Flying in specially for the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, which came to a close last night, the Everyman was the place to be for Bill Frisell’s new band on Sunday night in a special one-off show. While earlier, another leading American musician, drummer Bobby Previte, also unveiled his new band for the first time in Europe. 06.05.08

The Big Chill Festival turns 12 this year and has extended its programming to include a number of jazz-related acts to its eclectic lineup. Initially established as an ambient and trance venue in Islington in 1994, the Big Chill held its first festival at the Black Mountains in Wales in 1995 and has expanded its musical horizons considerably over the years, building a reputation as a laid back, family friendly festival in pleasant rural surroundings. Last year the Esbjorn Svensson Trio was a major highlight and this year Abram Wilson & The Delta Blues Project and the Cinematic Orchestra are among the main artists appearing.  12.06.07

New Orleans trumpeter and singer Abram Wilson, based in London since 2002, has won first prize in the jazz category of the International Songwriting Competition for his tune, 'Monk.' 10.04.06

The idyllic setting of Llangollen in the Dee Valley, North East Wales is preparing for a varied and exciting programme of the finest in British Jazz on the weekend of Friday 11- Sunday 13 May. Spread across outdoor and indoor venues, it looks set to be one of the most intimate events of the festival season. 13.04.07

Acoustic Ladyland are in the studio mixing a new album for release but the group at the moment are finalising a new record deal. 10.04.06

Acoustic Triangle, the trio of bassist Malcolm Creese, saxophonist/flautist Tim Garland and pianist Gwilym Simcock, is to perform with the choir of Westminster Abbey directed by James O'Donnell in an Ascension Day sung eucharist at Westminster Abbey.  23.05.06

The second Gateshead International Jazz Festival at The Sage begins on Friday and runs until Sunday. Acts booked for the event include Maceo Parker, Gilles Peterson, Andy Sheppard and Stan Tracey. Last year's event attracted some 5,000 concertgoers and this year's festival aims to entice even bigger crowds to the three-day affair which takes place in the various auditoria and spaces of The Sage. 15.03.06

Alice Coltrane plays her first UK date in more than 20 years at the Barbican on Sunday 1 April as part of an extensive line up at the London arts centre next year. She will be joined by son Ravi Coltrane, bass legend Charlie Haden and former Charlie Parker drummer Roy Haynes. The new season at the Barbican kicks off with Joe Lovano and special guest Hank Jones on Friday 16 February followed by the McCoy Tyner septet on Monday 26 February with an Impulse records themed concert. The following month sees EST play on Wednesday 21 March as part of their UK tour sponsored by Jazzwise to celebrate the magazine’s 10th birthday.
18.12.06

Singer Cassandra Wilson is preparing for the release of her next album Loverly now set for a UK release on 27 May. The title track of the album (based on the Lerner/Loewe song ‘Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?’ from the 1956 Broadway musical My Fair Lady) was given a UK debut last autumn at the Jazz Café in London when Cassandra performed with a version of her current touring band with drummer Herlin Riley, bassist Reginald Veal and percussionist Lekan Babalola. 11.03.08

Once the musical director on Errol Flynn's yacht the Zaka, saxophonist Andy Hamilton, a mainstay of jazz in the west Midlands for over 50 years, celebrates his 88th birthday at a special party at Bearwood Corks Club, Smethwick, Birmingham on 23 March with guest US tenor saxophone star Scott Hamilton. Andy's regular band, the Blue Notes, are also set to perform with the saxophonist plus the Tony Richards Trio. For more info phone 0121 429 2091 13.03.06

Saxophonist Andy Sheppard plays the Vortex in London on Saturday 12 January with a band it seems likely he will record with.
08.01.08

Singer Anita O’Day died yesterday in west Los Angeles having suffered a heart attack. Born in Chicago in 1919, she began singing in a jazz club called the Off-Beat, a popular hangout for musicians like band leader and drummer Gene Krupa. In 1941 she joined Krupa’s band, and enjoyed great chemistry with Roy Eldridge.
24.11.06

The Margate Jazz Festival will run this year from 14-16 July.  14.06.06

Yamaha Guitars is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a week-long UK tour launched at Ronnie Scott’s Club in London last Sunday, featuring solo acoustic guitar sets from Canadian contemporary bluesman Dave Goodman, singer-songwriter Glenn Tilbrook, and star-of-the-show Antonio Forcione. 03.10.06

Guitarist Antonio Forcione tours the UK in February to support the release of a new live CD and DVD, Antonio Forcione Quartet in Concert, released by Naim Records on 12 February. Both the CD and DVD were recorded at he Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells and feature an international band including Australian Nathan Thomson on acoustic bass and flute, Nigerian Jenny Adejayan on cello and Adriano Adewale from Brazil on percussion. Forcione’s last release was Heartplay, a duet album with bassist Charlie Haden, that came out in December. This new live recording features Forcione playing the Oudan fretless guitar as well as nylon and steel strung guitars and focuses more on the acoustic world jazz direction that he has built a substantial reputation with, drawing its sources from Spain, Africa and Brazil. 
31.01.07

There's not much jazz and even less free improvised music to hear in Cumbria for much of the year so the annual Appleby Jazz Festival is a must for fans of the music in the area. The jazz weekend begins on 27 July with Stan Tracey, Peter King and Don Weller as well as Henry Lowther and Paul Clarvis among others on the line-up. The rest of the weekend features a wide spread of UK and international talent including Maria Pia DeVito, Mick Hutton, Nikki Iles and Julian Arguelles with Evan Parker's Freezone a festival must.
10.07.07

Bassist Arnie Somogyi's band Ambulance has a new disc out. Titled Worthless Originals EP the band includes Somogyi, bass, Paul Booth, saxophone, Tim Lapthorn, piano and Dave Smith, drums. 24.05.06

Following a review of regularly funded organisations, the Arts Council of Wales has announced it is to end its funding of the Welsh Jazz Society. This decision means the WJS will suspend many of its activities but Café Jazz in Cardiff will continue to put on jazz. The move comes as a complete surprise as previous reviews have, according to the society, concluded that it has been financially well managed.

06.03.08

This year's Edinburgh International Book Festival features a reading by Ashley Kahn, from his new book The House That Trane Built: The Story of Impulse Records on 16 August at 8.30pm in Charlotte Square Gardens alongside Dominic Sandbrook whose book White Heat discusses 1960s Britain. 27.07.06

The mayor of London’s East festival takes place on 6-11 March at 50 venues in Whitechapel, Hackney, Spitalfields, Stratford, Canary Wharf and the Barbican. The festival spans various disciplines including music, art, cinema, food, history and fashion. Mark Prescott, head of cultural campaigns, said at the event’s press launch: “East is about attracting people to come to east London for the first time.” He said the event held for the first time last year, is to “act as a catalyst” and is a “festival that celebrates the power of partnership.” Leading cultural organisations including the Barbican, BFI, Museum of London, the Whitechapel Gallery and Theatre Royal Stratford East are taking part. 17.01.08

A new composers initiative, the European Jazz Composers Network has been founded in the Danish capital, Copenhagen. The group aims to strengthen notions of a European identity in jazz by focusing on contemporary compositions and improvisation for large jazz ensembles. The Danish Big Band, Norwegian composer Geir Lysne (pictured), the German Steffen Schorn and Dane Lars Møller are partners in the network. 13.03.08