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

Harben Kay

The World I Live In

Once again Kay has delivered an album that combines thoughtful and intelligent writing with excellent playing and which again combines conventional jazz virtues with more contemporary ideas.

Ant Law Quintet

Unified Theories

Shear Brass

Extraordinary Journey

Johnny Richards & Dave King

The New Awkward

Dom Franks’ StrayHorn Quartet

“Duality Pt: 02”

Finn Genockey

Tacet Trust

Harry Brunt

Carolina Peaches

Jazz Mann Recommended Listening

Matt Carmichael

Dancing With Embers

His most ambitious and diverse set thus far and a worthy successor to past glories. Carmichael has established his own distinctive voice within a proud Scottish jazz / folk tradition..

Germana Stella La Sorsa and Tom Ollendorff Duo

After Hours

La Sorsa and Ollendorff have created something of a ‘mini masterpiece’. The pair have established an easy going rapport that is almost telepathic and which brings out the best in them.

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.

Live Jazz Reviews

BMJ Collective with Nigel Price

BMJ Collective with guest Nigel Price, Black Mountain Jazz, Melville, Centre, Abergavenny, 12/10/2025.

Robert Castelli

Robert Castelli BOOM! Quartet, Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, 09/10/2025.

Julian Siegel Quartet

Julian Siegel Quartet, Frank and Mark’s Jazz, Iffley Church Hall, Iffley, Oxford, 04/10/2025.

Siglo Section Big Band with Kat Rees

Siglo Section Big Band with Kat Rees, Melville Centre, Abergavenny, 27/09/2025 (part of Wall2Wall Jazz Festival).

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.

Jazz Mann Features

Sunday at Wall2Wall Jazz Festival, various venues, Abergavenny, 28/09/2025.

Some of the events on the free Community Sunday Afternoon programme, plus a brilliant sold out concert performance by pianist / vocalist Ian Shaw that explored the music of Joni Mitchell & David Bowie

Friday at Wall2Wall Jazz Festival, Melville Centre, Abergavenny, 26/09/2025.

Ian Mann enjoys musical performances by the Misha Mullov-Abbado Sextet and the Debs Hancock / Newman Tai Duo plus the striking visual imagery of the "Her Frame, Her Sound" photographic exhibition.

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