will be held at Clement’s Place, 15 Washington Street, Newark, NJ.

Sat 4.04 @ 6:00 p.m. Baptist Church Jazz Vespers | Winard Harper & Jeli Posse
Co-presented by Bethany Baptist Church and NJPAC, the free monthly Bethany Vesper Concert Series continues combining jazz music and worship. April aka Jazz Appreciation Month welcomes drum wizard Winard Harper with his juicy jazz combo, Jeli Posse. Their big sound swings from sophisticated to soulful to hard bop to blues. Featuring Ted Chubb on trumpet, Jalin Shiver on sax, Anthony Perez on bass, Brandon McCune on piano, and Ahadu Chase on percussion.
Tickets: FREE. This event will be held at Bethany Baptist Church, 275 W. Market Street, Newark, NJ.

Thu 4.16 @ 7:30 p.m. Jazz Jams at Clement’s Place
Co-presented by NJPAC’s Jazz Advisory Committee and Rutgers RU_N’s Institute for Jazz Studies, Jazz Jams at Clement’s Place is a monthly Jazz Jams Session concert series featuring top-flight New Jersey musicians directed by pianist and bandleader, James Austin, Jr. T.  Audience members immerse themselves in the relaxing sounds of jazz music that stimulate the player’s and listeners’ minds. All novice and seasoned jazz musicians and singers are welcomed to jam and improv with the professional band throughout the night. Co-producers: Wayne Winborne, Executive Director, IFJS and Eyesha Marable, AVP, Comm Engagement, NJPAC.
Tickets: FREE. This event will be held at Clement’s Place, 15 Washington Street, Newark, NJ.

Sun 4.26 International Jazz Day Celebration
NJPAC celebrates International Jazz Day, April 30, 2025, with a free musical celebration featuring 100+ young local musicians performing together. Co-produced by NJPAC’s TD Jazz for Teens and JAZZ HOUSE KIDS, this one-night only concert unites some of the brightest youth ensembles of New Jersey and New York: NJPAC’s TD Jazz for Teens’ Moody Jazz Orchestra and The George Wein Scholars Ensemble, JAZZ HOUSE KIDS, and local schools’ bands TBA. International Jazz Day in Newark highlights the power of jazz as a force for freedom and creativity, promotes intercultural dialogue through respect and understanding, and unites people from all corners of the region.
Tickets: FREE. This event will be held at NJPAC’s Victoria Theater.

Sat 5.02 @ 6:00 p.m. Bethany Baptist Church Jazz Vespers | Orrin Evans Trio        
Co-presented by Bethany Baptist Church and NJPAC, the free monthly Bethany Vesper Concert Series continues combining jazz music and worship. On May 2nd, three-time GRAMMY®-nominated jazz pianist Orrin Evans (Walk a Mile in My Shoe) will lead his elite trio (with bass and drums) embodying everything we love about good jazz: joyful spontaneity, fierce musical intelligence and a crackling interplay between the performers. They swing with blues-infused hardcore jazz, spiritual jazz, avant-garde traditions and more.
Tickets: FREE. This event will be held at Bethany Baptist Church, 275 W. Market Street, Newark, NJ.

Thu 5.28 @ 7:30 p.m. Jazz Jams at Clement’s Place
Co-presented by NJPAC’s Jazz Advisory Committee and Rutgers RU_N’s Institute for Jazz Studies, Jazz Jams at Clement’s Place is a monthly Jazz Jams Session concert series featuring top-flight New Jersey musicians directed by pianist and bandleader, James Austin, Jr. T.  Audience members immerse themselves in the relaxing sounds of jazz music that stimulate the player’s and listeners’ minds. All novice and seasoned jazz musicians and singers are welcomed to jam and improv with the professional band throughout the night. Co-producers: Wayne Winborne, Executive Director, IFJS and Eyesha Marable, AVP, Comm Engagement, NJPAC.
Tickets: FREE. This event will be held at Clement’s Place, 15 Washington Street, Newark, NJ.

Thu 6.18 @ 7:30 p.m. Jazz Jams at Clement’s Place
Co-presented by NJPAC’s Jazz Advisory Committee and Rutgers RU_N’s Institute for Jazz Studies, Jazz Jams at Clement’s Place is a monthly Jazz Jams Session concert series featuring top-flight New Jersey musicians directed by pianist and bandleader, James Austin, Jr. T.  Audience members immerse themselves in the relaxing sounds of jazz music that stimulate the player’s and listeners’ minds. All novice and seasoned jazz musicians and singers are welcomed to jam and improv with the professional band throughout the night. Co-producers: Wayne Winborne, Executive Director, IFJS and Eyesha Marable, AVP, Comm Engagement, NJPAC.
Tickets: FREE. This event will be held at Clement’s Place,15 Washington Street, Newark, NJ.

About NJPAC
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is an anchor cultural institution for both the city of Newark and the state of New Jersey. It is an artistic, cultural, educational and civic center where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings communities together both on and off of our campus – on stages, in schools and community settings – providing access to the arts for 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 Social Impact programs, NJPAC leverages the arts to advance positive outcomes in education, health and well-being, civic engagement and community development. NJPAC has attracted more than 12.7 million visitors (including more than two million children) since opening its doors in 1997. Learn more at http://www.njpac.org.     

Sponsorship
About TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®
For the 14th consecutive year, TD Bank is the title sponsor of all jazz programming during NJPAC’s season, including 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.

Sheffield Jazz - Spring 2026 season of gigs.

Friday, January 30, 2026

Sheffield Jazz has announced its gig schedule from February to May 2026. Events take place at Crooke's Social Club, The Crucible Playhouse & Theatre and Firth Hall. Fully detailed schedule attached.

Roy Saxby of Sheffield Jazz has provided the following information;

The Spring 2026 season at Sheffield Jazz features a wide variety of bands at our main venue Crookes Social Club including: Donovan Haffner Quartet, Emily Masser-Alex Clarke Quintet, Jonny Mansfield Quartet, Joe Webb Trio, Cloudmakers Trio, Let Spin and the Erik Palmberg Quartet. Our regular concert at the Crucible Playhouse is on 27 February and features the Denys Baptiste Quartet with rising star Sultan Stevenson on piano while our usual joint gig in collaboration with University of Sheffield at their Firth Hall venue is on 5 March and features Alice Zawadzki’s collaboration with Fred Thomas and Misha Mullov-Abbado. Our final date of the season on 16 May is a special concert, presented jointly with Music in The Round Sheffield at the Crucible Theatre and features Gwilym Simcock with Conor Chaplin & Rob Buckland alongside top soprano singer Claire Booth and Ensemble 360 for a programme that brings together jazz standards and classical works. Full details are on our website http://www.sheffieldjazz.org.uk.

Sheffield Jazz Spring 2026 Season

Crookes Social Club, Mulehouse Road, Sheffield, S10 1TD Tel: 0114 266 0114 Doors open at 19.20, music starts at 20.00, finish time 22.45. Prices: Full £18; over 60s, disabled, unemployed £16; 18-30 year olds, students with NUS card £10; 15–17 year olds £5; under 15s Free. Advance tickets from http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sheffield-jazz.

Crucible Playhouse, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA Tel 0114 249 6000 (in association with Music in the Round) Doors open 19.00 music starts 19.30, finish time 22.00. Prices: Full £20; over 60s, disabled, unemployed £18; 18-30 year olds, students with NUS card £10; 15–17 year olds £5; Under 15s Free.
Advance tickets (no additional booking fee) from Crucible Box Office http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Crucible Theatre, 55 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1DA Tel 0114 249 6000 (in association with Music in the Round) Doors open 18.45 music starts 19.15, finish time 22.00. Prices: Full £23; UC, PIP & DLA; £14, Students & under 35s £5
Advance tickets (no additional booking fee) from Crucible Box Office http://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk

Firth Hall, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN Tel 0114 222 8888 (in association with University of Sheffield) Doors open at 19.00, music starts at 19.30, finish time 22.00. Prices: Full £19; over 60s, disabled, unemployed £17; 18-30 year olds, students with NUS card £10; 15–17 year olds £5 Under 15s Free.
Advance tickets from http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/sheffield-jazz.

For further details visit http://www.sheffieldjazz.org.uk

Friday 6 February
at 20.00
Crookes Social Club
Donovan Haffner Quartet
Donovan Haffner: alto saxophone:
Laurie Rich: piano:
Harry Pearce: bass:
Jack Thomas: drums
Rising star saxophonist Donovan Haffner is one of 2025’s breakthrough artists who won ‘Jazz Newcomer’ at the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Born and bred in South East London, at age 11 Donovan joined the highly respected Tomorrow’s Warriors Young Artist Development Programme where he was mentored by Gary Crosby and
Binker Golding and at 18 he toured Italy with multi-award-winning drummer Moses Boyd. The drive and sophistication of his playing, as well as and his growing reputation as a bandleader and composer and how he interprets his own compositions, is bringing him to the attention of jazz fans across the country.

Friday 13 February
at 20.00
Crookes Social Club
Emily Masser-Alex Clarke Quintet
Emily Masser: vocals
Alex Clarke: saxophone
Graham Harvey: piano
James Owston: bass
Matt Home: drums
Emily Masser is one of the most exciting young voices and Alex Clarke one of the most in-demand, versatile young saxophonists emerging on the British jazz scene. Both initially came to prominence with Clarke Tracey’s bands in his ‘Art Blakey’ role recruiting emerging talent but have since formed their own bands and recorded their own critically acclaimed albums. Emily, praised for the warmth and maturity of her interpretations and Alex, for her intelligent ear for harmony and deep knowledge of repertoire across a broad spectrum of styles, have joined forces to play a mix of standards and bebop numbers backed by a top notch rhythm section.

Friday 27 February
at 19.30
Crucible Theatre
Denys Baptiste Quartet
Denys Baptiste: saxophone
Sultan Stevenson: piano
Larry Bartley: bass
Joel Barford: drums
Acclaimed saxophonist Denys Baptiste presents his new quartet, featuring rising star pianist Sultan Stevenson, who will explore an exciting mix of new compositions, standards and revisit compositions from his award-winning albums. An amazingly versatile musician with roots steeped in the jazz tradition, Denys incorporates ideas from other musical forms and popular culture. His powerful technique and an ability to improvise effortlessly across a wide range of musical styles have made him a much sought after soloist, playing with some of the biggest names in jazz and other genres. Expect an evening of deep swing infectious melodies and inventive solos.

Thursday 5 March
at 19.30
Firth Hall
Alice Zawadzki/Fred Thomas/Misha Mullov-Abbado
Alice Zawadzki: vocals, violin
Fred Thomas: piano, vielle & percussion
Misha Mullov-Abbado - double bass
Alice Zawadzki, a vocalist & violinist with considerable repute as “a genuine original” teams up with two long-term collaborators - sought- after multi-instrumentalist Fred Thomas and award-winning jazz bass player Misha Mullov-Abbado. Alice is also a songwriter while both Fred and Misha are renowned as composers and arrangers. The empathy and synergy harnessed by them is the result of a decade’s work together. As demonstrated on their acclaimed ECM album ‘Za Gorami’, the trio inhabits their own stylistic realm that encompasses Mediterranean folk songs, chamber music and improvisational jazz fused with free flowing interplay and fluid structures to meld a mesmerizing sound.

Friday 13 March
at 20.00
Crookes Social Club
Jonny Mansfield Quartet
Jonny Mansfield: vibes
Will Barry: piano
Will Sach: bass
Luke McCarthy: drums
Vibraphonist, composer and winner of the prestigious Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize, Jonny Mansfield is regarded as one of the UK’s outstanding young jazz talents as his performance with Empirical at their Crucible concert in 2024 demonstrated. His band features the impressive Will Barry, whose performances at Sheffield Jazz with other bands have been excellent and with whom Jonny has also worked as a duo paying tribute to Gary Burton and Chick Corea. They are supported by the impressive Will Sach, a New Yorker now based in London and rising star Luke McCarthy. Expect superb musicianship, exhilarating collective interplay and dazzling solos.

Friday 20 March
at 20.00
Crookes Social Club
Joe Webb Trio
Joe Webb: piano
Will Sach: double bass
Sam Jesson: drums
Highly regarded pianist, jazz musician and composer Joe Webb has emerged as a leading force on the UK jazz scene today, seamlessly blending traditional jazz with contemporary flair. His innovative approach breathes new life into classic jazz idioms, creating a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly original. Originally from Wales but now based in London he is also in demand as a recording artist, showcasing his exceptional skills on both piano and Hammond organ.
Joe’s trio amalgamate the old and the new earning them a deserved reputation for pushing the boundaries of jazz while respecting its rich heritage.

Friday 27 March
at 20.00
Crookes Social Club
Cloudmakers Trio
Jim Hart: vibraphone
Michael Janisch: bass
Dave Smith: drums/percussion
Cloudmakers Trio brings together three of the most inventive players on the UK scene and blends downtown New York and European improvised music with world and rock influences. Since Jim Hart first came together with Michael Janisch and Dave Smith to create this project their original vision – to match the textural density of a piano trio,
but instead headed up by vibraphone – places exhilarating improvisation at the core. This has grown and sustained an international touring career, keeping them at the forefront of contemporary instrumental music. Through all their various collaborations, the vibes- bass-drums trio has remained the core of the Cloudmakers’ sound.

Friday 17 April
at 20.00
Crookes Social Club
Let Spin
Moss Freed: guitar
Ruth Goller: bass
Chris Williams: sax
Finlay Panter: drums
Based in London and Berlin, Let Spin are a cutting edge post-jazz quartet comprised of players at the forefront of the vibrant UK contemporary music scene who have been making waves in the UK and European jazz scenes since their formation in 2012. Their collaborative way of working produces an explosive mixture of stylistic influences
whilst their focus on improvisation leads to incendiary live performances, allowing the music to venture into territories that are unforeseen even to the musicians themselves. ‘I am Alien’, the band’s latest and strongest record, captures the chemistry and curiosity of a band that lives for adventure.

Thursday 23 April
at 20.00
Crookes Social Club
Erik Palmberg Quartet
Erik Palmberg: trumpet, flugelhorn
Anton Dromberg: piano
Niklas Wennström: double bass
Sebastian Voegler: drums
A Sheffield Jazz debut for Erik Palmberg’s group who’ve attracted glowing international reviews and captivated audiences well beyond jazz circles, playing evocative and cinematic jazz which is full of captivating melodies and harmony. Erik has an expressive, lyrical sound, embracing his Nordic roots while remaining firmly in the jazz
tradition. His music is poetic, emotional and played with deep seated lyricism while his compositions are imaginative and quietly reflective, but allow him to push boundaries. With a reputation for connecting with audiences through heartfelt performance and storytelling, the group promises a memorable experience for jazz fans and newcomers alike.

Saturday 16 May
at 19.15
Crucible Theatre
Gwilym Simcock & Friends
Gwilym Simcock: piano
Conor Chaplin: bass
Rob Buckland: sax
Claire Booth: soprano
Ensemble 360: various
Gwilym Simcock and his band are joined by world-class classical artists for what promises to be a hugely entertaining evening. His phenomenal talent breathes new jazz-inspired life into award-winning makeovers of classical music. In this exciting jazz-classical piano/voice collaboration with celebrated soprano Claire Booth and musicians from Ensemble 360, the programme brings together jazz standards and classical works by composers such as Debussy, including some newly commissioned arrangements by Gwilym. A meeting of genres which builds on his experience of merging jazz and classical music, not least for a BBC Radio 3 performance of Debussy’s Children’s Corner, but also his own compositions for larger ensembles.

The Tung Auditorium, Liverpool - Spring and Summer Programme 2026.

Thursday, January 29, 2026

The Tung Auditorium is the University of Liverpool’s state-of-the-art concert hall, designed for both teaching and live performance. A schedule of forthcoming shows, including some jazz events, att.

