Barbara Thompson MBE The Autobiographical Story of her Musical Life (Jazz In Britain) Rarely has the autobiography of a jazz musician been told with such passion, determination and sense of pride, while blending good humour, wisdom and humanity. During her journey to become one of Britain’s finest exponents of the saxophone and flute and a gifted composer and inspirational band leader to boot, Barbara Thompson
Live Rock Lives The road to Croydon is a mighty fine road, especially when the Steve Eggs Band are leading the way with the kind of exciting ‘live’ sets they performed at The Oval Tavern on a sunny afternoon (September 20, 2020). It was only the second ‘live’ show they could present since Lock Down began, the previous one being a gig on Hastings Pier
New Album and Tour Is there life on Mars? There is certainly musical life on Earth now that Rick Wakeman has defied the gravity of the Covid situation, by releasing a brand new album and even planning a full scale tour. The Wizard of the Keyboards once took us on a journey deep into the ‘Centre of the Earth’. He now launches us into outer
Click to Enlarge Images An Exaltation of EPs Once upon a groove there was a quirky new addition to the alluring range of shiny discs available in those mystical dens of musical mayhem we used to call ‘record shops.’ Yes, there were already racks of LPs, those long players that had supplanted the reign of the humble 78 rpm that began
Debates may rage, arguments follow and protests be lodged, but here are our all time favourite drum solos as performed and recorded by the giants of percussion. NOTE: A list of 100 great drum breaks and ‘swapped fours’ will follow but this may take some time for research and final agreement by a panel of judges including Lord Rimshot of the Institute of Rhythmic Studies.
CELEBRATING VICTORY WITH TEA, CAKES & SWING When sirens wailed a farewell All-Clear, the roar of night time bombers ceased and the blast waves of detonating V1s and V2s subsided it was time to celebrate. And that’s just what thousands of children did at street parties held throughout London and the rest of country on May 8th, 1945. It may have been 75 years ago,
Modern jazz fans enjoyed an exciting experience seeing pioneering musicians of the calibre of Joe Harriott, Don Rendell and Tubby Hayes in action at local clubs in the early 1960s. If it was a shade too pricey to travel up town and visit exclusive Soho clubs, there were plenty of pubs like the King Alfred, Lower Sydenham in South London, where top jazz men frequently
SIMON SPILLETT QUARTET Simon Spillett blew up a storm while celebrating the life and music of Tubby Hayes in a show that proved even more exhilarating than the gale blowing over Essex on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon. Despite the threat of transport chaos posed by Storm Dennis, fans and dignitaries descended in droves on the concert presented by the National Jazz Archive at
O2 Islington, London And lo – a star is born! Now is this wild claim mere pop propaganda? No, here is important information designed to assist in propagating the faith in a new band and their charismatic young singer and composer Jack Denton. The word had clearly spread to the O2 Islington, when Our Propaganda delivered their fiery message to a loyal congregation of fans
PETE LONG BIG BAND ‘Live’ AT CADOGAN HALL When the Benny Goodman Orchestra and guests presented their legendary concert at Carnegie Hall, New York City on January 16th, 1938, it was a ground breaking event that established jazz as a serious musical form and also wowed a lot of Lindy hopping swing fans. When clarinettist Pete Long presented his band’s concert at Cadogan Hall on
