In this article we take an in-depth look at one of the most iconic hard bop albums in jazz history… Few jazz musicians made themselves such an integral part of one single sub-genre of jazz as pianist and composer Horace Silver. His playing had made the transition from bebop to hard bop relatively easily and …
When it comes to the best jazz albums of all time, perhaps no musician in history has had success across so many different styles than trumpeter Miles Davis. In this article, we dive deeper into his seminal recording Birth of The Cool which, whilst perhaps not achieving the widespread fame of the iconic Kind of …
Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock has been one of the longest-standing fixtures on the jazz scene, rising to prominence in the early 60s and maintaining his position as jazz royalty right through to the present day. In this article we dive deeper into his early success Maiden Voyage, one of the most important jazz albums in …
Two of the most famous jazz musicians in history going head to head? That’s the prospect on this iconic recording “Duke Ellington & John Coltrane” which features in our list of best jazz albums of all time… On the face of it, this is most unusual album, and for a number of different reasons. It’s …
Some the very greatest jazz records were created in fortuitous circumstances and sometimes against the odds, and this is especially true of Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section, as we discover in this article about the 1957 release from the alto saxophone great. Everything seemed stacked against the session even taking place never mind producing music …
One of the most influential saxophonists to emerge from Lennie Tristano’s ‘cool school’ of improvisation, saxophonist Lee Konitz cuts a lonely figure in the history of jazz. In this article, we review his groundbreaking record “Motion” from 1961. So unique was his sound and phrasing, and so focused was his musical vision and philosophy that …
Arguably the most iconic photo in jazz history, the 1958 snap of 57 legendary jazz musicians on the steps of a Harlem brownstone gives a fascinating look into the late 1950s New York scene… Critic Whitney Balliett once described jazz as “the sound of surprise”, but within the genre the surprises come in other guises …
Spiritual Jazz, also known as Astral Jazz, evolved out of the free jazz of the 1960’s as musicians looked to express their own spirituality and search for transcendence in musical expression. In this article, we take a look at some of the most influential artists and albums in this style of jazz music, with examples …
There can be very few jazz fans who have not been acquainted with Jazz At the Philharmonic in one way or another. It’s also difficult to imagine how post war jazz would have evolved without these wonderful concerts and recordings, as we unravel in this article… What started out as a couple of concert performances, …
In a career full of highlights, legendary jazz pianist and bandleader Count Basie had, arguably, his biggest hit with the 1958 release The Atomic Mr Basie. In this article, British jazz journalist Nick Lea dives into the story of an album which spawned some of the best-loved Count Basie songs of all time. As is …