Vocalist Georgia Mancio's new tour looks set to follow on from her success in the 2005 Brussels International Young Singers’ Competition where she was awarded first prize. 18.08.06

There's just time to squeeze in one more jam session before the Christmas break. And where better than at the Spice of Life in the heart of London's west end at Cambridge Circus? Tomorrow night sees a Dune records jam session special at the Spice with Gary Crosby leading an all-star line up featuring Soweto Kinch, Abram Wilson and Andrew McCormack. There's also a special battle of the bands with two special bands going head to head, one led by Gary Crosby, the other by Abram Wilson. The action starts at 8pm and tickets are £10. 20.12.06

The Gateshead International Jazz Festival, the first major UK jazz festival of 2008, has announced its line up for the three day event which takes place from 28-30 March at the Sage in Gateshead. Cleo Laine and John Dankworth, (pictured) Robert Glasper Trio, Eddie Prévost Quartet featuring Alexander von Schlippenbach, Tim Garland’s Lighthouse Trio, Gilberto Gil, Acoustic Ladyland, Monica Vasconcelos, Stan Tracey, The Neil Cowley Trio, Finn Peters, John Scofield and Empirical are among the artists set to play. 18.12.07

The Gateshead International Jazz Festival returns for its third year tomorrow running throughout the weekend until Sunday. As with previous years the event features some of the cream of the UK and international scene. Based at the prestigious Sage venue on the banks of the Tyne near the new Baltic art gallery, this year’s event begins with the BBC Big Band plus Monty Alexander and Lea DeLaria on 16 March in Hall One of the Sage. The remainder of the line-up includes: Byron Wallen’s Meeting Ground, Bill Bruford and Michiel Borstlap, Kidsamonium with Tom Bancroft and Friends, Drum Masterclass With Bill Bruford, Ian Carr Tribute event, Chris Bowden Trio, EST, Jack DeJohnette Masterclass and Concert, Andy Sheppard, John Parricelli and Kuljit Bhamra, Voice of the North With Bob Mintzer, Campbell Burnap and Branford Marsalis. 15.03.07

In what is devastating news for the jazz community GCap Media has announced it is to close theJazz and Planet Rock DAB digital radio stations from the end of March. Fru Hazlitt the new chief executive of GCap, which is currently fighting a takeover bid, said in a statement: “We plan to dispose of our interest in Digital One, reflecting our view that DAB is not an economically viable platform for the company.” 11.02.08

Bassist Geoff Gascoyne returns to the road early next month but with his own project for a change. The bassist, who has been touring for the past 18 months constantly with Jamie Cullum all over the world, finds a little window in his busy schedule to tour his own album Keep It To Yourself released quietly over a year ago. The album features Geoff's own compositions and a stirring arrangement of Brian Wilson's 'God Only Knows' with a vocal from Jamie Cullum. Singers Georgie Fame (who Geoff has also worked heavily with) and Geoff's wife Trudy Kerr also appear on the album along with pianist Tom Cawley, Cullum drummer Sebastiaan De Krom among others.  24.01.07

The extraordinarily colourful jazz singer, writer and art critic George Melly died today aged 80 after a period of illness which only recently prevented him from performing. An indelible part of the British trad and blues scene since the 1950s Melly was born in Liverpool and after leaving school joined the navy and later worked in a London surrealist gallery as well as starting to sing jazz. 
05.07.07

Veteran pianist and composer George Shearing has been honoured by the Queen in the New Year’s Honours list with the composer of ‘Lullaby of Birdland’ becoming a knight for his services to music. The announcement came as something of a surprise as there has been speculation that Stan Tracey, who has just turned 80, would be honoured by the Queen. Shearing, who was born in Battersea, has lived in the States for many years.  02.01.07

Lauderdale House in London's Highgate has been putting on a regular Jazz in the House programme for nine years and the venue has just announced its autumn programme. As usual, the series focuses on the cream of the British jazz scene and upcoming highlights include Neil Yates (4 October), singers Zena James and Georgia Mancio (18 October), the Matt Wates Sextet (25 October), Geoff Gascoyne Quintet (1 Nov), Killer Shrimp (15 Nov), Carol Grimes (22 Nov), John Critchinson (29 Nov) and Estelle Kokot (6 Dec). 06.09.07

