Two of the most critically acclaimed musicians from these shores, singer Cleveland Watkiss and pianist Django Bates, are about to collaborate, performing a duo concert as part of this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival. Kevin Le Gendre discovers how this meeting came about, and the strands that link these venerable musicians
Archie Shepp’s fruitful concert collaborations with pianist Jason Moran are now available for all to enjoy with the release of Let My People Go. Kevin Le Gendre speaks to the sax firebrand about the divisive political times in which the music has been forged
Polish jazz pianist, composer and electronics experimentalist Joanna Duda discovered her métier via a random computer malfunction. Now set to play the EFG London Jazz Festival this month with her forward-thinking trio, Jane Cornwell peers into the matrix of Duda’s musical mind to discover more
As excitement builds ahead of its live return, Alyn Shipton speaks to LJF director Pelin Opcin about this year’s event
Since winning the 2018 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the year award, saxophonist Xhosa Cole has headlined London’s major-league jazz clubs, picked up further honours and built an impressive set of sideman and session credits – and recorded an acclaimed debut album. Not bad for a 24 year old! Tony Benjamin met him…
Yazz Ahmed is not only one of the leading lights of the new generation of UK jazz stars, she is also an important figure in a more global jazz movement – one that looks not just to the USA for its inspiration, but to other countries, indigenous musics and other personal stories. Ahead of a major appearance at November’s EFG London Jazz Festival, Stuart Nicholson spoke to the British-Bahraini trumpeter, flugelhornist and composer
Every year our writers vote for the recording that they think most deserves the accolade 'Album of the Year'. Here are all of the Albums of the Year from 1997 to today. If you're looking discover a great new jazz album – this is the perfect place to start...
Keith Shadwick charts the career trajectory of one of the great singers of the 20th century, classic albums and artistic lapses included
Archie Shepp stands now as a totemic figure from a time in jazz history notable for its spirit of rebellion, its allegiances with the black power of the 1960s and a belief that music is part of a bigger social and political struggle. Kevin Le Gendre selects a few key albums
An early champion of “free form” jazz, Joe Harriott is now widely recognised as a major British Caribbean innovator. Here are five key albums from Harriott's catalogue, chosen by Kevin Le Gendre
