http://www.thejazzmann.com Jazz news, Jazz reviews and live Jazz gigs, events and reviews from Ian Mann the Jazz Man en ian.mann@onetel.com Copyright 2026 2026-04-21T12:28:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/jazz-in-the-west-midlands-april-21st-26th-2026 A roundup of jazz, funk & soul gigs to check out this week in the West Midlands area. Listings supplied by Dave Fuller of Music Spoken Here, Worcester. 2026-04-21T12:28:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/cheltenham-jazz-club-programme-for-may-and-june-2026 Cheltenham Jazz Club has announced its programme for May and June 2026. Performers include Jon Lloyd, Eddie Gripper, Gareth Williams, Dave Green. Details attached. 2026-04-19T12:24:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/music-spoken-here-the-marrs-bar-worcester-new-events-added-for-june-2026 Music Spoken Here has added two new events to its programme with the visits of the V6 Organ Trio and the Alex Hitchcock Quartet. Full details attached. 2026-04-19T12:13:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/niklas-lukassen-still-waters An excellent leadership debut from Lukassen. His writing is intelligent and multi-faceted and embraces a broad variety of styles and dynamics. The standard of the playing and singing is excellent. Jazz, Album, Recommended, 2026-04-19T12:02:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/jazz-in-the-gardens-brings-friday-night-jazz-and-more-to-nine-elms-and-battersea-london-friday-1-may-until-friday-17-july-2026 World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens welcomes back its seasonal concert series – Jazz in the Gardens. From late spring to early summer it will host nine concerts on Friday nights. Press release attached. 2026-04-17T09:31:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/public-nominations-are-now-open-for-the-2026-parliamentary-jazz-awards- Public nominations are now open for the 2026 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. Entries are open to anyone. Public nominations open on Fri 17th April with the final deadline set for midnight on Fri 15th May. 2026-04-17T09:14:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/bmj-collective-with-sean-hargreaves-black-mountain-jazz-melville-centre-for-the-arts-abergavenny-12-04-2026 Tonight’s performance demonstrated both Hargreaves' love of the jazz genre and his impressive capacity to perform it. Another excellent event in a series that just keeps on giving. Jazz, Live, 2026-04-16T16:48:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/let-spin-shrewsbury-jazz-network-the-hive-music-media-centre-shrewsbury-11-04-2026 The most satisfying music often straddles the boundaries between composition and improvisation, something that Let Spin continue to do with increasing aplomb. Jazz, Live, 2026-04-15T12:58:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/shez-raja-summer-tour-2026 Bassist & composer Shez Raja will be touring in the UK during June, July & August in support of his latest album "Spellbound". His band will include guitarist Guthrie Govan. Press release attached. 2026-04-14T12:43:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/kings-place-announcement-re-renell-shaws-performance-of-the-windrush-suite-echo-in-the-bones-which-will-take-place-at-kings-place-london-on-june-25th-2026 The full lineup has been announced for this live premiere, including Orphy Robinson, Ayanna Whitter-Johnson, Jean Toussaint, Romarna Campbell, Nathaniel Cross, Kezia Abouma, Mark Crown, Mutale Chashi 2026-04-14T12:13:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/peter-slavid-european-modern-jazz-on-the-radio-playlist-first-broadcast-12-04-2026 Broadcaster & journalist Peter Slavid has forwarded details of the music played on his UK & European Jazz radio show on 12/04/2026, which is available via a number of UK & international radio stations 2026-04-14T12:03:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/kings-place-london-programme-for-june-2026 Kings Place has announced its programme for June 2026 including some performances that are likely to be of interest to jazz listeners. Press release attached. 2026-04-13T13:42:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/philip-clouts-quartet-music-spoken-here-the-marrs-bar-worcester-09-04-2026 !Clouts’ writing is consistently interesting and varied, drawing on a wealth of diverse cultural references that have inspired his musical journey", says contributor Dave Fuller. Jazz, Live, 2026-04-13T13:27:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/rest-in-peace-mike-westbrook-obe-1936-2026 Peter Conway Management has issued a press release following the passing of pianist, composer and arranger Mike Westbrook OBE on 11th April 2026. 2026-04-13T13:08:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/scottish-national-jazz-orchestra-two-gils-and-a-bill-tour-april-may-2026 The SNJO and guest pianist / arranger will celebrate the music of Gil Evans and Bill Evans with a short Scottish tour at the end of April and beginning of May. Press release attached. 2026-04-11T14:41:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/dom-franks-strayhorn-quintet-corn-exchange-jazz-club-the-corn-exchange-ross-on-wye-herefordshire-09-04-2026 A very enjoyable evening of jazz featuring a good mix of standards and originals. Franks is a highly accomplished saxophone soloist and also an intelligent and imaginative composer. Jazz, Live, 2026-04-10T17:09:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/tim-garland-and-geoffrey-keezer-mezzo Ultimately the triumph is Garland's, the instigator of the project and its principal composer, and also a true virtuoso of that rarest of musical beasts, the mezzo-soprano saxophone. Jazz, Album, Recommended, 2026-04-09T16:56:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/alyn-shiptons-new-orleans-friends-the-oxford-concert It’s rare to hear trad jazz played as brilliantly as this and I genuinely enjoyed listening to this album. Jazz, Album, Recommended, 2026-04-08T10:11:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/small-blue-jazz-at-progress-progress-theatre-reading-berkshire-27-03-2026 "An evening of magical surprises". Guest contributor enjoys the music of Small Blue, a 'piano trio' led by drummer, percussionist and composer Martin Pyne. Jazz, Live, 2026-04-07T14:16:00+00:00 https://www.thejazzmann.com/news/article/music-spoken-here-worcester-programme-for-april-and-may-2026 Music Spoken Here has announced its programme for April and May 2026. Events take place fortnightly at The Marr's Bar, Worcester. 2026-04-07T13:19:00+00:00