Founders of the Average White Band may have provided the big headline act on the final night, but Swansea Jazz Festival 2016 was far from average. The event’s third edition was widely regarded as its biggest and best yet – again organised by Swansea Jazzland’s Dave Cottle at venues in and around the city’s attractive … Continue reading
Zeeteah Massiah, whose debut album, Juice, was a stunning collection of jazz-blues-soul-R&B, is back with a very different collection. While Juice consisted mainly of new material, written by her equally-talented partner (now husband) Paul Caplin, her second album, Maybe Tomorrow, consists mainly of familiar tunes by the likes of Cole Porter and Johnny Mercer. Continue reading
Swansea International Jazz Festival returns for its third year this summer, with some 50 events at 12 venues in the city’s Maritime Quarter. The Dylan Thomas Theatre will host the ticketed concerts with a diverse programme of jazz featuring artists from USA, Europe and Australia. Continue reading
Dawn Noel may well be the biggest star you’ve never heard of – multi-talented (to say the least) and surely set to become a familiar name before long. On stage and in front of the camera, she’s an actress, dancer, and model, while behind the scenes she is equally accomplished as a writer, producer, and … Continue reading
The Love Supreme Jazz Festival has always been about more than jazz. I say ‘always’ – it’s actually only been going for three years. But, as the main 2016 line-up is announced (February 2016), the event is so well-established, it seems to have been around for ever. Continue reading
My adopted home city of Cardiff has an interesting and sometimes surprising history on film (remember the Wolf Man?), but a new project, Saucy Horsey, is perhaps the most surprising. Continue reading
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and the same goes for CDs. Pick up a copy of Laura Comfort‘s new album Don’t Ignore Me, and you may think this is all about the look and not much about the sound – style over substance. But you’d be very wrong. Continue reading
If you’re in any doubt about what to expect from the new Gina Carey album, Can You Dig It, a glance at the tracklist will soon put you straight: songs include Funkalicious and Gimme The Soul. Continue reading
Among the many highlights of Brecon Jazz 2015 was the chance to take a look at less familiar aspects of two favourite musicians. Continue reading
After just three years, the Love Supreme Festival seems to have established itself as a firm fixture on the jazz (and blues and soul) calendar. This year’s edition, again in the beautiful East Sussex countryside at Glynde Place, offered veterans Chaka Khan and (Sir) Van Morrison as main stage headliners, with the likes of Neneh … Continue reading
PieceOf Pink Pie 