Brecon Jazz Festival has just celebrated its 30th anniversary in style, with ticket sales up 20% and a high number of sell-out gigs. Even the weather – the tail end of Hurricane Bertha dumped a lake-full of rain on the mid-Wales town on the final day – couldn’t dampen spirits. Continue reading
As Brecon Jazz celebrates its 30th anniverary next month, it also acknowledges a (possibly) even more significant milestone in Welsh cultural history – the 100th anniversary of Dylan Thomas’ birth. Dylan Thomas 100 is a year-long celebration to mark the centenary of Wales’ greatest poet, and Brecon pays its own respects with a Dylan Thomas … Continue reading
Gregory Porter is probably the hottest male-vocal property on the jazz scene in 2014 – and he’s likely to be especially hot in his trademark suit and hat when he performs at both Love Supreme and Brecon Jazz this summer! His appeal is clear – a charismatic personality, with an intriguing back-story, and a voice…. … Continue reading
Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho has, no doubt, fuelled many nightmares since its release 50-plus years ago, but the only Psycho-related nightmare I have is that one day someone might turn it into a musical. I find musicals disturbing at the best of times (except Singin’ in the Rain, of course), but imagine a musical about Norman’s … Continue reading
A further impressive chunk of the Love Supreme Festival line-up has been announced, with De la Soul, Incognito and Imelda May among the names grabbing my attention. Jazz FM‘s greenfield festival of jazz, soul, blues and more is back at Glynde Place in Sussex (July 4-6) for its second year, having been given a glowing … Continue reading
Two of the summer’s big jazz festivals have announced their 2014 line-ups – here’s Pink Pie’s look at what’s in store at Brecon and Love Supreme. The 30th anniversary Brecon Jazz Festival is headlined by Burt Bacharach, who opens the event on Thursday 7th August. I’m not being disrespectful by saying Burt was never the … Continue reading
With an album called L’Amour, you know what you’re going to get – love songs, right? Yes, but don’t expect any saccharin-sweetness here. Brigitte Zarie is much more sophisticated than that. This eagerly-anticipated follow-up to 2012’s Make Room For Me is a stunning collection of jazz numbers – all but two of them new, but … Continue reading
It doesn’t have much of a plot, its songs were mostly recycled from earlier productions, and the star was suffering a fever when he had to film the title song-and-dance routine, getting soaked to the skin in a shrinking wool suit. Sounds like a recipe for disaster, doesn’t it? But this was Singin’ in the … Continue reading
Much of Steely Dan’s music oozes California sunshine. Which is odd because Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are born-and-bred New Yorkers. But here’s something odder – jump a further 3,000 miles east and you find a new bunch of Dan-alikes, who are actually more Leigh-on-Sea than LA. I say “bunch”. Actually, I don’t know how … Continue reading
Maybe pop songs aren’t the best place to seek your philosophy of life, but if that’s where you’re looking, may I recommend you pay more heed to the acid-jazz/funk of Brand New Heavies than to the pop-pop/pop of Ronan Keating? Ronan told us in 2000, “Life is a rollercoaster/ Just gotta ride it” and I’ve … Continue reading
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