In UKJN’s series where musicians write about their inspirations and idols, London-born, South African-raised and Toronto-based vocalist/composer Nicky Schrire writes about Kate McGarry: Some jazz vocalists can interpret the heck out of a song. That means delivering the verse and [...]
Vocalist Louise Balkwill‘s debut album First Class is released today, 11 February 2022. She has joined forces with a 12-piece ensemble to bring together influences ranging from New Orleans swing to bebop and vocalese. One of the longest-standing clichés in [...]
As his seventh album The Long Run is released on Ubuntu Music, Israeli flautist Mattan Klein continues his ongoing exploration and celebration of Israeli and Brazilian jazz sounds. Flautist and composer Mattan Klein believes that “music is the ultimate means [...]
Vocalist Somi (Kakoma) was born in Illinois to Rwandan and Ugandan parents. In her previous records and in her music at large, she has fully embraced her African heritage, weaving the vibrancy of the culture throughout. In Zenzile: The Reimagination [...]
In our series in which musicians do a “deep dive” into the music of their inspirations, Nicky Schrire writes about ten favourite tracks by Norma Winstone. Norma Winstone is a storyteller. This trait is immediately identifiable whether you’re listening to [...]
Singer Sachal Vasandani is anything but “the traditional male jazz vocalist”. He chatted by phone to Nicky Schrire to discuss his latest musical offering: Sachal Vasandani has one of the most distinctive voices in the world of jazz singing. He [...]
Nicky Schrire, for UKJazz News, reconnected with Thandi Ntuli (the two overlapped while jazz students at the University of Cape Town) to ask her about the new compilation of South African music she has co-curated, Indaba Is: Indaba Is, a [...]
