British jazz artist Zara McFarlane unveiled her album Sweet Whispers – an homage to Sarah Vaughan – at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club earlier this year. I was admittedly curious how the same show would […]
You can’t fault Jazz Voice for its eclecticism. This annual gala, inaugurating each iteration of the EFG London Jazz Festival, serves up an ensemble of soloists often with varying degrees […]
Watching Beverley Knight perform does feel like you’re watching an all-time great. Her voice, brimming with soul but steely in its attack and precision, is one of the finest to […]
Sam Smith makes a captivating, stylistically diverse Proms debut It was always a childhood dream of singer Sam Smith to perform at the Royal Albert Hall. Yet the announcement of […]
Monikered ‘the Divine One’, Sarah Vaughan possessed a vocal splendour of a kind so rich and inimitable. Following an excellent run of tributes in recent years to Nina Simone, Aretha […]
Last year, the BBC Proms paid homage to the ‘Northern Soul’ movement with a stunningly popular concert that has found new life touring the UK. While ‘Northern Soul’ was, at […]
For those who want a summery festival experience without the expense, frenzy, and general slog of Glastonbury, Kew the Music makes for a damn good night. This Saturday evening in […]
At one point during this concert at the Royal Albert Hall, English soul singer Joss Stone admitted her nervousness about booking this daunting venue. Perhaps Stone, who tours more heavily […]
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 […]