Cowboy Junkies in Norwich
Cowboy Junkies capped their UK tour with a sold‑out performance at Norwich’s newly refurbished St Andrew’s Hall, part of the Norfolk and Norwich Festival. The quintet delivered a genre‑spanning set that blended folk‑rock, blues, and Americana, punctuated by a mandolin‑driven cover of a Rodgers and Hart classic. Sound issues marred the first set, but were resolved for the second, allowing standout moments like the trio rendition of “Angels in the Wilderness.” A mid‑show silent auction of a bass guitar added a unique fan‑engagement twist.
Evelyn Axton Debut EP ‘The Birds’ Launched
Evelyn Axton released her five‑track debut EP “The Birds,” a collection of original jazz songs that reflects her personal journey and artistic independence. Singles from the EP received airplay on BBC radio shows hosted by Cerys Matthews and Jamie Cullum,...
Leïla Martial – ‘Jubilä 432’
Leïla Martial’s new album Jubilä 432 arrives on April 24, 2026, capping two decades of experimental work. The record blends Bach, pygmy chants, glitchy electronics, and jazz improvisation while tuning everything to the controversial 432 Hz frequency. Martial’s vocal performance is...
Mondays with Morgan: Ben Markley – New Big Band Album ‘Tuesday Morning Feeling’
Pianist‑arranger Ben Markley released his first all‑original big‑band album, Tuesday Morning Feeling, on May 1 via OA2 Records. The record showcases Colorado core players plus guests such as Terell Stafford, Steve Davis and David Wong, highlighting Markley’s shift from tribute projects...
Rosa Brunello – ‘We Are Surging Waters’
Italian bassist Rosa Brunello has released her latest album, “We Are Surging Waters.” The record showcases her partnership with drummer Tommaso Cappellato and adds trumpeter Yazz Ahmed, delivering a mix of energetic, orchestral, and funk‑infused compositions. Tracks such as “Hearts...
‘In Another World We Will Live Forever’ – by Paula Rae Gibson and Alex Bonney
English songwriter, photographer and multi‑disciplinary artist Paula Rae Gibson is releasing her seventh album, *In Another World We Will Live Forever*, on 30 May 2026. The record, a collaboration with ECM‑affiliated trumpeter and producer Alex Bonney, transforms voice messages exchanged with Gibson’s...
Yvonne Rogers – ‘The Button Jar’
New York pianist Yvonne Rogers releases her solo piano album "The Button Jar" on Kris Davis’s Pyroclastic Records. The record features eleven composed pieces and three free improvisations, presented as concise miniatures that balance clarity with adventurous exploration. Recorded with...
Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis – ‘Let Freedom Swing’
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis, issued *Let Freedom Swing* on March 26, 2026, unveiling a 2004 live concert recorded at Frederick P. Rose Hall. The album concludes the second installment of the “Jazzcall for Freedom” series,...
Bobby Previte – ‘Second Arrow’
Bobby Previte’s new album “Second Arrow,” released May 1 2026, reunites a small‑band lineup for his first such project in two decades. The record blends meticulously composed motifs with open‑ended improvisation, featuring Angelica Sanchez on piano, Wendy Eisenberg on guitars, Matt Bauder...
21st Century Miles Davis – Tuesday 26 May, Sadler’s Wells East.
In 2026 the jazz world marks the 100‑year anniversary of Miles Davis, and the National Jazz Archive is commemorating the milestone with a forward‑looking concert on 26 May at Sadler’s Wells East. The David Kayode Quintet – featuring rising talents...
Olivia Murphy – ‘Fateful Birds & Fledgling Stories’
Olivia Murphy, a Peter Whittingham Jazz Development Award winner, has completed her debut album with the Olivia Murphy Jazz Orchestra, recorded in October 2024 and slated for release. The record, backed by Help Musicians UK, showcases a 14‑minute two‑part suite...
Alex Bryson – Crazy Coqs, 27 May
Pianist Alex Bryson will debut his new singer‑songwriter persona at Crazy Coqs on 27 May, supported by his longtime trio and guest vocalist Grace Sheen. After years leading a jazz trio, Bryson has begun releasing original material, starting with a holiday‑themed...
