Category Archives: Is That Jazz?

Millions of sounds to keep you up when you’re down…

JAZZ-OETRY… JAZZ POETRY… ALL STAR SUPER JAMS – 1962 -2013

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Paul Brad

Wow, here’s one project that has to be checked… following on from a radical all star performance at the Royal Albert Hall in aid of a cancer charity,  Gearbox Records has anounced the release of the ‘All Star Jazz Poetry … Continue reading →

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TROUBLE OVER HERE… TROUBLE OVER THERE… TROUBLE ALL OVER THIS ATMOSPHERE

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Paul Brad

“For out-and-out Funk, it does NOT get better than this!” proclaimed percussionist/deejay Snowboy after Friday night’s triumphant return of Washington DC’s Trouble Funk to London town. Having already waxed lyrical about that most memorable encounter with Trouble Funk on the … Continue reading →

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TROUBLE FUNK EXPRESS: They’re comin’… They’re comin’ … They’re comin’….

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Paul Brad

It was back at the dawn of the Eighties that Washington DC’s Trouble Funk rolled into London town and “dropped the bomb” on the London crew. It’s hard to explain but anticipation had reached the fever pitch and was set … Continue reading →

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UP FOR THE DOWNLOAD… EVERYBODY GET UP! Chris ‘Daddy’ Dave’s ‘Drumhedz’ Mixtape + Induce’s Classic Black 3 + The Underachievers’ ‘Indigoism’

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Paul Brad

I first heard Chris Dave play at the Jazz Cafe in Camden Town when Me’shell N’Degeocello dropped into town to play an instrumental set. That was deep. He’s also played with D’Angelo, Beyoncé , Kenny Garrett, Terrence Blanchard, Wynton Marsalis, … Continue reading →

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SPIRITUAL JAZZ 4: Sahib Shihab, Don Cherry, Albert Ayler, Frank Wright…..Jazzman do it again!

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Paul Brad

The latest in episode in Jazzman’s Spiritual Jazz series digs deep into the archives of numerous European record labels to reveal a brace of gems recorded by African American master musicians like Sahib Shihab, Albert Ayler, Don Cherry, Sun Ra, … Continue reading →

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FREEDOM! “In composition you have all the time you want to decide what to say in 15 seconds, in improvisation you have 15 seconds.” (Steve Lacy)

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Paul Brad

It’s  a freezing cold Sunday night and as I waited at the bus stop, weighed down by a bag of vinyl, I had to wonder who would brave the weather and venture to Hoxton for the launch of our FREEDOM … Continue reading →

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Dr Donald Byrd with The Mizell Brothers Live at Montreux 1973

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Paul Brad

THE BAND: Donald Byrd (tp,flhrn) Fonce Mizell (tp) Allan Barnes (fl,ts) Nathan Davis (sop,ts) Larry Mizell (synt) Kevin Toney (el-p) Barney Perry (el-g) Henry Franklin (el-b) Keith Killgo (d,vcl) Ray Armando (cga,perc). Live, Montreux Jazz Festival, Montreux, Switzerland, July 5, … Continue reading →

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PLACES & SPACES: Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II RIP

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Paul Brad

Last Monday, at the age of 80, composer, trumpeter and teacher, Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II passed away leaving us a mountain of recordings that add up to a impressively diverse and lasting legacy. As a musician who transcended generations … Continue reading →

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IS THAT JAZZ? Only Millions Of Sounds To Pick You Up When You’re Down….

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Paul Brad

The dreaded month of January draws to a close and this past week’s been very “jazz”. On Monday, it was Jazz In The Round at the Cockpit Theatre. The baby of Jazz On 3’s Jez Nelson and the Cockpit’s Dave … Continue reading →

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THE ROOM WITH A VIEW: Shuya Okino’s Tokyo Runnings

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Paul Brad

My relationship with Japan goes back to the mid Eighties and one my earliest friendships on the club scene was with Shuya Okino of the Kyoto Jazz Massive. I have fond memories of That Fuss Was Us playing in their … Continue reading →

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