8th March 2010 - Jazz Music Blog - Favourite UK Jazz Venues
Here are our favourite jazz venues from across the UK.
1. Matt and Phreds, Manchester
2. The Vortex, London
3. The 606, London
4. Ronnie Scott's, London
5. Jazz Cafe, London
Tags: Jazz Music Blog, Favourite Jazz Venues |
5th March 2010 - Wedding Music Blog
A new music blog has been launched by wedding music samples.co.uk. Their wedding music blog features help and advice from wedding industry professionals. Check out the blog for more info.
Tags: Wedding Music Blog |
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3rd March 2010 - Popular Jazz Line-ups
Q. What are the most poplular combinations of instruments for a jazz band.
A. The piano trio is the most popular line-up for a jazz or swing ensemble. This consists of a piano (or sometimes keyboard) alongside upright bass and acoustic drum kit. Take a look at the Adam Hughes Jazz Trio for an example of a typical piano trio. Often other instruments or singers are added to the piano trio to make up different combos. Vocalists are the most popular addition. Male and female singers are often added to a trio, for example, Ella Fitzegerald always had a piano trio as accompanists.
Tags: Piano Jazz Trio |
15th February 2010 - Jazz Music Instruments
Q. Which instruments are most commonly associated with jazz music?
A. The rhythm section of a jazz band is made up of Double (or acoustic) bass, drum kit and either piano or guitar. The piano and guitar are reffered to as harmony instruments and as they cover the same ground, they are often not used at the same time. The most common "lead" instruments (or melody instruments) are trumpet, trombone, saxophone (tenor, alto & baritone) and of course, vocals. There are other instruments which are used less often. Some examples of these are harmonica, vibraphone, violin and cello.
Tags: Jazz Music Instruments |
2nd February 2010 - Best Jazz Music
How do you define what is the best jazz music around at the moment. Its really difficult question and one which requires serious thought and energy. If you consider the likes of what I would call "true jazz" players like Christian Scott or Avashai Cohen then other spectrums of jazz are often thought of in a less than favourable light. Any mention of Jane Monheit or Michael Buble would be quashed immediatly by any true jazz listener. Conversely, more outside music might be considered a step too far and most avant-garde free jazz would probably be thrown out with the rubbish. I`m not really sure what my point is here but I believe it`s somewhere along the line of - listen to it all and decide by how it sounds and not base your judgement on genre! On a seperate note visit Jazz Bands London, a site featuring some bands for hire in London.
Tags: Best Jazz Music |
2nd February 2010 - Amazing Jazz
Number 1 - MIles Davis - Kind of Blue
Number 2 - Ella Fitzegerald - Skylark
Number 3 - Woody Herman - Big Band
Number 4 - Herbie Hancock - Canteloupe Island
Number 5 - Thelonious Monk - Greatest Hits
Number 6 - John Coltrane - Giant Steps
Number 7 - Billie Holiday - Classic Hits
Tags: Jazz Records |
30th January 2010 - Ronnie Scott's Preview
Jazz Orchestra Gig 3rd February 2010 - Should be a great one. Featuring music by the great Ronnie`s legend Tubby Hayes, this really is a concert not to miss.
Billy Cobham Paindrome Tour - 17th February 2010 - A great band featuring the following wonderful players:
Billy Cobham - Drums, Jean-Marie Ecay - Guitars, Christophe Cravero - Keyboards/Violin, Camelia Ben Naceur - Keyboards, Fifi Chayeb - Bass, Junior Gill - Steel pan/KAT Mallets.
Tags: Jazz gig previews |
28th January 2009 - Gig Reviews
1. The Bad Plus - South Bank Centre
The bad plus are one of my favourite new jazz groups to emerge over the last 5-10 years. They play challenging covers and stay away almost entirerly from the standard repertoire. One of my personal favourite songs is Blondie`s "heart if glass" which owes as much to the Aphex Twin version as to the Blondie original.
Basically they are a classic piano trio (piano, acoustic bass & drums) but there sound is anything but. Especially from Smith`s drums where he chooses odd tunings and an almost broken drum sound to create a much more original and modern sound. Almost hinting towards a low-fi electronic drum sound.
The bassist also uses his amp very well to conjur up different timbers and effects. All this without sounding strained or too teenage... How many band out there think that adding effects to an otherwise terrible song will make it better? Lots is the answer!
Tags: Gig Reviews |
27th January 2010 - Jazz picks from Spotify
Anyone who has used spotify to listen to music will know that its a great way to find new songs. Here are some jazz tunes that we have discovered through spotify:
1 - Abdullah Ibrahim - Ishmael - African Suite
2 - Buddy Rich Big Band - West Side Story Medley - Swingin` New Big Band
3 - Freddie Hubbard - Dolphin Dance - Freddie Hubbard Live
4 - Anita O`Day - Georgia on my mind - Anita O`Day with Gene Krupa & Stan Kenton
5 - Herbie Hancock - Watch It - Herbick Hancock Trio 1977
6 - Oliver Nelson - One for Phil- More Blues and the Abstrct Truth
7 - Oscar Peterson - Night Train - Night Train
8 - Miles Davis - Footprints - Miles Smiles
Tags: Jazz Music Picks, Recommended Jazz Spotiy Songs |
26th January 2010 - The Best Jazz Music
Sometimes we wonder why we listen to and play jazz but then we realise... it really is the best music out there! Living in london we really are spoilt for choice with a scene second only to New York and there are an infinite number of great gigs happening every night of the week. Places like the Vortex, Charlie Wrights and the Jazz Cafe are open most nights of the week. Check them out to see some of the top musicians in London playing their jazz hearts out.
Tags: Best Jazz Music |
25th January 2010 - Top 10 1960`s Jazz Musicians
1. Miles Davis
2. John Coltrane
3. Sonny Rollins
4. Thelonius Monk
5. Charles Mingus
6. Art Blakey
7. Freddy Hubbard
8. Ornette Coleman
9. Bill Evans
10. Wayne Shorter
Tags: Jazz Musicians, Top 10, 1960s |
22nd January 2010 - Welcome to our Jazz Music Blog
Welcome to our new Jazz Music Blog featuring all sorts of information, news, features and general stuff about jazz music from London, UK and the rest of the world. We are also looking for some writers to create some interesting content for the blog. Please get in touch if you think you can help.
Tags: Jazz Music Blog
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22nd January 2010 - How to Get Gigs Blog
If you like musicians blogs then check out How to Get Gigs. Its a blog managed by professional musicians offering hints and tips on how to get more gigs in London and across the whole UK.
Tags: How to Get Gigs, London, UK
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