By John Stevenson The Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2020 returns in May with a broad spectrum of world-class contemporary jazz, blues, soul, R&B and pop. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Cheltenham The Festival Town from May 5-10, this year’s programme once again delivers a balance of core jazz and mainstream offerings from …
By John Stevenson, London AR Stash correspondent Leading British jazz saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings has joined forces with non-profit talent development organisation OneFest to do battle with the notion of an English ‘North-South divide’, by bringing together the cream of British jazz across generations in Sheffield, Yorkshire on 7th March, and …
The jazz opera, Mirror Butterfly: The Migrant Liberation Movement Suite, artfully blends music, voice, freedom and an urgent call for self-determination. It is without doubt one of the most striking recordings of 2019. Created by the Afro Yaqui Music Collective, this compelling music could not have arrived at a more …
Gary Crosby OBE has announced the launch of The Reggae Ticket, an innovative, grass roots music and culture outreach programme produced by Tomorrow’s Warriors. Supported by Arts Council England, The Reggae Ticket will take to the road across seven UK cities alongside Crosby’s popular heritage reggae tour, The Trojan Story …
By John Stevenson Pop, classical and jazz musicians have long mined a rich seam of inspiration from the constellations. Springing readily to mind are albums like Dave Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’, Pink Floyd’s ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’, Franz Joseph Haydn’s ‘Il Mondo della Luna’, Karlheinz Stockhausen’s ‘Sirius’ and Philip …
Produced by legendary bassist Ric Fierabracci, the musicians on the album are drummer Dave Weckl; saxophonist Eric Marienthal; keyboardists Gary Husband and Gerry Etkins; guitarists Dean Brown, Mike Miller, Brett Garsed and Okan Ersan; trombonist Gökay Gökşen, trumpeter Utku Akyol, violinist Karen Briggs, and vocalists Simge Akdoğu and Aytunç Akdogu. …
(Photo credits: John Stevenson 2017) By John Stevenson Renowned Trinidadian trumpeter Etienne Charles brings his unique Caribbean-flavoured jazz sound to the UK on June 3rd. Etienne and his Creole Soul band perform at The Tabernacle, 34-35 Powis Square, London W11 2AY. Showtime is 6pm. Born in 1983, Etienne Charles defies easy …
By John Stevenson The Jazz FM Awards, produced by Serious, will take place at Under The Bridge in West London on Tuesday 25th April 2017. Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in the international jazz calendar, the Awards aim to celebrate the diverse range of talent that …
By John Stevenson The exciting Cheltenham Jazz Festival returns this year from April 26th to May 1st featuring a varied and eclectic programme of world premieres, festival commissions, unique collaborations and emerging talent against the backdrop of the Regency Cheltenham. Tickets go on sale to members from February 22nd and on …
By John Stevenson Performed by actor/director Steve Buscemi and multi-instrumentalist/composer Elliott Sharp, Rub Out The Word (Infrequent Seams) is an ambitious recording of the spoken texts of works written by William S. Burroughs. The performance took place on April 21, 2014 at the Issue Project Room as part of the …
By John Stevenson Nadjib Le Fleurier is one of London’s leading photographers. He has been busily – and very creatively – documenting the increasingly rich jazz scene in the capital. He has staged several exhibitions of his work which have received critical acclaim in recent years. His latest exhibition, Jazz …
By John Stevenson David Lyttle led a dynamic trio at London’s St James’ Theatre on 21st October 2016. Comprising David on drumset, acoustic bassist Daniel Casimir and alto saxophonist Tom Harrison, the powerful threesome ranged across jazz standards, funk and rock over two well-received sets. They kicked off their session …
(All photos by Maria Nunes) By John Stevenson Veteran Jamaican broadcaster, Dermot Hussey, has paid tribute to Pan-Jazz stalwart, Rafael ‘Raf’ Robertson, who died on the island of Trinidad last November at 63. Hussey (Sirius XM, Newstalk 93FM) based in Maryland USA, has just released the well-received podcast titled, ‘Hear What …
By John Stevenson There’s no shortage of infectious grooves, swing and imagination on Overdue, KDJ Trio’s debut recording. Comprising pianist Kameron Johnson (17), drummer Donavon Johnson (14) and Jonathon S. Muir-Cotton (17) the Michigan jazz triumvirate (the Johnsons from Southfield and Muir-Cotton from Ann Arbor respectively) sparkles with musical authority. …
By John Stevenson Through his critically acclaimed recordings Culture Shock, Folklore, Kaiso, Creole Soul, and Creole Christmas, Trinidadian trumpeter, percussionist, composer, arranger and professor of music, Etienne Charles, has musically documented the myriad aspects of the African Diaspora experience. He has concentrated on his native Trinidad, the French Caribbean islands, and …
By John Stevenson Hot and cool jazz music, performed by seriously talented young musicians in Michigan’s baking summer heat. This best describes the 2016 Big Band Symposium staged by Michigan State University’s College of Music, from June 13th to 18th, led by Rodney Whitaker, Distinguished Professor and Director of Jazz …
