More Than Ever Smät Five Smat Five are a quintet led by Marco Tranchina. Comprised of an all Italian line-up, Smat five are Mikelle Montolli ( Sun Ra Arkestra, Nigel Price, Heidi Vogel, Judi Jackson) on bass, Alan Short (Donna Summer, Sam Moore, Natalie Cole, Groove Razors, Cong-Fusion) on alto saxophone, Andrea Solarino ( Manzi, …
Album Review: “The Things In The Past”- Ikumi Koyama. Words: Sammy Stein
The Things In The Past Ikumi Koyama Ikumi Koyama is a Japanese pianist and singer from Yokahama, Japan. This debut recording introduces Koyama to a wider audience. Koyama began learning piano aged just two and later studied jazz piano at Shobi University, enrolling as an exchange student at New York City College for a semester, …
Album Review: “Motherland Journey” Blue Lab Beats. Words: Del Osei-Owusu
Blue Lab Beats – Motherland Journey Sky Reflections The first track on this opens with with an instrumental, you could just imagine this as a concert entry music… The way that this starts off is uplifting, and I love it. I love the the synth chords start out, and I really need to find out …
Single Review: “Jouska” – Josephine Pascoe
This instrumental is… Full of life. In a time when the world needs to get up and celebrate what we have, this track hits the spot. Josephine plays the violin and flute on this and while you wouldn’t really associate the violin and flute occupying the melody line for jazz and funk, she does it …
Single Review: “Somewhere In Between” – Feds
This has such a smooth jazz feel to it.. the groove is trippy, and that’s the thing I like about it, Feds, comes in with a total buttery vocal and I like it, she’s having fun on this and I appreciate that… “Let’s take this day by day, don’t wanna say the words that I’ve …
Live Review: Wilko Johnson, Norman Watt Roy, Dylan Howe with John Otway. Words: Sammy Stein
Wilko Johnson/Norman Watt-Roy/Dylan Howe with John Otway The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, was the setting for this, one of the first nights of an extensive tour Wilko Johnson and his band is undertaking – the return to normality after Covid tour. It was the first concert for over two years I had been where masks …
Album Review: “Pillow Talk Sessions 1” – Duski
Duski seem to be a band who metamorphasise into different forms musically…. According to their site: It began as a chordless trio in darkest Wales comprising of sax, double bass and drums, then guitar and piano appeared. Jazz styles disappeared and heavy jams with collective improvising took its place. The piano morphed into different synthesisers …
Live Review: Rhodes MK8 Launch, Ronnie Scott’s
Rhodes MK8 launch – Ronnie Scott’s. My old friend Liam Narrie was the one that sent me a message about this event, and when I heard Dan Goldman was hosting it… I had to be there. Dan is a killer keyboard player, more specifically Rhodes, and it was just a joy to hear him play. …
Album Review: “Adjusting” – Arnaud Dolmen. Words: Sammy Stein
ARNAUD DOLMEN – ADJUSTING RELEASE DATE: JANUARY, 28TH 2022 Arnaud Dolmen is an acclaimed jazz artist, drummer, and composer. Originally from Guadeloupe, now based in Paris, he studied drum ka from the age of five, then drums at Atelier Marcel Lollia, under Georges Troupé. As a teenager, he was part of the Kimbòl Youth Orchestra …
Single Review: “Gotta Go Fast” Blue Lab Beats X Poppy Daniels
Gotta Go Fast – Blue Lab Beats Blue Lab Beats are back with more fire following up the monster of a track from 2021 “Motherland Journey” with “Gotta Go Fast”. Listening to this I ask myself can these two talented individuals do any wrong? Probobly not. It’s hit 10,000+ – yes let me lay it …