The Jazz Mann | Jazz music reviews and news from the Jazz Mann Ian Mann

Winner of the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Media, 2019

Jazz Album Reviews

Hattie Whitehead

Bloom

“Bloom” sees her tackling subjects ranging from the political to the intensely personal and doing so with intelligence and conviction. Her singing is technically accomplished and undeniably beautiful.

Number Junky

Birak

Playtime

Morse Code Through The Lights

John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

We Will Meet Again, Sometime

Julian Arguelles

Doublespeak

Orlando Le Fleming

Romantic Funk ; Wandering Talk

Kevin Lawlor

The Island

Jazz Mann Recommended Listening

John-Paul Muir

Home Now

A convincing artistic statement from Muir that showcases several sides of his impressive all round musical talent.

Josephine Davies

Satori : Weatherwards

Intelligently written music that is readily accessible and often beautiful, but also subtly challenging. "Weatherwards" confirms the high level of creativity that Satori is capable of.

Henrik Jensen

Above Your House

“Above Your House” sees Jensen continuing to develop as a writer and a player, this time in the relatively exposed setting of the piano trio. He rises to the challenge with aplomb.

Michael Chillingworth

Friday The Thirteenth

Although occasionally challenging “Friday The Thirteenth” makes for exciting and invigorating listening and the standard of the playing is exceptional throughout.

Live Jazz Reviews

Jas Kayser & Chums

Jas Kayser & Chums, Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, 23/01/2025.

Hoot Jazz Band

Hoot Jazz Band, The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury, 19/01/2025.

Swing Strings Trio

Swing Strings Trio, Brecon Jazz Club, The Muse Arts Centre, Brecon, 14/01/2025

BMJ Collective with John Close

BMJ Collective with John Close, Black Mountain Jazz, Melville Centre, Abergavenny, 12/01/2025.

Alison Rayner Quintet

Alison Rayner Quintet (ARQ), Shrewsbury Jazz Network, The Hive Music & Media Centre, Shrewsbury, 11/01/2025.

TRYPL

TRYPL, Music Spoken Here, The Marr’s Bar, Worcester, 09/01/2025.

Jazz Mann Features

Double Bill Sunday at Black Mountain Jazz, Abergavenny featuring the Ross Hicks Trio “Three Elms” album launch and the Patrick Barrett-Donlon Quartet’s “Leading From The Back”.

Guest contributor Debs Hancock, with help from other audience members, on this double bill showcasing two distinctive performances by outstanding young jazz musicians based in Wales.

Fifth Annual Bath Jazz Weekend, Widcombe Social Club, Bath, Sunday 5th January 2025.

Ian Mann enjoys the final day of the Weekend and performances by Ribbons (Sara Colman & Rebecca Nash), Sarost (Mark Sanders, Paul Rogers, Larry Stabbins), and the Huw Warren / Angharad Jenkins Duo.

Jazz Mann News

National Youth Jazz Wales invites applications for a three day course to be held 14-16 April 2025 at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff.

Friday, January 31, 2025

NYJW is inviting aspiring young jazz musicians to a 3-day course of workshops, masterclasses & rehearsals, working with renowned jazz educators, culminating in an informal public performance

Helena Kay to revisit her “Golden Sands” album for Jazz Thursdays at Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, with support from Norman&Corrie.