JJ Wheeler, composer, drummer, band leader and educator and now based in London, has won the 2014 Durham Distillery Composition Prize for his composition Homage. JJ studied at Birmingham Conservatoire and gained a 1st class BMus (Hons) degree before studying at the Royal… Read More ›
Tony Dudley-Evans reflects on his experiences at this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival. I followed what was a rather strange path through the EFG London Jazz Festival governed by commitments in Birmingham and a wish to take in a big… Read More ›
Drummer and composer JJ Wheeler used to write for this blog, in between studying at Birmingham Conservatoire. Then he went to London. Then, just as his career was blooming, he found he had cancer. Now he is back in London,… Read More ›
Plus highlights past and future By thejazzbreakfast’s guest writer, JJ Wheeler Here’s a few of my choice highlights from 2012, followed by some things I’m looking forward to 2013. All lists are in no way written in order of merit… Read More ›
The man behind the F-IRE label talks to thejazzbreakfast’s drummer/journalist JJ Wheeler 2012 has seen another year of frequent releases from the F-IRE label, representing musicians from all over Britain and exposing us as an audience to a wide variety… Read More ›
Reviewed by JJ Wheeler Andy Hague Cross My Palm (Ooh-Err) Bristolian trumpeter Andy Hague is completely unapologetic about his enthusiasm for American Jazz and he obviously takes great delight in replicating all that is good about certain idols of the… Read More ›
Icaros (F-IRE) Reviewed by JJ Wheeler Continuing F-IRE’s current crop of stylistically varied output is Dominic J Marshall with a piano trio record that has really made me sit up and pay attention. Still in his early 20s, Marshall, of… Read More ›
Doors (F-IRE) Reviewed by JJ Wheeler Another offering from F-IRE’s excellent F-IRE Presents series (more on that at a later date), Portuguese national and now London resident Vitor Pereira brings his take on modern life in the capital. It’s the… Read More ›
Imaginary Room (ACT 9532-2) Reviewed by JJ Wheeler Straight away I have to declare my slight pessimism when it comes to jazz violin. I really try not to be prejudiced towards any instrument, style or even specific musicians, but past… Read More ›
Flip The Script (Posi-Tone) Reviewed by JJ Wheeler Orrin Evans is a name you may or may not have heard of. He’s one of those guys who is well known in clubs around New York, landing fairly high profile slots… Read More ›
First Hello To Last Goodbye (Interrupto Music IM003) Reviewed by JJ Wheeler Bam. Flap. Groove… There is a real statement of intent for this record from the very outset as bandleader Tom Bancroft flicks a drum ‘n’ bass style groove… Read More ›
Gettin’ It Done (Posi-Tone PR8099) Reviewed by JJ Wheeler Soon to be moving into the ‘veteran’ category of American Jazz Musicians, trombonist Steve Davis has a fairly distinguished career behind him already. A graduate of the Hartt School’s Jackie McClean… Read More ›
And In The Night-Time She Is There (Basho Records SRCD 41-2) Reviewed by JJ Wheeler Trish Clowes reminisces on her innate sense of playfulness as a child, more often deviating from regimented practice routines at the piano to create short… Read More ›
Reminder (Cuneiform Rune 342) Reviewed by JJ Wheeler Put this CD into your iTunes and Gracenote’s (albeit not always exact, but still) helpful information finder and it will tell you this album sits under the genre ‘Electronica’. Quite how they… Read More ›
Two of the country’s best pianists go head to head tonight, so the choice of which West Midland city you head for is not an easy one. If Coventry is your destination, you will be treated to the latest installment… Read More ›
This is a week when there are no real jazz peaks in terms of high profile gigs or big names, but nevertheless a lot happening in the foothills. Tonight you have three choices. Out at Andy Hamilton’s Bearwood Corks Club… Read More ›
Blue Room (Mongrel Records MNGRLCD01) Two highly creative players on the Birmingham jazz scene, pianist Steve and drummer JJ have put together a fine set of mainly familiar tunes and then given them a fresh twist. There’s the Rodgers/Hart title… Read More ›
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