We have received the following press release;

Still to come at The Tung Auditorium this Spring…

There’s still plenty more to come this Spring from Liverpool’s state-of-the-art concert hall, The Tung Auditorium… check out the venue’s Spring/Summer 2026 programme for more vibrant and diverse live music, featuring a dazzling array of genres and acclaimed performers.

British jazz legend Courtney Pine returns to The Tung this March with his award-winning project, House of Legends. This highly-anticipated performance sees the groundbreaking multi-instrumentalist on top form, as he continues to lead a generation of exciting and innovative players from Africa, the Caribbean and Europe in a vibrant exchange of merengue, ska, mento and calypso.

“We’ve got the makings of a vintage season this year, and it’s great to be working with artists who we can now consider to be regulars. We also have many new faces, with even more shows to be announced, so watch this space!”
Richard Hartwell, Artistic Director of The Tung Auditorium

This season also brings internationally acclaimed soloists, thrilling ensembles, and some of the most celebrated repertoire in the classical canon.

For Elgar fans, there are two major highlights: Liverpool Mozart Orchestra performing Elgar’s Violin Concerto, paired with Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 and Raphael Wallfisch performing the beloved Elgar Cello Concerto with Orchestra dell’Arte. The venue is also thrilled to present a double appearance from Mahan Esfahani, first in a Bach lecture-recital, then joining Liverpool Philharmonic’s Ensemble 10:10, who present three concerts across the season featuring UK premieres and boundary-pushing orchestral colours.

Get closer to incredible live performances by celebrated artists from across jazz, contemporary and creative multimedia…

This March, silent-film maestro Neil Brand brings a centenary celebration of Laurel and Hardy with live improvised accompaniment to the screen.

Indie favourite Miles Hunt (The Wonder Stuff) offers a night of storytelling and acoustic classics in the Auditorium, while the extraordinary Sarah Jane Morris returns to the venue with The Sisterhood Volume 2, a powerful tribute to the female artists who have shaped musical history.

Showcasing artists with local roots, the venue also presents Liverpool’s own Novelty Island and Credits, with a highly-anticipated collaboration where the groups will perform the iconic Pet Sounds, live on Brian Wilson’s 84th birthday - an unforgettable one-off event.

Then in May, Adam Buxton and his incredible live band play the venue for the very first time as well as defining dark-Americana duo The Handsome Family.

Known for its intimate feel and incredible acoustics, it is no surprise that the spring folk line-up brings together some of the most distinctive voices and bands from across the UK and Ireland, each offering their own take on the genre.

The programme includes LYR, the musical trio led by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage; the return of The Irish House Party, bringing champion musicians and dancers from Dublin; Americana-infused favourites Police Dog Hogan; and rising British folk star Katherine Priddy, whose acclaimed songwriting continues to captivate audiences across the UK.

Free concerts are back in full swing with the Yoko Ono Lennon Lunchtime Concert Series, funded by long-standing supporter of the University of Liverpool, Yoko Ono Lennon herself, via Spirit Foundations.

Frequently cited as the highlight of the week for Tung audiences, the series invites you to take a risk and explore new live music that you might not have ever considered going to before - and this year’s programme welcomes a broad variety of genres including jazz, classical, contemporary, folk, hip-hop Indian ragas and more…

A spokesperson from Spirit Foundations said:
“It gives us great pleasure to know the popular Lunchtime Concert Series will continue. Music has power — it can heal, connect, and uplift. By supporting this series, it is our hope that audiences from all backgrounds will continue to experience the joy, inspiration and sense of unity that live music brings. The fact that these concerts remain free and accessible makes this support especially meaningful.”

The Tung Auditorium continues to cement its reputation as a world-class performance space for Liverpool City Region’s future music and emerging talent, whilst also preserving Liverpool’s rich legacy of exceptional and accessible live music. The entire Spring/Summer season is now available to book via https://thetungauditorium.com/events

THE TUNG AUDITORIUM -
SPRING / SUMMER 2026 SEASON

Tom Spence
Saturday 31st January, 7.30pm

Nikki Blaze
Wednesday 4th February, 1pm

Liverpool Mozart Orchestra: Elgar’s Violin Concerto
Saturday 7th February, 7.30pm

Grace Elizabeth Harvey & Jessica Dives
Wednesday 11th February, 1pm

An Evening with Alex O’Connor
Friday 13th February, 7.30pm

Satwinder Pal Singh & Kousic Sen
Wednesday 18th February, 1pm

Carlos Santana Tribute Show
Saturday 21st February, 7.30pm

Raphael Wallfisch plays Elgar
Sunday 22nd February, 3pm

Mahan Esfahani Lecture Recital
Wednesday 25th February, 1pm

Ensemble 10:10 - Notes on a Journey
Wednesday 25th February, 7.30pm

The Everly Brothers by Candlelight
Saturday 28th February, 7.30pm

Paul Lewis: Mozart +
Sunday 1st March, 2.30pm

Soraya Verjee
Wednesday 4th March, 1pm

The Irish House Party
Friday 6th March, 7.30pm

Ash Sarkar - In Conversation
Sunday 8th March, 7.30pm

Brass-stronomy in Concert
Wednesday 11th March, 1pm

Courtney Pine: House of Legends
Saturday 14th March, 7.30pm

Equilibrium
Wednesday 18th March, 1pm

Department of Music Showcase
Wednesday 18th March, 7.30pm

Liverpool Mozart Orchestra: From Classical to Romantic
Saturday 21st March, 7.30pm

The Wonder of Stevie
Thursday 26th March, 7.30pm

100 Years Celebration of Laurel & Hardy: Presented by Neil Brand
Friday 27th March, 7.30pm

Liverpool Welsh Choral: Passion Music
Saturday 28th March, 7.30pm

Thelma Handy and the Liverpool String Academy
Wednesday 1st April, 7.30pm

Miles Hunt
Friday 10th April, 7.30pm

Sophie Lukacs
Wednesday 15th April, 1pm

Imelda May
Friday 17th April, 7.30pm

LYR
Saturday 18th April, 8pm

Chaos String Quartet: Wiener Blut
Saturday 19th April, 2.30pm

Singtastic!
Wednesday 22nd April, 1pm

Police Dog Hogan
Friday 24th April, 7.30pm

Katherine Priddy
Saturday 25th April, 8pm

Showcase with Musicians of The Liverpool Philharmonic
Wednesday 29th April, 1pm

Ensemble 10:10 - Reich and Adams: American Giants
Wednesday 29th April, 7.30pm

The Adam Buxton Band
Friday 1st May, 7.30pm

Liverpool University Music Society Summer Concert
Saturday 2nd May, 7.30pm

University of Liverpool Symphony Orchestra Summer Concert
Sunday 3rd May, 4pm

Showcase with Guest Artists
Wednesday 6th May, 1pm

Department of Music Final Year Recitals
11th - 15th May, timings TBA

John Robins: Thirst - In Conversation
Monday 11th May, 7pm

Liverpool Mozart Orchestra: Haydn’s Creation
Saturday 16th May, 7.30pm

Sarah Jane Morris: The Sisterhood Volume 2
Friday 29th May, 7.30pm

The Handsome Family
Sunday 31st May, 8pm

Junyan Chen, Piano
Wednesday 3rd June, 7.30pm

Dr Jazz and the Cheshire Cats: Fats Waller’s London Suite
Saturday 6th June, 7.30pm

Simone Lamsma Recital
Sunday 14th June, 2.30pm

Novelty Island and Credits present Pet Sounds
Saturday 20th June, 7.30pm

Crosby Symphony Orchestra: American Inspirations
Sunday 28th June, 2.30pm

Sing Joy! A Celebration of Gospel Music
Saturday 18th July, 7pm

About The Tung Auditorium
The Tung Auditorium is the University of Liverpool’s state-of-the-art concert hall, designed for both teaching and live performance. Opened in 2022 and located within the Yoko Ono Lennon Centre, the 391-seat venue offers an outstanding acoustic experience and is gaining a reputation as a welcoming space to enjoy a wide variety of classical and contemporary music.
Its inclusive, high-quality programme features internationally acclaimed artists, University of Liverpool students, and local favourites. The programme includes chamber, choral, and orchestral works, as well as jazz, folk, pop, electro-acoustic, and experimental music, and a popular free lunchtime concert series supported by Yoko Ono Lennon.
Partnerships with local and national organisations play a key role in shaping the programme, fostering creative collaboration across the region.

The Tung Auditorium
http://www.thetungauditorium.com
60 Oxford St, Liverpool L7 3NY

Ludlow Piano Festival 2026 - full line-up announced.

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Ludlow Piano Festival, curated by Alistair McGowan, has announced its full programme with a mix of classical and jazz performances taking place at various venues around the town. Details attached.

We have received the following information;

Ludlow Piano Festival 2026 launch
We are delighted to announce the full programme for Ludlow Piano Festival 2026. Alistair’s introduction and ticketing information (with details of discounts) appears below, and you can then click through to our new website for complete event details, programmes and tickets.

UPDATE 26th JANUARY - 09:00
All events have been on sale for 24 hours. 
An incredible 25% of tickets have been sold already. 
Two events are already over 50% sold.
We have delivered almost £1000 of discounts through the LPF3-10 scheme (see below). 
We will increase the quota of discounted tickets available but some events will now inevitably withdrawn from the scheme in the next week. 
The earlier you purchase, the more choice you will have!

Alistair McGowan
LPF Chairman and Artistic Director
“This May, we will be bringing you some old friends, lots of big names and five days of non-stop, fabulous pianism!
Cally Beaton is back to host our legendary ‘Celebrity Concert’, we have Reverend Richard Coles telling Alistair McGowan his ‘Desert Island Piano’ choices (which will be played ‘live’ on stage by Anthony Hewitt), comedy from Rainer Hersch (last seen here as Victor Borge) with “Wagner’s Ring Cycle for People Who Can’t be Bothered to Sit Through It”, we have mellow jazz, another fascinating masterclass, solo recitals from exciting, young talent like self-styled ‘Working Class-ical Hero’ (and boxer) Ellis Arey (playing Scriabin, Mompou et al), local YouTube sensation, Luke Faulkner (with ‘By Special Arrangement’) and the 15-year old future Superstar, Elisey Mysin (giving two different concerts); Clara Rodriguez plays it ‘The South American Way’, Anne Lovett returns with her own compositions on two pianos (with audio-visual back-up), Ludlow’s own Liam Dunachie plays songs from the West End’s favourite musicals, and hot from the world’s biggest platforms: Danny Driver (playing Medtner et al), Peter Donohoe (playing Mozart et al) France’s leading pianist Vanessa Wagner (playing all the Études of Philip Glass for the first time on British soil) and Isata Kanneh-Mason (playing Beethoven and Ravel).
As Wolf Hall composer, Debbie Wiseman, said of us last year: “It’s a very special festival.” We think she’s right!”

Ticketing Information
Ticket sales for all events now open
Tickets for all events are sold on our behalf by Ludlow Assembly Rooms. Please note that some events take place at other venues, so do check the location carefully before you attend.
Tickets are issued electronically as QR codes, and are also available as Apple/Google Wallet tickets.
If you prefer, you can buy tickets in person or by phone via Ludlow Assembly Rooms on 01584 878141, during their normal opening hours.
Tickets are non-refundable, unless there is a waiting list for a sold-out event, in which case a full refund will be offered.

LPF 3-10
We are pleased to offer the LPF 3-10 discount again for a limited period. The earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have – and the more events you attend, the more you’ll save.
Buy adult tickets for three or more different eligible events in a single transaction and you will receive a 10% discount.
The LPF 3-10 Offer will close at our discretion, and some events may be withdrawn from the offer earlier than others depending on sales.
The offer applies to adult tickets only, and is not available on tickets for The Celebrity Concert or the Masterclass.
The discount does not apply to the £1 booking fee per ticket. For example, a £20 ticket will receive a £1.90 discount.

EVENTS:

From;
https://ludlowpianofestival.com/lpf-2026/

Wednesday 20th May 2026
St Laurences Parish Church
20 MAY 2026
The Celebrity Concert
St Laurence’s Church
7.00pm
Our ever-popular curtain-raiser is back with some new names and some old friends. Super Cally Beaton will host in her engaging, lively and cheeky way and interview and introduce players* such as: Rachel Parris, Rainer Hersch, Rev Rich Coles, and Colin Sell (I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue).
*Subject to change.

21 MAY 2026
Rainer Hersch:
Wagner’s Ring Cycle in One Hour
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
2.00pm
“Wagner’s Ring Cycle for people who can’t be bothered to sit through it.” After bringing us his hit comedy shows ‘Rainer Hersch’s Victor Borge’ and ‘All Classical Music Explained’ Rainer returns promising to get through Wagner’s 15-hour epic in under 60 minutes.

21 MAY 2026
Ellis Arey:
Working Class-ical Hero
Palmers Hall
4.30pm
Ellis Arey is a DECCA-signed British pianist whose performances have been featured on Channel 4, the BBC, and Sky Arts, where a short documentary was recently dedicated to his work. A two-time winner of the Leeds Besbrode Piano Competition, he has established himself as one of the most compelling young voices on the UK classical scene.

21 MAY 2026
Isata Kanneh-Mason
St Laurence’s Church
7.30pm
One of the most sought-after young British pianists comes to Ludlow with a programme full of variety. A very hot ticket!

22 MAY 2026
Richard Coles:
Desert Island Piano
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
10.30am
Richard Coles has done practically everything from losing on Strictly to almost winning in the Jungle to having number one singles, hosting Radio 4 shows, Have I Got News For You as well as writing hugely successful novels.

22 MAY 2026
Liam Dunachie:
Music From The Musicals
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
2.30pm
The first of two ‘Local to Ludlow’ events. Ludlow-born Liam returns from London’s West End to play music from the West End’s greatest musicals.

22 MAY 2026
Clara Rodriguez:
The South American Way
Palmers Hall
4.30pm
London-based and Venezuelan-born pianist Clara Rodriguez – acclaimed by BBC Radio 3 as “the Queen of Latin American Classical Music” – has captivated audiences worldwide with her artistry.

22 MAY 2026
Danny Driver
St Laurence’s Church
7.30pm
One of the country’s busiest pianists, Danny is a regular on Radio 3, at the prestigious Wigmore Hall in London and is known and respected for his very different and exciting programming.

23 MAY 2026
Luke Faulkner:
By Special Arrangement
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
11.00am
Local to Ludlow, pianist, composer and YouTube sensation, Luke Faulkner, plays arrangements of well-known symphonies, ballets, and operatic arias.

23 MAY 2026
Anne Lovett:
I, Just Lovett!
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
2.30pm
After enchanting us with film music and her classical choices (as well as her high heels and wild hair) in our first two festivals, French-born but London-based Anne returns with an hour of her own music from her latest album.

23 MAY 2026
Elisey Mysin:
The Concert
Palmers Hall
4.30pm
Fifteen years old. Diminutive. Extraordinary. Elisey Mysin is the very definition of a child prodigy. He has already worked as a soloist with many leading orchestras including the Greek National Radio and Television Orchestra, and The Russian National Symphony Orchestra.

23 MAY 2026
Peter Donohoe
St Laurence’s Church
7.30pm
Peter loved playing in Ludlow so much last year that he asked us if he could come back! Who are we to say ‘no’ to one of the country’s most respected soloists?

24 MAY 2026
Peter Donohoe:
Masterclass
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
11.00am
A chance to hear two promising students being given expert tuition from a master of the craft. Feel the experience, see the learning, hear the difference.

24 MAY 2026
Elisey Mysin:
The Encore
Palmers Hall
2.30pm
A second chance to marvel at the young mastery of the extraordinary Elisey Mysin. This time he brings us music by his countrymen: Rachmaninov, Stravinsky and Prokofiev. Prepare to be amazed!

24 MAY 2026
Martin Pyne Trio:
Small Blue
Ludlow Assembly Rooms
4.00pm
After accompanying our silent films for the last two years, this time Martin returns with his jazz trio playing their own smooth and mellow compositions from their last album. Perfect for a Sunday afternoon between the classics.

