The best new jazz albums: Editor's Choice, March 2020
- Thursday, March 5, 2020
A hand-picked selection of some of the best new releases and reissues reviewed in the March 2020 issue of Jazzwise
Features
Laura Jurd interview: “We could be much bolder as a country... People are very artistic as listeners”
- Thursday, March 5, 2020
With their second album, Wonder Trail, Mercury-nominated quartet Dinosaur unveil a feistily expansive new sound embracing gritty jazz-rock, fuzzy funk and folk, all fuelled by an arsenal of analogue synths. Bandleader and trumpeter Laura Jurd spoke to Thomas Rees about exploring “sonic infinity”, cultural cowardice and why the jazz world needs a shake up
Can jazz survive the music streaming revolution?
- Monday, March 2, 2020
With streaming now dominating much of our daily music, TV and movie-watching habits, Stuart Nicholson delves into the digital depths to discover if specialist content, in this virtual sea, will sink without trace
Lyle Mays: A Personal Tribute
- Friday, February 28, 2020
An appreciation of keyboardist Lyle Mays, who died, aged 66, on 10 February
Claire Martin interview: “People think that it’s the Americans that swing hardest – I think us Europeans give them a fair run for their money”
- Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Claire Martin's album 'Believin’ It' features a specially-convened Swedish trio led by pianist Martin Sjöstedt. Peter Quinn discovers how the new ensemble pushed Martin’s superlative vocal abilities to new heights on a collection brimming with emotional resonance
Rune Kristoffersen: "Records like that open up a can of worms about what ‘free jazz’ really is"
- Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Internationally acclaimed Norwegian record label Rune Grammofon announced itself to the world in 1998, with the release of Supersilent’s auspicious triple-album offering, 1-3. Since then, the imprint has curated a prestigious canon of experimental jazz, free improvisation, abstract electronic music and psychedelic rock, with celebrated releases from artists including Fire!, Arve Henriksen, Elephant9, Bushman’s Revenge, Hedvig Mollestad Trio, Maja S.K. Ratkje and Krokofant. Jazzwise caught up...
Liane Carroll: Romance and Redemption
- Wednesday, February 26, 2020
One of the UK’s leading jazz vocalists, Liane Carroll has always worn her heart on sleeve, often matching raw emotion with jaw-dropping technique. Peter Quinn spoke to Carroll about growing as an artist and her long-standing musical relationship with multi-Grammy-nominated producer James McMillan
Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew at 50: “Aphex Twin, Brian Eno, Portishead, Flying Lotus and Joni Mitchell have all cited the album as an influence, while Radiohead’s OK Computer was directly inspired by it”
- Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Stuart Nicholson looks at the massive impact Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew has had on jazz, 50 years after its original release
Junius Paul: "Everybody needs to know what’s going on… black, white and in between"
- Friday, February 21, 2020
Making a name for himself with, among others, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Makaya McCraven and Soweto Kinch, bassist Junius Paul has now struck out with his own stylistically eclectic solo debut, Ism. Kevin Le Gendre caught up with the frenetic low-ender to discuss identity politics, musical upbringings, religion and cultural pride
Horace Silver: six essential albums
- Monday, February 17, 2020
Pianist Horace Silver was one of the most influential pianists in jazz and the very personification and creator of what has been called soul jazz, composing what are now standards such as ‘Sister Sadie’ and ‘Señor Blues’ and piloting a distinctive direction the Blue Note records sound would take. Here are six classic albums