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

Winner of the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Media, 2019

Jazz Album Reviews

Shear Brass

Extraordinary Journey

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

Johnny Richards & Dave King

The New Awkward

Dom Franks’ StrayHorn Quartet

“Duality Pt: 02”

Finn Genockey

Tacet Trust

Harry Brunt

Carolina Peaches

Fraser Smith Quartet

Lifeline!

The Weave

Snishoo

Jazz Mann Recommended Listening

Emily Francis Trio

Atomic Tour Live

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

Tom Smith

A Year In The Life

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

Tim Boniface

“Psalter; Themes For Peace”

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

Small Blue

Furrow

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

Live Jazz Reviews

Tom Ford

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

Ben Shankland Trio

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

Bryan Corbett

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

Juan Galiardo Trio

Juan Galiardo Trio, Brecon Jazz Club, The Muse Arts Centre, Brecon, 09/09/2025.

Aaron Moloney Trio with Vasilis Xenopoulos

Aaron Moloney Trio with Vasilis Xenopoulos, Kidderminster Jazz Club, St. Ambrose Parish Centre, Kidderminster, 05/09/2025.

Jon Crespo Quartet

Jon Crespo Quartet, ‘Beyond Armstrong’, Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny, 31/08/2025.

Jazz Mann Features

Sunday at Brecon Jazz Festival, 10/08/2025.

Ian Mann enjoys the final day of the Festival and performances by Julian Martin/ Ben Thomas, Soweto Kinch. Emily Masser / Alex Clarke, Dreamscapes, Ashley John Long's Rare Earth Project, Jazz Sabbath.

Saturday at Brecon Jazz Festival, 09/08/2025.

Ian Mann enjoys the second day of Brecon Jazz Festival 2025 and performances by Ursula Harrison and Sylvie Noble, Sultan Stevenson, Double Double, Ben Shankland, Remi Harris, Geoff Eales, Ruby Turner.

Jazz Mann News

SMOKE Jazz Club Announces October 2025 Line-up Including a Two-Week Thelonious Monk Festival with Orrin Evans, Terri Lyne Carrington, Melissa Aldana, Joe Lovano, and more.

Monday, September 29, 2025

SMOKE Jazz Club has announced its schedule for October 2025. Other performers include Nicholas Payton, Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein, Bill Stewart, Steve Davis.

Jazz in the West Midlands, September 29th - October 5th 2025.