Roy Castle was one of the UK’s biggest TV stars of the 1960s and ’70s. An accomplished jazz musician, dancer and actor, a generation of Brits grew up with him as the presenter of the hugely popular Record Breakers. Surprisingly, perhaps, he made only four feature films over 10 years, but each one of them … Continue reading
Michelle Pollace (it’s pronounced poh-LAH-chi) is a super-talented musician, who can often be found playing her smooth Latin Jazz rhythms at venues around the San Francisco Bay area. This Californian native and her keyboard (with backing from some of the Bay area’s finest musicians) are equally at home in quiet, upscale restaurants and outdoor concert … Continue reading
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
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
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
The founder of legendary rock band The Kinks, and the DJs of Funky Sensation are among the names that have been added to the line-ups at two of the summer’s big jazz festivals. Continue reading
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