Seven BBC Radio 3 Programmes to Mark Miles Davis Centenary
BBC Radio 3 is dedicating a week‑long series of seven programmes to commemorate the 100th anniversary of jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, running from May 23 to May 29. The schedule includes in‑depth analysis on “Composer of the Week,” listener‑driven “Jazz...
Nick Hill (1957-2026) – A Tribute
Blind trumpeter and flugelhorn player Nick Hill (1957‑2026) was a central figure in the British jazz circuit, performing hundreds of solo and duo gigs across England while working full‑time as a civil servant. He relied on his extraordinary ear to...
Peter Evans ‘EXTRA’ Ft. Petter Eldh and Jim Black, Digbeth Jazz, 26 May
Digbeth Jazz, the award‑winning UK Jazz Venue of the Year, will host New York trumpeter Peter Evans and his trio EXTRA on 26 May at Birmingham’s Night Owl. The concert marks the sixth stop on the band’s EU‑UK tour and reflects the...
SNJO with Gil Goldstein – ‘Two Gils and a Bill’
The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra presented a concert titled “Two Gils and a Bill,” featuring arrangements by Gil Goldstein that merged the orchestral palette of Gil Evans with the trio‑centric repertoire of Bill Evans. Goldstein, a former Evans collaborator, re‑imagined...
Ivo Neame and Walter Smith III Quartet at Ronnie Scott’s
Ivo Neame’s quartet debuted at London’s iconic Ronnie Scott’s, pairing the British pianist with US tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III, who flew in from Boston. Both leaders are seasoned educators—Neame teaches at Guildhall and Smith chairs woodwinds at Berklee—bringing academic...
Steve Wilson – New Album ‘Enduring Sonance’ (with Renee Rosnes, Joe Locke, Jay Anderson & Kendrick Scott)
Acclaimed saxophonist Steve Wilson releases his new album "Enduring Sonance" on May 1, 2026 via Smoke Sessions Records, marking his 65th birthday. The record assembles a stellar quartet—pianist Renee Rosnes (also arranger), vibraphonist Joe Locke, bassist Jay Anderson, and drummer Kendrick Scott—with French‑horn virtuoso...
Django In The Bay Festival (22 to 24 May)
The fourth‑annual Django In The Bay festival will run May 22‑24, 2026 at The Hide, a glamping site on Rutland Water in the East Midlands. Tickets are priced at $203 for a full weekend with camping, $114 without camping, and...
Mondays with Morgan: T.S. Monk – New Thelonious Monk Archival Album Live in Paris, 1967
Thelonious Monk’s estate released a new archival record, "Monk Live in Paris, 1967, Volume One," on April 24 via Rhythm‑A‑Ning Entertainment. The album documents the November 3, 1967 Salle Pleyel concert, featuring Monk’s core quartet plus guests Johnny Griffin, Phil Woods, Clark Terry...
Joshua Redman, Matt Carmichael and Theon Cross at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival
Joshua Redman opened the Cheltenham Jazz Festival with his quartet from the recent Blue Note releases, featuring the lyrical "A Message to Unsend" and a surprise cadenza into Hoagy Carmichael’s "Stardust." The town‑hall’s inadequate acoustics muffled the ensemble’s detail, especially...
Carla Bley – ‘Joyful Noise – Live in Hamburg 1984’
Carla Bley’s ten‑piece ensemble from a 1984 NDR studio session has been issued on CD on May 1 2026, offering a vivid snapshot of her mid‑80s big‑band sound. While critics at the time dismissed her work as less adventurous than earlier projects,...
SHALOSH – ‘What We Are Made Of’
SHALOSH, the Israeli piano trio led by pianist Gadi Stern, released its sixth album “What We Are Made Of” on March 27 2026 via ACT Records. The nine‑track record mixes four original compositions with five covers that span pop, rock, prog‑metal and...
Hedwig Mollestad Weejuns – ‘Bitches Blues’
Norwegian guitarist Hedwig Mollestad Thomassen, a two‑time Spellemannprisen winner, was awarded the prestigious Buddy Prize, which includes a cash award of roughly US$8,250. The honor coincided with the release of her new trio project Weejuns and the album “Bitches Blues,”...
