By John Stevenson Outsized and gruff-toned, the baritone saxophone has enjoyed a singular place in modern music. As band leaders or sidemen, Gerry Mulligan, Harry Carney, Cecil Payne, Serge Chaloff and Pepper Adams are numbered among some of the instrument’s most influential exponents. Fred Ho, who died on April 12 …
By John Stevenson Sonzeira: Brasil Bam Bam Bam, Gilles Peterson’s most recent recording project, is yet another product of his fascination with Brazilian music and culture. The album, recorded in Brazil, cuts across a wide swathe of styles and genres, fusing old-school sambas and jazz-funk and features the most exciting …
By John Stevenson Multifaceted London based visual artist, Nadjib Le Fleurier, will be showcasing “Selected Works”, an exhibition of his photographs. This takes place at The Windmill, Cricklewood Broadway, NW2 3JX, and runs from 30th April to 1st June. The exhibition is themed around Nadjib’s exploration of minerals and music: …
By John Stevenson A biography of famed New Orleans jazz composer, clarinettist and soprano saxophonist Sidney Bechet, will be launched in London on Sunday 4th May in the Cabaret Suite of the Hippodrome, Leicester Square London WC2H 7JH. It has been organised by Jazzmo’thology and Books of Africa. Bechet (1897-1959), …
By John Stevenson Dragonfly is not your average Canadian band. Led by Corey Tamas who has been playing guitar for more than 30 years, Dragonfly’s distinctive sound coalesces around influential rock and jazz voices on the instrument such as Al Di Meola, Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew and Steve Vai. With …
By John Stevenson Creativity and vocal suppleness ooze effortlessly out of Paula Santoro’s most recent work, ‘Mar do Meu Mundo’ (Borandá). Possessed of a formidable octave range and wondrous timbral dexterity, Paula’s compelling voice uniquely conveys a sophisticated appreciation of a broad variety music, including Brazilian rhythms and jazz. Ironically, …
By John Stevenson Antonio Loureiro is probably one of the most fascinating musicians to come out of Brazil in recent times. His recent recording ‘Só’ (Borandá, 2013) finds a highly experimental artist dipping into diverse streams of rhythmic influence. Whether its the title trackSó, the almost ethereal Pelas Águas, or the multi …
By John Stevenson On her debut CD, Exit 1, violinist Nistha Raj has created an attractive sonic mashup. Mightily influenced by traditional Hindustani rhythmic cycles, the recording also features bewitching breakbeats, a Serbian folk song, Tibetan music, ragas and sagas and artful violin playing. The music proceeds at a meditative …
By John Stevenson As the stranglehold of the so-called ‘major labels’ continues to loosen through the power of the internet and more and more artists find distribution channels to get their work before mass audiences, 2013 has seen some fine jazz recordings. I also had an opportunity to sample a …
By John Stevenson Asaf Sirkis is a thinking man’s jazz drummer. After several years as the percussive force behind Gilad Atzmon’s Orient House Ensemble (OHE), he now leads his own groups to growing critical acclaim, with a handful of recordings such as The Song Within (with The Inner Noise). He …