24 MAY 2026
Vanessa Wagner
St Laurence’s Church
6.30pm
Vanessa has been selling out France’s biggest arenas and today she makes a rare appearance on these shores.
Tonight, she plays (in full) one of the great contemporary landmarks – the twenty piano Etudes of Philip Glass, revealing its full emotional depth. For the listener, it’s a captivating journey where each piece unfolds into the next and Vanessa Wagner gradually and uniquely places these works among the great musical cycles.
A UK Premiere – in Ludlow!

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 25/01/2026.

Monday, January 26, 2026

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 25/01/2026, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist from Jan 25th 2026.

Available now at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

Olly Chalk
pathfinder
In those Remote Stars
Resonant Postcard

NO(w) Beauty
Sira Luntana
(one) seen
HOMS

Compro Oro
Ki Kumini Pas
Kukiedi (EP)
W.E.R.F

QOW Trio
Ghosts/Now Here
The Rule of Three
Whirlwind

Tuva Halse
Reconnection
Reconnection
Jazzland

Maximilian Hering
Entre Tu Y Yo +?
The Gathering
Klangraum

Nabou Claerhout
Parallellepipedum
Indigo
Edition

Sheen Trio
Transitory
Transitory
Unit

Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere
Billy Bang - One Golden Hour
Theta 7
Discus

Victor Decamp
Mental Health
Composer Jazz Orchestra

David Chevallier Trio
Duplicity
reset
Yolk

Pat Thomas & XT
Zurich ONE (part)
Strata, Act (Joy Contemporary)
Wejazz

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 7pm

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

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

SERIOUS announces Summer Jazz Series - May, June, July 2026.

Saturday, January 24, 2026

The 2026 Summer Jazz Series will feature performances from leading international jazz artists at a number of London venues. Performers include Pat Metheny, Robert Fonseca, Stacey Kent, RIOPY.

We have received the following press release;

Pat Metheny takes over the Barbican in July for the Summer Jazz Series

Pat Metheny takes over the Barbican on 18 & 19 July with three special concerts
Buy Tickets Here;
https://serious.org.uk/summer-jazz-series-2026

Part of the Summer Jazz Series 2026, a celebration of world-class music across London this summer from the producers of the EFG London Jazz Festival, Serious

Twenty-time Grammy Award–winner Pat Metheny, one of the most influential and celebrated musicians of his generation, returns to the Barbican for a special weekend takeover in July with three shows across two days on 18 and 19 July 2026. In a career spanning more than five decades, Metheny has continually redefined the possibilities of jazz, blending lyricism, innovation and genre-crossing ambition to create a body of work that has inspired generations of artists and audiences alike. A tireless and prolific performer, he has sold out major London venues in recent years, including the Barbican and Hammersmith Apollo, affirming his enduring connection with UK audiences and his reputation as one of the most compelling live performers in contemporary music.

This Barbican residency places Metheny centre stage, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience his music in depth across a concentrated series of performances. Renowned for his restless creativity and openness to collaboration, Metheny continues to balance landmark solo projects with bold ensemble work, championing both emerging talent and long-established voices while pushing his own artistry forward.

As part of this weekend, Metheny presents the latest evolution of his ongoing SIDE EYE project. SIDE EYE III sees him joined by Chris Fishman (piano and keyboards), Jermaine Paul (bass) and Joe Dyson (drums), a dynamic lineup that reflects Metheny’s long-standing commitment to mentoring the next generation of jazz innovators. Featuring new music alongside reimagined classics, the project embodies Metheny’s fearless approach to exploration, tradition and collaboration.

A bandleader since the 1970s and an artist who has often performed more than 100 concerts a year, Pat Metheny remains a vital creative force, continually evolving, questioning and redefining what modern jazz can be.

This special show is part of the return of the Summer Jazz Series in 2026, bringing world-class artists to some of London’s most iconic venues next year. It’s presented by Serious, the producers behind the annual EFG London Jazz Festival.

The series begins with Roberto Fonseca, the visionary Cuban pianist, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and former Buena Vista Social Club virtuoso, who will bring his electrifying artistry to the Barbican on 13 May. On Thursday, 4 June at Cadogan Hall with acclaimed pianist and composer RIOPY, whose deeply expressive and genre-defying music has earned over a billion streams and international acclaim.

On Saturday, 6 June, back to the Barbican for Emeli Sandé MBE, who brings her powerhouse vocals and heartfelt songwriting to the stage for a special evening blending soul, pop, and jazz influences. The series continues on Sunday, 7 June at Theatre Royal Drury Lane with Italian soul-jazz star Mario Biondi, celebrating the 20th anniversary of his timeless hit “This Is What You Are.”

Stacey Kent, the Grammy-nominated American jazz singer and recent recipient of the Montreal Jazz Festival’s Prix Ella Fitzgerald, will perform at Cadogan Hall on 16 July ahead of Pat Metheny’s special weekend takeover at the Barbican to conclude the Summer Jazz Series in style.

Summer Jazz Series 2026

13 May - Roberto Fonseca - Barbican
4 June - RIOPY - Cadogan Hall
6 June - Emeli Sandé - Barbican
7 June - Mario Biondi - Theatre Royal Drury Lane
16 July - Stacey Kent - Cadogan Hall
18 July - Pat Metheny SIDE-EYE III+ - Barbican (6:30 doors, 7pm show time)
19 July - Pat Metheny SIDE-EYE III+ - Barbican (matinee 12:30 doors, 1pm show time. Evening performance 5pm doors, 5:30pm show time)

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, creative engagement programmes, and bespoke events for all.
http://www.serious.org.uk

Alex Bonney establishes new ‘Earconnector’ label on Bandcamp.

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Trumpeter, electronic musician, engineer and producer Alex Bonney has established a new digital only outlet for his music. The first release, "Open Silver Skies" features his quartet.

Alex Bonney writes;

New Bandcamp label Earconnector and new album ‘Open Silver Skies.

I have a new Bandcamp only record label called ‘Earconnector’:
https://earconnector.bandcamp.com

I’ve just released the first album with my quartet;
Alex Bonney - trumpet, compositions
James Allsopp - tenor sax, bass clarinet
Olie Brice - bass
Jeff Williams - drums
https://earconnector.bandcamp.com/album/open-silver-skies

I’m planning on releasing several other albums in the coming weeks, and hoping to inspire many more creative collaborations in the future.

Releases are going to be Bandcamp only (to avoid problematic streaming services) and although I have currently no plans for CDs (I have too many in my flat already!) I’m going to do occasional small cassette runs (for fun).

The wonderful Cath Roberts is doing graphic design for me.

Next Friday 30th Jan I am releasing the next two albums, duos with Tom Challenger and Cath. We are doing a concert at Hundred Years Gallery in Hoxton with Will Glaser and Tom’s duo too.

http://hundredyearsgallery.co.uk/music-alex-bonney-will-glaser-cath-roberts-tom-challenger/

Albums available at;
https://earconnector.bandcamp.com/music

SERIOUS announce their Take Five 2026 cohort.

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Eight outstanding composer-performers have been selected for the UK’s leading jazz talent development programme, Take Five. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

SERIOUS announce their Take Five 2026 cohort.

Eight outstanding composer-performers selected for the UK’s leading jazz talent development programme, Take Five.

Producers of the EFG London Jazz Festival, Serious, have revealed the 2026 Take Five cohort, a group of eight outstanding emerging composer-performers from across the UK and shaping the future of jazz and improvised music.

Now in its third decade, Take Five is the UK’s only nationwide talent development programme designed specifically for mid-career jazz and improvised musicians. Produced by Serious and funded by PRS Foundation, Arts Council England and Serious Trust, the programme provides vital creative and professional support at a pivotal point in an artist’s career.

Following the programme’s landmark 20th anniversary celebrations in 2025, marked by a special Barbican concert at EFG London Jazz Festival featuring Take Five alumni including Shabaka Hutchings and Camilla George, the programme continues to champion the next generation of artist-leaders shaping the sound of UK jazz.

Over the next year, the 2026 cohort will embark on an intensive development journey combining artistic exploration with industry-focused training. The programme begins with an online residency centred on career sustainability and professional skills, featuring sessions with leading international organisations including Nonesuch Records, Paris Philharmonie and We Out Here Festival, alongside guidance from music lawyers, publishers and funding bodies.

This is followed by a five-day creative residency at Cat’s Abbey in the Cotswolds, where the artists will collaborate, develop new work and receive performance coaching under the musical direction of acclaimed composer Jason Yarde. Each participant will then be paired with a mentor of their choosing and will receive a performance opportunity at the 2026 EFG London Jazz Festival.

Since launching in 2005, Take Five has supported over 160 artists, many of whom now define the contemporary UK jazz landscape, including Nubya Garcia, Moses Boyd, Emma-Jean Thackray, Soweto Kinch, Yazz Ahmed, Sarathy Korwar and Abel Selaocoe. The programme remains a cornerstone of the UK’s globally celebrated jazz ecosystem, supporting artists already leading bands, forging new sounds and inspiring the next generation.

THE 2026 COHORT

David Kayode - Saxophonist & Composer (London)
London-born saxophonist and composer David Kayode blends jazz improvisation with Yoruba cosmology and Afro-diasporic rhythm. A graduate of Tomorrow’s Warriors, his commanding tenor sound and storytelling style draw on reggae, highlife and spiritual jazz.

Emyr Hedd - Composer & Multi-instrumentalist (Mid-Wales)
Welsh musician Emyr Hedd is an emotive composer and performer, and the driving force behind acclaimed alternative folk-jazz outfit Awen Ensemble.

Faris Ishaq - Nay, Percussion & Composition (Palestine/UK)
Palestinian Nay master, percussionist and composer Faris Ishaq charts unexplored musical territory with the Nay, an ancient Middle Eastern flute dating back over 5,000 years.

Juliette Lemoine - Cello & Composition (Scotland)
Trailblazing a path as a cello soloist, Juliette Lemoine is redefining the cello’s role within Scottish Traditional Music.

Lucy-Anne Daniels - Vocalist, Composer & Storyteller (London)
A natural performer and vivid storyteller, Lucy-Anne blends gospel, jazz, theatre and spoken word into unforgettable live experiences.

Marlon Hibbert - Steelpan, Arranging & Education (South East London)
Award-winning steelpan musician and educator Marlon Hibbert is reshaping how steelpan is experienced in the UK.

Olivia Cuttill - Trumpet & Composition (London)
A third-generation musician, Olivia’s jazz and blues heritage shines through her bold, characterful compositions.

Piera Onacko - Piano, Synthesis & Composition (Birmingham)
Experimental pianist and composer Piera Onacko creates immersive sound worlds spanning jazz, electronic and contemporary classical music.

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/

Steamin’ Jazz Club at The Steam and Whistle, Cheltenham - Programme January to June 2026.

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Steamin' Jazz Club, run by the band Swing From Paris, has announced its programme for the first half of 2026.

Fenner Curtis, violinist with the band Swing From Paris, writes;

We have started up our own new jazz club in Cheltenham. It’s at a really great venue for music, downstairs at the Steam and Whistle pub opposite Cheltenham Spa railway station. We’ve been putting jazz on there since May 2025 and it’s been going well.

Here’s what we have for the first half of the year:

Weds 21 Jan: Tom Ollendorff
Weds 18 Feb: Elijah Jeffery and Eddie Gripper Quartet
Weds 18 March: Klara Devlin Quartet
Weds 15 April: Swing from Paris
Weds 13 May: Robin Nolan Trio
Weds 17 June: James Owston Quartet

All gigs 7.30pm-9.30pm, doors 7pm.
Info and tickets at https://linktr.ee/steaminjazzclub

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

The Steam and Whistle
247 Gloucester Rd, Cheltenham GL51 8NW.

Serious - 2026 Winter & Spring Programme.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Live music producers Serious have announced their Winter & Spring series of events which will take place at various London venues and further afield. Press release including a schedule of events att.

We have received the following press release;

SERIOUS upcoming shows including Anohni, Ludovico Einaudi, KODO, Yasmine Hamdan, Aynur, Mabel Matiz and more

2026 Winter & Spring Programme
Including Anohni, Ludovico Einaudi, KODO, Yasmine Hamdan, Aynur and Mabel Matiz

View events and book tickets here;
https://serious.org.uk/whats-on/upcoming-events

As 2026 begins, live music producers Serious are excited to present a vibrant schedule of extraordinary performances across London and beyond. From trailblazing jazz collaborations to boundary-pushing international artists, the first months of the year promise an unmissable series of concerts.

Brooklyn-based trio Tortured Soul kick things off on 22 January at the Jazz Cafe. Fronted by drummer-vocalist John-Christian Urich, they fuse deep grooves, soul, and disco into an irresistible blend of house and funk. With swirling vocals, ecstatic basslines, and dancefloor-ready rhythms, this rare London performance is a chance to see one of the most in-demand dance music bands in an intimate setting.

Now sold out, Yasmine Hamdan performs at EartH Theatre on 12 February, bringing her unique voice and genre-defying sound to London audiences. Having emerged as a pioneering figure in indie electronic music with Soapkills, and following critically acclaimed solo albums including Ya Nass, Al Jamilat, and her latest release I Remember I Forget (September 2025), Hamdan blends Arabic musical traditions with contemporary Western electronic, pop, and folk influences.

On 13 February, Turkish singer-songwriter Mabel Matiz performs at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. A modern-day Ashik, Matiz fuses maqam, Anatolian folk, synth, and urban pop into a sound that is both innovative and deeply poetic. His lyrical mastery and dedication to social justice have earned him a devoted following both in Turkey and internationally.

Brazilian guitarist Fabiano de Nascimento performs at the Jazz Cafe on 23 February. Seamlessly weaving samba, MPB, choro, and jazz with experimental flair, Fabiano’s hypnotic rhythms and inventive melodies showcase the breadth of Brazil’s rich musical heritage.

Swedish multi-instrumentalist Björn Yttling brings his Yttling Jazz project to the Jazz Cafe on 2 March, blending cinematic atmospheres with modern jazz grooves. Best known as the bassist of Peter Bjorn and John and as a producer for artists including Lykke Li, Yttling’s ensemble delivers immersive improvisation alongside tight composition, exploring textures, bold horn lines, and restless rhythm.

Following sold-out Barbican shows in 2024, Japanese taiko drumming ensemble KODO return to the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on 6 & 7 March with Luminance, a breathtaking fusion of theatre and percussion that brings together its most beloved signature works, refined over decades of world tours. The performance will honour Maki Ishii’s iconic Monochrome on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, while also introducing new pieces inspired by the journeys, encounters, and ideas of KODO’s current members. For the first time in decades, the ensemble also presents original compositions by guest artists from a wide range of genres; musicians they have met and collaborated with around the world.

Jazz luminaries Dave Holland and Lionel Loueke unite for a rare duo performance at Union Chapel on 23 March. Their collaboration celebrates the power of improvisation, blending Loueke’s masterful guitar work with Holland’s resonant bass in an inspiring testament to cultural roots and musical dialogue. Singer-songwriter Aqualung returns to the Jazz Cafe on 31 March for two sets, the first featuring music from Beach Boys’ epic album Pet Sounds and the second his own catalogue.

There are two very special shows to celebrate the 80th of Keith Jarrett at the Barbican, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of his seminal The Köln Concert. Firstly, The Bad Plus join forces with Chris Potter and Craig Taborn on 30 March to portray their inspirations from the music of Jarrett’s American Quartet. On 11 April, pianists Thomas Enhco and Maki Namekawa present a reinvention of Keith Jarrett’s The Köln Concert at the Barbican on 11 April, fusing classical precision with jazz improvisation. Ahead of this show there is a special screening of Keith Jarrett: The Art of Improvisation at the Barbican Cinema at 3:30pm for an intimate look at the legendary pianist.

