Albums that influenced me: Salisbury Suite by the Stan Tracey Octet

The second in this series of albums that influenced me. I spent my late teens and early twenties completely immersing myself in jazz. My friends thought I had lost my mind! My guide to navigating this new musical landscape was found in the local public library - my oasis of calm, and a place of …

Bobby

Tonight, it feels like the world is nervously holding its breath. As the presidential election votes are being counted, I find I can't sleep. A thought has popped into my head - "at least Bobby doesn't have to worry about all this..." As well as bringing back the terrible sadness of his sudden passing, just a …

trioVD – Maze

In describing trioVD's latest album, Maze, it's difficult to be sufficiently outrageous to match the thrilling, explosive shock of the music. Robert Shore's short description in Metro gives it a go:- ...listening to their second album, Maze (Naim Edge), it's hard to imagine how anyone could resist the Leeds group's battering-ram charms. It takes guile …

Art Themen Interview…

British saxophonist Art Themen has always been a huge inspiration to me. He is one of those players whose improvisations can go in unexpected, audacious harmonic directions that take your breath away, and who brilliantly uses the full spectrum of the saxophone's timbre - from its harsh rawness to its tender soulfulness. I somehow managed to …

Richard Thompson and Crimescene

I happened upon this interview with the great singer/songwriter/guitarist Richard Thompson. What particularly caught my eye was that he briefly discusses the track on his last CD (Dream Attic (2010)) which I became almost obsessed by, and which certainly stood out, for me, as one of his masterpieces - Crimescene. Before looking at what he …