Chaka Khan retires (most of) her hits to give a rare performance of jazz album ClassiKhan  This year, the annual Meltdown festival at the Southbank Centre was curated by none […]

“If I could remember everything I’d done, I’d probably kill myself,” quipped Chaka Khan. Acerbic stage patter like this peppered her headline concert at the Southbank Centre, kicking off this […]

This post was written by guest contributor Finlay Holt Premiering at the Royal Albert Hall and now on the road, the BBC Concert Orchestra takes Northern Soul Orchestrated on a […]

A product of Tomorrow’s Warriors – an organisation which nurtures young jazz talent from underrepresented communities – Zara McFarlane has been a steady, consistent presence in British jazz, releasing four […]

Chisholm for President! has some of the raw ingredients capable of taking it to London’s West End in a future life. This embryonic production – performed as a one-off, staged […]

A masterclass in phrasing, pace, and climax, Samara Joy’s concert at the Barbican Hall was a wonderful finish to this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival. The Bronx native has enjoyed […]

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” […]