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London Calling

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Club Inégales: Where Everybody Knows Your Name...

Read "Club Inégales: Where Everybody Knows Your Name..." reviewed by Duncan Heining


If Club Inégales didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent it. What price a venue in the heart of jny: London with a policy as open-minded and eclectic as this? Club Inégales welcomes jazzers and free improvisers, baroque musicians and folk singers, poets and comedians, Japanese and Bengali percussionists and even the occasional passing shaman. The club's very existence is both a statement of intent and a blow against the conventional wisdom of the wider musical and cultural scenes--musique ...

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The People Band: Back and playing again

Read "The People Band: Back and playing again" reviewed by Sammy Stein


46 years after their previous release, the People Band are putting out a new CD. Paul Jolly is producing the project and releasing it through his record label, 33JAZZ records. Jolly is also a member of the band. He says, “The reason for a new album is that our last one, released on the Emanem label, covered material from 1969 / 70 and there was nothing current to show that the band is still alive (mostly) and still creating." In ...

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Ornette Coleman's Meltdown is the Best Ever

Read "Ornette Coleman's Meltdown is the Best Ever" reviewed by John Eyles


Ornette Coleman's Meltdown London June 12-21, 2009 Ever since it was announced in late March that Ornette Coleman was to curate the 2009 Meltdown festival at the South Bank, Coleman seemed to dominate the capital. The festival's trademark image of a young Coleman soulfully eyeballing the camera was everywhere, on larger-than-life posters in the London underground, in adverts in papers and magazines, on flyers and handbills, and online. It was mesmerising and inescapable. But ...

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Ronnie Scott's and the London Scene

Read "Ronnie Scott's and the London Scene" reviewed by Nick Catalano


Historically, the London jazz scene has played an important part in the growth of the music and its appreciation although most of that importance has to do with English performers and writers and less with jazz venues. For decades, when you went to London, you thought of only one club--Ronnie Scott's. And even though there are several new boites about the city, a recent visit revealed that, despite the new establishments, very few Londoners and visitors out for a jazz ...

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Freedom of the City 2007

Read "Freedom of the City 2007" reviewed by John Eyles


Freedom of the City, the annual festival of radical and improvised music curated by Evan Parker, Eddie Prévost and Martin Davidson, returns over the May Bank holiday weekend, at the Red Rose club in Finsbury Park, north London. As in recent years, the music will be provided by an exciting mix of familiar favourites, lesser known London-based players and visiting musicians. No booking required...Sunday, May 6th, 4pm:Eddie Prévost (percussion), Joe Williamson (double bass), Alan Wilkinson (alto ...

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London Jazz Festival Preview: November 10th to 19th

Read "London Jazz Festival Preview: November 10th to 19th" reviewed by John Eyles


Now that autumn is here, the London Jazz Festival can't be far behind. This year, the LJF runs from Friday 10th November until Sunday 19th November. In those ten days, the festival will include its usual mix of jazz superstars and legends, rising stars, crowd pleasers, cult heroes, great freebies, plus--with nearly twenty gigs on some days--a large slice of frustration that one cannot be in two (or more) places at once. Birthday celebrations abound this year--Dave Holland's 60th, Mike ...

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Fond Farewells / Freedom of the City / John Tchicai / Dan Flavin / Barbican Jazz

Read "Fond Farewells / Freedom of the City / John Tchicai / Dan Flavin / Barbican Jazz" reviewed by John Eyles


Fond Farewells Since London Calling last appeared, we have all been saddened by the deaths of Derek Bailey and Elton Dean. Both leave behind a huge legacy ... and a vast unfillable gap. Anyone who has ever experienced their music knows that they will not be forgotten. Freedom of the City 2006 For lovers of radical and improvised music (or even for the mildly curious), Freedom of the City is one of the highlights ...

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May 2005: A Good Month

Read "May 2005: A Good Month" reviewed by John Eyles


May was a month of celebration across the capital, largely because of success on the football field. But there were also some notable musical highlights. Here is a précis of the month.

Sunday 1st: Red Rose Club

Freedom of the City Festival

For financial reasons, this year's festival was reduced to only one day and moved from its perennial venue, Conway Hall. Nonetheless, it was an excellent day. It deliberately featured groupings that had ...

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Stan Tracey Interview; Freedom of the City; Ornette at 75; New Vortex

Read "Stan Tracey Interview; Freedom of the City; Ornette at 75; New Vortex" reviewed by John Eyles


Index Stan Tracey Interview Freedom of the City Festival 2005 Ornette Coleman at 75 New Vortex Opens in May

Often referred to as the Godfather of British jazz, Stan Tracey has had an illustrious career in music spanning over sixty years. Despite his status, Tracey is surprisingly modest, even self deprecating about his achievements, happy to leave it to others to analyse and praise his work. He recently released an album of free playing in a duo with ...

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Jazz Britannia

Read "Jazz Britannia" reviewed by John Eyles


The history of jazz in the UK is a fascinating but tortuous affair, involving factionalism, class conflict, rejuvenation from immigration, youth revolt, social upheaval, decline, survival and revival. Between now and mid-February, there is an ideal opportunity to embark on an intensive crash course in many aspects of jazz in the UK, both live and on TV.

Remarkably (given how rarely jazz is given any airtime on television), cable TV channel BBC Four is the main focus of a season ...


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