Song Review: “She Moves” – Carrie Grant

Carrie Grant released her album today, and this is the third track in the running order. I have not been able to progress past this one. It’s a piano based ballad, with strings and a strong backdrop of harmonies that are hinted at but it only appears once just leaving space for Carrie to do …

Interview: Judith Owen. Words: Sammy Stein

Judith Owen is a British vocalist, pianist, and songwriter. She has had a lengthy career and received praise from fellow musicians including Annie Lennox and Jamie Cullum.   ‘Come On & Get It’ is Owen’s thirteenth album and features tracks by strong, hugely talented female jazz musicians from the 40s and 50s including Nellie Lutcher …

Music News: Jacob Collier Announces Final Instalment of Groundbreaking Album Series

Jacob Collier Announces Final Instalment Of Groundbreaking Album Series That Has Earned Three Grammy Awards & Six Grammy Nominations Including Album Of The Year Djesse Vol. 4 will be released on February 29th 2024 via Hajanga / Decca / Interscope   *The album’s first official single Little Blue (feat. Brandi Carlile) is released today* Listen …

Album Review: “Rags And Ragas” – Charu Suri. Words: Sammy Stein.

Composer and pianist Charu Suri has released ‘Rags and Ragas’ and she has achieved a beautiful and well-crafted merger of two cultures. A raga is a modal scale, usually performed at a specific time of day. There are hundreds of such ragas found in India and here Suri introduces us to just a few of …

Single Review: “Mindfulness” – River Nelson.

This track starts off with a jazzy gospel part that’s just two chords over some lush strings.  When Andy Kettle sent me this, he had me from the chord progression.  But this is not where I was invested.  Oh no.  No no no. The hard hitting drums?  Nope.  The lack of bassline?  Oh yeah I …

Album Review: “Greek Street Friday” – Ian Shaw. Words: Sammy Stein.

I first heard Ian Shaw in 2021 when I reviewed Hannah Horton’s album ‘Inside Out’ on which Shaw was the guest vocalist on tracks ‘Frozen Light’ and ‘Breathing Out’. Horton told me, “I mentioned I was recording a new album and he (Shaw) offered to take a listen and then wrote the lyrics for ‘Frozen …