Jaimie Branch' 'Fly Or Die', back in London for the London Jazz Festival, this time with a different musicians from last year. Chad Edward Taylor :drums,  Ajemian Jason : bass & Lester St. Louis playing cello. Two sets, 1st comprised of music from last years album, but stretched almost to breaking point ! The 2nd set was all new material, including vocals by Jaimie sounding great.

Billy Harper back at the Church of Sound this time with London based musicians : Yelfris Valdes on trumpet, Robert Mitchell on keys, Twm Dylan on bass & Moses Boyd playing drums, plus a 12 piece choir 'Khorus', conducted by Patrick Allies.....magic ! Part of London Jazz Festival 2018.

Alabaster de Plume performing with TRC favourites Soccer 96, plus Spencer's band Lunch Money. Good vibe & packed out, but didn't really enjoy the live music, bit too frantic & distorted for my taste.

Had a fantastic time at Abbey Road Studios with Ruby Rushton working on their next album, sounding great !

Didn't get to see Wojtek at The Church Of Sound last year, so I was really happy to finally get to see him play. Loving the album 'Polka'.

Josephine Davies, who I last saw playing with Collcutor on tenor sax, Tim Giles on drums & Calum Gourlay on double bass.

Another shoot with the radical Sean Khan !

Headling this year was On The Corner Records signing DJ Khalab performing with saxophonist Tamar Osborne & drummer Sarathy Korwar. Ahnanse from Steamdown also put in an appearance.

Alabaster de Plume is a total one off, a very funny self depreciating guy, whose performance is a part therapy self help session, part spoken word deconstruction of consumer capitalism & its accompanying alienation's.  All this with some wonderful improvised music thrown in.

Seun Kuti , youngest son of Fela, keeping the flame alight with his fathers old band Egypt 80, outstanding music & radical politics ! Plus Nubya Garcia jumping in for a few tunes.

Afro - latin electronica from On The Corner Records signing 'Penya'. Magnus Mehta multi instrumentalist, Lilli Elina vocals / multi instrumentalist, Jim le Messurier percussion & Viva AY Msimang trombone.

Yes ! Great evening with Knoel Scott on baritone sax, Tara Middleton on vocals and a lot of other talented people.

Joe Armon-Jones keys, Dylan Jones trumpet, Nubya Garcia tenor sax, Oscar Jerome guitar, Asheber vocals, Mutale Chashi bass, Luke Newman vocals & Marijus Aleska drums

Joao Bosco is an amazing Brazillian singer, guitarist & composer. A large part of the audience were Brazilian and on a couple of tunes, they did all of the singing ! I was smiling all night. He was joined by Hamilton de Hollanda playing the bandolim. Unfortunately I was unable to get the names of the other amazing musicians. 

A band that continues to develop and progress, tonight we have Axel Kaner-Lidstrom pllaying trumpet, James Mollison on tenor, Joe Elliot on alto, Rosie Turton on trombone, Mark Mollison on guitar, Lorenz Okello-Osengor on keys, Hamish Nockles Moore on bass & holding down the beat is Jake Long.

The wonderful, if hard to say, 'Collocutor' presented by On The Corner Records' at Ghost Notes. Tamar Osborn on baritone sax & flute, Josephine Davies on tenor sax, Marco Piccioni on guitar, Suman oshi on bass & Magnus Mehta playing percussion. 

Reinterpretation of Gilberto's 'Refavela' 40 years after its release, music arranged by Bem Gil. Featuring: Mayra Andrada, Chiara Civello & Mestrino. Domenico Lancellotti drums, Thomas Harres percussion, Bruno Di Lulo bass. The culmination of an extended weekend of Brazilian music and the first time I have photographed at the Barbican.

This was wonderful fun, a proper unrehearsed jam of mostly classic songs from Brazils tropicalia movement. Mostly the same musicians as at Domenico's gig the night before at Cafe Oto, but with some additions including : Luzmira Zerpa,  Arcia Mess, Daney Rock on vocals.

Many thanks to Pedro Montenegro for tipping me off about this brilliant evening. Multi instrumentalist , Domenico playing guitar, drums & vocals, Sean O'Hagen vocals & guitar, Nina Mirander vocals, Thomas Harres, drums & percussion, Bruno Di Lulo bass, Bem Gil guitar, plus a string quartet which included Peter Nagle with others ! Most of the musicians are members of Gilberto Gil's touring band in London for his gig at the Barbican. A one off performance of...   Luckily it was also captured on video & can be found on youtube.

Super hyped crowd for this special at the Church of Sound with the excellent Ezra Collective and friends. Loved having my son tag along for this one. Femi Koleoso : drums, TJ Koleoso : bass, Joe Armon-Jones : keys, Dylan Jones : trumpet, James Mollison : sax, Onome Edgeworth : percussion, Sheila M. Maurice-Grey : trumpet, Cassie Kinoshi : saxaphone  & others.

Tom Skinner Presents: Cassie Kinoshi's Seed Ensemble: Chelsea Carmichael on tenor sax, Cassie Kinoshi on alto, Theon Cross on tuba, Sheila M.Maurice-Grey on trumpet, Rio Kai playing bass, Shirley Tetteh on guitar, Miguel Gorodi on trumpet, plus others ? Wonderful venue, classy musicians & arrangements. Privilege to be there, but why was it not sold out ?

Eddie Hick playing his first ever solo drum set. I am not a big fan of 'drum solos', but this was a  bit different and more like telling a story then showing how loud you can bang your drum. Captivating stuff.

Avant-garde giants Art Ensemble of Chicago : Roscoe Mitchel : alto & soprano, Famondou Don Moye : drums, Hugh Ragin : trumpet, Tomeka Reid : cello, Jaribu Shahid and Junius Paul : double bass. Original members along with contemporary musicians that know how to improvise... 

Highly rated American trumpeter Theo Croker playing jazz re:freshed gig at Mau Mau Bar with cream of London's new jazz scene. Whats not to like ? Moses Boyd : drums, Joe Armon-Jones : keys, Femi Temowo : guitar and Rick James on bass. Madly enthusiastic audience.

Crazy ecstatic going ons in Deptford every Wednesday night, who would have thought ! Hosted by Ahnanse / Wayne Francis on sax & vocals. Guest apearance by Casey Benjamin as well as regulars like Theon and Nathanial Cross on Tuba & trombone. Eddie Hick on drums, Oscar James on guitar, Dominic Canning & Wonky Logic on keys,  vocals from Brother Portrait, Nadeem and And.Is.Phi. 

Moses Boyd's drum masterclass for Kinetica Bloco at the Royal Festival Hall. Moses came over as a modest, intelligent guy. He stressed the importance remaining open minded regarding musical influences outside of your usual interest, and taking every opportunity to play live. 'Practice what you are not good at, rather then the stuff you are good at'. Obvious, but spot on. I had great fun and it was joyous when everyone joined in.

Amazing evening with some genuine jazz legends, and an appreciative audience at the Church of Sound. Billy Harper : tenor sax, Eddie Henderson : trumpet, Donald Harrison : alto sax, David Weiss : trumpet, Danny Grisset : piano & Victor Lewis : drums. Stepping into the shoes of the mighty Cecil McBee, who couldn't make it due to ill health, was Essiet Okon Essiet , on bass, who did an amazing job

Launch of 'Cosmic Language' album. Deep spiritual jazz by the much underrated Nat Birchall playing tenor & soprano saxes with Adam Fairhall playing Indian harmonium, Michael Bardon on bass and Andy Hay on drums at the Total Refreshment Centre.