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
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
We speak to the dynamic duo who are addressing the gender imbalance in jazz in practical and positive ways
Loosely inspired by the life of Bix Beiderbecke, Young Man with a Horn, featuring Kirk Douglas, Doris Day and Lauren Bacall, serves up more than its fair share of clichés but, says Selwyn Harris, it also exhibits plenty of redeeming features, enabling it to stand the test of time
Selwyn Harris assesses Birth of the Cool, the latest big-screen attempt to capture the myth of Miles Davis on film
Vocalist Natacha Atlas talks about the album that changed her life, Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue
Cuban-born trumpeter Yelfris Valdés has followed collaborations with everyone from Moses Boyd to Madonna with the release of his pulsating debut album, For The Ones. Jane Cornwell spoke with him about cultural cross-pollination and recontextualising Cuba’s place on the musical map
“I love to play Thelonious Monk, while creating a football crowd atmosphere...”, says Andy Davies. In a backroom of The Piano Bar members’ club in Soho, the Welsh trumpeter spoke to Jazzwise about his modus operandi – a format fine-tuned over the 11 years he’s run Ronnie Scott’s weekly upstairs jam
Bill Frisell’s latest album, HARMONY, is the first outing under his own name for the legendary Blue Note label. Alyn Shipton spoke to the influential guitarist about the origins and evolution of this song-heavy project, which features the vocal delights of Petra Hayden (daughter of Charlie), as well as his recollections of working with the late-great Ginger Baker
Drawing influence from everyone from Messiaen to W.G. Sebald, keyboardist Kit Downes’ latest album, Dreamlife of Debris, continues his deep explorations of the tonalities of the church organ. Stuart Nicholson spoke with him about his ripening relationship with the ECM imprint and how early experiences with ecclesiastical extemporisation opened him up to a wider world of improvisation