April brings the mesmerizing voice of Kurdish singer Aynur to the Barbican on 2 April, alongside her acclaimed ensemble, revisiting traditional Kurdish folk music through a modern lens. Canadian pianist and composer Tony Ann headlines a piano pop evening at Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 19 April, joined by Van Toan and Louisiana Bloom. On 23 April, Grammy-winning guitarist Bill Frisell and multi-instrumentalist Eyvind Kang perform a selection of original compositions and inspired improvisations at Cadogan Hall.

Eco-feminist visionary Anohni returns to the Barbican on 23 April for an intimate concert set against her original films, while Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi embarks on a UK solo piano tour from 23 April to 8 May, performing his most loved works alongside deep cuts in an intimate setting.

The Barbican hosts Cuban virtuoso Roberto Fonseca on 13 May, celebrating the golden era of Cuban music in a dazzling orchestral show, followed by guitar virtuoso Julian Lage at the Royal Festival Hall on 15 May, showcasing the artistry and innovation that has earned him five GRAMMY nominations and widespread acclaim.

SERIOUS Winter & Spring 2026 Programme

22 Jan – Tortured Soul – Jazz Cafe
12 Feb – Yasmine Hamdan – EartH Theatre
13 Feb – Mabel Matiz – Royal Festival Hall
23 Feb – Fabiano de Nascimento – Jazz Cafe
2 Mar – Yttling Jazz – Jazz Cafe
6 & 7 Mar – KODO – Royal Festival Hall
23 Mar – Dave Holland & Lionel Loueke – Union Chapel
30 Mar – The Bad Plus, Chris Potter & Craig Taborn – Jazz Cafe
31 Mar – Aqualung – Jazz Cafe
2 Apr – Aynur – Barbican
11 Apr – The Köln Concert – Barbican
19 Apr – Piano pop starring Tony Ann – Theatre Royal Drury Lane
23 Apr – Bill Frisell & Eyvind Kang – Cadogan Hall
23 Apr – Anohni: Wilderness – Barbican
23 Apr – 8 May – Ludovico Einaudi Solo Piano Tour
13 May – Roberto Fonseca – Barbican
15 May – Julian Lage – Royal Festival Hall

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.

UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra gets a new artistic leadership in autumn 2026.

Thursday, January 15, 2026

The new artistic leadership team will comprise of the chief conductor Ville Vannemaa, the artist-in-residence Michael Mayo and the composer-in-residence Bianca Rantala. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra gets a new artistic leadership in autumn 2026.

Press release: UMO gets a new artistic leadership – a trio takes over in autumn 2026.

A new era begins for the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra in autumn 2026 as artistic leadership is handed to a trio of leading talents. The artistic leadership team comprises the chief conductor, the artist-in-residence and the composer-in-residence. The trio will be responsible for the orchestra’s long-term artistic vision and the planning of concert-season repertoire, combining Finnish and international jazz, the big band tradition and the composition and performance of bold new music – without losing sight of current trends.

The UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra is Finland’s only permanent big band jazz municipal orchestra. The orchestra’s mission is to cultivate and develop the diverse musical tradition of jazz and to provide experiences that arise from the top-level collective know-how, boldness and artistic dedication. Playing almost 100 concerts a year, UMO’s artistic strength lies firmly in its musicians: individuals who together form a unique artistic collective. The orchestra is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary season.

The new artistic leadership trio, i.e. the artistic trio, consists of saxophonist, composer, arranger and conductor Ville Vannemaa as chief conductor, American singer, composer and Grammy nominee Michael Mayo as artist-in-residence, and Estonian-Finnish composer Bianca Rantala as composer-in-residence.   

 
The chief conductor Ville Vannemaa is responsible for developing the orchestra’s sound
Ville Vannemaa (b. 1983) is one of Finland’s most sought-after big band conductors and freelance saxophonists. He has long been a guest conductor of the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra, the Espoo Big Band and the Oulu All-Star Big Band as well as the artistic director of the Turku Jazz Orchestra from 2022 to 2024. Vannemaa studied saxophone and arranging at the jazz department of the Sibelius Academy, and he has extensive experience working with big bands, not only as a conductor but also as a composer, arranger and orchestra musician. Vannemaa’s long experience as a teacher as well as his strong understanding of different musical genres, especially jazz, have strengthened his reputation as an excellent big band rehearser.
As chief conductor, he will be actively involved in the orchestra’s activities and will be responsible for developing its sound. He will plan and conduct at least six productions per seasons. Vannemaa’s term runs from autumn 2026 to spring 2029.
“UMO has held a very special place in my heart ever since I began playing the saxophone as a teenager and listening to jazz. I remember thinking back in the early 2000s, while sitting in the audience at the UMO Jazz House on Pursimiehenkatu, that there was something very unique about this orchestra. At that time, I of course had absolutely no idea that I later would sit in the saxophone section hundreds of times as well as arrange and compose music for this group of wonderful musicians, and eventually stand before the orchestra as its leader. That sense of the uniqueness of both the orchestra and the whole organisation has stayed with me to this day, and I strongly feel it will grow even stronger when I begin my work as chief conductor of the orchestra. I’m also excited to be collaborating with my wonderful partners, Michael and Bianca”, says Ville Vannemaa.

The artist-in-residence Michael Mayo expands the repertoire
American singer and composer Michael Mayo (b. 1992) is one of the leading contemporary vocalists of his generation. He has been prominent in jazz circles since his critically acclaimed debut album Bones (2021) and the follow-up, the Grammy-nominated Fly (2024). In his music, he combines elements of jazz, neo-soul and R&B, and he is particularly known for his innovative and versatile vocal style.
Mayo was only the third vocalist accepted into the prestigious Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. He has collaborated and performed with, among others, Hancock, Jacob Collier, Gretchen Parlato, and Nate Smith.
As artist-in-residence, he will expand UMO’s repertoire and bring new perspectives as well as an extensive network of contacts. He will plan at least four programmes each season and perform with the orchestra at least twice per concert season. Mayo’s two-year term runs from autumn 2026 to spring 2028.
“I’m genuinely so excited to get the chance to collaborate with the UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra. I’ve had so much music swirling in my ears that I’m excited to be able to bring to life such an incredible ensemble. I think we’re gonna have a really special time together, and I look forward to all the music to come”, Mayo comments.

The composer-in-residence Bianca Rantala brings the sound of new music.
Composer, conductor and vocalist Bianca Rantala (b. 1999) is an Estonian-Finnish musician who is active across many fields. Rantala is known for her bold and emotionally charged musical expression, effortlessly moving between different genres, combining intellect with playfulness and bridging jazz and contemporary music. Rantala has written works and hundreds of arrangements for ensembles ranging from choirs and small groups to symphony orchestras. She has conducted several big bands in Estonia and worked as guest conductor in several countries. She has received numerous awards as a composer as well as a singer, including the Composer of the Year prize at the Estonian Jazz Gala.
Rantala’s one-year term as composer-in-residence runs from autumn 2026 to spring 2027. As composer-in-residence, she will bring the sound of new music to UMO as well as the perspective of a composer. New commissions by Rantala will be performed as part of UMO’s repertoire during the season. In addition to composing, Rantala will be involved in the planning of the concert season in her role as composer.
“UMO has been an important beacon for me for a very long time. I grew up in Estonia listening to UMO’s albums and wondering how an orchestra, at once uncompromising, curious and vibrant, could exist just across the small gulf. For me, UMO represented something to aspire to: a community not only following its time but rather setting the tone. The thought of working with this very orchestra feels surreal but at the same time deeply meaningful. UMO has been a cradle of new music and a supporter of bold artists, a role model for many musicians growing up in Finland – but the importance of the orchestra has also been strongly felt outside Finland, especially in Estonia. I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to lend my voice to this orchestra and to build the future together with Ville and Michael, whom I greatly admire”, says Bianca Rantala.

The artistic trio in dialogue with the orchestra musicians
An advisory artistic committee formed from within the orchestra will share its views on the musical aspects of the orchestra’s work and the repertoire in active dialogue with the trio. The expertise of UMO’s musicians will be particularly leveraged in the independent planning of small-ensemble programmes and concerts performed without a conductor.

The Managing Director is responsible for the big picture
The Managing Director of the UMO Foundation, Henriika Steidel-Luoto, is responsible for the orchestra’s operations and finances. Her role also includes leading overall artistic planning and providing strategic guidance, as well as supplying the artistic team with the necessary support and resources. She ensures that the artistic planning is aligned with the long-term goals of the orchestra.
“Jazz is fluid in nature, like a continuous spiral. It never stops, but carries you along and brings you to new places through interaction. This is the essence we wanted to incorporate in the structure of our artistic management”, explains Managing Director Henriika Steidel-Luoto. “During his term chief conductor will work together with three different composers-in-residence and two principal guest artists. This means that we will not only have a succession of changing voices, but encounters and concurrent working in the spirit of jazz. We want UMO’s own aesthetic, shaped by its own history, to constantly collide in a controlled way with new things, creating something alive and true to ourselves while still remaining surprising and innovative”, Steidel-Luoto continues. “Internationally, UMO is one of the highest-level jazz orchestras. Our top priority is to keep UMO at this level, always relevant and on the move. The artistic leadership model has to support this, which is why it has been built around the idea of movement”, she adds.

A list of UMO’s artistic leaders over the last 50 years is available (in Finnish) here.
https://umohelsinki.fi/2017/03/04/umon-taiteelliset-johtajat-1975-2018/

UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra – The Greatest Feats since 1975. Get ready to groove as we mark 50 years of achievements and mastery in jazz! UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra celebrates its 50th anniversary season from summer 2025 to spring 2026. Throughout these decades, the orchestra has been at the forefront of Finnish jazz. Over the years, UMO has recorded over 60 albums, received Yrjö and Emma prizes, and even a Grammy nomination. The orchestra has shared the stage with international jazz stars as well as Finnish artists. One thing remains constant: the core of UMO is in new music. Join us for our anniversary season to look back on the past and celebrate our achievements, all while keeping our eyes firmly on the exciting future ahead. Come and celebrate together with the UMO! http://www.umohelsinki.fi

See the concert calendar of UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra celebrating its 50th anniversary at http://www.umohelsinki.fi

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 11/01/2026.

Monday, January 12, 2026

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 11/01/2026, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Hi folks,

Happy New Year to you all!

My first show of 2026 is now available at https://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz/first-broadcast-january-11th-2026/ and shortly on Amazon, Apple and other podcasts as “Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast”

Tres Pantalons
The Shirker
Live from the Shed
self

stefano boggiani
Sun Eats Mouth
Andvake
Losen

Kristof Bacso Triad
Mandala
Let it go
BMC

Amaury Faye Nolan Quartet
Rust
Rust
Hypnote

TOIY
Full Moon Blanket
TOIY
Aut Records

Ole Morten Vågan & Trondheim Jazz Orchestra;
Far Out Suite
This is Wuppertal
Jazzland

Vytis Nivinskas
Ritual
Rituals & Transformations
No Business Records

Ovella Negre
La Dama de Mallorca
Va De Mescles
Segell microscopi

Fink Floyd
S.O.M
We Bring Back Jazz
Trouble in the East

Jonas Sorgenfrei
Jungle After Dusk
Cracks in the Silence
Unit Records

Bévort 3
Simplicity
A Cup of Joe
self

Baptiste Herbin/ Minino Garay
Footprints
Los Arregladores
Continuo

Krugly Band Orchestra
Summertime
Porgy & Bess
Leo

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 7pm

http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 4pm onward

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

Chesterfield Jazz Club - Programme for January to June 2026

Thursday, January 08, 2026

Chesterfield Jazz Club has announced its programme for the first half of 2026. Performers include Martin Speake, Terri Shaltiel, Karen Sharp, Caroline Boaden, Pat McCarthy, Tommaso Starace.

Wendy Kirkland of Chesterfield Jazz Club writes;

All concerts for the first half of the year are on the http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/wendykirkland page, with descriptions of our artists. It’s a great mix of favourite and fresh artists to the club: Martin Speake, Karen Sharp, Pat McCarthy and Tomasso Starace are making a comeback while Terri Shaltiel and Caroline Boaden are playing for you, our wonderful audience for the first time.
The word has got out about the quality of the reception and experience for musicians and I’m getting more enquiries from them than ever! We can only offer 12 slots a year so have to choose carefully….

See http://www.ticketsource.co.uk/wendykirkland for dates and musician biographies.

From;
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/wendykirkland

Chesterfield Jazz Club presents Martin Speake, saxophone
Olde House Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Thu 15 Jan 2026, 8:00PM

Chesterfield Jazz Club presents Terri Shaltiel, vocalist
Olde House Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Thu 19 Feb 2026, 8:00PM

Chesterfield Jazz Club presents Karen Sharp, saxophone
Olde House Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Thu 19 Mar 2026, 8:00PM

Chesterfield Jazz Club presents Caroline Boaden, drums
Olde House Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Thu 16 Apr 2026, 8:00PM

Chesterfield Jazz Club presents Pat McCarthy, guitar
Olde House Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Thu 21 May 2026, 8:00PM

Chesterfield Jazz Club presents Tommaso Starace, saxophone
Olde House Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Thu 18 Jun 2026, 8:00PM

Tickets are available online now, but if you prefer a physical ticket, these will be at Parson’s and Dunn newsagents, Chatsworth Road, across from Lidl

http://www.chesterfieldjazz.com

Saxophonist Oscar Lavën unleashes Elegant Calamity.

Wednesday, January 07, 2026

Saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Oscar Lavën releases Elegant Calamity, the follow-up to his internationally admired debut, Questions in Red, on Thick Records on Friday 16th January 2026.

We have received the following press release;

Saxophonist Oscar Lavën unleashes Elegant Calamity

Saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist Oscar Lavën releases Elegant Calamity, the follow-up to his internationally admired debut, Questions in Red, on Thick Records on Friday 16th January 2026.

An effervescent presence on New Zealand’s currently vital jazz scene, Lavën (pronounced Lah-venn) is a double graduate from the New Zealand School of Music and brings his degrees in jazz and classical music to bear on both the music and the personnel featured on Elegant Calamity.

“I wrote Elegant Calamity in pursuit of a sound that allows the personalities of the eclectic mix of musicians to shine through,” he says. “These players represent different corners of the vibrant New Zealand art music scene and I hope listeners around the globe will be able to appreciate this through this album.”

Bringing together string players alongside woodwinds, brass and a five-piece rhythm section, Lavën has produced what he describes as “music that blends forward-facing boldness with a certain shade of cinematic nostalgia”.

Influences including trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie’s Afro-Cuban experiments, Ennio Morricone’s atmospheric film soundtracks and bandoneon master Astor Piazzolla’s nuevo tango can be detected, as can the sophistication of Duke Ellington’s jazz orchestra and bassist Charles Mingus’ mighty gospel-infused excitement.

The compositions were made possible through trumpeter Michael Costeloe’s groundbreaking Jazz Orchestra Composer Series, which offers musicians both freedom to create imaginatively and a platform to perform. Elegant Calamity was recorded live at the intimate Bedlam & Squalor venue in Wellington with the audience needing little encouragement to become involved. It was engineered and mastered by Alistair Isdale.

“This was a very spirited, joyful process from beginning to end,” says Lavën. “I hope people will enjoy listening to Elegant Calamity as much as we enjoyed playing it.”

Cecil Sharp House, London -  Spring and Summer 2026 Season

Friday, December 19, 2025

The English Folk Dance and Song Society has announced its programme for January to July 2026 with all events taking place at Cecil Sharp House, London.

We have received the following press release;

Cecil Sharp House Spring Summer 2026 Season

London’s hub of folk music presents performances from firm crowd favourites and newer faces, ranging from English dance tunes to Mozambican timbila traditions.

First-time visitors include Canadian duo Basset, new groups The English Fiddle Ensemble and Säwol, British-Mozambican duo Kate Griffin and Matchume Zango, Holly Clarke and young trio Good Habits, plus Chloe Matharu and HEISK with Scotland on Tour.