Cath Roberts & Olie Brice – ‘Setpieces’
Cath Roberts and Olie Brice have released “Setpieces,” their second duo album that showcases intense free‑jazz improvisation for saxophone and double bass. The six tracks, ranging from three to nine minutes, move through high‑energy passages, lyrical interludes, and swinging narratives....
Nils Landgren, Esbjörn Svensson – ‘Swedish Folk Modern’
ACT’s Past is Present series is issuing a newly remastered vinyl of the 1997 duo album ‘Swedish Folk Modern’, recorded by trombonist Nils Landgren and pianist Esbjörn Svensson. The limited‑edition LP revisits eleven traditional Swedish folk melodies plus two originals, highlighting the pair’s sparse,...
Five Gigs in May 2026 – a Personal Selection
Evie Hill curates five standout UK jazz concerts for May 2026, ranging from Julian Lage’s Grammy‑nominated performance at London’s Royal Festival Hall to Poppy Helmer’s emerging‑artist set at the Vortex Jazz Club. The lineup showcases a mix of established names—Lage,...
Brick Lane Jazz Festival 2026
The Brick Lane Jazz Festival returned for its fifth edition, spanning three days across multiple venues at the Truman Brewery. The event highlighted a new school of genre‑agnostic improvisation, featuring young artists who blend traditional jazz with gospel, fusion, world,...
Jeremy Sassoon at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho
Jeremy Sassoon’s live launch at Pizza Express Jazz Club featured two sold‑out shows introducing his first album in eight years, “Older and Wiser.” The record, reviewed by UKJazz News, includes a nine‑track narrative that maps key life stages, and its...
Joel Lyssarides – ‘Late on Earth’
Swedish pianist Joel Lyssarides, whose catalog has surpassed 100 million streams, released the piano‑trio album “Late on Earth” on 24 April 2026. Recorded over four years with bassist Niklas Fernqvist and drummer Rasmus Blixt, the twelve‑track set blends European folk motifs, cinematic textures...
DREAMSCAPES – ‘Tales of A Wanderer’
Dreamscapes, a Birmingham‑based jazz collective led by guitarist Julien Durand, has released its debut full‑length album, Tales of A Wanderer, on 17 April 2026. Produced by Snowpoet’s Chris Hyson and backed by Arts Council England, the record fuses contemporary jazz with electronic...
Kate Williams – New Album ‘On The Wing Of A Dragonfly’
London‑born pianist and composer Kate Williams releases her sixth album, “On The Wing Of A Dragonfly,” on 1 May 2026. The record returns to a stripped‑down trio with longtime collaborators bassist Oli Hayhurst and drummer David Ingamells, featuring all‑new material plus a deconstructed Fats Waller classic....
Ambrose Akinmusire / Brussels Jazz Orchestra in Birmingham
American trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire teamed with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra for a Birmingham concert that launched the "What’s Not There" tour, a fresh take on Miles Davis’s 1960s repertoire. Arrangers Guillermo Klein and Lennert Baerts crafted new charts that preserve...
Mondays with Morgan: Helen Sung – Debut Big Band Album ‘Oracles’
Helen Sung’s debut big‑band album, Oracles, drops on June 12 via Sunnyside Records. The record showcases compositions she wrote for mentors from the inaugural Thelonious Monk Institute, performed by a 15‑musician New York ensemble that includes trumpeter Tatum Greenblatt and...
Uphill Game – ‘Paddles’
Uphill Game, a Bristol‑based supergroup led by double bassist Riaan Vosloo, has released its debut album “Paddles.” The record is available on Bandcamp as a vinyl LP and digital download, featuring saxophonist Jake McMurchie, trumpeter Pete Judge, drummer Matt Stockham‑Brown, and guest tenor saxophonist...
Parents In Jazz: Hindy Bare
Jazz pianist Hindy Bare, a Berklee alumna and former member of Grammy‑winner Lenny "Fuzzy" Rankins’ blues band, discusses balancing motherhood with a performing career in a UK Jazz News interview. She advises musicians to keep practicing, focus on a single...
Kikimiki at the Vortex
Kikimiki, a collective born from Tomorrow’s Warriors’ Emerging Artists programme, delivered a compelling set at London’s Vortex. Led by flautist, singer and composer Keira Chakraborty, the band blended intricate improvisation with reverence for jazz tradition. Highlights included an Earth‑Day‑themed rendition...
