As Norah Jones went through customs at Heathrow airport, an official insisted she perform ‘Chasing Pirates’ at her upcoming Royal Festival Hall concert. She honoured their wishes and did the […]

Surely one of the most exhilarating talents in contemporary vocal jazz, Cécile McLorin Salvant was back again at the EFG London Jazz Festival, this time at the (underrated) Queen Elizabeth […]

Having already enjoyed a rapturous British reception at the BBC Proms earlier this year, Cory Henry was all-guns blazing at this sold out concert at HERE at Outernet, one of […]

“I didn’t remember I did all that stuff,” remarked Marcus Miller after being introduced to the stage with a preamble referencing just some of the legendary artists he has played […]

One of the breakout artists of the 2010s, Emeli Sandé struck a chord with her vulnerable songwriting, soulful voice, and pop hooks. Headlining the EFG London Jazz Festival with a […]

There isn’t always much jazz in Jazz Voice – the opening gala for the annual EFG London Jazz Festival – but there are often a myriad of commanding voices. This […]

Emerging in 1989 as self-described “purveyors of the finest UK street soul”, D’Influence now only perform rare one-off shows. A shame, as, though more active in the production space, with credits […]

I once interviewed Meshell Ndegeocello‘s former backing vocalist Sy Smith, whose Sometimes a Rose Will Grow in Concrete is a devastatingly good record. Smith extolled Ndegeocello’s ability to “craft a mood” […]

Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, and now Stevie Wonder: Three (soul) music titans whose repertoires conductor and arranger Jules Buckley has taken to the BBC Proms. Having premiered his own orchestra […]

Starting at 10:15pm, I wondered whether this late-night prom was past the bedtime for the preternaturally talented musicians (aged 16-19) of the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) Jazz. Yet this Carnegie […]

Laura Mvula delivers a spellbinding, stripped back set  Prior to this intimate residency at Soho’s Boulevard theatre, Laura Mvula last performed at Wembley Stadium opening for Coldplay. What a juxtaposition, […]

It could have jarred hearing the underground music of Northern Soul rendered so properly in the glossy environs of the Royal Albert Hall. But with arrangements from Joe Duddell and […]

Musical collective Postmodern Jukebox, the brainchild of pianist Scott Bradlee, continues to rack up viral success with their unashamedly retro reimaginations of pop hits. But their archive of YouTube videos […]

Twenty years ago, 16-year old Joss Stone released The Soul Sessions. Comprised primarily of 1960s/70s deep-cuts – with a White Stripes cover thrown in the mix – The Soul Sessions intrigued both […]