Author Archives
-
Takuya Kuroda
Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham UK 29-10-2014 The aptly titled Rising Son from the debut Blue Note recording by Takuya Kuroda kicked off a rapturously received short set from the young trumpeter and his talented quintet, during which they played… Read More ›
-
Lou Donaldson
Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, London UK 27-10-2014 Lou Donaldson, at nearly 88 years old, is probably one of the very few US jazz musicians of his era still touring. It was a joy to hear him at Ronnie’s last night…. Read More ›
-
Troyka
Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham UK 30-1-2014 Troyka play an intense hybrid of funk-strewn jazz rock with a bluesy edge and a hefty dose of electronica. On Thursday night they returned to the Hare exactly a year to the… Read More ›
-
Matt Ridley Trio with Jason Yarde
The Red Lion, Hockley, Birmingham 18-10-2013 Bassist and composer Matt Ridley’s debut recording Thymos was released on Monday on the Whirlwind label and it’s already garnering top reviews. The line-up at the Red Lion differed somewhat from that recording, with… Read More ›
-
CD review: Verneri Pohjola & Black Motor
Rubidium (TUM CD 031) I’ve often contemplated taking a trip to Helsinki, although I haven’t made it there yet, but I have to confess I’ve never heard of Tampere. Youthful collective Black Motor have created their own thriving improvised jazz… Read More ›
-
CD review: Jim Blomfield Trio
Wave Forms and Sea Changes (Pig 05) Bristol-based pianist Jim Blomfield has played with Andy Hague and Ben Waghorn and is most often heard with Kevin Figes. Indeed his debut album, released 15 years ago now, featured all three musicians…. Read More ›
-
CD review: Rob Mazurek Octet
Skull Sessions (Cuneiform Rune 349) Inspired by years of living in Brazil, Chicago cornet player Rob Mazurek has created the Skull Sessions, which mixes jazz fusion influenced by Miles Davis’s early 70s output with Brazilian Tropicalia and electronica. The result… Read More ›
-
CD review: World Service Project
Fire In A Pet Shop (MEGASOUND MSM025) This is the second major release from the frighteningly droll and difficult to classify World Service Project led by keyboard player and composer Dave Morecroft. If you’re desperate for a label to find… Read More ›
-
CD Review: Melt Yourself Down
Melt Yourself Down (LEAF 85CD) One Friday night last month I was slumped before a TV in a state of ennui and through a dim haze I became aware of an apparently crazed man jumping up and down, throwing himself… Read More ›
-
Gig review: Roller Trio/ Colin Mills’ Mendeleev Quartet
Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham UK 29-05-2013 “…you will hear gospel, and rhythm and blues, and jazz. All those are just labels. We know that music is music”. So said Jesse Jackson at the 1972 Wattstax Music Festival (later… Read More ›
-
CD review: Barry Altshul
The 3Dom Factor (TUM CD 032) Hard Bop and free jazz drummer Barry Altschul celebrates becoming 70 with the release of his first recording, as a leader, since the 1986 outing That’s Nice. He first came to prominence playing with… Read More ›
-
CD review: Jeff Williams
The Listener (Whirlwind Recordings WR4633) I didn’t get to see drummer Jeff Williams, performing material from his studio album Another View, as they stopped off just a couple of miles down the road from my home last year, so this… Read More ›
-
CD review: Mo’ Blow
Gimme The Boots (ACT 9671-2) If jazz funk is your bag, then you’re in for a full-on quality workout with this album from the accomplished young Berlin-based outfit Mo’ Blow. The speedometer nudges the needle to flat-out on the straights,… Read More ›
-
Gig review: Eyes Shut Tight
The Red Lion, Hockley, Birmingham UK 12-04-2013 In the last few years there has been quite a profusion of bass, keyboard and drums outfits attempting to reinvent the piano trio. The Esbjörn Svensson Trio, The Bad Plus, Neil Cowley Trio… Read More ›
-
CD review: Martin Speake
Always A First Time (Pumpkin Records 005) Saxophonist Martin Speake is known for his cool, luminously creative alto technique and this double CD release gives him plenty of room to stretch out and exercise his vision. This recording was created… Read More ›
-
CD review: Kyle Eastwood
The View from Here (Jazz Village SP9570020) For this recording the electric and double bass-player Kyle Eastwood has assembled a quartet of British musicians (or a loyal band of eager young Brits, as the press release has it!) of Graeme… Read More ›
-
CD review: Alex Wilson
Alex Wilson Trio (Alex Wilson Records AWCD9) Alex Wilson, now something of a veteran of latin-tinged jazz piano, combines here with Davide Mantovani on bass and Frank Tontoh or Tristan Banks on drums for this mix of studio and live… Read More ›