Sylvie + Ursula – ‘New Eve’
Sylvie Noble and bassist Ursula Harrison debut as the duo Sylvie + Ursula with the album “New Eve.” The nine‑track, half‑hour record showcases original compositions that blend deadpan wry lyrics with adventurous vocal lines and supple bass work. Their chemistry...
Ernest Ranglin – a Celebration on Int. Jazz Day 2026
On International Jazz Day 2026, the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room will host a tribute to 93‑year‑old Jamaican guitarist Ernest Ranglin, a seminal figure in the birth of ska and reggae. The concert is presented by the Hall in partnership...
Geoffrey Smith (1943-2026) – A Tribute
Geoffrey Smith, the long‑time BBC Radio 3 presenter famed for his jazz programmes, died in April 2026. Known for his gentle, erudite voice and signature greetings like “hell…o…” and “good…bye,” he became a Saturday‑afternoon staple for millions of listeners. Colleagues recall...
Marta Sánchez – ‘For the Space You Left’
Marta Sánchez’s new solo album “For the Space You Left” assembles prepared‑piano works drawn from two distinct periods: a 2017 residency aimed at conquering solo‑performance anxiety and a 2020 lockdown challenge to compose a piece each week. The pieces juxtapose...
Terence Blanchard – ‘A Requiem for Katrina’
Terence Blanchard’s *Requiem for Katrina* received its first UK performance, joining his jazz quintet with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The 13‑piece suite, originally scored for Spike Lee’s 2006 documentary, blends personal grief with a celebratory tribute to New Orleans. Conductor Daniela...
Jazz and Beyond… 2026 Proms Programme Announced
The BBC has unveiled its 2026 Proms season, spotlighting a robust slate of jazz‑centric concerts alongside its classic orchestral offerings. Highlights feature a Miles Davis centenary tribute with trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, a live ’Round Midnight’ show of John Coltrane’s music, and...
Lorenz Okello-Osengor, Taz Modi, Mahya Mahroomi at Daylight Music
Daylight Music celebrated its 403rd lunchtime concert, featuring three distinct pianists who pushed the boundaries of the instrument. Mahya Mahroomi delivered a solo program of Satie and contemporary Iranian works, highlighting Persian rhythmic influences. Taz Modi, joined by violinist Phoebe...
Mondays with Morgan: Harry Skoler – New Album ‘Echoes’
Clarinetist Harry Skoler’s seventh album, Echoes, drops on May 1 as the inaugural release of his Red Brick Hill label. The record pairs Skoler with guitarist Bill Frisell, bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer Johnathan Blake, recording most tracks in first takes....
Martin Phillips – ‘Keith Tippett MUJICIAN – The Authorised Biography’
Martin Phillips has released an authorized biography of pioneering British jazz pianist Keith Tippett, titled "Mujician," in a limited‑edition hardback of 328 pages. The book, limited to 1,000 copies and priced at £25 (≈$32), combines thematic chapters, a comprehensive discography,...
Ezra Collective at Colour Factory
Ezra Collective staged an intimate fan‑only concert at Colour Factory, celebrating a decade since their debut EP. The event, co‑hosted with Jazz Re:freshed, highlighted the band’s gratitude to youth organisations like Tomorrow’s Warriors that nurtured their early career. Guest appearances...
Tomasz Chyła Quintet – ‘It’s Not a Fake, It’s a Replica’
Polish jazz ensemble Tomasz Chyła Quintet releases new album “It’s Not a Fake, It’s a Replica,” blending heavy rock influences with jazz improvisation. The record spotlights guitarist Krzysztof Hadrych’s dynamic riffs and solos, while violinist Chyła and trumpeter Emil Miszk...
Nominations Now Open for 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards
The All‑Party Parliamentary Jazz Group has opened public nominations for the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Submissions close at midnight on Friday 15 May, and the ceremony will be held on 13 October 2026 at the World Heart Beat venue in London. The...
Alcyona Mick & Liam Noble – ‘Distant Plains’
Alcyona Mick and Liam Noble released *Distant Plains*, a seven‑track album of two‑piano improvisations recorded under the direction of activist artist Penny Rimbaud. The project draws on Leonard Bernstein’s recording of Holst’s *The Planets* as a stimulus, prompting the pianists...