Though an astonishing commercial success, Paul Simon’s Graceland (1986) was mired in controversy. In travelling to South Africa to record the album with local musicians, Simon had broken the cultural […]
The extraordinary performers on stage manage to drown out the narrative shortcomings of this new jukebox musical. With a bounty of doo-wop and R&B classics in their repertoire, The Drifters […]
Filling the stage at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the youthful and energetic Nu Civilisation Orchestra delivered a two-set tribute to Marvin Gaye as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. The […]
Last year’s Jazz Voice – the gala which opens the annual EFG London Jazz Festival – was forced online by the introduction of the second national lockdown. Fortunately, audiences were […]
Gregory Porter is no stranger to the Royal Albert Hall. In 2018, he released a live album recorded at the esteemed venue – a tribute to his idol Nat King […]
One could sense the audience collectively hold their breath as the characteristically enigmatic Moses Sumney entered the stage at the Royal Albert Hall last night, veiled in grey. Behind him […]
One of the stalwarts of British soul, Mica Paris returned from an 11-year album hiatus with Gospel last year. Paris was due to launch the album with a residency at Ronnie Scott’s […]
‘Venues like this we have to continue to support, especially in these times,’ announced Imaani Saleem before closing her set at the 606 Club, an independent venue based in West […]
Hosted again by the charming Jumoké Fashola, the Jazz Voice gala kicks off the EFG London Jazz Festival with an eclectic selection of vocalists. Of course, due to the current […]
‘I’m trying so hard not to cry,’ exclaimed Vanessa Haynes as she walked to the stage at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. Dressed in a vibrant red with a characteristic flower […]
‘You lot are either very stupid, or amazing,‘ said Wayne Hernandez to his audience at Pizza Express Holborn (13/03). Temporarily banishing the spectre of COVID19, Hernandez and his band played […]
The ‘hologramification’ of Whitney Houston is far from perfect, but serves as an outlet for audiences eager to celebrate her legacy – Are hologram tours ‘music’s final frontier‘ as Rolling […]
A lukewarm first set gave way to some vulnerable, powerfully-sung readings in the second – Raised in a small market town in Suffolk, Polly Gibbons landed her first jazz gig […]
Combining orchestral gravitas with hushed intimacy, Lianne La Havas and Jules Buckley make magic at the Barbican – Lianne La Havas knows how to tantalise an audience. ‘It’s finished,’ she […]