Brian Payne, Author at Jazz Journal The genuine article since 1948 Thu, 15 May 2025 11:14:54 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.1 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/cropped-Swann-CS-logo-for-site-icon-Customing-Site-Identity.jpg Brian Payne, Author at Jazz Journal 32 32 Review: Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2025 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2025/05/15/review-cheltenham-jazz-festival-2025/ Thu, 15 May 2025 11:14:53 +0000 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/?p=132517 This year's festival, blessed with sunshine, included Katia Melua, Lulu, Kokoroko, Lisa Stansfield, Billy Cobham, Daniel Casimir, Claire Martin, the Buena Vista All Stars, Neil Cowley, Macy Gray and Roger Daltrey

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]]> Reviewed: Allison Miller with The One O’Clock Lab Band | Terence Collie | Rachael Calladine Quartet | Steve Sieck https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2025/05/01/allison-miller-with-the-one-oclock-lab-band-terence-collie-rachael-calladine-quartet-steve-sieck/ Thu, 01 May 2025 09:24:26 +0000 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/?p=131645 Allison Miller with The One O’Clock Lab Band: Big & Lovely (Royal Potato Family RPF 2502) I had the pleasure of seeing New-York-based drummer and composer Allison Miller seven years ago when she was playing Newport Jazz Festival in Parlour Game, the quartet co-led by her and violinist Jenny Scheinman with Carmen Staaf (p) and […]

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]]> James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2025/03/20/james-baldwins-sonnys-blues/ Thu, 20 Mar 2025 11:09:58 +0000 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/?p=131233 James Baldwin (1924-1987) is considered by many to be one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Born into poverty in Harlem, New York, he became an activist and broke new ground with his exploration of racial and social issues in works such as Go Tell It On The Mountain, Notes Of A […]

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]]> Reviewed: Scarborough Jazz Festival 2024 on CD | Nel Begley | Emma Smith | Diane Roblin & Life Force | The Joymakers https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2025/02/10/reviewed-scarborough-jazz-festival-2024-on-cd-nel-begley-emma-smith-diane-roblin-life-force-the-joymakers/ Mon, 10 Feb 2025 11:48:42 +0000 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/?p=129807 Various: Scarborough Jazz Festival 2024 This double CD was recorded at last year’s Scarborough Jazz Festival. CD1 runs to 71.45 minutes, opening with Al Morrison’s Blues Experience and their superb rendition of Cream’s Sunshine Of Your Love. It’s followed by Family Band with Tom Rivieré’s composition, Life’s Work. Then Elaine Delmar sings Gershwin’s Embraceable You […]

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]]> Reviewed: Threeway | Vivian Buczek | Charles Mingus | Anat Cohen https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2025/01/04/reviewed-threeway-vivian-buczek-charles-mingus-anat-cohen/ Sat, 04 Jan 2025 11:34:30 +0000 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/?p=128478 Threeway: Harken! (Jazz Cat JCCD 120) Harken! is the fourth album from Threeway, the drumless jazz trio comprising Steve Waterman (t, flh), Steve Lodder (p, org) and leader Ben Crosland (elb). It follows Conversations (2005), Songs Of The Year (2009) and Looking Forward, Looking Back (2013). The release, recorded in December 2023, marks the 20th […]

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]]> Reviewed: Judith Owen | Gordon Wellard | Snorre Kirk | Kim Cypher | Gordon Beck https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2024/12/02/reviewed-judith-owen-gordon-wellard-snorre-kirk-kim-cypher-gordon-beck/ Mon, 02 Dec 2024 18:43:54 +0000 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/?p=127139 Judith Owen: Swings Christmas (Twanky Records) Welsh born, New Orleans-based chanteuse Judith Owen has just released her 15th album. Backed by her 17-piece J.O. Big Band, she delivers a diverse and upbeat collection of Christmas songs of the swinging, secular sort. If you’re after traditional Christmas carols don’t look here. Jazz versions of Have Yourself […]

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]]> Reviewed: Gunhild Carling | Matthew Gee | Oscar Peterson https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2024/11/09/reviewed-gunhild-carling-matthew-gee-oscar-peterson/ Sat, 09 Nov 2024 14:13:03 +0000 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/?p=125150 Gunhild Carling: Jazz Is My Lifestyle (Jazz Art) Swedish swing-based trombonist and trumpeter Gunhild Carling is a talented composer who plays flute, harmonica, banjo, ukelele, piano, harp, violin, cello, bagpipes, theremin and drums as well. She sings and dances too. She appears regularly at New York’s Birdland Jazz Club, can play three trumpets at once […]

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]]> Review: Scarborough Jazz Festival 2024 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2024/10/09/review-scarborough-jazz-festival-2024/ Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:32:52 +0000 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/?p=122919 Stormy weather and turbulent seas lashed South Bay’s Victorian coastal spa on the first day of the 21st Scarborough Jazz Festival but luckily the remainder of the weekend turned out clear and bright. Alan Barnes once again compered the festival (27 to 29 September) in his usual humorous fashion. Friday’s session opened with Al Morrison’s […]

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]]> Reviewed: Swing From Paris | Tubby Hayes | Augie Haas + 8 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2024/10/01/reviewed-swing-from-paris-tubby-hayes-augie-haas-8/ Tue, 01 Oct 2024 15:46:32 +0000 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/?p=121783 Swing From Paris: I Love Paris (swingfromparis.co.uk) Gypsy jazz quartet Swing From Paris are adept at creating new arrangements of music inspired by the likes of George Gershwin, Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. Hot clubbing on the heels of their 2022 album, Afternoon In Paris, they’ve now released I Love Paris. This excellent band comprises […]

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]]> Shelly Berg: Alegría https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2024/09/21/shelly-berg-alegria/ Sat, 21 Sep 2024 09:42:05 +0000 https://jazzjournal.co.uk/?p=121270 The pianist's eighth leader album is a virtuosic, mostly trio set featuring originals and one tune apiece from the Beatles and Bernstein

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