Jazz Guides
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Miles Davis at 100
26th May 2026
Today marks what would have been the legendary trumpeter's 100th birthday. In celebration, we spoke to admirers of Miles about why he's still a huge influence today...
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Nate Smith
21st May 2026
Nate Smith is a multi-Grammy-winning drummer, composer and producer celebrated for a genre-fluid style that seamlessly bridges jazz, R&B, hip-hop and pop. His standing was further cemented at the 68th Grammy Awards in 2026, where he achieved a double victory – most notably winning Best Alternative Jazz Album for the analogue-driven masterpiece, LIVE-ACTION.
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LIVE-ACTION
Nate Smith (drums, musician, keyboard), Josh Johnson (musician, saxophone), Sebastian White (designer), Marquis Hill (trumpet, musician), JSWISS (musician), Lalah Hathaway (chanting, musician, voice, vocal_arranger), Michael League (musician, bass), Lionel Loueke (musician, voice), säje (musician, voice), Amanda Taylor (vocal_arranger), Sara Gazarek (vocal_arranger), Erin Bentlage (vocal_arranger), Johnaye Kendrick (vocal_arranger), Kiefer, CARRTOONS, Ben Williams (bass, musician), Jeannette Jang (musician, violin), Anna Bishop (musician, violin), Kimberly Ryan (musician, viola), Peter Greydanus (musician, cello), Charlie Hunter (musician, guitar), DJ Harrison (keyboard), Jermaine Holmes (musician, voice), DJAY HARISSON (musician, rhodes)
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Alice Coltrane
1st Apr 2026
A foray into the life and journey of Alice Coltrane’s devotion to music and spirituality, producing intense and transcendent albums including Journey in Satchidananda and Universal Consciousness.
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Mary Lou Williams
8th Feb 2026
Mary Lou Williams was a musician whose career spanned across jazz; encompassing Ragtime, Blues, Boogie-Woogie, Swing, Bebop, Free Jazz, with side ventures into Gospel and Third Stream music. Devoted to the music and community, she dedicated herself to supporting struggling musicians and educating younger generations about jazz’s deep roots in African American history.
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Solo Piano Jazz
8th Dec 2025
Solo jazz pianists, free from the constraints of a band, use their virtuosity and imagination to explore the boundless possibilities of improvised rhythm, harmony, and melody.
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Acid Jazz
1st Oct 2025
This guide explores acid jazz’s origins in London’s club scene with its fusion of funk, soul, jazz, and hip-hop, highlighting how rare groove culture and key artists shaped the genre.
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Emergency On Planet Earth
Jamiroquai, Gary Barnacle (flute), Stuart Zender (bass), John Thirkell (trumpet), Gary Barnacle (saxophone), John Thirkell (fluegelhorn), Nick van Gelder (drums), Toby Smith (keyboards), Kofi (percussion), Simon Bartholomew (guitar), Glenn Nightingale (guitar), Maurizio Ravalio (percussion)
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Count Basie: Architect of Swing
20th Sep 2025
A pivotal figure in the big band and swing era, Basie became one of America’s most prominent bandleaders, earning himself the title “King of Swing”.
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Bebop Jazz: The Birth of Modern Jazz
2nd Sep 2025
Rising onto the scene during the final years of World War II, a new era of jazz put the emphasis on small groups, fast tempos, and technical mastery. From its roots in late-night jam sessions and beyond, this guide brings you everything you need to know about the genre of bebop.
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Following Footprints: The Wayne Shorter Guide
22nd Aug 2025
Standing as one of the most influential musicians in jazz as an innovative saxophonist and composer, Wayne Shorter’s unique voice shaped modern jazz spanning six decades.
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Celebrating 100 Years of Oscar Peterson
15th Aug 2025
On the special occasion of Oscar Peterson's 100th Birthday, we take a deep dive into the Grammy-winning pianist's life, music, and legacy.
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New Orleans Jazz - Part Two
30th Jul 2025
Continuing on from Part One, we take a closer look at the New Orleans Jazz style in a later context, where traditional roots meet the modern influences of more recent years.