We celebrate the life of Black Regency busker Billy Waters in Jump Billy!, a one-of-a-kind concert, and the inaugural Songs for the Workers gig marks International Workers’ Day, boasting a roster of folk talents including Peggy Seeger and Jackie Oates.

Favourites return, including Martin and Eliza Carthy, Jim Causley’s annual Wassail, Kathryn Tickell and The Darkening, Emily Portman, Tarren, Hannah James and Toby Kuhn, Jon Boden and The Remnant Kings and John Jones Trio.

We welcome back regular series and festivals, including the fourth Indoor Festival of Folk, Feminist Folk Club, Queer Folk Festival and Trad Nights.

Season Highlights:

●    Legends of the English folk scene, Martin and Eliza Carthy (Wed 25 Feb), perform a range of songs and tunes from their vast repertoire, both traditional and contemporary.

●    Jump Billy! (Wed 25 Mar) marks the anniversary of Billy Waters’ death with live music from Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, Clarke Camilleri, Hamilton Gross, and Angeline Morrison, with Maz O’Connor and Tony Montague and Martin Simpson.

●    Songs for the Workers (Thu 7 May) marks International Workers’ Day featuring Peggy Seeger, Jackie Oates, Nick Hart, Jennifer Reid and Francy Devine, paying tribute to workers with industrial and agricultural folk music, work songs and ballads.

●    Indoor Festival of Folk (Sat 7 Feb), co-hosted by The Magpie Arc, returns for its fourth year, featuring Maddy Prior and Peter Knight, Chris Wood, Lisa Knapp and Gerry Diver, Ellie Gowers, and an interview with Matthew Bannister and special guest Simon Nicol.

●    Kate Griffin and Matchume Zango (Wed 3 Jun) forge a new cross-cultural collaboration (UK and Mozambique) celebrating the universal power of traditional music.

●    A performance celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the National Youth Folk Ensemble (Thu 2 Apr), with talented young folk musicians from across England.

●    A gig from a new collaboration on the scene, Säwol (Thu 11 Jun), made up of industry greats: Fi Fraser, Jess Arrowsmith, Nancy Kerr, Rosie Butler-Hall, and Sarah Matthews.

●    Critically acclaimed singer, John Jones (Thu 30 Apr), is back on the road with old friends Ray Cooper, a.k.a. Chopper, and Al Scott.

●    Wakefire: A Midsummer Celebration (Wed 17 Jun) presented by Lady Maisery, Jimmy Aldridge, and Sid Goldsmith marks the spring season in song.

●    For its seventh event at Cecil Sharp House, Feminist Folk Club (Wed 11 Feb) presents Rowan Rheingans, Jacken Elswyth, and Satnam Galsian.

●    Queer Folk Festival (Sat 30 May) returns with a lineup (TBA) of some of the best queer folk artists in the industry and a famous Queer Ceilidh Dance Party to close. Plus the inclusive Chilled Ceilidhs return (Sat 28 Feb, Sat 25 Jul) following their autumn debut.

●    Trad Nights: Keith Kendrick & Sylvia Needham (Wed 21 Jan), The Fraser Sisters (Wed 1 Apr) and Jeff Warner (Wed 13 May) play our intimate acoustic Trad Nights.

Listings:

Cecil Sharp House
2 Regent’s Park Road, London NW1 7AY
http://www.cecilsharphouse.org
Tel: 020 7485 2206

Full programme information: https://www.efdss.org/whats-on
Ticket prices vary, starting from £10.50 (Under 30s) to £25.50.

Family Barn Dance Sun 11 Jan, 3pm

Trad Night: Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham Wed 21 Jan, 7.30pm

WASSAIL! with Jim Causley and Friends Wed 28 Jan, 7.30pm

Family Barn Dance Sun 1 Feb, 3pm

Indoor Festival of Folk Sat 7 Feb, 1pm

Feminist Folk Club Wed 11 Feb, 7.30pm

The English Fiddle Ensemble Wed 18 Feb, 7.30pm

Martin and Eliza Carthy Wed 25 Feb, 7.30pm

Chilled Queer Ceilidh Sat 28 Feb, 4pm

Queer Ceilidh Dance Party Sat 28 Feb, 8pm

Kathryn Tickell and The Darkening Sat 7 Mar, 7.30pm

Emily Portman and Friends Thu 12 Mar, 7.30pm

Family Barn Dance Sat 15 Mar, 3pm

Hannah James and Toby Kuhn Thu 19 Mar, 7.30pm

Jump Billy! Wed 25 Mar, 7.30pm

Trad Night: The Fraser Sisters Wed 1 Apr, 7.30pm

National Youth Folk Ensemble Thu 2 Apr, 7.30pm

Holly Clarke Thu 9 Apr, 7.30pm

Tarren Wed 15 Apr, 7.30pm

Basset Wed 22 Apr, 7.30pm

John Jones Trio Thu 30 Apr, 7.30pm

Songs for the Workers Thu 7 May, 7.30pm

Family Barn Dance: Maypole Special! Sun 10 May, 1.30pm

Trad Night: Jeff Warner Wed 13 May, 7.30pm

Jon Boden and The Remnant Kings Sun 17 May, 6.30pm

Good Habits Wed 27 May, 7.30pm

Queer Folk Festival Sat 30 May, 1.30pm

Kate Griffin and Matchume Zango Wed 3 Jun, 7.30pm

Säwol Thu 11 Jun, 7.30pm

Wakefire: A Midsummer Celebration Wed 17 Jun, 7.30pm

Scotland on Tour: HEISK and Chloe Matharu Thu 25 Jun, 7.30pm

London Youth Folk Ensemble and Friends Sat 27 Jun, 5.30pm

The Crossroads: La’l Tethera Tóchar and The Beadling Wed 1 Jun, 7.30pm

Chilled Queer Ceilidh Sat 25 Jul, 4pm

Queer Ceilidh Dance Party Sat 25 Jul, 8pm

About the English Folk Dance and Song Society:
The English Folk Dance and Song Society champions the folk arts at the heart of England’s rich and diverse cultural landscape. As the national development agency for the folk arts, it delivers a dynamic national and local education programme, enabling and increasing access to the folk arts. It runs the acclaimed National Youth Folk Ensemble. It supports folk artists through a flourishing artists development programme. It manages the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library – England’s national folk music library and archive. The custom-built headquarters of the English Folk Dance and Song Society is Cecil Sharp House, a busy arts centre situated just north of Regent’s Park in central London. Visit http://www.efdss.org

Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival 2026 -  first wave of artists announced.

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival has announced Fabio & Grooverider & The Outlook Orchestra, and Jalen Ngonda, as the first two headline acts for 2026. The event takes place in Moseley Park, Birmingham

We have received the following press release;

Mostly Jazz 2026 first wave of artists announced

Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra
Jalen Ngonda
Thee Sacred Souls
Gabriels (DJ set)
Annie & The Caldwells
Close Counters
Olive Jones

Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival
Friday 10 to Sunday 12 July 2025
Moseley Park, Birmingham.

Birmingham’s Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival have announced Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra, and Jalen Ngonda, as their first two headline acts for 2026 (Friday 10 to Sunday 12

July 2026).

Fabio & Grooverider are the undisputed godfathers of drum’n'bass. Through their own residencies, releases and award-winning radio shows, they’ve championed, developed and steered the genre for over 30 years. Back after a string of sell-out dates (including London’s Royal Albert Hall in the spring), their collaboration with The Outlook Orchestra (Friday) is an exuberant celebration of the history of drum’n'bass/ jungle, with a set of classic anthems like you’ve never heard them before.

Following an outstanding afternoon performance at 2025’s Mostly Jazz, American singer-songwriter Jalen Ngonda makes a much anticipated return to the festival – this time in a headline slot (Sunday). One of the most captivating performers on today’s soul scene, Jalen’s voice - equal parts raw feeling and elegance - exudes confidence and charm.

Also appearing on the final day are fellow Daptone artistes Thee Sacred Souls. Hailing from San Diego, the breakout trio mix the easy going grace of sweet ’60s soul with the grit and groove of early ’70s R&B.

Also joining Fabio & Grooverider and Jalen over the festival weekend are Mississippi gospel disco soul family band Annie & The Caldwells, whose recent debut album, Can’t Lose My (Soul) was welcomed with a raft of five and four-star reviews, and Ryan Hope, from hitmakers Gabriels, with a special DJ set.

Award-winning Australian electronic duo Close Counters, whose diverse sound sits at the crossroads of house, neo-soul, broken beat and disco, and singer-songwriter Olive Jones, who’ll be highlighting tracks from her debut album For Mary (out in March), also appear – with further acts to be revealed in the new year.

Taking place in the idyllic surroundings of Moseley Park, the annual three-day event is a short distance away from Birmingham’s city centre, yet a world away from city life. With sloping grounds, creating a natural amphitheatre in front of the beautiful lake, it hosts some of the best jazz, funk, soul and dance artists from across the UK and further afield.

John Fell, Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul’s Manager, said:
“We’re delighted to reveal two of our headliners for 2026’s festival. Fabio & Grooverider are D&B royalty, and their team-up with The Outlook Orchestra demonstrates their unwavering commitment to the genre, as well as their forward-thinking attitude, while Jalen Ngonda is one of the best soul voices there is. Up there with some of the ’60s greats, Jalen’s soulful performance in 2025 blew everyone away and we can’t wait to welcome him back in what’s shaping up to be his big break-through year.”

Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival runs from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 July 2026 at Moseley Park, Birmingham. Tickets on sale from Friday 19 December 2025, 10am. For full details, see: mostlyjazz.co.uk

Friday 10 to Sunday 12 July 2026
Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival
Moseley Park and Pool, 93b Alcester Road, Birmingham B13 8DD
Details / tickets: http://www.mostlyjazz.co.uk

TICKETS:
Tier 1: SOLD OUT
Tier 2 [ON SALE FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER 2025 10AM]: Adult Weekend £157.50; Adult Day: £56; Family Weekend £357; U18 Weekend £64; U18 Day£33. + Booking Fee
Payment plans on all orders with Kaboodle - split over 4 months.

Social media:

http://www.facebook.com/mostlyjazz

http://www.x.com/mostly_jazz

http://www.instagram.com/mostly_jazz/

http://www.tiktok.com/@mostlyjazz/

http://www.youtube.com/user/mostlyjazz

Hashtag: #mostlyjazz

FRIDAY 10 JULY 2026
Fabio & Grooverider and The Outlook Orchestra
More acts to be revealed ...

SATURDAY 11 JULY 2026
(Headline act to be announced)
Annie & The Caldwells
Close Counters
More acts to be revealed ...

SUNDAY 12 JULY 2026
Jalen Ngonda
Thee Sacred Souls
More acts to be revealed ...
Plus Gabriels (DJ set) and Olive Jones, with more artists to be announced in the New Year.

ABOUT MOSTLY JAZZ FUNK AND SOUL FESTIVAL
Debuting in 2010, Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul Festival is a diverse, vibrant festival, celebrating ground-breaking, innovative UK music alongside international trailblazers. Held in Moseley Park, a stunning 11-acre woodland glade in the heart of Moseley Village, the festival is just two miles from the centre of Birmingham, yet is a world away from city life. With sloping grounds, creating a natural amphitheatre in front of the beautiful lake, it’s the perfect setting for a festival. Each year Mostly Jazz Funk and Soul brings incredible artists, workshops, arts, crafts, and a selection of Birmingham’s most loved street food and drinks vendors to Moseley, for one epic party weekend.
Previous headliners include Ezra Collective, Maribou State, Chic feat. Nile Rodgers, Public Enemy, Gregory Porter, Chaka Khan, De La Soul, Bonobo, The Specials, The Wailers, Goldie, Fat Freddy’s Drop, KC and The Sunshine Band, Kool and The Gang, The Jacksons, Yussef Dayes, The Blackbyrds, and Leftfield.

Jazz at Progress, Progress Theatre, Reading, Berkshire - Programme for January to July 2026.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Jazz at Progress has announced its programme for January to July 2026. 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 | The Alex Hitchcock Quartet
Friday 2 January 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee
Alex Hitchcock - tenor sax
Will Barry piano
Joe Downard bass
Luke McCarthy drums
‘Ridiculous technique and harmonic proficiency combined with progressive creativity that sees him leading the charge in terms of new jazz music being created in the UK’ – Linley Hamilton, BBC Jazz World
Since his first gig as leader for us at Progress in 2017, Alex Hitchcock is now regarded as one of the UK’s most virtuosic jazz musicians. This will be his third appearance for us, last in 2022. Every gig has been a roaring success. Over the past year or so, Alex has been resident in New York honing his already impressive skills as composer, leader and playing a wide spectrum of jazz. He is also touring extensively in Europe, UK and the USA at major venues and festivals. A busy man!
Will Barry is a regular in the quartet appearing with Alex at Progress in 2017 and also in 2022 with saxophonist Tom Smith and Empirical last February 2025. Once a “young gun” Will is now a much in demand pianist for many fine bands.
Joe Downard is the bedrock of the quartet with perfect accompaniment and solo skills to match. Now a composer and band leader in his own right, Joe has appeared at every gig at Progress with Alex.
Luke McCarthy is new to us, still studying at the Royal Academy of Music and rapidly building a reputation as a drummer going places.
So, bring in the New Year with your first jazz gig of 2026. We guarantee it’ll be a corker.

Jazz at Progress | Josephine Davies’ Satori Quartet
Friday 30 January 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.
Josephine Davies tenor & soprano saxophones
Alcyona Mick piano
Dave Whitford bass
Jay Davies drums
Winner of the 2019 Parliamentary Award ‘Jazz Instrumentalist of the year’, Josephine Davies is a saxophonist, composer and bandleader at the forefront of the UK contemporary music scene. She has four album releases on Whirlwind Recordings with her trio/quartet Satori, and is known for her melodic focus, versatility and unique style as an instrumentalist.
Now becoming equally known as a composer, her unique sound is a blend of jazz, folk and classical music, creating an intensely dynamic sound infused with the Nordic quality of her Shetland roots.
Josephine was resident composer and tenor player for the London Jazz Orchestra from 2012-2018, leaving at that time to form her own 17 piece orchestra, The Enso Ensemble. She was chosen to be one of the South Coast Radar Jazz Composers in 2020 and commissioned at that time by NYJO to write a piece for their album ‘She Said’, featuring music solely by female composers.
Returning to the studio for the much-anticipated 4th album from her band Satori, Josephine Davies has composed an exquisite album of pieces inspired by her Nordic roots in the Shetland Islands. The superb partnership of bassist Dave Whitford and drummer Jay Davies once again creates the perfect bedrock for Josephine’s sinuous saxophone lines. Joining the original trio to become the current quartet is the innovative pianist Alcyona Mick.
The intricate compositions, coupled with the thrilling interplay between these four musicians, evokes the interconnection of Shetland sea, land, sky, and ever-present wind. At times stark and unsettling, and at times light and joyous, their latest album “Weatherwards” is a unique and magical offering from one of the UK’s most dynamic ensembles.
“Satori is among the most engaging young bands on the British scene… Cerebral, nuanced and reflective.” All About Jazz
“Davies weaves a continuous thread of shifting feelings through the set.” London Jazz News
“The powerful combination of fearless free improvisation and melodic empathy from these gifted players creates a powerful and timely statement.” Jazz in Europe
“A terrifying level of proficiency with an insatiable appetite for improvisation.” Rhein Main Magazine

Jazz at Progress | Ben Crosland’s All Star Band Play the Ray Davies Song Book
Friday 20 February 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.
Theo Travis reeds | Ben Crosland bass | Steve Lodder keyboards |  | John Etheridge guitar | Buster Birch drums
Those of us who were growing up at the time of the swinging 60s need no introduction to the music of The Kinks. However, for those not acquainted, the band’s website will tell you all you need to know. Not that the band and leader, composer Ray Davies, stopped developing and influencing rock and popular music in the 60s. Far from it.
Whether Ray ever thought that his tunes would one day be performed and rearranged as jazz band material is possibly unknown, but he has approved in writing Ben Crosland’s and his musician’s treatment of his compositions. See here
Ben was commissioned by Marsden jazz festival in 2014 to write arrangements of Ray Davies tunes, which duly done and performed, in 2015, resulted in an album “The Ray Davies Songbook” followed in 2018 by Volume 2.
Reviewers rated the results highly…
“…the album swings consistently…with this sharp, cogent collection, a dedicated follower of Ray Davies has made him a well-respected jazz composer too.” – The Times
“…a lot of affection, a lot of respect for those unforgettable melodies and a whole lotta damn fine playing…these well respected men have done Mr. Davies proud” – Jazzwise
Whilst the line up has changed from the albums, Ben, John Etheridge and Steve Lodder remain, and with the addition of Theo Travis form the since well-honed core of the band. They have performed many times over several years and never fail to hit the spot.
Just read this review of the band in January 2025 at Fleece Jazz.
Theo Travis and John Etheridge play together in Soft Machine. So, although a different genre, they express a close musical wavelength in Ben’s band. John has been described by the great Pat Metheny as “one of the best guitarists”. Theo is fantastically busy musician, composer, arranger-you name musical tasks and he does it. Two wonderful versatile musicians who have both appeared at Progress and it will be good to have them back.
Ben Crosland has been immersed in Jazz since the 1980s and played with anyone who is anyone on in the UK scene. This is apart from running his own bands, doing jazz promotions and of course arranging, composing. For unknown reasons this his first appearance at Progress.
Buster Birch is again a much in demand musician, composer, arranger, author, educator and much more. He was last with us with Steve Waterman.  An unknown fact; he created his own critically acclaimed show which features the Buster Birch jazz quartet playing live to the screening of different classic Buster Keaton silent movies, for which he has arranged and scored over 4hrs of music to sync. In 2023 it won the Audience Award at The Chichester International Film Festival.
Please join us for another fine night of the music we love.

