As Blue Note celebrates its 85th anniversary, Kevin Le Gendre had a rare opportunity to sit down with President and Vice President – Don Was and Justin Seltzer respectively – to the discuss how the label and its artists are keeping its weighty legacy alive today
Back with a soul-stirring album dedicated to, and inspired by, the immortal Sarah Vaughan, Zara McFarlane has come of age with a career-defining set, Sweet Whispers. Peter Quinn spoke to the vocalist, who explains why she feels Sassy’s still relevant today
Not yet 30, and with four acclaimed Blue Note albums under his belt, vibraphonist Joel Ross is already a bona fide star. Here he tells Jane Cornwell about his latest outing Nublues, his Christian faith and the jazz greats who have helped shape his life and music
Brian Priestley sets sail into the heart of 'Maiden Voyage', one of Herbie Hancock’s most enigmatic tunes
The renowned multi-award winning singer Elaine Delmar tells Brian Glasser about the Ella Fitzgerald album that changed her life
Ammar Kalia caught up with the saxophonist to look back at his extraordinary career and discovers his thirst for musical and spiritual knowledge remains undimmed
With an expansive sound and fresh ideas, New York-based Swiss guitarist Silvan Joray is among a new wave of six-string stars on the rise. Tom Spargo spoke to him when the guitarist stopped off for his first UK gig to find out more
This month Andrey Henkin drops in on prestigious New York venue/record label Smoke as it celebrates its 25th anniversary year
Informed as much by the ‘organised chaos’ of Keith Tippett as the folksiness of John Taylor, Raph Clarkson has forged a bold musical outlook. Selwyn Harris spoke to the trombonist about how everything's coming together in his South African-inspired group Equal Sprits
A new documentary film and autobiographical book – both sharing the title Playing the Changes – are about to be released, telling the story of how Darius Brubeck (eldest son of Dave), and his wife Cathy, set up South Africa’s first jazz education programme – against a backdrop of apartheid, extreme poverty and political unrest. Stuart Nicholson speaks to the couple