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Voodoo
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Dr. John (piano), Roger Lewis (baritone saxophone), Kevin Harris (tenor saxophone), Kevin Harris (percussion), Roger Lewis (percussion), Gregory Davis (vocal), Roger Lewis (soprano saxophone), Charles Joseph (trombone), Efrem Towns (trumpet), Lionel Batiste (snare drum), Lionel Batiste (bass drum), Gregory Davis (trumpet), Jenell Marshall (percussion), Jenell Marshall (bass drum), Dr. John (vocal), Jenell Marshall (snare drum), Jenell Marshall (vocal), Gregory Davis (percussion), Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Batiste (percussion), Branford Marsalis
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Happy 80th Birthday, Keith Jarrett!
8th May 2025
To celebrate the 80th birthday of one of the most influential and pioneering musicians in jazz, we assemble this essential guide to the albums of the one and only Keith Jarrett.
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Wynton Marsalis - A Jazz Ambassador
27th Nov 2024
Wynton Marsalis is a celebrated trumpeter and composer, renowned for his contributions to jazz and classical music, blending tradition with innovation.
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A “Sassy” Centenary of Sarah Vaughan
24th Jul 2024
Get to know the Divine One and the singers bringing her legacy to life before a televised Proms celebration airs this weekend.
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The Divine One – A Centenary Tribute: Her 50 Finest (1944-1962)
Sarah Vaughan (vocals), Dizzy Gillespie & his All-Star Quintet, Dizzy Gillespie & his Orchestra, Dizzy Gillespie & his Septet, John Kirby & his Orchestra, Georgie Auld & his Orchestra, Tadd Dameron & his Orchestra, George Treadwell & his Orchestra, Teddy Wilson & his Octet, Teddy Wilson & his Quartet, Ted Dale & his Orchestra, Richard Maltby & his String Orchestra, Jimmy Jones & his Quartet, Earl Rodgers & his Choir, Hugo Winterhalter & his Orchestra, Joe Lippman & his Orchestra, George Treadwell & his Allstars, Norman Leyden & his Orchestra, Mitch Miller & his Orchestra, Sarah Vaughan & her Trio, Hugo Peretti & his Orchestra, Ernie Wilkins & his Sextet, Hugo Peretti & his Orchestra & Chorus, Hal Mooney & His Orchestra, Ray Ellis & his Orchestra & Chorus, Quincy Jones & his Orchestra, The Count Basie Orchestra, Belford C. Hendricks & his Orchestra & Chorus, Joe Reisman & his Orchestra
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Mark Guiliana, The Sound of One Man Drumming
17th Jul 2024
As his first full-length solo recording is released, we retrace the steps that led the Grammy-nominated drummer and percussionist to his current chameleonic glory.
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Hiromi, The Jazz Virtuosa with a Noodle of Genius
9th Jul 2024
Get to know the Japanese pianist whose brilliant performances are as captivating as the wonderous bloom of a cherry blossom. We explore her early life and subsequent rise to fame, as well as how her innovative keyboard techniques have made waves in the global jazz scene.
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New Orleans Jazz - Part One
3rd Jul 2024
Our latest guide explores the long history of traditional music originating from the city hailed as 'the birthplace of jazz', featuring legends such as Louis Armstrong and Sidney Bechet, in addition to present-day custodians including Trombone Shorty and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.
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The Black Saint and the Singer Lady, or When Joni Went Jazz
24th Jun 2024
A new boxed set contains Mitchell's masterworks from the late 1970s, a period that saw the singer embrace jazz influences and collaborate with legendary musicians like Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Shorter and Charles Mingus, resulting in transformative recordings such as Hejira and the live album Shadows and Light.
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Indo Jazz
20th Jun 2024
We explore the history of this prolific genre from its epoch-making beginnings to the emergence of vital figures such as John McLaughlin, as well as its continuous influence as a diasporic music in the hands of contemporary jazz artists, including Vijay Iyer and Sarathy Korwar.
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West Coast Jazz
12th Jun 2024
Inspired by the sunny climate of the Pacific and professing a more laid-back feel, take a dive into the finest recordings to have emerged from the 'cool' antidote to New York's hard bop scene. Get ready to soak up some of that California soul!
