That Jazz: The Golden Age of British Popular Music showcases a wealth of one-off exhibits including archive posters, original concert programmes and rare photos from 1919 up to the 1950s. The exhibition is open every day except Sundays and entry is free; pop in on a Tuesday evening to join one of the ‘hands-on’ sessions and get up-close and personal with some of the archive’s unique material. More info and full opening times at www.nationaljazzarchive.co.uk
Jon Mapp – The World Will End With A Bang
If your tastes run to the more ambient end of electronic improvisation, you could do worse than check out bass guitarist Jon Mapp’s solo album, out on 18th April. It’s a moodily melodic and at times esoteric affair but it certainly shows off Mapp’s narrative-inclined compositions as well as demonstrating the possibilities of the at times underappreciated instrumental discipline of solo bass. An interesting and quietly creative effort. www.jonmapp.com
Jim Godbolt - All This And Slowly Deteriorating Fast The Memoirs Of A Geriatric Jazz Buff
This book and its accompanying CD from Proper Music offers a unique insight into the life and times of Jim Godbolt, writer, historian, promoter, manager and all-round character. These memoirs offer a telling glimpse into his experiences working with some of the jazz scene’s great and good, including Humphrey Lyttelton, George Melly, Sir John Dankworth and many others. The 15-track CD features a wealth of tunes to accompany the text, and anyone looking for a complete package for the jazz buff in their life – geriatric or otherwise – should enjoy this journey through the experiences of one of the most colourful figures on the UK’s jazz scene. www.propermusic.com
EnricoTomasso at Norwich Jazz Party
Emilia Mårtensson – Ana
We couldn’t in good conscience sign off this issue without singing the praises of the gorgeous second album from Emilia Mårtensson, released on the 7th April on Babel. Following on from 2012’s And So It Goes and her recent contributions to releases by Kairos 4tet, Fringe Magnetic and Sam Crowe, Ana again proves that Mårtensson has something very special to offer, and the album is a thing of simple beauty. There’s a brilliantly judged and utterly natural sounding balance between duskiness and pure-toned clarity in her voice, but what really impresses is a talent for storytelling within the context of her songs and for drawing the listener in. Her phrasing on tracks like the Paul Simon cover Everything Put Together Falls Apart recalls singers like Joni Mitchell, with a clear folk influence coming through alongside her more swinging side, and her Scandinavian roots are in evidence too with two tracks sung in Swedish. With a sensitive and sympathetic band behind her, Mårtensson delivers an enthralling and utterly charming long-player that should make her a firm favourite throughout the UK’s jazz scene and well beyond. Tastemakers take note… www.emiliam.com
Norwich Jazz Party
Over the first May bank holiday weekend, the 8th annual Norwich Jazz party gets things seriously swinging at its new venue of the Donston Hall Hotel. The ‘jazz party’ format will see nearly 30 top-class players from all over globe descend on the east of England, including
© Bruce Lindsay
Japanese clarinettist Eiji Kitamura, Canada’s Jim Galloway and Ken Peplowski, Howard Alden and Houston Pearson from the USA. There’s also a fine contingent of UK artists from the mainstream and swing scene, with Enrico Tomasso, Alan Barnes, John Pearce and Adrian Fry all on the bill. Past years have featured sets dedicated to the likes of Billy Butterfield, Tadd Dameron, Humphrey Lyttelton and Duke Ellington, and while adherents to the adage that there’s no school like the old school will find plenty to enjoy, the open and inviting format should make jazz lovers of all walks of life feel right at home. www.norwichjazzparty.com Correction The photo of Josh Kemp on the cover of February’s edition of Gigs, featured in last issue was incorrectly credited to Ruth Applin – the photo was in fact taken by Bob Hewson, to whom we apologise for the error.
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