Latest stories
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Free Jazz
4th Jun 2020by Matt Groom
The first instalment in a new series exploring the many genres within jazz finds Matt jumping straight in at the deep end and recommending some of the most enduring recordings loosely grouped under the heading of 'free jazz'. May the skronk be with you!
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Herbie Nichols
7th May 2020by Matt Groom
Between 1955 and 1957 pianist and composer Herbie Nichols recorded four classic albums before passing away in obscurity in 1964, leaving it to later generations to discover his true genius. Matt argues the case for placing Nichols alongside Monk in the pantheon of jazz pianists.
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Tony Kofi - Another Kind of Soul
30th Apr 2020by Matt Groom
Matt enjoys Tony Kofi's jazz salute to the music and influence of Julian 'Cannonball' Adderley.
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Jazz New Release Round-Up - 30th April 2020
30th Apr 2020by Matt Groom
Norwegian jazz-thrashers, moody ambiences, lost fusion-gems rediscovered and more in the latest new release round-up.
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Lee Konitz (1927-2020)
22nd Apr 2020by Matt Groom
The jazz world loses one of the originators of 'The Cool School', saxophonist Lee Konitz.
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Steve Lacy - Morning Joy
11th Apr 2020by Matt Groom
One of the finest jazz recordings of the eighties, Steve Lacy's Morning Joy continues to hold its fascination over thirty years later.
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Ellis Marsalis Jr (1934-2020)
3rd Apr 2020by Matt Groom
Ellis Marsalis jr, pianist, educator and father of Wynton and Branford, has passed away from suspected COVID-19 infection.
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Jazz New Release Round-Up - 3rd April 2020
3rd Apr 2020by Matt Groom
A roundup of the best new releases, with some terrific new albums from female composers and performers.
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Jazz New Release Round-Up - 20th March 2020
20th Mar 2020by Matt Groom
The new releases keep on coming, no matter what! Matt offers his pick of the most interesting sounds out there, from Africa to South America, Poland to Scandinavia.
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Shri - The Letter
13th Mar 2020by Matt Groom
Bass supremo Shri presents a selection of his vivid tone poems, recorded in a hut in the Norwegian mountains with Bugge Wesseltoft and guests.
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McCoy Tyner - The Real McCoy
6th Mar 2020by Matt Groom
It was a sad coincidence to hear of McCoy Tyner's passing shortly after posting this Classic Album Review of The Real McCoy. Thankfully Tyner's wonderful 60-year contribution to music lives on.
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Jazz New Release Round-Up - 28th February 2020
28th Feb 2020by Matt Groom
Anybody for some Georgian folk music crossed with microtonal jazz? What's that? I read your mind... then join us for the latest jazz new release round-up.
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Ivo Neame & Jim Hart - Multiverse
21st Feb 2020by Matt Groom
Ivo Neame and Jim Hart set the controls for the heart of the sun on the terrific Multiverse project.
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Herbie Hancock - Thrust
17th Feb 2020by Matt Groom
Herbie Hancock's Thrust is a jazz-funk tour de force that saw the keyboard whiz-kid experimenting with new gear and an exciting new drummer.
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Jazz New Release Round-Up - 14th February 2020
14th Feb 2020by Matt Groom
New albums from pianist Aaron Diehl, drummer Trilok Gurtu, guitar legend Pat Metheny, fusion from Eric Vloeimans and a compilation of Maynard Ferguson live in the mid-seventies.
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Majid Bekkas - Magic Spirit Quartet
7th Feb 2020by Matt Groom
Magic Spirit Quartet finds Majid Bekkas channelling the Gnawa music of his Moroccan homeland to create a powerful collision of world and jazz music.
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Jazz New Release Round-Up - 31st January 2020
31st Jan 2020by Matt Groom
This week Matt enjoys two new recording from Losen Records, the debut album from a young German pianist who's clearly going to go places, a generous slice of aged trad-jazz, and a harp-bop rarity (no, that wasn't a typo).
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The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Vols 1 & 2
31st Jan 2020by Matt Groom
Take a trip into the Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, with this brand new issue of volumes 1 & 2 of these classic albums on one disc from the ezz-thetics label.
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Peter Beets & the Henk Meutgeert New Jazz Orchestra
24th Jan 2020by Matt Groom
An impressive set from The Netherlands, with pianist Peter Beets and The Henk Meutgeert New Jazz Orchestra romping through dazzling arrangements of classical music and standards.
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Jazz New Release Round-Up - 15th January 2020
15th Jan 2020by Matt Groom
With the post-Christmas lull clearing, Matt settles back and enjoys some of the jazz new releases, including a re-issue of a lesser-known Erroll Garner album.