Frank Griffith reviewed one of the last gigs of Nigel Price’s mammoth 43-date 2023 tour, which finished on 8 December. Top British guitarist Nigel Price and his trio unleashed a burning two sets at District, a new venue in the [...]
“50 Years” by the Doncaster Jazz Alumni, is released on Ubuntu Records. It marks 50 years of the Doncaster Youth Jazz Association, founded by John Ellis. Alumni playing on the album include Pete Beachill, Mark Ellis, Reuben Fowler, Sarah Potts, [...]
On 15 December, the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) Big Band will be presenting the impressive results of a six-month joint project involving trombonist and composer Dennis Rollins MBE, with phenomenal arrangements created by RNCM teacher Iain Dixon and [...]
Now in its third year, the Buxton Jazz Weekend is already becoming established as a distinctive event. Last year it had Wynton Marsalis as headliner. This year’s first programme announcement highlights an eclectic choice from Festival Director Neil Hughes. A [...]
This year’s 7th Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music had already been running for two weeks; I caught just two days. Friday 6 October. I arrived on the Friday evening in the beautiful Members Library. Improvised music isn’t often [...]
The Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music will take place at various local venues from 22 September to 8 October. Concerts include performances by Ubunye, the Zoe Rahman Band and Japanese artist Rie Nakajima. At a time when some [...]
The fifth edition of the Ambleside Days Contemporary Music Festival confirmed the staying power of the event and alchemical properties of the approach to programming, orchestrated by director and animateur of the festival, Derek Hook. Each year, a shifting cast [...]
Australian multi-instrumentalist James Morrison is a force of nature. He was spellbinding with a “triple-threat” fusillade of artistry on trumpet, trombone and piano. Morrison – Honorary President of the Wigan International Jazz Festival – and his quartet wowed the capacity [...]
Having brought the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to London for an electrifying night at the Barbican, Wynton Marsalis travelled north to headline Buxton International Festival’s 2nd season of jazz performances. Bringing Marsalis to Buxton Opera House, accompanied by some [...]
The Manchester-based Royal Northern College of Music is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year. As part of the festivities, northern-based musicians Dave Hassell (drums) and Andy Scott (saxophone) have been invited to direct the big band for a night of [...]
