Pianist Keith Jarrett is to release The Carnegie Hall Concert on 25 September. 19.07.06

Following his recent outburst in Italy when he stunned the audience at the Umbria Jazz festival with a diatribe against photographers Keith Jarrett was charm personified when he performed at Jazz a Juan in the south of France. The sound check was completed in very good humour, and although Jarrett never spoke or acknowledged the gathered photographers and reporters, there was no hiding away from them or putting staff in the way as often is the case. Jarrett was very relaxed even making allowances for the piano being slightly out of tune due to the heat and not quite finding the right height for his piano stool but carrying on enjoying a joke or two with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette. 23.07.07

The most anticipated event of this year’s Umbria festival in Italy was the performance by Keith Jarrett. Most tickets had sold out when it was announced that he was on the festival bill and at £56 a seat it shows that his popularity in Italy is a strong as ever. But rather than welcoming the audience to the concert he chose to unleash a torrent of abuse at those in the audience foolish enough to bring cameras or phones with them. "I don't speak Italian, but get someone who speaks English to tell you - turn those fucking cameras off now," were his comments to the 2,500 in the crowd, and better still "I reserve the right to walk off stage at any time if I see anyone taking pictures, and that goes for Jack and Gary too. If you see anyone with a camera, you have the right to take it off them." 12.07.07

Clarinettist Kenny Davern died on Tuesday aged 71. Although born in Long Island he lived for most of his life in New Jersey and was initially influenced as a jazz player by Pee Wee Russell. Early on in his career he worked with Steve Lacy and Eddie Condon and made his first major engagement with Ralph Flanagan's orchestra, playing baritone saxophone. 14.12.06

Tonight sees one of the leading US alto saxophonists, Kenny Garrett, appearing at Ronnie Scott’s in London. Making three appearances at the legendary Soho club, tonight, tomorrow and Saturday, Garrett brings his wealth of experience playing with such luminaries as Miles Davis, Art Blakey and Dizzy Gillespie. 12.04.07

Cultural polymath Ketil Bjornstad embarks on a major Contemporary Music Network tour in March. The pianist, who is also a novelist and poet, has recorded 40 albums, including many for ECM and, currently, Universal. The tour, his first major UK tour will include performances of 'Seafarer's Song' and an earlier piece, 'Before The Light' as well as music from his new CD, Floating. Bjornstad is joined by the UK's Andy Sheppard, distinguished Norwegian bassist Arild Andersen, Danish drummer Alex Riel, guitarist Eivind Aarset, singer Kristin Asbjornsen, cellist Svante Henryson and drummer Per Lindvall.

The dates are: The Sage Gateshead (19 March), RNCM, Manchester (20 March), Queen's Hall, Edinburgh (21 March), QEH, London (22 March), St George's Bristol (23 March), CBSO Centre, Birmingham (24 March) and Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton (25 March). For more info go to www.cmntours.org.uk

03.01.06

The online digital download shop eMusic is to release downloads of a large chunk of David Murray’s massive back catalogue, making available digitally many albums that are out of print or hard to find. The saxophonist, who has recorded for many different labels and has pursued a doggedly independent stance as far as the music industry is concerned, is best known for his spate of recordings on labels such as the Japanese DIW imprint as well as the late Coltrane producer Bob Thiele’s 1990s label Red Baron. Emusic downloads pride themselves on good sound quality with a bit rate higher than both Napster and iTunes. 04.04.08