Jazz at Progress | Small Blue
Friday 27 March 2026 | Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.
Martin Pyne drums / composition
David Beebee piano
Marianne Windham double bass
Percussionist, composer and improviser Martin Pyne, when not working with contemporary dance or as a silent film accompanist, performs solo sets, leads bands, and collaborates with a range of musicians and other artists.
Formed in 2023, the jazz trio Small Blue is a result of just such a collaboration, with David Beebee on piano, and Marianne Windham on double bass.
Small Blue is a piano trio in the classic modern jazz tradition, featuring material including straight ahead swinging tunes and beautiful ballads , as well as African inspired grooves – but always with a twist.
Martin says that most of the tunes he composes have a back story, often being inspired by novels or poems he’s read, movies or art he’s seen, or places he’s visited.
The result is music that is intimate but ranges far and wide in tempo and mood – by turns lyrical, atmospheric, groovy, and mischievous – and takes in heartfelt ballads, mysterious grooves, evocative atmospheres and melodic swing along the way.
The trio’s second album, Furrow, has – like their debut album, The Stealthy Moon – been received with enthusiastic critical acclaim…
“Superb contemporary jazz” – Jazz Views
“Small Blue might be led by a drummer but this is one of the best ‘piano trio’ albums that I’ve heard in a long time” – THE JAZZMANN
“… high grade Bill Evans Trio territory … each track has its own picture, each track turns its own curve, put all together and Small Blue have themselves a minor masterpiece.” – Steve Day
“Pyne has written twelve exceptional compositions for the new group that immediately gives the trio an identity and repertoire that marks them out as rather something special … a composer of rare talent” – Jazz Views
“In terms of percussion improvisation, try to imagine something that runs from the Zen sound-painting of Frank Perry to the light swing of Billy Higgins. There’s nothing loud, nothing showy, nothing esoteric. Just a delight in the deft touch of a stick, a mallet, a finger or a wire brush on metal, skin or wood, and in the process of transforming sound into a sense of movement.” – Richard Williams, The Blue Moment
Sample the music here: https://tinyurl.com/ua6p5ndm

Jazz at Progress | Matt Skelton presents The Blackhawk Quintet: Celebrating Shelly Manne | Tickets on sale soon
Friday 3 July 2026|  Progress Theatre, Reading | 7: 30pm | £20.00 (£18.00 concessions, £10 under 16) plus maximum 5% booking fee.
James Davison trumpet
Mark Crooks tenor saxophone
Leon Greening piano
Conor Chaplin bass
Matt Skelton drums
This will be a night of ‘cool jazz’ and a tribute to multi-poll winning drummer, Shelley Manne, one of the greats of the West Coast scene of the 1950s An extraordinary and selfless artist, Shelley (1920-1984) – band leader, Contemporary Jazz record label house musician, studio orchestra drummer for countless films and television and owner of ‘Shelley’s Manne Hole’ jazz club – has left an immense legacy of collaborations and recordings, which have enriched the lexicon of jazz percussion with virtuosic alacrity.
This project, masterminded by Matt Skelton, celebrates Shelley’s Quintet – Joe Gordon, trumpet; Richie Kamuca, tenor sax; Victor Felman, piano; Monty Budwig, bass and Shelley Manne, drums – and their particular contribution to the Manne canon, inspired by a clutch of golden performances, captured live at the Blackhawk Jazz club in San Francisco between September 22-24,1959.
Tonight’s ‘stellar’ line-up has been hand-picked for the way they connect with, and are inspired by their corresponding original artists. They will aim to express the band’s own originality and collective inspiration with the Manne Blackhawk quintet as their DNA framework.
Matt Skelton’s Blackhawk Quintet has taken the UK jazz club scene by storm and by the time they make their Progress appearance will have completed a lengthy tour of Scandinavia.
You can expect the fireworks to be flying tonight!
‘An evening of pure jazz joy. Thank you Matt for giving us the opportunity to hear and be part of this important and uplifting music. Jazz night’s don’t come any better than this. We are still smiling.’ – Watermill Jazz Club – Dorking

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.

Presto Music Jazz Awards 2025.

Monday, December 15, 2025

Specialist jazz and classical retailers Presto Music, based in Royal Leamington Spa, have announced their jazz award winners for 2025. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Presto Music Awards 2025

British specialist names the year’s best classical and jazz recordings, sheet music, books and more, in a celebration of musical creativity.

Royal Leamington Spa, UK
Presto Music, the leading specialist in classical and jazz music, is proud to reveal the winners of its 2025 Awards, celebrating the year’s best recordings, books, sheet music and more. Chosen from a longlist of more than 150 Finalists, the Awards celebrate the extraordinary breadth and vitality of music-making today.

“Our 2025 Presto Music Award winners made us listen afresh to core repertoire, told absorbing stories or made compelling cases for music that was new to all of us. They exemplify the curiosity, openness and artistic excellence that we at Presto champion every year,” said Presto Music CEO, Chris O’Reilly.

Jazz Awards

In 2025, jazz thrived globally with celebrations like Oscar Peterson’s centenary, the return of the Jazz FM Awards, and numerous concerts and festivals highlighting the very best of the genre. This year, artists have continued to champion what lies at the heart of jazz: its traditions, its diversity, and its commitment to transforming what has come before into something creative and new. Presto Music’s Top 5 Jazz Recordings showcase unexpected instrumentation, rich collaborations, and innovative cross-genre explorations, each one shaped by countless hours spent in rehearsal rooms, studios, and on stages around the world.

O’Reilly said:
“We are thrilled to showcase performances by world-renowned artists including Sir Simon Rattle and Brad Mehldau, alongside some of today’s most exciting rising talents such as Héloïse Werner and Theon Cross. Their recordings remind us how dynamic, diverse and forward-looking the musical landscape has become.”

Jazz Recording of the Year Awards

• Sema4 - ARQ
“Alison Rayner is an artist who has sustained the highest level of artistry and creativity throughout her career, becoming a staple of the British jazz scene. Her latest album
SEMA4 captures a range of genres whilst keeping this signature flair, and acts as an outstanding example of the magic that can come from a live recording.”

• After The Last Sky - Anouar Brahem
“Brahem over the past few decades has been acknowledged as one of the foremost innovators of the oud. After The Last Sky bridges traditions and transcends borders,
expanding the instrument’s expressive range whilst preserving its profound cultural resonance.”

• Affirmations - Live at Blue Note New York - Theon Cross
“With the tuba considered an unlikely candidate for the genre, Cross continues to be one of the most imaginative and boundary-pushing voices, and his latest album captures his innovative spirit and visionary outlook on what jazz can be.”

• Ride Into the Sun - Brad Mehldau
“Mehldau is a pianist that’s renowned for blending jazz tradition with classical sensibility, his latest project paying tribute to the late singer-songwriter Eliot Smith. The result is a sublime demonstration of what it means to reinterpret and reinvent, without losing sight of the original work.”

• Thrive - Fabienne Ambuehl
“In a seamless blend of jazz, lyricism, and folk, Fabienne Ambuehl brings poetry to life and crafts soundscapes that transport listeners into a magical world filled with warmth, imagination, and emotional truth. Thrive speaks to broader themes of nature, belonging, and identity, merging storytelling with deeply personal musical imagery.”

Jazz Special Awards

• Newcomer in Jazz 2025 - Olivia Cuttill
“Olivia Cuttill is a young artist who has made a remarkable impression this year: someone whose talent, creativity, and dedication signals a bright future in the years ahead. Her new album is inspired by family connection, soulful blues, and the spirit of New Orleans, featuring her distinctive trumpet sound.”

• Jazz Organisation of the Year – ECN Music
“Over the last three years ECN Music has exemplified what true dedication to the jazz community looks like. Offering bespoke, highly personalised support to every artist they work with, this organisation not only empowers musicians to retain ownership of their music and provides them with meaningful media opportunities, but also delivers expert guidance in global distribution, promotional strategy, project management, and album design.
After the sad passing of Martin Hummel and the closure of the Ubuntu Music label mid- year, the musicians and artists formerly associated with the label have retained a vital platform through which to share their work through the support of ECN Music, and their commitment to the Brubeck Living Legacy Prize has ensured not only the programme’s remarkable success, but its continued growth into next year. This organisation’s contribution to the jazz community has been truly exceptional, making them unquestionably deserving of the highest recognition.”

• Best Jazz Archive/Reissue - Verve: The Moment Of Truth: Ella At The Coliseum
“This is a rare and radiant window into Ella Fitzgerald at her peak during a live concert, featuring tracks that have never been recorded elsewhere. With a voice full of warmth and purity, and an improvisational genius that delighted audiences, there’s no doubt that what we hear is a legitimate treasure.”

Buy, stream and save on the winners
All the winners are available now from Presto Music. Until 21st January 2026, customers can save up to 30% on the finalists, in CD, Vinyl, Blu-ray or Download format.
The winning recordings can also be enjoyed – the majority in high-resolution quality – via Presto’s streaming service. Now available in 46 countries worldwide, the Presto Music streaming service has a Fair Play Initiative, ensuring artists receive payment per second of music streamed, rather than the typical pay-per-track model.

With roots stretching back almost 40 years, Presto Music has evolved from a specialist retailer into a trusted global platform for recorded music, scores, and expert insight. The company continues to champion artistry, scholarship, and discovery in classical and jazz music.

About Presto Music
Based in Royal Leamington Spa in the UK, Presto Music is the UK’s leading destination for classical and jazz recordings - whether via its streaming service or online and in-store sales of CDs, DVDs, high- quality downloads and vinyl. It also offers sheet music, music books and musical instruments. Founded in 1986 as a small high street shop, the Presto Music website was started in 2001 and has grown into one of the most significant online retailers for music products in the world, focusing on enriching the lives of music lovers and musicians of all ages, backgrounds and abilities by championing a passion for music.

http://www.prestomusic.com

Presto Music
23–25 Regent Grove
Leamington Spa
CV32 4NN

+44 (0)1926 886883

Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio - 2025 year-end Radio Playlist.

Monday, December 15, 2025

In his two end of year shows Peter will play music from twenty one albums that have appealed to his own personal musical taste. Listings attached.

Peter Slavid writes;

Hi folks,

2025 has not been a good year for me personally. My house was flooded and we had to move into temporary accommodation for several months, and more recently I fractured my patella – now slowly recovering! However, through most of that my radio show has kept going!

During the year, up to the end of November, I played tracks from 294 albums (and received quite a few more!). Almost all came from independent labels. However I’m aware that there was still lots of music that I never got to hear.

Inevitably the largest single contribution came from the UK with 22%, down from 29% last year. A good spread across continental Europe with the noticeable exception of Spain and Portugal where I clearly need more contacts.

In my two “end of year” shows I’m playing 21 albums that have particularly appealed, for whatever reason, to my personal, rather quirky taste. This is NOT a “best of year” list, just an “end of year” list playing in alphabetical order. But I do really like all of them.

They will be playing on the Radio on Dec 14/28 and Jan 7/14

http://www.hayesfm.org.uk 91.8 HayesFM – West London Community Radio Sunday 12.00

http://www.purebeatradio.co.uk (Scotland) Sundays 7pm

Camp radio (France) http://www.listen.camp/ Sundays 7pm

Both parts are available now at http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz

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

Do get in touch if you want more information about any of the albums. If you are one of the people who sends me music - please keep it coming. If you are a listener – a big thank you, and do let me know what you think of the show.

Have a great holiday and here’s to a happy trauma-free and musical 2026
Peter

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Part One

Anders Filipsen Trio
Dark and Plenty of Sun
Aldebar Nights of Mangos
ILK

Bliss Quintet
Ida
Live at Nattjazz `24
Jazzland

Chrome Hill
Walk With Me
En Route
Clean Feed

Cosmic Ear
Brown Rice
Traces
We Jazz Records

Daniel Erdmann’s Organic Soulfood
Hello Myself
Into the Sweet Unknown
BMC

Hélène Labarrière
Jane
Puzzle
Jazzdor

Joachim Kuhn
Hunting
Échappée
Intakt

Johnny Richards & Dave King
Sleepless in Settle
The New Awkward
False Door

KOVÁSZ
Moldavian Funk
Fermentum
BMC

Louis Sclavis
Madras Song
India
Yolk

Makiko Hirabayashi Weavers
Up River
Gifts
enja/yellowbird

Part 2

Marcin Masecki
Bemsha Swing
Monk
BMC

Michel Fernandez Quintet
Global Warning
Live au Hot Club de Lyon
Atypeek Music

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

Robert Mitchell
I Greet The Universe (With All Your Person)
Little Black Book
Whirlwind

Rosa Ensemble
Muzak/Muzak3/Stalker
Oddments
Cuneiform

Seb Rochford
People Say Stuff, Don’t Be Disheartened
Finding Ways
Edition

Sergio Armaroli Giancarlo Schiaffini
Spirits Rejoice
Deconstructing Ayler in the Universe
Dodicilune

Spinifex
Sack and Ash (part)
Maxximus
Trytone Records

Stéphane Kerecki
The People United
Liberation Songs
Self Two Music

Vincent Meissner
Palma Amore
Eigengrau
ACT

EFG London Jazz Festival wins “Festival Of The Year” at The LIVE Awards 2025.

Friday, December 12, 2025

EFG London Jazz Festival has been honoured with the prestigious Festival of the Year award at The LIVE Awards 2025, held on 10 December 2025 at Troxy in East London. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

EFG London Jazz Festival wins “Festival Of The Year” at The LIVE Awards 2025

EFG London Jazz Festival has been honoured with the prestigious Festival of the Year award at The LIVE Awards 2025, held this week (10 December) at Troxy in East London. The ceremony, organised in association with Skiddle, brought together more than 500 leading figures from across the UK’s live music sector, including promoters, venues, agents, festivals, and artist managers.

