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A Weekend Away at The Cheltenham Jazz Festival – Jazz in Europe

With a reputation as one of the UK’s most renowned jazz events, I was delighted to be invited to The Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Through platforming a combination of international jazz icons to encouraging young talent, the stages of Montpellier Gardens glowed with musical genius. There was a buzz in the air as the 20,000 festivalgoers enjoyed the first real day of sunshine to hit the UK. The 2023 line-up was impressive, featuring Van Morrison, Gregory Porter, Laura Mvula, MIKA, Lizz Wright, and m
Jazz Views •

Laura Lantano – Song Writing & Returning To Herself

In her debut recording, Laura Lantano presents a collection of original, contemporary tunes influenced by her love of jazz standards and song writing. I wanted to get an idea of how Laura approaches song writing, and what inspired this idea of returning to herself…

Firstly, what does it mean to ‘return to yourself’? What inspired this album title?

When we were children, we knew who we were, we weren’t afraid to be ourselves. We were playful, curious, and carefree. However, as we grew up and be
Jazz Views •

Laura Lantano- Returning to Myself

Self Release – Available from Bandcamp

In her debut recording, Laura Lantano presents a collection of original, contemporary tunes influenced by her love of jazz standards and song writing. ‘Returning to Myself’ is a beautiful and delicate recording which touches on Lantano’s life experiences and stories of love and heartache, through intricate arrangements and story-based lyricism. With Sam Leak on piano and Duncan Eagles on tenor saxophone, this trio glide through the 9 tracks with a natural
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Vivienne Aerts - Typuhthâng

Vivienne Aerts’ uplifting and innovative Typuhthâng has emerged as a prominent piece of musical activism this International Women’s Day. On March 3rd, 2023, Aerts released the album: a musical exchange with 100 female musicians around the world, empowering and supporting the female cacao farmers of Virunga State Park, Congo.

Through collaborating with Original Beans Chocolate and a collective female voice, Aerts aims to emphasise the importance of sustainability in agriculture, as well as how w
Jazz Views •

Interview with Sultan Stevenson: Embarking On A Journey

When I was asked to interview Sultan Stevenson about his debut album ‘Faithful One’, I knew exactly what I wanted to ask. Having grown up in the same jazz bands and music classes, Sultan Stevenson has always been an incredible inspiration to me and any musician who had the honour of playing with him.

It has been a pleasure to watch him develop and grow as a musician, taking the jazz scene by storm, and I can’t wait to follow what he does next.

Sultan Stevenson is a thrilling force in the young
Jazz Views •

Sultan Stevenson – Faithful One

Sultan Stevenson represents a new and exciting time in our current jazz scene. Nurtured by Tomorrow’s Warriors and the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy, Stevenson has emerged as a musical force to be reckoned with, with his incredible debut release alongside Whirlwind Recordings: Faithful One.

This album is a definitive representation of Stevenson’s individual style, influences, and technical abilities; it is a mature and calculated record, stemming from a special place within the composer.

The albu

Behind the Pen with Jane Cornwell – Jazz in Europe

The world of jazz (and music) journalism is a competitive struggle at times, particularly for women looking to break the mould and find a name for themselves in a historically male-dominated industry. Despite this, plenty of women have successfully navigated their writing and journalistic careers, embarking on different paths and timelines to get where they want to be.

Women in Jazz Media have been exploring the stories and experiences of several female music writers, who have been transforming

An Evening with Women in Jazz: International Women’s Day 2023 – Jazz in Europe

For this year’s International Womens Day, we are celebrating and spotlighting the successes of two not-for-profit organisations working to improve the music scene for everyone. This newfound collaboration between Women in Jazz Media and the Music Relief Foundation highlights the importance of making music accessible to everyone, despite their gender, race or class. ‘An Evening with Women in Jazz’ will platform the achievements of several incredible women in jazz and the music scene more generall

Behind The Pen: A Writer’s Journey with Lara Eidi – Jazz in Europe

The world of jazz (and music) journalism is a competitive struggle at times, particularly for women looking to break the mould and find a name for themselves in a historically male-dominated industry. Despite this, plenty of women have successfully navigated their writing and journalistic careers, embarking on different paths and timelines to get where they want to be.

Women in Jazz Media have been exploring the stories and experiences of several female music writers, who have been transforming
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Rebecca Nash- The Science & Redefining Element 78

Rebecca Nash’s newest release investigates the connections between music and scientific elements, inspired by John O’Gallagher’s work on tone rows and how it could be applied to the atomic numbers of six rare metals. This makes for a fascinating exploration into Nash’s own compositional identity, something I wanted to talk to her about further…

Could you explain in more detail what inspired this project and why you were driven to explore tone rows and these harmonic/melodic methods?

Being a pi

CD Review: Julie Campiche Quartet, You Matter – Jazz in Europe

Julie Campiche and her quartet have returned to the experimental jazz scene with the release of their sophomore album You Matter, which came out 4th November 2022 after several years of writing and travelling. Jazz harpist, vocalist, arranger, composer, and electronic music producer… Julie Campiche does it all. She has an innovative streak, which moulds her music in beautiful and unusual ways. The Julie Campiche Quartet was formed in 2016 by bringing together some of the most exciting Swiss musi

Behind The Pen: A Writer’s Journey with Sandra Booker – Jazz in Europe

The world of jazz (and music) journalism is a competitive struggle at times, particularly for women looking to break the mould and find a name for themselves in a historically male-dominated industry. Despite this, plenty of women have successfully navigated their writing and journalistic careers, embarking on different paths and timelines to get where they want to be. Women in Jazz Media have been exploring the stories and experiences of several female music writers, who have been transforming
Jazz Views •

Rebecca Nash – Redefining Element 78

This enticing and unpredictable album sees British pianist-composer Rebecca Nash embarking on new musical territory, spotlighting her distinct compositional voice and identity. This 8-track suite explores structures of sound and science; Nash was inspired by John O’Gallagher’s work on tone rows and sought to investigate how this approach could be adapted to the atomic numbers of six rare metals.

Commissioned by the Bristol Jazz Festival, the album features John O’Gallagher on alto saxophone, Ja
Bad Taste Reviews •

The Inquiry into Misogyny in the Music Industry

"No-one should have to choose between a career and their personal safety."

In December of 2022, I received an email from my colleague at encouraging me to be part of an inquiry into misogyny in music by the . The inquiry wishes to investigate the diverse accounts of misogyny from within the industry, live music, and educational sectors. The committee reached out to women across the music genre spectrum, of all ages, ethnicities, and professional rankings. Of course, as someone who has just grad

CD Review: Rosina Bullen, ‘Painting A Picture’ – Jazz in Europe

UK-born and New York-based singer-songwriter Rosina Bullen has re-entered the jazz scene as an independent artist, debuting her new EP Painting a Picture. Along with her rich musical education, Bullen’s compositional inspirations come from an eclectic range of music, giving her a unique and refreshing outlook on songwriting. The album spotlights Bullen’s love for poetry and storytelling, brought to life through orchestral arrangements by David Swan.

The 6- track EP takes the listener on a meand

Behind the Pen: A Writer’s Journey with Paulette Jackson – Jazz in Europe

The world of jazz (and music) journalism is a competitive struggle at times, particularly for women looking to break the mould and find a name for themselves in a historically male-dominated industry. Despite this, there are plenty of women who have successfully navigated their writing and journalistic careers, embarking on different paths and timelines to get where they want to be. Women in Jazz Media have been exploring the stories and experiences of several female music writers, who have been
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