Thinking About Gary Grant on St. Patrick’s Day

For the last few years, every St. Patrick’s Day and as an homage to him, I post Gary Grant’s track, Ireland from his second album as leader, Don’t Hold Your Breath (Grant Us This Day, 2010). Gary, of course was one of the legendary Jerry Hey Horns which added so much additional excitement to the recordings of Al Jarreau, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, and many others. A stellar trumpeter, composer, producer and session great, Grant was ubiquitous in LA and highly impactful in all of the various sessions in which he was involved. He was solid as a rock and beyond compare in his playing consistency.

Album review: Tigran Hamasyan – Manifeste (naïve)

Tigran Hamasyan (piano, bass synth, synths, vocals, whistling); Marc Karapetian (bass); Matt Garstka (drums); Daniel Melkonyan (trumpet); Arthur Hnatek (drums, electronics drum programming); Arman Mnatsakanyan (drums); Artyom Manukyan (cello); Evan Marien (bass); Nick Llerandi (guitar); Matt Garstka (drums); Nate Wood (drums); Asta Mamikonyan (vocals); Hamin Honari (daf); Yessai Karapetian (blul); Yerevan State Chamber Choir conducted by Kristina Voskanyan

Hamasyan first came to real prominence in 2015 (he had been recording for 9 years before then) with the release of his Mockroot album which combined western jazz with the music of his Armenian homeland. Over these influences was laid a shell of dazzling virtuosity and this current album shows no weakening in his powers. If anything the intervening years have continued to lead people to believe that he must be descended from Anne Boleyn as it is difficult to believe the sheer density of notes can be produced by someone with fewer than six fingers on each hand.

Press release: SPARK: Jazz from the Netherlands @ Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival

SPARK: Jazz from the Netherlands shines a light on one of Europe’s most consistently influential jazz scenes. The Netherlands has long been recognised for producing musicians of exceptional creative independence and international reach. From established global figures to a new generation reshaping the language of improvised music, Dutch artists are known for a willingness to challenge the traditional.

Press release: manchester jazz festival is back with the UK’s largest piano trail for mjf2026!

manchester jazz festival and Forsyth Music Shop have joined forces once again for the mjf2026 piano trail competition to find Manchester’s hidden talents across a trail of 18 street pianos – the largest piano trail in the UK - at locations across Manchester city centre and beyond into Greater Manchester.  

From 29 March – 31 May, the mjf piano trail competition encourages everyone to get creative and just have fun. And for those who want to take part, there’s a chance to enter a competition to win a Yamaha digital piano and many more prizes!  

There will be two 'celebrity' pianos from the BBC joining the piano trail this year. They've been in BBC Radio studios for decades and have been played by lots of famous people and bands, most recently the Verve and Rufus Wainright and back in the day, Paul McCartney and David Bowie!  

Press release: McCreadie bassist Bowden flies solo on Unsung Songs

© Nicky Murray

Award-winning double bassist David Bowden releases a solo bass album, Unsung Songs, on Friday 10th April.

Best known as a crucial member of pianist Fergus McCreadie’s internationally acclaimed, Mercury Prize-nominated trio, Glasgow-based Bowden is a former Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year and an in-demand bass player on the Scottish jazz and folk scenes.

Having successfully led the seven-piece world jazz ensemble Mezcla, Bowden found himself seeking a new creative challenge in the summer of 2023. He began developing repertoire for solo double bass - music that would place the instrument centre stage. Following a first solo gig at Glasgow Jazz Festival in 2024, the music on Unsung Songs was developed through a series of further solo performances at jazz festivals across Scotland and refined in studio sessions.

Ian Shaw – Stephensong: Sondheim in the Jazz Room. Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s - March 10

Ian Shaw (vocals); Barry Green (piano)

The evening begins with a dedication.

Shaw dedicates the performance to the late Haydn Gwynne, the much-loved stage actress whose ability to inhabit a lyric with dramatic clarity made her a natural interpreter of theatre music — and whose spirit feels entirely at home in a night devoted to the songs of Stephen Sondheim.

Then Shaw launches straight into the opening number.

“Everybody says don’t,
Everybody says can’t,
Everybody says wait around for miracles —
That’s the way the world is made.”

From the opening bars you know you are in for something special.

Album review: Louise Alexandra - Crazy World of Love

Louise Alexandra (vocals); Rob van Bavel (piano, arranger); Frans van Geest (bass); Vincent Koning (guitar); Marcel Serierse (drums); Jan Menu (tenor/baritone sax) + Benny Benack III (flugelhorn tk 7)

Louise Alexandra, a Dutch-American jazz singer and songwriter is also a cancer research scientist. She is held in high regard for work in cancer research and on the strength of this, her third album, equally so as a musical artist. All thirteen tracks were a joy to listen to.

Too Late Now: Tenor and piano solos, a wordless riff in unison with band. Voice has an appealing vulnerability about it.

All my Tomorrows: Piano over some busy Latinesque drumming. Meaningful interpretation of the lyric.

Castle in the Sky: An original by Alexandra. Strong words capturing the rise and fall of a love affair.

SH#RP Collective @ Jesmond Library – March 13

Karen Rann (soprano sax); Nigel Robson (trombone); Mark Squires (piano); Dave Parker (double bass); Michael Howard (drums)

It was the second Friday of March; time for the monthly lunchtime gig at Jesmond Library, organised by John Rowland.  And there was a very good turnout to hear an enjoyable hour of modern jazz, performed by the SH#RP Collective.

For this gig, the band – who often operate as a quartet – were joined by Nigel Robson on trombone.  Even with this extended line-up, the strong interplay between the musicians was clear from the start.  Among the highlights were the fresh and engaging tunes written by pianist Mark Squires, who explained that he had drawn on topics such as long walks and the pandemic for his compositions. There was also the opportunity to hear some songs that are rarely performed nowadays.  I particularly enjoyed the band’s rousing interpretation of El Niño, originally featured on Michael Brecker’s album Two Blocks from the Edge.  Saxophonist Karen Rann also acknowledged Matt Anderson, who had passed on his arrangement of Bill Frisell’s Strange Meeting. Hats off to the band for keeping these excellent tunes alive!

Preview: Russ Morgan Quartet - Blaydon Jazz Club (Mon. 16)

Tomorrow night Russ Morgan returns to Blaydon Jazz Club. A decade and more ago, Russ arrived on Tyneside, first sitting in at a Jazz Cafe (Pink Lane, Newcastle) jam session. Making an instant impact, it didn't take long for Russ to become one of the region's go-to drummers. 

A couple of years ago Russ relocated to Fife, Scotland. However, from time to time, we do get to see and hear the man in action 'south of the border'. The Black Bull on Bridge Street is your next opportunity to catch up with Russ as he brings in his top flight quartet. Join Russ, Harry Keeble (tenor sax), Mark Williams (guitar) and Andy Champion (double bass) for an evening of contemporary jazz. It's an eight o'clock start and it's a bargain tenner at the door. Russell     

Photo montage © Malcolm Sinclair

R.I.P. Keith Ingham (1942 - March 12, 2026)

The sad news has filtered through of the passing of pianist Keith Ingham on March 12.

Born in Streatham on February 5, 1942, by the late 1960s/early 1970s he had become an integral part of the traditional/mainstream British jazz scene working and recording with the likes of Bruce Turner, George Melly, John Chilton and Digby Fairweather among others.