Latest News: Jazz
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Recording of the Week,
3M&Co - Start On 8th January 2021The Italian jazz trio channel some early 70s fusion with a pinch of Jaco Pastorius into their modern, funky debut.
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New Release Round-up,
Jazz Vinyl Round-Up - 6th January 6th January 2021This week's latest additions to the Presto Jazz vinyl catalogue include nu-jazz versions of Sun Ra classics, a television score from Kamasi Washington, and a live set from veteran drummer Jeff Williams.
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Obituary,
2020 Jazz Goodbyes 4th January 2021A short tribute to remember some of the jazz musicians we lost in 2020.
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Obituary,
Eugene Wright (1923-2020) 4th January 2021The last surviving member of the classic Dave Brubeck Quartet lineup, bassist Eugene Wright, has passed away aged 97.
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Recording of the Week,
Barbara Thompson at the BBC 30th December 2020A staggering 14 CD collection of saxophonist Barbara Thompson's music, recorded by the BBC over a 21 year period. With a biography due in 2021 this is an ideal introduction to this multi-faceted artist's oeuvre.
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Interview,
Per Oddvar Johansen on finding inspiration in isolation 22nd December 2020We sat down with Presto Award-winner, drummer Per Oddvar Johansen, to discuss his latest album The Quiet Cormorant, as well as his compositional process and hopeful plans for next year.
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New Release Round-up,
Jazz Hi-Res Round-Up - 17th December 2020 17th December 2020Josh lends an ear to some recent hi-res new releases, including British saxophonist Chris Potter, Nels Cline's improv band, GoGo Penguin, and Rebekka Bakken’s Winter Nights.
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Awards,
Jazzwise Albums of the Year 2020 17th December 2020Jazzwise reveal their favourite new albums of 2020 with a selection reflecting just how exciting the current jazz scene is, with newer artists vying with the old guard.
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Recording of the Week,
Matthew Tavares & Leland Whitty - January 12th 11th December 2020BADBADNOTGOOD bandmates Matthew Tavares and Leland Whitty team up for a live recording that proves the nu-jazz trailblazers are just as comfortable playing it straight.
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Awards,
Jazz Recordings of the Year 2020 10th December 2020After much deliberation, we are thrilled to reveal our top five Jazz Recordings of the Year.
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Classic Recordings,
Billie Holiday - Lady in Satin 10th December 2020Billie Holiday was just a couple months away from her 43rd birthday when she entered Columbia Records’ 30th Street Studio on February 18, 1958 to record her troubled late masterpiece Lady in Satin, as heart-breaking today as it was then.
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Recording of the Week,
Lewis Wright - The Colour of Intention 4th December 2020British vibraphonist Lewis Wright's The Colour of Intention is a trio session that impresses for both its lyrical flow and the strength of the compositions.
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New Release Round-up,
Jazz New Release Round-Up - 4th December 2020 4th December 2020The latest jazz new releases, incuding a 6-LP boxset from Avishai Cohen, and an epic Keith Tippett orchestral commission.
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Classic Recordings,
Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil 1st December 2020Wayne Shorter's seminal album was the third in a prolific six years of recordings for Blue Note, and while Speak No Evil still retains the accessibility of early hard bop, it also showcases the saxophonist's unique and unorthodox compositional style.
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Announcement,
Give Back Friday 27th November 2020For the next four days we will be donating 5% of all the revenue we receive to two charities whose aims are closely aligned with our own: the Chineke! Foundation and the Benedetti Foundation.
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Recording of the Week,
Dave Brubeck - Lullabies 27th November 2020Josh enjoys Dave Brubeck's final studio recording, an intimate set of Lullabies for solo piano, expressing his deep love for his family.
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Favourites,
Have Yourself A Jazzy Little Christmas 27th November 2020Matt selects some of the best jazz-infused Christmas albums out there, and sincerely apologises for the Santa picture to the left.
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Announcement,
Introducing Presto Instruments & Accessories 26th November 2020We are very pleased to be able to announce the latest development on the Presto website: a new department dedicated to musical instruments and accessories which we launched at the end of last month.
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Interview,
Tori Handsley on influences and improvisation 22nd November 2020On the eve of releasing her new album As We Stand, featuring regular collaborators Ruth Goller and Moses Boyd, Josh catches up with jazz harpist Tori Handsley to talk about her influences, approach to improvisation, and plans for the future.
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Recording of the Week,
Christian Wallumrød Ensemble - Many 20th November 2020A distinctly obtuse collection of musical organisms from Norwegian pianist and composer Christian Wallumrød's Ensemble.