Pianist and composer Julian Joseph is planning a major jazz opera, Bridgetower – A Fable of 1807, that will premiere at LSO St Lukes in July as part of the City Of London Festival. Currently casting, it’s reported that the opera, which centres around a young black violinist and the abolition of slavery, will include a number of top UK players including Joseph’s own quartet and Steve Williamson... If you thought Smooth FM couldn’t get any worse spare a thought for jazz jocks Mike Chadwick, Pete Young and Campbell Burnap who, it’s rumoured, could depart the station to make way for its new pensioner-friendly makeover in May. Meanwhile its listening figures slide even lower in the year on year comparisons...

This feature is taken from Jazzwise Issue 107 - to read the rest of this article subscribe here