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Jazz
Playtime
Jazz preview / 4 May 2026
4 May 2026

ANGUS REID recommends that you discover a uniquely intimate community venue in central Edinburgh for an evening of beer and ambitious jazz

groove
Book Review / 27 March 2026
27 March 2026

ROGER McKENZIE grooves to the message that jazz supports, expresses and sparks fresh political movements and ideas

sanders
Jazz Preview / 27 March 2026
27 March 2026

CHRIS SEARLE urges you not to miss Mark Sanders’ three night residency at Cafe Oto, Dalston, London

connection
Interview / 4 March 2026
4 March 2026

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to Nicaraguan guitarist OMAR RIOS MELENDEZ

CS
Music / 2 March 2026
2 March 2026

Releases from Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Maggie Nicols/Robert Mitchell/Alya Al Sultani, and Gordon Beck Trio and Quintet

monk
Jazz preview / 19 January 2026
19 January 2026

CHRIS SEARLE urges you not to miss two powerful performers playing three nights that will celebrate the great pianist/composer Thelonious Monk

cs 2025
Best of 2025 / 17 December 2025
17 December 2025

CHRIS SEARLE picks his favourite albums of the year

hargrave
Interview / 5 November 2025
5 November 2025

Chris Searle speaks to producer/film-maker RITA HARGRAVE about the new album Renegade Queens

CS
Album Reviews / 18 August 2025
18 August 2025

Reviews of the Neil Charles Quartet, the Freddie Hubbard Quintet, and the Olie Brice Quartet

dankworth
Interview / 23 July 2025
23 July 2025

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to vocalist Jacqui Dankworth

CS albums
Album Reviews / 7 July 2025
7 July 2025

Re-releases from Bobby Wellins/Kenny Wheeler Quintet, Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippet/Louis Moholo-Moholo, and Charles Mingus Quintet

themen
Interview / 18 June 2025
18 June 2025

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to saxophonist and retired NHS orthopaedic surgeon ART THEMEN

