Month: October 2021

The 2021 Jazz FM awards took place at Under the Bridge in Stamford Bridge on 28 October. For the results as announced on the night, follow the link below. Charles Rees attended […]

In The Wall Street Journal last week, my latest "Anatomy of a Song" column was on Journey's Don't Stop Believin' (go here). While the 1981 song only reached No. 9 on Billboard's pop chart, it has gone on to become a massive selling underdog anthem. It's a staple at professional sports events, karaoke bars and weddings and crossed over to TV in 2007 when it ended the last episode of […]

(Decca)Grasso astonishes on an album of Duke Ellington covers, with classy, unshowy supportWhen you hear what sounds like two guitars playing together and then discover there’s only one, you can be pretty sure it’s in the hands of Pasquale Grasso. It is generally agreed that this 33-year-old Italian virtuoso, now resident in New York, has raised guitar technique to a new and terrifyingly high level. Terrifying, that is, to other […]

Jamie Doe / The Magic Lantern – A Reckoning Bell (Hectic Eclectic Records. Album Review by Jane Mann) The Magic Lantern is the performing name of Australian born, London-based singer songwriter Jamie […]

(New Soil)The Sons of Kemet player’s second album swings between inner-city toughness and a search for something more spiritualIt’s exciting to hear the UK jazz scene level up: many of its leading lights are starting to look to their second albums, as is star tuba player and Sons of Kemet member Theon Cross. His 2019 solo debut, Fyah, was a fresh ripping up of the rulebook, boisterous and full of […]