Ronnie Scott’s Club, London September 5th, 2022 ‘I Can’t Stop Loving You!’ proclaimed Georgie Fame as the Guy Barker Big Band roared encouragement during their debut number on the hallowed stage at London’s Ronnie Scott’s Club. The audience couldn’t stop lovin’ Mr. Fame and his band of musical brothers either, during the first night of a long awaited week’s residency It was an emotional occasion.
Live in Chelsea 25 August 2022 ‘What a great band!’ That was the cry when Colosseum underwent the scrutiny of fans and supporters at Chelsea F.C. on a hot night in August. There were cheers and whistles too when the new team of strikers kicked the musical ball into the back of the net during a sensational performance. We say ‘new’ because there are youthful
The Mick Collins Legacy Jazz Orchestra Live at Farnborough Jazz Club If you love ‘King Porter Stomp’ and ‘Four Brothers’ then it’s pretty safe to assume you are a fan of big band jazz. For those are the fondly remembered classic arrangements long associated with the swing era orchestras famously led by Benny Goodman and Woody Herman. So when the Mick Collins Legacy Jazz Orchestra
HERE COME THE STEVE EGGS It was a wild night at The Oval, Croydon when fans booked tables in advance and took their places for the best view of the stage. But then it’s always a ‘wild night’ when the Steve Eggs Band are in town and ready to rock. On a frenzied Friday (October 8th) the band, much revived after its Lock Down absence,
The superb Darius Brubeck Quartet flew into action when they performed for a crowded house at the highly successful live concert promoted by the National Jazz Archive at Loughton Methodist Church on September 18. Darius strode toward the grand piano greeting the expectant audience with a friendly smile, setting everyone including his own group at ease and readying us for some uplifting Brubeckian jazz. He
The Steve Eggs Band Are Back in Town Fans of the Steve Eggs Band are celebrating the release of their latest critically acclaimed album Lazarus Lights. Undoubtedly their best CD yet it features a plethora of original material by singer/songwriter Steve Eggs and other members of the tight knit group that regularly wow audiences at live gigs. When they made a post-Lock Down return to
It was a crowning moment of the live rock music revival when Colosseum performed a sensational set at the 02 Shepherds Bush Empire on Saturday September 4th. They were among a galaxy of 14 great bands on the bill of a two day Progressive Rock festival. Among the seven bands who kicked off at 1.30 p.m on Saturday were The Enid, the Crazy World of
GREAT SHOWS AND CDS TO TUNE IN AND TURN ON Jazz FM has been enlivening the airwaves not only with great music but some historic interviews with the giants of jazz in recent days. The largest commercial jazz in the world station recently scheduled a three part series of interviews with Oscar Peterson, Sarah Vaughan and Art Blakey, recorded by the late journalist Les Tomkins
WHEN JAZZ WAS COOL IN THE SIXTIES When we talk about Swinging London in the early 1960s, we tend to think Beatles and Rolling Stones, Carnaby Street and the Kings Road. But there was another exciting scene to explore, the multitude of jazz clubs that really swung in the heart of Soho. That’s when I donned my American silk suit from Cecil Gee and headed
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
