Jazz Articles

Daryl Runswick / Tony Hymas: Runswick Hymas Big Bands 1974-78

by Roger Farbey
June 23, 2019

British bassist, composer and conductor Daryl Runswick was born in 1946 and in 2019 is retired. His archival recordings have had something of a renaissance, at least as far as CD releases are concerned. Following in the wake of 2017's double album of previously unreleased tracks entitled Daryl Runswick: The Jazz Years and 2018's live quartet album from 1981 Playdreaming, both on the ASC label, we now have the Runswick Hymas Big Bands. Again comprising never previously released tracks, it's ...

Mike Westbrook: Paris

by Duncan Heining
November 23, 2016

Listen to any number of Mike Westbrook records and you might want to ask, “Why doesn't he take a solo?" Aside from the occasional piano cadenza, Westbrook seems to prefer to let his compositions do the talking, ably aided by trustworthy musical confederates. Westbrook celebrated his 80th birthday in March 2016 and Paris is a perfect way of acknowledging that noble event. Produced and recorded live by Jon Hiseman, the album is a feast for the ears. Hiseman ...

Dan Whieldon Trio: Positive Changes

by Bruce Lindsay
April 29, 2016

Pianist Dan Whieldon hails from Manchester and has been active in the North West of England's jazz scene for the last decade. Positive Changes is his debut release as leader, made not with fellow Mancunians but with players from Belgium--where he studied and where the album was made--and Holland. Bill Evans is an acknowledged inspiration and Whieldon displays a confident and strongly melodic writing style--a mix that creates a readily accessible first outing.Whieldon's lyrical piano opens “E. P." ...

Mike Westbrook & Company: A Bigger Show - Live

by Duncan Heining
February 19, 2016

For the last few years, pianist-composer Mike Westbrook has been leading a very fine big band down in Devon but this is the first time they have made it on to CD. In fact, this is an expanded ensemble with three vocalists, two bass players, two guitarists and two drummers. The clue is in the title, this truly is A Bigger Show with the emphasis on the word “show." Some people have never got what the Westbrooks have been up ...

Jonathan Gee: Dragonfly

by Mark Corroto
August 29, 2012

50 years ago, modern jazz piano trios would barely be recognizable to the majority of their counterparts--except perhaps Bill Evans' trio. Today, cutting-edge jazz trios require interaction between players and expect both drummer and bassist to be more than just disciples. Trio leaders such as Jason Moran, John Escreet, Matthew Shipp all write and perform their music as a three-way conversation. Add to that list, London-based pianist Jonathan Gee. Gee, a contributor to the UK scene with ...

View From The Pocket: Northern Star People

by Chris May
March 30, 2009

British keyboardist Jonathan Gee is best known for his acoustic groups and recordings, but for View From The Pocket he's teamed up with Finnish trumpeter Mika Myllari for the mostly electronic duo Northern Star People. Gee, who plays some acoustic piano but spends more time on a battery of layered electric keyboards, and Myllari, whose trumpet is also mostly heavily treated, are joined, occasionally and fleetingly, by a male choir, singing wordlessly.

If all this triggers your Ambient ...