This year’s award recognises the EFG London Jazz Festival for its broad and large scale programme, and innovative, inclusive and community-centred approach, particularly in response to rising living costs. The Festival placed accessibility at its core, delivering extensive free and family-friendly programming at the Southbank Centre’s Clore Ballroom and the Barbican across both weekends. Its dedicated venue and pop-up hub, The Jazz Social, offered free events, low-cost tickets priced at £15 and under, and set-aside allocations for low-income audiences, while also supporting sustainability through self-operated ticketing and revenue generated from on-site food, drink and merchandise. A Community Tickets Scheme further widened access by providing £5 tickets to community organisations, and large-scale workshops encouraged active participation from people with little or no musical experience, strengthening the Festival’s role as a gateway to jazz for all.

The 2025 edition marks 20 years of the Festival’s renowned Take Five talent development programme, celebrated with a special Barbican event featuring distinguished alumni. This year also saw artist in residence aja monet curate cross-disciplinary programmes at the Barbican, blending spoken word, music and community dialogue, while the Festival hosted the Aga Khan Music Awards in London for the first time, broadening its international reach and deepening cultural exchange. Together, these initiatives demonstrate the Festival’s commitment to balancing accessibility with sustainability, while championing jazz as an evolving, community-connecting art form and reinforcing the EFG London Jazz Festival’s identity as a forward-thinking, globally engaged event.

EFG London Jazz Festival director Pelin Opcin says of the award:
“We’re deeply honoured that the EFG London Jazz Festival has been named Live Music UK’s Festival of the Year.
In our 33rd year, this recognition from the wider industry means a tremendous amount. This award celebrates our long-standing commitment to jazz and beyond—creative music in all its forms, the artists who make it, the communities we serve, and the partner presenters who help bring it to life. London’s jazz scene is a powerful force which enables UK Jazz’s global impact. We are truly thrilled to play a part in this.
From our sold-out large scale shows, to our special projects and our new music commissions, from club shows to reach-out programmes where we span over to 23 boroughs in London, this award is a testament to EFG London Jazz Festival’s dedication to visionary programming and collaboration.
This achievement would not have been possible without the wonderful artists who took part, our partners, sponsors, venues, club programmers, audiences and, of course, the hard-working and devoted Serious team. We also extend our thanks to EFG International and Arts Council England for their continuous support, to enable these visions”

Hosted by comedian Tom Ward, the event celebrated excellence across the live industry, with 15 awards presented throughout the evening. Winners were selected by a panel of industry experts, alongside notable honourees such as Communion ONE, ROAM, Solo Agency, LIDO Festival, Gigantic Tickets and Black Lives in Music.

Gaby Cartwright, head of partnerships at LIVE, praised this year’s celebrations:
“The LIVE Awards were a fantastic celebration of the people who make this industry what it is. We continued to build on ideas introduced in previous years, including our vegan-first menu, and expanded our commitment to inclusivity with a dedicated no- and low-alcohol bar in partnership with Club Soda, plus a calm space for anyone who needed a breather. Huge congratulations to all of this year’s winners, and a big thank you to all our sponsors, we can’t wait to come back even bigger in 2026.”

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

An opportunity for young people.

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Bath Jazz Weekend and All Of The Above (AOTA) are trialling a new project aimed at encouraging young people to become the next generation of music promoters. Details attached.

From Nod Knowles of Bath Jazz Weekend and AOTA;

An opportunity for young people

Is this an opportunity for a young person that you know?

Bath Jazz Weekend and All Of The Above (AOTA) are trialling a new project aimed at encouraging young people to become the next generation of music promoters (to replace old geezers like me when I am too old to hold a microphone any more!)

We are offering 4 places for young people to come and enjoy the full Bath Jazz Weekend for free – and to volunteer to help with the event a little each day. They’ll get meals provided by us.  They will also have the opportunity to connect with the people on our (very experienced) crew doing the various jobs – PA, stage, management, artist liaison, lighting, box office and (me) programming/marketing etc.

If those people are interested in the idea of promoting gigs (not necessarily jazz, but music of any kind of their choice) they can join me and the crew members in February & March 2026 in 2 workshop days where we will explore with them the details and practical realities of all of the areas of promoting – from programming, marketing and important financial aspects to the technicalities of sound, lights, staging etc.

Then there are two more opportunities:  to work with me and the crew on the next AOTA gig on Saturday 28 February and to plan and present their own first gig(s), with help and advisory support from me, including help to apply for funding to underwrite the risk of one or more gigs.

The venue for all this of course is Widcombe Social Club, Bath, where the Jazz Weekend and AOTA gigs are held.  The venue will also host the workshops and offer the venue for a first new gig that these people might promote there.

Can I ask you to put this out to anyone you know (over the age of 18) who might be interested – and get people to reply to me by email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) ?  Also – I’ve put this call out music interests at Bath College, Bath and Bath Spa Universities.

The 4 free places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, depending on availability and on a few simple questions from me to assess their level of interest.

Thanks for reading and hope to see you soon.

Nod
Nod Knowles for AOTA and Bath Jazz Weekend.

Billy Marrows Band - new album and UK tour dates.

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Guitarist & composer Billy Marrows will release his new quartet album "Dancing On Bentwood Chairs" on February 13th 2026 with UK live dates to follow.

We have received the following press release;

Billy Marrows presents the first full-length album with the Billy Marrows Band, Dancing On Bentwood Chairs, out 13 February 2026.

Billy Marrows Band’s vibrantly melodic and expressive music explores the relationship between improvisation and composition, drawing on influences from Weather Report to Henry Threadgill.

Musical themes weave across the album, with inspiration from Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita. The album title comes from an artwork by Marrows’ father, Timothy Morrison, who also created the cover art.

Recorded in December 2021, the album was temporarily put on hold by Billy’s Parliamentary Jazz Awards Album of the Year-shortlisted debut, the Penelope charity album, and subsequent Grande Família releases. Marrows describes this album as “a record I’m still deeply proud of, and a band I’m really excited to be playing with again”
.

The first single The Cock-Eared Optimist is out now.

Website
https://www.billymarrows.com/

.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Billy Marrows Band:
Billy Marrows guitar/baritone guitar
Chris Williams alto sax
Huw V Williams double bass
Jay Davis drums
All compositions by Billy Marrows

Track Listing:
1.The Cock-Eared Optimist
2. Woland Blues
3. Intro to Dancing On Bentwood Chairs
4. Dancing On Bentwood Chairs
5. The Protagonist
6. Anthem for W.O. - Part 1
7. Anthem for W.O. - Part 2
8. Woland Returns
9. Speedwell
10. Intro to Capel Fawnog
11. Capel Fawnog
12. Great Ball at Satan’s

Album Release Tour:
19 February 2026 - Album Launch, Vortex Jazz Club, London
25 March 2026 - Matt & Phreds, Manchester
26 March 2026 - City Screen Basement Bar, York
6 June 2026 - The Bear Club, Luton

Billy Marrows Band announces album Dancing On Bentwood Chairs, out 13 February 2026.

Inventive, groovy, and lyrical, the Billy Marrows Band present their first album, Dancing On Bentwood Chairs.

Following his Parliamentary Jazz Awards Album of the Year-shortlisted debut Penelope and subsequent Grande Família releases, Billy Marrows reassembles his quartet
for this long-awaited release: Chris Williams (alto sax), Huw V Williams (double bass), Jay Davis (drums), and Marrows on standard and baritone guitars.

Their vibrantly melodic and expressive music explores the relationship between improvisation and composition, with influences including Weather Report, Henry Threadgill,
and Darcy James Argue. Musical themes weave across the album, a Blooper loop pedal is put to compositional use, and inspiration is drawn from Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita. The album title comes from an artwork by Marrows’ father, Timothy Morrison, who also created the cover art.

“Marrows plays with such lyrical melodicism…you can’t help but be seduced into his charmed world” ★★★★ Jazzwise (Grande Família Sextet EP review)

“An exhilaratingly original sound, at once intimate and expansive”
★★★★ Editor’s Choice JAZZWISE
(Penelope album)

“A triumph…with his Grande Família project,
Marrows has created a spectacular new ensemble”
Jazz Views
(Penelope album)

“Melodic and distinctive…
an album of inventive and contemporary chamber-jazz”
★★★★ All About Jazz
(Penelope album)

The first single The Cock-Eared Optimist is out now, with a video available here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baRTBX9E3RY

Recorded in December 2021 following a run of gigs, the album was temporarily put on hold by the Penelope charity album and Grande Família project. Marrows describes this release as “a record I’m still deeply proud of, with band I’m really excited to be playing with again”.

The band recently performed to a full house at Jazz in Kentish Town during the EFG London Jazz Festival 2025 and will continue their UK release tour in 2026, including an album launch at the Vortex Jazz Club on 19 February and dates in Manchester, York and Luton. Full tour details are available at http://www.billymarrows.com/upcoming-gigs.

Dancing On Bentwood Chairs is released on 13 February 2026.

https://www.instagram.com/billymarrowsmusic/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvBMW7-powtiBgigwBIW0aw

2026 Buxton International Festival Jazz Weekend - first wave of artists announced.

Tuesday, December 09, 2025

Buxton International Festival (9-26 July 2026) has announced that its 2026 ‘Jazz Weekender’ ticket (9-12 July) will go on sale on Monday, 15 December 2025 at 10am. Performers include Laura Jurd,.

We have received the following press release;

BUXTON INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL’S 2026 ‘JAZZ WEEKENDER’ TICKET GOES ON SALE ON MONDAY 15 DECEMBER

Buxton International Festival (9-26 July 2026) is delighted to announce that its 2026 ‘Jazz Weekender’ ticket (9-12 July) will go on sale on Monday, 15 December at
10am.

The 2026 Jazz Weekender, featuring artists including Laura Jurd, Tony Kofi & Denys Baptiste, Arun Gosh and the Andrew McCormack Trio, offers audiences the chance to immerse themselves in an entire weekend of live music in Buxton. The £195 ticket provides access to 12 gigs across the festival’s opening weekend (9-12 July inclusive), 11 of them in the festival’s dedicated jazz venue, The Palace Hotel, and one gig in Buxton Opera House. Day passes are also available from £30.

The festival’s new Jazz Director, Wesley Stephenson, commented:
“Jazz Weekender is all about bringing people right up close to the music. Twelve gigs across one weekend, intimate spaces and some of the UK’s most exciting musicians
coming together. It’s a brilliant way to discover new sounds, revisit the classics and feel the real energy of live jazz.”

The Jazz Weekender boasts an impressive line-up of artists who boast Mercury, MOBO, BBC and British Jazz awards between them including:
Laura Jurd (Rites and Revelations)
Tony Kofi and Denys Baptiste Quintet (Legacy: Coltrane and Cannonball)
Arun Ghosh Quintet
Andrew McCormack Trio
Zoë Gilby with Andy Champion (The Music of Duke Ellington)
Josephine Davies Satori Quartet with special guest Alcyona Mick
Noa Levy, Alan Barnes and the Paul Edis Trio (Portrait in Evans)
Alina Bzhezhinska HipHarpCollective
Fraser Fifield Secret Path Trio
More artists to be announced.

BOX OFFICE
Booking opens on Monday 15 December at 10am. Tel: 01298 72190

http://www.buxtonfestival.co.uk

Video - the 2025 Highlights Video: View
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUn2tTWTNJI

Jazz Weekender programme: View here.
https://buxtonfestival.co.uk/whats-on/jazz-weekender

Tomorrow’s Warriors x Fontana announce Career Mentoring Scheme.

Monday, December 08, 2025

Tomorrow’s Warriors today announced a new partnership with Fontana (Universal Music UK) to deliver an innovative Career Mentoring Scheme to 12 emerging Warrior musicians. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Tomorrow’s Warriors x Fontana announce Career Mentoring Scheme

(8th December, 2025) Award-winning talent development organisation, creative producer and charity Tomorrow’s Warriors today announced a new partnership with Fontana (Universal Music UK) to deliver an innovative Career Mentoring Scheme to 12 emerging Warrior musicians.

This marks the third round of the initiative, which previously ran in partnership with Decca Records. Recently revived as a label championing jazz, folk, blues and soul, Fontana now takes the lead in delivering the scheme with Tomorrow’s Warriors.

The year-long programme will provide vital one-to-one mentoring to Black, global majority and female musicians on the Tomorrow’s Warriors Emerging Artist Programme. This year’s cohort includes Alex Ho (piano), Christ-Stephane Boizi (trombone), David Kayode (tenor sax), Donovan Haffner (alto sax), Emily Tran (piano/Composition), Genevieve Namazzi (double bass), Kezia Pollendine (piano), Ky Osborne (piano), Mali Sheard (alto sax), Miranda Radford (drums), Nathan Dawkins (electric/double bass) and Shanise Hall (trumpet).

Each Warrior musician is paired with a member of staff from across Fontana’s departments - including A&R, Marketing, Commercial & Streaming and Digital - receiving tailored support, monthly one to one sessions and group sessions in Marketing, A&R and Digital and more, to help them navigate and progress within the industry.

Fontana hosted a launch event at its Kings Cross headquarters on 27th November, where the mentees met their mentors and celebrated the start of the new partnership.

Tomorrow’s Warriors has been a springboard for many of today’s most exciting artists - including BRIT Award and Mercury Prize winners EZRA Collective. Alongside mentoring, the Tomorrow’s Warriors Emerging Artist Programme offers performance opportunities, specialist training, traineeships, talks, masterclasses and bursaries. Over the past 30 years, Tomorrow’s Warriors has supported more than 15,000 young people, providing between 1,000–5,000 hours of free jazz training to each participant.

Dr Gary Crosby OBE, Co-founder & Artistic Director, Tomorrow’s Warriors said;
“Partnering with Fontana to deliver the next round of our Career Mentoring Scheme is an incredibly exciting step for Tomorrow’s Warriors. Fontana’s renewed focus on jazz, folk, blues and soul aligns beautifully with our mission to nurture the next generation of diverse talent. For over three decades we’ve committed to providing young Black, Global Majority and female musicians with the space, support and skills they need to thrive, and this scheme deepens that commitment. Connecting our Emerging Artists with the expertise and generosity of mentors at Fontana will be transformational for their professional journeys.”

Tom Lewis, President, Fontana, said;
“We’re so proud of our longstanding and incredibly rewarding relationship with Tomorrow’s Warriors and it’s brilliant to meet this year’s mentorship participants. We always learn so much and are constantly impressed with the talent, ambition and self-determination that we see in the Warriors; and the sense of community, support and encouragement in which they grow and thrive.  It is easy to see why Tomorrow’s Warriors has unearthed and nurtured such an incredible line-up of stars in recent years. It has played a pivotal role in making the UK such a global beacon for jazz.”

Tomorrow’s Warriors musician and former mentee Kianja Harvey-Elliot (vocalist) said;
“The scheme arrived at exactly the right moment in my development and helped me understand the business side of music. I built a relationship with my mentor who was, and still is a pillar of consistent support and guidance. Whenever I had specific questions about a certain department she put me in touch with different members of the team and she helped me zone in on the kind of clarity I need to present a project to a label.  Tomorrow’s Warriors always believes in you, and the mentoring programme strengthens that belief by connecting us with people who can help turn our ideas into opportunities.”

Tomorrow’s Warriors musician and former mentee Grifton Forbes-Amos (trumpeter) said;
“Being part of the mentoring scheme has enabled me to take the next step in my career. My mentor aided me in recording my first EP, as well as taking the next steps to then releasing it. They also helped me understand the importance of some aspects of the industry, such as PRS and PPL. My mentor helped to make connections to people like mixing engineers, helping me in marketing myself and much more. Having direct access to someone inside a major label helped demystify the industry and gave me the knowledge to navigate my career with purpose.