The HSBC Bank Coventry Jazz Festival begins on 25 May at Priory Place in the city centre. 19.05.06

Jazz Services has received funding from the Arts Council England to develop a new recording support scheme. Working with 33 Records, the Luton-based jazz indie record label, eight bands will be chosen to take part in this scheme over two years. 14.02.06

There's a busy month ahead at the Spice of Life, one of the most lively London jazz clubs, just a stone's throw from Leicester Square at Cambridge Circus. 31.10.06

This year’s Marlborough Jazz Festival, which runs from 13-15 July, boasts Gilad Atzmon’s Artie Fishel project, Scott Hamilton’s All Star Quintet and Gwyneth Herbert among the headlining artists. Located in one of Wiltshire’s most elegant market towns Marlborough Jazz’s strength is the way the festival wraps itself around the town with major artists appearing in the town hall and an eclectic roster of established and up and coming artist playing in bars, pubs, clubs and marquees on a continuous basis throughout the day, courtesy of its ‘Stroller’ programme and ticketing. 22.05.07

Outspoken saxophonist and clarinettist Gilad Atzmon features in the autumn line up at The Jazz Bar, Southend-on-Sea. The club, based at the Cliffs Pavilion Theatre, will play host to names including guitar veteran Ray Russell and the unique folk-accented duo of saxophonist Tommy Smith and Norwegian bass player Arild Andersen. Gilad Atzmon will be taking the opportunity to slip into his comedic and subversive alter ego Artie Fishel, featuring new material from his CD release Artie Fishel And The Promised Band out next month. 07.09.06

Arch provocateur saxophonist Gilad Atzmon conjures up a remarkable new character Artie Fishel for a new album, Artie Fishel And The Promised Band on the Weapons Of Mass Distraction label, and is already introducing the concept to audiences around the country 29.09.06

Two highly charged evenings are in store under the banner "Jazz, Racism and Resistance" courtesy of saxophonist Gilad Atzmon. In the first presentation on 27 November at the Halaliano Restaurant, Mile End Road in London's East End, Gilad is on a bill with Respect party MP George Galloway and author Martin Smith.
17.11.06

The Glasgow jazz festival, which begins on 23 June and continues until 2 July, has announced its line up.
21.04.06

Alto saxophone legend Lee Konitz, blues icon Buddy Guy, Neil Cowley Trio (pictured), Ian Shaw and Polar Bear are among the names scheduled for this year’s Glasgow Jazz Festival which takes place from 20 to 29 June. Also announced is a double header with revered pianist John Taylor and the leader of the pack of new UK pianists, Gwilym Simcock, each playing solo sets and performing as a duo.
25.04.08

Alto saxophone legend Lee Konitz, blues icon Buddy Guy, former Jazzwise cover stars Neil Cowley Trio, Ian Shaw and Polar Bear (pictured) are among the names scheduled for this year’s Glasgow Jazz Festival which takes place from 20 to 29 June. Also announced is a double header with revered pianist John Taylor and the leader of the pack of new UK pianists, Gwilym Simcock, playing solo sets and as a duo.
08.04.08

Earlier this week the department for culture, media and sport published its response to the Live Music Forum’s report issued in July. In a year which has seen the closure of important venues such as the Spitz and Pizza On The Park its recommendations include working with the mayor of London to prevent venue closures in the future. The sum of £500,000 over two years will be made available for a pilot scheme to set up professionally equipped rehearsal spaces for young people. A move towards establishing an exemption to help restaurants, cafes and community halls whose main business isn’t to put on live music will be made and this could affect jazz directly. A further recommendation also involves helping the National Union of Students to re-establish a live music network.
19.12.07

The Guildhall Jazz Band directed by Scott Stroman will present two distinct musical programmes – Miles Ahead and The Music of Ian Carr – as part of the November London Jazz Festival. 19.10.06

