Nat King Cole wasn’t just a jazz star—he was a genre-defying icon. From swinging trio pianist to velvet-voiced balladeer, his influence runs deep across 20th-century music. We picked out 11 songs that reveal just how timeless his sound really is. Born in 1919, Nat King Cole is undoubtedly one of the most popular and important …
Jazz history has no shortage of heartbreak, addiction and triumph in the face of adversity, but the story of iconic jazz singer Billie Holiday is up there with the most captivating. In this article, we chart the rise and fall of ‘Lady Day’ – as she was often called – through some of her most …
Born in 1910, Romani-Belgian jazz guitarist Jean ‘Django’ Reinhardt almost single-handedly brought the gypsy jazz style of music to the world. Not only that, he did it with two fewer fingers than most of his colleagues, thanks to a caravan fire at the age of 18! Join us for a deep dive into the life …
Jazz history has no shortage of heartbreak, addiction and triumph in the face of adversity, but the story of iconic jazz singer Billie Holiday is up there with the most captivating. In this article, we chart the rise and fall of ‘Lady Day’ – as she was often called – through some of her most …
Effortlessly cool and record-breakingly popular, the jazz pianist Dave Brubeck is widely regarded as one of the great pioneers of the cool jazz era, and beyond. In this article we’ll be diving into some of the most famous Dave Brubeck albums that you NEED in your life, and in your music collection… Born in 1920 …
Aptly known as ‘The Sound’, tenor saxophonist Stan Getz was truly one of the jazz greats. Join us as we go on a tour through some of his best albums. Born in Philadelphia on the 2nd February 1927, his extensive output changed the shape of jazz music profoundly. Through playing with some of the great …
A legendary jazz musician and one of the most influential saxophonists of all time, join us for a trip through the life and music of Coleman Hawkins in 10 classic songs. Born 1904 in Missouri, Coleman Hawkins took the tenor saxophone and elevated it to an art form. His influence over the course of jazz …
Electric bassist Jaco Pastorius is yet another artist in the history of jazz who managed to influence a generation of musicians, despite a life cut tragically short. In this article, jazz journalist Geno Thackara takes a look at 10 defining moments in the career of one of the greatest bass players of all time. It’s …
1959 was a seismic year in the history of jazz music. It saw the arrival of several timeless classics (not least ‘Giant Steps‘ and ‘Kind of Blue‘) and is frequently heralded by critics and fans as the greatest year in jazz. Pioneering releases by the likes of John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman and Charles …
Few jazz musicians have had a career which spanned such a range of music and accolades as guitarist George Benson. In this article, music industry veteran Adam Sieff highlights 10 iconic performances – both from Benson’s own albums and those he guested on – to highlight the journey from rising star guitar player in the …