Brian Payne

Contributor at Jazz Journal

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Articles

Reviewed: The Empress | Kevin Fort | The Furgos | A New Awakening - Adventures In British Jazz 1966-1971

1 week ago | jazzjournal.co.uk | Brian Payne

The Empress is a female saxophone quartet based in New York supported by the solid rhythm section of Steve Ash on piano, Joey Ranieri bass and Pete Van Nostrand drums. The band leader, South Korean Pureum Jin, plays soprano and alto sax, Japanese Erena Terakubo is on alto, Chelsea Baratz tenor sax and Grammy Award-winning Lauren Sevian on baritone sax.
Review: Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2025

3 weeks ago | jazzjournal.co.uk | Brian Payne

Blue skies and sunny weather greeted this year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival, held from 30 April to 6 May. The Big Top and Jazz Arena in Montpellier Gardens and Cheltenham Town Hall down the road hosted most of the acts. Other locations around town included the Grade II listed Parabola Arts Centre, Dunkertons Tap Room and the Hotel du Vin. Katie Melua, one of the UK’s highest-selling female recording artists, opened the festival on Wednesday night in the Big Top.
Reviewed: Allison Miller with The One O’Clock Lab Band | Terence Collie | Rachael Calladine Quartet | Steve Sieck

1 month ago | jazzjournal.co.uk | Brian Payne

I had the pleasure of seeing New-York-based drummer and composer Allison Miller seven years ago when she was playing Newport Jazz Festival in Parlour Game, the quartet co-led by her and violinist Jenny Scheinman with Carmen Staaf (p) and Tony Scherr (b).
James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues”

2 months ago | jazzjournal.co.uk | Brian Payne

James Baldwin (1924-1987) is considered by many to be one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. Born into poverty in Harlem, New York, he became an activist and broke new ground with his exploration of racial and social issues in works such as Go Tell It On The Mountain, Notes Of A Native Son And The Fire Next Time. His short story Sonny’s Blues was published in 1957.
Reviewed: Scarborough Jazz Festival 2024 on CD | Nel Begley | Emma Smith | Diane Roblin & Life Force | The Joymakers

Feb 10, 2025 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Brian Payne

This double CD was recorded at last year’s Scarborough Jazz Festival. CD1 runs to 71.45 minutes, opening with Al Morrison’s Blues Experience and their superb rendition of Cream’s Sunshine Of Your Love. It’s followed by Family Band with Tom Rivieré’s composition, Life’s Work. Then Elaine Delmar sings Gershwin’s Embraceable You backed by Barry Green (p), Simon Thorpe (b) and Bobby Worth (d).
Reviewed: Threeway | Vivian Buczek | Charles Mingus | Anat Cohen

Jan 4, 2025 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Brian Payne

Harken! is the fourth album from Threeway, the drumless jazz trio comprising Steve Waterman (t, flh), Steve Lodder (p, org) and leader Ben Crosland (elb). It follows Conversations (2005), Songs Of The Year (2009) and Looking Forward, Looking Back (2013). The release, recorded in December 2023, marks the 20th anniversary of the trio’s formation. It features John Etheridge, guest guitarist and longtime friend of the band, who plays on six of the 12 tracks.
Reviewed: Judith Owen | Gordon Wellard | Snorre Kirk | Kim Cypher | Gordon Beck

Dec 2, 2024 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Brian Payne

Welsh born, New Orleans-based chanteuse Judith Owen has just released her 15th album. Backed by her 17-piece J.O. Big Band, she delivers a diverse and upbeat collection of Christmas songs of the swinging, secular sort. If you’re after traditional Christmas carols don’t look here.
Reviewed: Gunhild Carling | Matthew Gee | Oscar Peterson

Nov 9, 2024 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Brian Payne

Swedish swing-based trombonist and trumpeter Gunhild Carling is a talented composer who plays flute, harmonica, banjo, ukelele, piano, harp, violin, cello, bagpipes, theremin and drums as well. She sings and dances too. She appears regularly at New York’s Birdland Jazz Club, can play three trumpets at once and has performed for the King of Sweden. All 11 compositions on Jazz Is My Lifestyle are Carling originals delivered in 1920s/30s hot jazz and 1940s big-band styles.
Review: Scarborough Jazz Festival 2024

Oct 9, 2024 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Brian Payne

Stormy weather and turbulent seas lashed South Bay’s Victorian coastal spa on the first day of the 21st Scarborough Jazz Festival. It was held from 27 to 29 September – luckily, the remainder of the weekend turned out clear and bright. Alan Barnes compered the festival once again in his usual humorous fashion. Friday’s session opened with Al Morrison’s Blues Experience.
Reviewed: Swing From Paris, Tubby Hayes, Augie Haas + 8

Oct 1, 2024 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Brian Payne

Gypsy jazz quartet Swing From Paris are adept at creating new arrangements of music inspired by the likes of George Gershwin, Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli. Hot clubbing on the heels of their 2022 album, Afternoon In Paris, they’ve now released I Love Paris.