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
Jaco Pastorius made a seismic impact on the role, and voice, of the humble bass guitar, arriving with a bang in the mid-1970s he took the music world by storm. Stuart Nicholson surveys the bassist’s revolutionary approach, with input from Peter Erskine, Pat Metheny and Metallica bassist Robert Trujillo, who all acknowledge how Jaco’s huge legacy lives on today
Alyn Shipton spoke to the great Oscar Peterson for Jazzwise shortly before Peterson's 80th birthday in 2005 and he found the pianist in high spirits, his wordplay, wit and sparkle as sharp as ever
Brian Priestley celebrates Bud Powell’s place at the forefront of modern jazz, revisits his achievements alongside Charlie Parker at the birth of bebop, and explores the darker side of Powell’s exceptional abilities, which saw him endure spells in psychiatric hospitals and periods taking hard drugs
Drummer Art Blakey lived and breathed hard bop. He epitomised the music’s snapping, pulsating drive with each beat from his kit. Yet his vision extended way beyond the technicalities of playing, as his band The Jazz Messengers became an institution. Stuart Nicholson speaks to those that knew him and assesses the impact of Blakey’s enduring legacy
More than 40 years after his death, Bill Evans continues to exert an enormous influence on jazz. Brian Priestley re-evaluates the work of this still misunderstood master musician
Vocalist and songwriter Julia Biel talks about the album that changed her life, Spirit Of Eden, by Talk Talk
Eric Dolphy's death, aged 36 on 29 June 1964, cut short a rare and highly original talent that, in less than four years, had seen him record a number of definitive jazz albums, not least his own singular Blue Note classic, Out to Lunch!. Stuart Nicholson reassesses Dolphy’s unique contribution to jazz
The story of jazz is littered with undiscovered treasures and under-appreciated heroes and heroines. The pianist Pat Moran – still with us at age 85 – is one such figure. She speaks to Stuart Nicholson about her remarkable life and career, and remembers her collaboration with the legendary bass player Scott LaFaro
"The utter vivacity and reliability of Armstrong’s own playing and singing (and the versatility of the various bands) is something to behold"