Men’s football / 4 April 2025
4 April 2025
CHRIS SEARLE interviews saxophonist Chris Williams about the extraordinary electro-acoustic album LEDLEY - a bold fusion of Jazz, football, and community spirit
Live Music Review / 25 March 2025
25 March 2025
MARK TURNER is staggered by a gifted jazz pianist from the Welsh Valleys
TOMORROW'S WARRIOR: Nubya Garcia
Live Music Review / 19 March 2025
19 March 2025
GEORGE FOGARTY is mesmerised by the messages made when jazz is played by people who grew up steeped in jungle and hip-hop
STRONG SOCIAL CONSCIENCE: Zara McFarlane
Jazz album review / 19 March 2025
19 March 2025
MARK TURNER is thrilled by the the British singer’s tribute to the late great Sarah Vaughan
Ineza
Interview / 26 February 2025
26 February 2025
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to Rwanda-born jazz vocalist INEZA
CAPTIVATING LIGHTNESS: Morgan Bailey in All Blood Runs Red
Theatre Review / 26 February 2025
26 February 2025
SUSAN DARLINGTON applauds a one-man show that navigates racist barriers to tell the story of the black pilot, boxer and jazz musician
Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston, London
Live Music Review / 12 February 2025
12 February 2025
CHRIS SEARLE samples the Kris Davis Trio at the Vortex and recommends highlights from the forthcoming programme
Peter Somuah
Interview / 5 February 2025
5 February 2025
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to Ghanaian trumpeter PETER SOMUAH
Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson in concert at the Vortex with the T
Jazz / 28 January 2025
28 January 2025
An unlikely venue hosts a memorable concert, and has future treats in store
Nate Wooley
Interview / 6 January 2025
6 January 2025
CHRIS SEARLE speaks with US trumpeter NATE WOOLEY
Culture / 12 December 2024
12 December 2024
CHRIS SEARLE picks his favourites
Pat Metheny plays the Barbican
Music review / 19 November 2024
19 November 2024
SIMON DUFF is transported by the sweetly seductive tones of experimental guitarist Pat Metheny
Music / 30 October 2024
30 October 2024
New releases from Miguel Zenon, Angelica Sanchez/Chad Taylor, Paul Dunmall
Album reviews / 14 October 2024
14 October 2024
New releases from Etienne Charles, Jason Anick/Jason Yeager and Elliott Sharp/Sally Gates/Tashi Dorji
Naseem Alatrash
Interview / 2 October 2024
2 October 2024
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to jazz cellist NASEEM ALATRASH of the IZE Trio
Duck Baker, Incus Festival, 2009
Interview / 18 September 2024
18 September 2024
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to celebrated US guitarist DUCK BAKER
Jim Mullen
Interview / 4 September 2024
4 September 2024
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to Glaswegian guitarist JIM MULLEN
Culture / 2 September 2024
2 September 2024
James Brandon Lewis Quartet, Art Tatum Trio and Kevin Figes
Dickey Betts in 1978
Music / 26 August 2024
26 August 2024
KEVIN BRYAN, CHRIS SEARLE and TONY BURKE review new releases from Dickey Betts, Little Johnny England, Greenslade, Benet McLean, Sam Newbould, Sofia Jernberg/Alexander Hawkins, compilation: Walking To New Orleans, compilation: This Is Goldwax: 1964-1968, Jack Bruce
Nduduzo Makhathini performing in Amsterdam on 28 October 202
Interview / 21 August 2024
21 August 2024
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to South African pianist NDUDUZO MAKHATINI 
Tenor saxophonist Nat Birchell and the Unity Ensemble
Interview / 24 July 2024
24 July 2024
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to self-taught tenor saxophonist Nat Birchall  
POSSESSED: John Coltrane
Opinion / 25 June 2024
25 June 2024
DAVID YEARSLEY celebrates the long-awaited issue of a mythic live recording featuring John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy
Annie Chen
Interview / 12 June 2024
12 June 2024
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to Chinese vocalist Annie Chen on the release of her new album Guardians
Jim Mullen
Music Review / 6 May 2024
6 May 2024
CHRIS SEARLE pops into his local for some serendipitous jazz goings-on
Ricky Ford with his Quartet at the 19-88 jazz club in Rennes
Interview / 23 April 2024
23 April 2024
CHRIS SEARLE speaks with veteran tenor saxophonist RICKY FORD
Drummer Alan Jackson playing at The Stables, Wavendon, Bucki
Interview / 15 April 2024
15 April 2024
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to drummer Alan Jackson, ex-bandmate of Bruce Turner in the band Fingers
AMAZING: Mary Halvorson, avant-garde composer and guitarist
Books / 4 April 2024
4 April 2024
WILL STONE welcomes an outstanding collection of jazz writing from the Morning Star’s own correspondent 
Bobby Wellins and Spike Wells
Interview / 3 April 2024
3 April 2024
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to drummer Spike Wells about his experience playing with the great Scottish saxophonist Bobby Wellins
Music / 22 March 2024
22 March 2024
Reviews of Max Eastley/Terry Day/John Butcher, Trevor Tomkins' Sextant, and Caroline Kraabel and Pat Thomas
Album reviews / 12 February 2024
12 February 2024
A slick blend of jazz and hip-hop, reinvigorated Radiohead and unhurried icy duets: reviews of Foreverland, Wall Of Eyes and Touch Of Time
Benny Goodman (third from left) with seated around piano lef
Books / 3 February 2024
3 February 2024
CHRIS SEARLE treasures a profoundly original exploration of jazz, the blues and Jewish liturgical cantorial chanting
Sammy Rimington, center, at jazz funeral for Danny Barker, N
Interview / 23 January 2024
23 January 2024
CHRIS SEARLE speaks with clarinetist Sammy Rimington
Music / 21 January 2024
21 January 2024
CHRIS SEARLE reviews Rachel Musson and Charlotte Keeffe at Cafe Oto
Sam Newbould, 2022
Interview / 17 January 2024
17 January 2024
CHRIS SEARLE interviews saxophonist Sam Newbould about his album Bogus Notus
Aruan Ortiz
Interview / 29 December 2023
29 December 2023
CHRIS SEARLE interviews Cuban pianist Aruan Ortiz on the release of his album Pastor’s Paradox 
Culture / 27 December 2023
27 December 2023
CHRIS SEARLE picks his favourites
Phil Hargreaves
Interview / 22 November 2023
22 November 2023
Chris Searle speaks to saxophonist PHIL HARGREAVES about his new album PI, and his long-standing support for the WMA
London Jazz Festival / 20 November 2023
20 November 2023
CHRIS SEARLE swoons to one of the greats
Interview / 8 November 2023
8 November 2023
CHRIS SEARLE interviews saxophonist Chris Biscoe on the release of his new tribute to Mike Westbrook
Interview / 25 October 2023
25 October 2023
CHRIS SEARLE interviews the pedal steel guitarist Susan Alcorn, on the release of her album to Chile 
WORLD TOUR: Isata Kanneh-Maso
Music Review / 4 October 2023
4 October 2023
PETER MASON is impressed by a mesmerising piano recital of subtle, assured fingerwork
Interview / 19 July 2023
19 July 2023
Chris Searle interviews pianist ZOE RAHMAN on the release of her album Colour of Sound
VIRTUOSO: Yussef Dayes performs at Love Supreme Jazz festiva
Festival Review / 5 July 2023
5 July 2023
JOE GILL wallows in superb evenings of jazz, funk and rap, and only regrets that savouring the music displaced his opportunity to heckle
Jacquard lace-making machines, 1968; Julian Siegel, 2018
Interview / 30 May 2023
30 May 2023
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to saxophonist, composer and orchestrator JULIAN SIEGEL 
Interview / 21 May 2023
21 May 2023
Chris Searle interviews master of the jazz steel pan LEON FOSTER-THOMAS on the release of his album Calasanitus (Krossover Jazz Records)
Culture / 16 May 2023
16 May 2023
CHRIS SEARLE interviews drummer JOE CHAMBERS on the release of his new album DANCE KOBINA 
A page from The Way Things Work, by Neil Ardley and David Ma
Book Review / 8 April 2023
8 April 2023
CHRIS SEARLE marvels at the musical and scientific passions of one of Britain’s great polymaths
Culture / 20 February 2023
20 February 2023
New releases from Ahmad Jamal, Helena Kay’s Kim Trio + Peter Johnstone, Gordon Grdina, Mark Helias and Matthew Shipp