About Tomorrow’s Warriors:  Tomorrow’s Warriors is a pioneering talent development organisation, creative producer, learning and training provider, charity and consultancy specialising in jazz. Founded in 1991 by Queen’s Medal for Music recipient Dr Gary Crosby OBE and Janine Irons OBE, TW helps aspiring young artists from diverse backgrounds discover their magic and achieve creative ambitions. Since inception, Tomorrow’s Warriors has reached over 15,000 young people aged 11-25 through its unique Talent Development Programme, providing each musician with between 1,000-5,000 hours of free jazz training and development. Tomorrow’s Warriors nurtures nascent talent and builds engaged, culturally diverse audiences, providing a crucial development platform for emerging artists, many of whom are blazing a trail across the international music scene – including BRIT Award and Mercury Prize winners EZRA Collective, as well as Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Cassie Kinoshi, Sheila Maurice-Gray, Binker Golding, Shabaka Hutchings and Sons of Kemet, CHERISE, ESKA, Denys Baptiste, Soweto Kinch, Zara McFarlane and many more. Tomorrow’s Warriors is a Resident Organisation of the Southbank Centre, where it hosts its Young Artist Development Programme, comprising of learning and participation, artist development and professional performances. The Emerging Artist Programme delivers mentoring, performance opportunities, training, traineeships, talks, masterclasses, and bursaries to support artists into professional careers, many securing paid, often high-profile, opportunities across a broad spectrum of the industry.  Tomorrow’s Warriors is proud to be a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England and an organisation within the PRS Foundation Talent Development Network. Tomorrow’s Warriors is also the home of Nu Civilisation Orchestra. Tomorrow’s Warriors is pivotal in elevating UK jazz, valued by its alumni and respected by funding partners for the impact delivered through its pipeline for outstanding, diverse talent.  https://tomorrowswarriors.org/ Tomorrow’s Warriors is a not for profit company and a Registered Charity No 1153613. Give today to Tomorrow’s Warriors at https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/13423

About Fontana: Fontana is part of Universal Music Group UK – the UK’s leading music company. It is the UK home of jazz, folk, blues, alternative and soul music. Founded over 70 years ago, Fontana played a pivotal role in recorded jazz history. Legendary musicians who released under the logo include Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck and Art Blakey, as well as icons of British jazz such as Tubby Hayes, Cleo Laine and Ronnie Scott. From 1960s releases by Jimmy Page, Elton John’s first band Bluesology and an early incarnation of The Who, then called The High Numbers, to success in the 80s and 90s with acts such as The Fall and Tears for Fears, Fontana is indelibly associated with the early identification and development of unique talent. It was relaunched in the UK in 2025, continuing its ethos of experimentation and discovery. Fontana’s current roster includes internationally-acclaimed artists Jacob Collier, AURORA, Jordan Rakei, Melody Gardot, Victor Ray, The Teskey Brothers, dodie and Jeff Goldblum.

Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 -  winners unveiled.

Monday, December 08, 2025

Last night saw the winners of the Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 honoured at a ceremony in Glasgow. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Scottish jazz talent in tune as award winners unveiled

The Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 celebrated the cream of the crop in the jazz scene last night, honouring outstanding artists and contributors at a memorable ceremony in Glasgow.

Hosted by the acclaimed musician Seonaid Aitken, the event at The Savings Bank showcased the exceptional contributions of Scotland’s jazz vocalists, instrumentalists and pioneers.

This year’s ceremony included a poignant tribute to the late pianist Brian Kellock, who passed away in May. Singer and actress Suzanne Bonnar led the tribute and announced the renaming of the Best Instrumentalist Award as the Brian Kellock Best Instrumentalist Award in his honour.

Last year’s winner of the accolade, Fergus McCreadie, also performed a moving piece dedicated to Kellock’s memory.

The inaugural Grassroots Promoter Award was also handed out, recognising independent promoters who play an important part in nurturing emerging jazz talent.

Winners of the Scottish Jazz Awards 2025 are:

Rising Star Award, sponsored by Musicians’ Union
Pippa Blundell

The Fionna Duncan Best Vocalist Award, sponsored by Whighams Jazz Club
Rachel Lightbody

The Brian Kellock Best Instrumentalist Award, sponsored by ESP Music Rentals
Colin Steele

Grassroots Promoter Award, sponsored by Rightsbridge
LayLow, Glasgow

Best Album Award, sponsored by EmuBands
Matt Carmichael - Dancing with Embers

Best Band Award, sponsored by S.M. Lighting (Scotland) Ltd
corto.alto

Critics’ Choice Award, sponsored by Inhouse Event Productions
Norman&Corrie

Known as a boundary breaker and the future of jazz, Mercury Prize-nominated corto.alto rounded off a sensational year with their Best Band Award. Experimental jazz folk duo Norman&Corrie - Norman Wilmore and Corrie Dick - were named Critics’ Choice following the release of their debut album, Twa Double Doubles.

A multi-award-winning vocalist, Rachel Lightbody, continues to be a sought-after collaborator, recording and performing with everyone from her vocal trio Little Acres and neo-jazz band Mama Terra, to Kris Drever and Tom McGuire and the Brassholes.

Scottish saxophonist Matt Carmichael’s third album Dancing with Embers captured hearts with its sincerity, joyfulness and unique style, winning him Best Album.

Trumpeter Colin Steele picked up Best Instrumentist after the release of his quartet’s tribute to legendary Glasgow band The Blue Nile, while this year’s Rising Star was rightfully taken by singer-songwriter Pippa Blundell, having already received recognition by the Scottish Album of the Year Awards in their Sound of Young Scotland nominations across 2023 and 2024

LayLow, which is hosted at Glasgow’s Rum Shack, was recognised for affirming itself as a home for live jazz in the city, showcasing the very best new artists for growing audiences.

The evening was filled with exceptional music, including performances from Matt Carmichael and Roan Anderson, the newly crowned BBC Radio Scotland Young Jazz Musician 2025.

Jill Rodger, Director of Glasgow Jazz Festival and Producer of the Scottish Jazz Awards, said:
“Scottish jazz is making waves around the world and it’s only right we celebrate the very best of our scene on home soil. This year’s awards have once again highlighted the sheer passion, ingenuity and excitement within the Scottish jazz scene. It’s a genuine privilege to celebrate these outstanding artists whose expression and creativity connect with so many. We were especially honoured to pay tribute to the immense contribution of Brian Kellock, a true giant of Scottish jazz, whose legacy will continue to inspire musicians for generations to come. It was a joy to feel the energy and camaraderie in the room as the country’s most beloved jazz musicians and industry contributors gathered together. I can’t wait to see what everyone achieves over the next year.”

Clare Hewitt, Music Officer at Creative Scotland said:
“The winners of the 2025 Scottish Jazz Awards exemplify the vibrancy and vitality of the country’s jazz scene and show how it is connecting deeply with audiences. This is music that is nourished by the legacy of artists who are no longer with us, and by a spirit of inventiveness that is open to the sounds that surround us today to make something new out of them. The Scottish Jazz Awards celebrate not just the artists and promoters honoured tonight, but the whole Scottish jazz community who support and nurture their peers and their music.”

The Scottish Jazz Award winners were selected by the public from a shortlist of over 25 musicians, acts, individuals and organisations which was compiled by a nominating panel of industry experts.

The Scottish Jazz Awards are produced as an independent event by the organisers of Glasgow Jazz Festival and supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland. Visit http://www.jazzfest.co.uk/awards

Nominating Panel for Scottish Jazz Awards 2025

Alan & Carolyn Bonnyman Second Line Records

Collaborative UK Jazz News

Don Sharples Aberdeen Jazz Festival

Fiona Alexander Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival

Fiona Shephard Freelance Music Journalist

Gerard Mehigan Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival

Grace Black Langtoun Jazz Festival

Graeme Knox Whighams Jazz Club

Jill Rodger Glasgow Jazz Festival

Jim Gilchrist The Scotsman

Joe Rattary Freelance Promoter

John Youngs Jazz Scotland

Keith MacRae Jazz Scotland

Richy Muirhead Scottish Alternative Music Awards

Ros Rigby Jazz Promotion Network

Sushil Dade BBC Radio Scotland

Thomas Mackie & Calum Cunneen Regular Music

Plus last year’s category winners

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 Creative Scotland on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Glasgow Jazz Festival was founded in 1987, when Glasgow was bidding to become the European City of Culture for 1990. The city had studied the competition and worked out that all major cities in Europe had a jazz festival. If they had one, then so should Glasgow. From the very beginning, Glasgow Jazz Festival brought some of the biggest names of jazz to the City – 1987’s programme included singer Sarah Vaughan, Chick Corea, Taj Mahal, Benny Carter and Carol Kidd. Other top headliners include Miles Davis (during the European City of Culture year 1990), Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Guy, Michael Brecker and Tony Bennett. Follow @GlasgowJazzFest on social media for further information.

Peter Slavid - ‘European Modern Jazz’ on the radio playlist,  first broadcast 30/11/2025.

Monday, December 01, 2025

Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 30/11/2025, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations

Peter Slavid writes;

Radio Playlist from Nov 30th 2025

This is my final new-releases playlist of the year. New releases that have come in over the last week and into December will be looked at for inclusion in January.  Meanwhile my next shows will round up some of my personal favourites from 2025.

Julius Gawlik
You Wish
Its All In Your Head
Unit

Deadeye
Rue_Ballu
In Orbit
BMC

Rasmus Oppenhagen Krogh
Sooner or Later
Pillars
April Records

J.A.M
Milo’s Flight Home
She Looks Up At The Trees
Bandcamp

Max Nagl Quintett
Karroh
Phasolny
Rude Noises

Jure Pukl
Collectivity
Analog AI
Unit

DOX
Nebula
Drowned Circuits
Efpi

James Allsop
Stars & Sand
Stars & Sand
Vibe Collide Records

Alex Ventling
Trondheim 2
Wavemakers
Particular

Morgenthaler, Röllin & Ruben
Insect
Alarmstufe Rot
Unit

Ulysse Loup Large Ensemble
Hysteìrique
0°W
Unit

Jacopo Fagioli
avoid thoughts of power and domination
Dialogue
Aut Records

Steve Lodder
onto the water
2 sorts of 3
Sleeve Records

Bonus tracks not on radio - only on http://www.mixcloud.com/ukjazz and on Peter’s Eurojazz Podcast

Jérémie Lucchese
Tempête
Essais pour l’Imaginaire
Fresh sound new talent

Luca Mannutza Quintet
Black Comedy
Circles
A.MA

Gabbro
Luna
Groundspeed
Gabbro Records

divr
Made of Dreams
Live At Cully Jazz
WeJazz

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 7pm

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

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

Kate Kortum Wins 2025 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) has announced Kate Kortum as the winner of the 14th annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Press release attached.

We have received the following press release;

Kate Kortum Wins the 14th Annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition as part of NJPAC’s TD James Moody Jazz Festival

As part of NJPAC’s TD James Moody Jazz Festival, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) today announced Kate Kortum as the winner of the 14th annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition. Hosted by WBGO Radio’s Gary Walker, yesterday’s “The SASSY Awards” presented the Top Five Finalists on the iconic NJPAC stage in front of a live audience and a distinguished panel of judges: 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.

Pulled from almost 200+ entrants from 27 different countries, these gifted young singers represented the next generation of great jazz vocalists. Ultimately, it was Kate Kortum who received the top honor and a $5,000 cash award. Kortum is originally from Houston, Texas, and currently resides in Harlem of New York City. She wowed the judges singing the famous blues song “Easy Come, Easy Go Blues,” a raw and timeless ballad “You’ve Been There” by David Ashley Trent, and “What a Little Moonlight Can Do,” a song that Sarah Vaughan performed and recorded.

Hailed for her warm, distinctive sound that seamlessly blends the blues, bebop and Broadway, Kortum issued her debut album Good Woman (2023) to critical and streaming acclaim, surpassing 3.5 million streams for its imaginative reworkings of jazz standards from a female perspective. Her sophomore release Wild Woman (2025) followed, continuing her fresh, story-driven approach to bebop, blues and The Great American Songbook. A graduate of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and the Juilliard School, Kortum has appeared at Mezzrow, SXSW, Birdland, Blue Note and Dizzy’s, collaborating with Peter Bernstein, Emmet Cohen, Bryan Carter, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

The Second Place honor and $1,500 prize went to Emma Smith (London, England). Third Place and a prize of $500 was awarded to Julia Moscardini (Buenos Aires, Argentina). Rounding out the Top Five was Diamond Princess Franklin (Philadelphia, PA) and Candace Jones (Hollywood, FL).

About The SASSY Awards
The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz 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. 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. 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.
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. NJPAC has a long history of preserving and celebrating Sarah Vaughan’s music and impact. In 1999, NJPAC officially proclaimed the street in front of it as “Sarah Vaughan Way.”

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.

Line-Up announced for 2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival, April 30th-May 10th 2026.

Sunday, November 23, 2025

The Gilmore has announced details of the 2026 Irving S. Gilmore International Piano Festival taking place Thursday, April 30 to Sunday, May 10, 2026, across multiple venues in Southwest Michigan.

We have received the following press release;

Just announced - Line-Up for 2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival, Apr 30-May 10th.

THE 2026 IRVING S. GILMORE INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL—NORTH AMERICA’S LARGEST GATHERING OF KEYBOARD ARTISTS—BRIDGES CLASSICAL AND JAZZ WORLDS IN A GROUNDBREAKING CELEBRATION OF PIANO ARTISTRY, APRIL 30-MAY 10

Sullivan Fortner, winner of The Gilmore’s 2026 Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award, opens and closes the Festival

A Homecoming Moment: Joshua Bell and Shai Wosner Celebrate the Stulberg Competition’s 50th Anniversary in a Special Pre-Festival Recital

2024 Gilmore Artist Alexandre Kantorow’s first Festival appearance

Duo collaboration by Brad Mehldau and 2010 Gilmore Artist Kirill Gerstein

World premieres of Gilmore commissions include American Sputnik,  a monodrama co-commissioned by The Gilmore and the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, as well as a new work for Eighth Blackbird by Clarice Assad

U.S. premiere of The Kalamazoo Flow by Anders Hillborg performed by Alexandre Kantorow

2010 Gilmore Artist Kirill Gerstein Plays and Conducts Three of Beethoven’s Piano Concertos

Gilmore Festival Fellows Return for a 10-Day Immersive Residency Fostering the Next Generation of Pianists

KALAMAZOO, MI — The Gilmore has announced details of the 2026 Irving S. Gilmore International Piano Festival taking place Thursday, April 30 to Sunday, May 10, 2026, across multiple venues in Southwest Michigan. Drawing thousands of fans to the Kalamazoo region, this year’s Festival showcases the world’s preeminent classical and jazz pianists and artists in 75+ events including a world premiere monodrama, exclusive artist collaborations, Gilmore commissioned works, and family-friendly performances as well as master classes, film screenings, and more. Scroll down for a complete schedule of festival events.

“The Gilmore Piano Festival has established itself as a highlight for music fans. Over 11 days, thousands of patrons from around the world will transform Kalamazoo into a vibrant hub of creativity, culture and connection. For over 30 years, our Festival has brought together incredible artists, emerging talents, and enthusiastic audiences. Building on this success, as well as the Gilmore Artist Awards and this year’s inaugural Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Awards, we’re excited to begin this exciting chapter shifting from a biennial Festival to an annual one that presents the top pianists of both classical and jazz music.”
- Pierre van der Westhuizen, Executive & Artistic Director

The 2026 Gilmore International Piano Festival bridges classical tradition, contemporary innovation, and the evolving landscape of jazz. Anchored by world premieres, interdisciplinary collaborations, and the inaugural Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Awards, the Festival celebrates the piano as a catalyst for creative exchange across genres, generations, and cultures. Its programming highlights both legacy and discovery—pairing iconic artists such as Joshua Bell, Brad Mehldau, Kirill Gerstein, and Alexandre Kantorow with rising classical and jazz talents, while commissioning new works that reflect the piano’s vibrant role in today’s musical ecosystem. With performances spanning historic concert halls, intimate clubs, family offerings, and community spaces across Southwest Michigan, the 2026 Festival envisions the piano not merely as an instrument, but as a unifying force that transforms the region into a dynamic hub of artistic exploration, storytelling, and shared human experience.