One of the UK's leading jazz colleges, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, mounts its annual jazz festival next month from 27-30 March. This year highlights include veteran pianist/composer Michael Garrick, the Guildhall jazz singers with Pete Churchill, the Guildhall Jazz Band directed by Scott Stroman with guest pianist Kirk Lightsey, Martin Hathaway, Jiggs Whigham, Loz Speyer, Carlos Lopez Real and a vocal summit led by Trudy Kerr. 23.02.07

This year’s nominations for the BBC Jazz Awards have been announced. They are:
BBC Radio 2 Artist Of The Year Award: Guy Barker, Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine, Humphrey Lyttelton. BBC Radio 2 Heart Of Jazz Award: Guy Barker, Ray Gelato and Tommy Smith. BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line-Up Best Ensemble Award: Empirical, Jazz Warriors Afropeans and Tom Cawley’s Curios. BBC Radio 3 Jazz On 3 Innovation Award: Basquiat Strings, Corey Mwamba Argentum, Evan Parker and Fraud. Best Album Award: Accident & Insurgency by Ambulance, Empirical by Empirical (pictured), The Amadeus Project by Guy Barker, Perception by Gwilym Simcock, Sienna Red by Simon Spillett and All Is Yes by The Blessing. 
21.05.08

28.05.08

“I had no obsession with Mozart,” Guy Barker said at the beginning of his set at the famed Frith Street club in London. All around him as he looked at the audience he could see people who had come out of curiosity, a passing interest in Mozart, maybe, but above all jazz fans, many of whom had seen him in many contexts and in the club over the years. 04.12.07

Trumpeter Guy Barker is to take his Mozart-themed Amadeus Project on tour, one of his most ambitious projects to date for the celebrated jazz musician. Commissioned to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth by the Mainly Mozart festival in California, the piece, 'The Amadeus Suite,' was written by Guy to focus on characters inspired by Mozart’s operas originally for a nine-piece US band.
05.04.07

A free-entry festival, brought to London by the producers of the Brecon Jazz Festival, enters its second year this month with a line up to include BBC Jazz Awards double winner Liane Carroll, Ska Cubano and the Guy Barker trio with Dave Newton on piano and Alec Dankworth on bass. 08.09.06

Mozart and film noir-inspired double album The Amadeus Project (Global Mix) by trumpeter Guy Barker (pictured) won jazz CD of the year at last night’s Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Singer Liane Carroll was announced as musician of the year. 14.05.08

The Amadeus Project, Empirical and Slow Down are in the running for jazz CD of the year at next month’s Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group the awards take place on 13 May at the House of Commons Terrace Pavilion. Jazzwise writer Kevin Le Gendre has been nominated in the Jazz Journalist of the Year category.  25.04.08

Following a glut of awards, widespread acclaim, numerous recording appearances and a Jazzwise front cover in August pianist Gwilym Simcock finally gets to launch his debut solo album and tour. Perception is released by Basho Records on 5 November with a special launch concert to kick off his tour at Queen Elizabeth Hall on 16 November as part of the London Jazz Festival. The album, produced by Jason Yarde, features the Simcock trio with bassist Phil Donkin and drummer Martin France, as well as contributions from saxophonist Stan Sulzmann, guitarist John Parricelli and tuned percussionist Ben Bryant.
04.10.07

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, currently in a period of transition following the news of the departure of the club’s artistic director, has announced its January programme studded with leading UK players including talented pianist Gwilym Simcock (pictured). 17.12.07

The Cleethorpes Jazz Weekend returns for its eighth year on 6-9 September. Hosting a range of acts the weekend includes vocalist Gwyneth Herbert who has recently released her third album Between Me And The Wardrobe on Blue Note. The singer/songwriter has established a more personalised sound and appears with pianist Steve Holness, percussionist Dave Price and bassist Sam Burgess. The line up also includes saxophonist and singer Laura Fowles, Roy Williams, Lewis Wright, Simon Spillett, Enrico Tomasso and David Newton. 
28.06.07

Singer Gwyneth Herbert begins her 15-date tour at Brighton’s Komedia venue on Wednesday, as she warms up to the November release of her new album Between Me And The Wardrobe. 11.09.06