Destin-E Records 777 001001001    ****Jay Phelps (t), Nathaniel Facey (as), Kit Downes (p), Neil Charles (b) and Shaney Forbes (d). Rec. 2006-07...03.07.07

Jazzwise, the UK’s biggest selling jazz magazine, is delighted to announce that Empirical by Empirical has been voted the Album of the Year for 2007 by Jazzwise writers.  Who could have foretold that when Empirical bagged their first ever press as a freshly minted band in the Jazzwise Tak...30.11.07

1 Empirical Empirical Destin-e2 Knut Rössler-Johannes Vogt Between The Times ACT3 Tim Buckley Blue Afternoon Rhino4 Claire Martin He Never Mentioned Love Linn5 Gabor Szabo Bacchanal Blue Moon...29.05.07

Empirical stormed Glastonbury at the Jazz Lounge and they’ve just released their stunning self-titled debut on Courtney Pine’s Destin-E Records. They are simply one of the hottest young bands around. They made a huge impact at the Jazzwise To The Power of Ten Festival supporting their me...05.07.07

Empirical is one of the UK’s hottest new jazz groups, enthusiastically supported by Courtney Pine, whose Destin-E record label releases their debut album this month. The band consists of Jay Phelps on trumpet, Nathaniel Facey on alto sax, Kit Downes on piano, Tom Farmer on double bass and Shan...24.04.07

Hotly tipped UK group Empirical won the EBU European Jazz Competition in Rotterdam at the weekend. Held during the North Sea Jazz Festival the group was pitted against several leading young groups from all over Europe. The group's eponymous debut album is only released today, but already the group h...16.07.07

The youthful Empirical were clearly enjoying themselves as they opened the evening for Joshua Redman.  Buzzing on the success of their debut album, the Quintet played all their own compositions to a sold out venue.  When Redman finally took to the stage he admitted that he’d never he...26.11.07

Hot on the heels of winning the Jazzwise Album Of The Year accolade with its eponymous debut, London band Empirical has won another award. This time it’s the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, worth £4,000, which will be used to cover the costs of recording and promoting a further album of or...12.12.07

This year’s Guinness Jazz Festival in Cork runs from 26-28 October with a high class line-up including Phil Woods Quintet, Miroslav Vitous Quartet, EST, The Leaders (Chico Freeman, Bobby Watson et al), Gary Burton/Richard Galliano Quartet, Blind Boys of Alabama, Eliane Elias Trio, Mose Allison...01.10.07

This year’s Guinness Jazz Festival in Cork runs from 26-28 October with a high class line-up including Phil Woods Quintet, Miroslav Vitous Quartet, EST, The Leaders (Chico Freeman, Bobby Watson et al), Gary Burton/Richard Galliano Quartet, Blind Boys of Alabama, Eliane Elias Trio, Mose Allison...29.08.07

Empirical drummer Shaney Forbes has won a scholarship for new jazz talent sponsored by theJazz radio station and Yamaha. The prize is worth £1,000 and in addition to the cash, Forbes along with the other winners, guitarist Nick Tyson and singer Paola Bottomley, will perform with guitarist John...11.07.07

The 2007 Glasgow International Jazz festival, that begins on 22 June until 1st July promises to be really special with a very strong lineup of some of today’s leading jazz artists with a strong UK presence alongside the big American names. Neil Cowley Trio, Robert Mitchell and Omar Puente, Emp...30.05.07

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 Al...18.12.07

Manchester’s premier jazz cub Matt and Phred’s has, over the last eight years, become a popular haunt. Snugly tucked into the heart of the city’s vibrant Northern Quarter, the venue has become a place treasured by locals and admired by visitors.
Arriving is always a warm and welco...23.11.07

More details of this year's Glasgow Jazz Festival (22 June-1 July) have emerged with more names now added to its line-up. They include Annie Ross, Byron Wallen, Courtney Pine, Empirical, Cameron Pierre, Scottish National Jazz Orchestra Coltrane Legacy, Martin Taylor's Freternity, Incognito, Randy We...04.04.07