JAZZ & BLUES
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Taraf de Haidouks , the Romanian gypsy troupe currently attracting rave notices for their recent album Dumbala Dumba (Cramworld, via New Note), may not be everyone's idea of jazz. But they are good enough for Ronnie Scott's, where they take the stage all week from Monday - and their music is full of those jazz staples, vitality, virtuosity and improvisation.
Nor is Gerard Presencer, who is at Chelsea's 606 Club tonight, entirely in the mainstream. A young British trumpeter with an ability to mimic the likes of Lee Morgan and Donald Byrd that has brought him plenty of session work, Presencer's current Linn album Platypus sees him combining his pure tone with a funky rhythm sound to interesting effect.
Across town, at the Jazz Cafe, Camden Town, the versatile reeds player David Jean Baptiste on Monday previews material from his new Candid album Neuriba with accompaniment from the tasteful pianist Julian Joseph, while on Wednesday the same venue plays host to Niels Lan Doky, the Danish pianist and composer who has managed to become a pop star (in his homeland at least) while retaining jazz credibility.
Sadly, it is a case of what might have been for Michel Petrucciani, the French pianist who died earlier this month. Crippled by a rare bone disease that restricted his growth, he nevertheless managed to become one of the most accomplished pianists in modern jazz. He was due to appear at the Barbican in March, but listeners will have to make do with Solo, recorded live in Frankfurt a year ago and released on Monday by Dreyfus via New Note. A set of his own compositions alongside two from his beloved Ellington, it makes for a wonderful legacy.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments