Gabriel Polley

Since: 2026 | Position: Contributor | Reviews Albums | Location: London | Page Views: 142

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About Me

Music-lover, historian and activist based in London.

Gabriel is a music-lover, historian and activist who lives in London. He holds a PhD in Palestine studies from the University of Exeter (2020) and has written extensively on the Middle East, including his book "Palestine in the Victorian Age: Colonial Encounters in the Holy Land" (Bloomsbury, 2022) and frequent op-eds for publications including Middle East Eye. Beyond the politics, history and culture of the Middle East, music - especially jazz - is his biggest passion. He is an avid listener (and dancer) to a wide range of genres, ranging from classic bebop and spiritual jazz, to free improvisation and jazzy/soulful house. He strongly believes in continuously finding new music to listen to (which he usually does through NTS radio), and supporting grassroots venues and artists by going to small gigs and buying albums. In this era of neoliberal capitalism, livestreamed genocides and AI mediocrity, art is a cause, and jazz is life.

Badge

Tier

Explorer

Points Earned

265

Favorite Musicians / Bands

Adele Sebastian

Aja Monet

Don Cherry

Fela Kuti

John Coltrane

Kokoroko

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because... Jazz is as varied as life itself. It's the fury of a political demonstration; it's a cool drink on a hot day; it's the chaos and serenity at the heart of all of us. And it's real MUSIC, pure from the source! The best show I ever attended was... Aja Monet at We Out Here festival 2024. A power that moved us to tears. My advice to new listeners... Jazz is as varied as you are. There is jazz out there that you love - if you think you don't like jazz, you just haven't found your jazz yet, so keep looking! Just make sure you listen to some Coltrane every once in a while - that's jazz for everybody.