Mark Gilbert

Ashford

Editor at Jazz Journal

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Articles

Shai Maestro drummer Ofri Nehemya makes leader debut

3 weeks ago | jazzjournal.co.uk | Mark Gilbert

Ofri Nehemya might be a name familiar to those who’ve followed the work of such luminaries as Avishai Cohen (bass), Omer Avital, Shai Maestro, Ben Wendel, Eli Degibri, Aaron Goldberg, Gilad Hekselman, Yotam Silberstein and Avishai Cohen (trumpet). Israeli drummer and composer Nehemya played with them all. Born in 1994 to a musical family, Nehemya went to Thelma-Yellin High School for the Arts before moving to New York, aged 22.
Swanage jazz festival: 'the largest and purest' on England's south coast

1 month ago | jazzjournal.co.uk | Mark Gilbert

Just as Nigel Jarrett laments the dilution – even hijacking – of the word “jazz” by festivals featuring pop and increasingly resting on “inclusion” as a justification, Swanage in Dorset lays claim to hosting “‘the largest and purest jazz festival on the south coast of England”. Whatever jazz is or may be, the festival’s 2025 programme tends to bear out the proposition.
Jools Holland, YolanDa Brown and Elaine Delmar bring jazz to Battersea Park

2 months ago | jazzjournal.co.uk | Mark Gilbert

For a third year Wandsworth – London Borough of Culture 2025 – presents Battersea Park in Concert over the summer bank-holiday weekend, this year 23-25 August.
Miles Davis painting adorns Sir Niels' new Copenhagen jazz diner

2 months ago | jazzjournal.co.uk | Mark Gilbert

There has been a lot of excitement over the arrival yesterday in Denmark of one Miles Davis’s paintings. It is a painting gifted by Davis to saxophonist Bill Evans for the latter’s work in helping revive Davis’s career in the early 1980s. Evans has now loaned the painting to Danish pianist Sir Niels Lan Doky to enhance Epicurus, Lan Doky’s new jazz and dining venture in Copenhagen.
John Scofield Trio at Ronnie Scott's

Mar 29, 2025 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Mark Gilbert

“Sounded great!” quipped Scofield as drummer Bill Stewart suddenly dived off stage just as the trio had taken the stand. It was typical of the guitarist’s always amiable stagecraft, evident throughout the evening in clear, informative and sometimes wry announcements. Stewart was soon back, presumably having retrieved some forgotten item from the green room, and the band were into Blue Monk. The choice was indicative of the 70-minute set to come.
Diana Ross headlines North Sea Jazz Festival

Feb 24, 2025 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Mark Gilbert

The publicity focus of this year’s NSJF is on the appearance of “the legendary Queen of Motown” Diana Ross on the closing Sunday night of the festival, which runs 11-13 July at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Centre. Also appearing on Sunday will be the multi-million-selling US singer, songwriter and pianist Norah Jones, whose album Vision recently received a Grammy as Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Jazz FM awards return for 2025

Feb 19, 2025 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Mark Gilbert

Jazz FM, the London-based radio station, has reinstated its jazz awards scheme for 2025, with categories including soul and blues acts of the year. Nick Pitts, Jazz FM content director, says of the awards, launched in 2013 and last held in 2022, that they have been “a benchmark of excellence in the jazz community”. Jazz FM describes itself as “celebrating the complete spectrum of Jazz in all its colourful forms since 1990”.
Billy Cobham and Buena Vista among Cheltenham attractions

Feb 11, 2025 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Byron Wallen |Mark Gilbert

The full lineup for the 2025 Cheltenham Jazz Festival (30 April-5 May) has been announced as follows below. Aside from the main stage shows in the “Festival Village” at Montpellier Gardens, there will be an array of one-off performances, free events, group workshops, family-orientated shows and late-night jams. Across the town, other venues will be involved, including Cheltenham Town Hall, the Parabola Arts Centre, Dunkertons and Hotel Du Vin, where there’ll be late-night jams.
Stolen Trane-related saxophone prompts an online fundraiser

Feb 9, 2025 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Mark Gilbert

Andy Hamilton advises of a funding campaign to replace the historic saxophone stolen from Archbishop King of San Francisco on his doorstep a month ago. The campaign’s GoFundPage page says:“Four weeks ago, Archbishop King’s beloved Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone, which he has played for over 50 years, was stolen from his doorstep in San Francisco.
Media 'masking' female under-representation in Grammys as research finds 'pressing need' for more women in jazz

Feb 8, 2025 | jazzjournal.co.uk | Mark Gilbert

The Grammy awards have been accused of under-representing women in nominations and awards and facilitating a female-positive smokescreen to hide the fact.