When an album includes a selection of standards, it’s always interesting to see how they are handled and occasionally the old joke about playing all the right notes but not necessarily in the right ...

Saxophonist, flautist, composer and sometime bass-player Pete Canter made his mark on the London jazz scene in the 1980s.

If you are looking for musicians to celebrate a bassist as unmistakable and influential as Ray Brown this trio surely sits ...

For a geezer of my vintage the great and most fruitful UK jazz explosion occurred in the late 60s-early 70s, fuelled by South African expats and musicians from the West Country and then, somewhat in ...

Over the years the Australian piano trio Trichotomy has collaborated with a number of other acts, and these partnerships have produced consistently interesting and enjoyable results. This time they ...

Yet again I find myself pleasantly surprised, albeit with minor reservations, by a new release reminiscent of old-style – i.e. pre-1960 – middle-of-the-road, jazz-inflected pop which may still be ...

There’s a scene in a recent Led Zeppelin documentary in which the band’s powerhouse drummer, John Bonham, discusses how important an influence Gene Krupa was on his approach to playing drums.

Four very different vocalists feature in this set of reviews, the first being Savina Yannatou, from Greece. She shares honours on Watersong with Tunisian singer Lamia Bedioui and the Primavera en ...

The group started with a swinging minor-key tune, Big Bertha by Duke Pearson. Vincent Herring took the first solo, employing a powerful attack and hard-driving lines. Catalan guitarist Joan Fort ...

This Danish release follows hot on the heels of last year’s issue on Timeless of the fourth album in the Eastern Rebellion series (reviewed in JJI, November 1984). Third Set was actually re­corded six ...

Sam Coombes: Time Of Life (33Jazz Records) | Anouar Brahem: After The Last Sky (ECM 2838) | Mark Turner: We Raise Them To Lift Their Heads (Loveland Music LLM023) | AuB: Folk Devils (Whirlwind ...

“I don’t rate myself,” asserts saxophonist Art Themen. “I’m just a jobbing musician who’s been very, very lucky.” It’s an astounding statement, for Themen, whose career began in the early 60s, is a ...