Vocalist and composer Rachel Sutton  launched her new album - ‘Realms’ - in a gorgeous, intimate performance at a packed Pizza Express Live on London’s Dean Street. Rachel’s voice is mellifluous, her compositions are witty and emotional, and her performance of Realms and a selection of other tunes was fun and moving. It was great to be in audience, having chatted with Rachel for Harmonious World  a couple of weeks ago. With a high quality band beside her, Rachel chose to perform tunes from Realms and a number of standards. I hope it was no accident that she began the evening with Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley’s Pure Imagination , putting to shame the table tennis player we shan’t mention. From that moment, Rachel had the audience in the palm of her hand. That band is true quality - Roland Perrin (piano), Curtis Ruiz (bass) and Paul Robinson (drums). Together, they bought Realms  into the world, and shared great additional tunes like I Won’t Dance  and Billie Holiday’s I Must Have That Man . It takes a great performer to keep an audience entertained by more than the music, and Rachel managed to share the emotional story that infuses all the tunes on Realms  and those standards, chosen specifically. Then, there’s a sense of more to come with the delightfully dippy Slim Pillar , written just three days ago. Right until the audience participation and the encore of the classic That’s the Glory of Love , this was Rachel Sutton at her finest - and the perfect way to launch Realms  into the world. ‘Realms’ will be launched by 33 Jazz  Records on Friday 27 March

Just over a year since the sad death of Bill Ashton OBE, who was instrumental in the development of many successful UK jazz musicians since 1965, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club celebrated his life and music. Miles Ashton shares a joke with the audience (and band) @rw_crowley The Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra - featuring many of the UK’s finest musicians - paid tribute to Bill with his younger son, Miles, acting as MC. Much of the music had often been played and recorded by the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) under Bill’s leadership.  Also in the audience were Bill’s widow Kay and other members of their family. But, actually, many of the musicians on stage and in the audience regarded Bill as family: that was often the case long after we left NYJO. The Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra is led by the witty and entertaining Pete Long. Sitting on the chairs are musicians who regularly appear on the albums and stages alongside the biggest names in UK and European jazz. Jay Craig played baritone sax here, as he did for several years with Buddy Rich, Dave O'Higgins performs tenor sax regularly with Darius Brubeck, son of Dave. Both were members of NYJO when I was involved with the band in the early 1980s.  Composing and arranging duties had been taken on regularly over the years by this celebratory gig’s stars, including trombonists Mark Nightingale and Callum Au, as well as trumpeter Mark Armstrong who took over the MD role of NYJO when it finally became too much for Bill. Also on trumpet was the extraordinary Freddie Gavita, featured on The Perfumed Garden , while trombonist Daniel Hyams’s solo on Au’s arrangement of September in the Rain  was beautiful. On vocal duty were Freddie Benedict, who performed the very special Paris is for Lovers , and Jacqui Hicks - her versions of Much Too Much  and New in London  took many of us back a fair few years. There were a number of Paul Hart compositions to celebrate the creative collaboration between that under-rated musician, Bill and NYJO. In particular, the final song of the first set was Remembrance , with one of the world’s finest jazz flautists - Gareth Lockrane - taking the lead. This was a joyous night featuring Bill Ashton’s compositions, collaborations and arrangements, all performed by a stellar group of UK musicians. As it ended with Bill’s own Don’t Go To Her , the packed Ronnie Scott’s joined in a celebration of outstanding musicians remembering the man who made an outstanding contribution to the British Big Band. The Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra performs regularly at the club , and several of the band are also booked to appear in the West Side Jazz Orchestra  on 6 May

Out now on Shabaka Records is one of my picks for any ‘Best of’ list of 2026: ‘Of the Earth’ features the many sides of one of Britain’s finest instrumentalists, Shabaka. Sometimes you come across tracks that you just want to play to everyone you meet. One such for me is Shabaka’s A Future Untold , which was originally the double lead single with Marwa the Mountain , released back in January in advance of today's launch of Of the Earth . As a musician, Shabaka has always taken us along on his journey of discovery, from a move away from the saxophone on which he cut his jazz teeth to flutes and now back again. Indeed, every track and sound that melds together into this collection of masterpieces is created solely by this immensely talented multi-instrumentalist. You may have come across Shabaka in his ensembles Sons of Kemet and The Comet Is Coming, and he’s always been extraordinary. As a solo performer, he seems utterly experimental in the best sense of the word, discovering new and deeply personal sounds and techniques. The sudden end to Those of the Sky  leaves the listener wanting more of the pirouetting and circling sounds. Oh, and he raps, exhibiting a poetic side in addition to all the other musical talents. Returning to the saxophone after seemingly determinedly discarding it adds to the flutes, keyboards and everything else that he explores to such mesmeric effect. Shabaka says: “D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar was the first CD I bought, and it sparked a lasting curiosity about the emotional possibilities allowed by the self-produced and performed album. This record is my celebration of freedom in creative self-expression. Before the pandemic I could only play the clarinet and saxophone and knew nothing about music production - or how to play the flute - so this has been a journey of learning, and a reflection on the music that’s emerged as a result.” Take away the technicality of performing and recording, and all the tracks on Of the Earth  are engaging and gripping: hearing Shabaka’s own poetic rapping on Go Astray  brings him right into our ears above his flute, percussion and sounds that seem to have been recorded separately and melded together to make some sense of ideas and concepts. Always a virtuoso, takes his disciplined approach across every single element of this fabulous album. Returning to his sax - especially on Stand Firm  - is such a reward for us as his listeners. The intricacy of the ensemble work behind it  simple brings an intensity that drives the whole track along. Listen right through to the end, where Eyes Lowered  brings more rapping over an ensemble backing that seems to take inspiration and evocation from all corners of the world and Shabaka reminds us that “things aren’t always what they seem”. And then listen again from the beginning: Of the Earth  demands repeated turns around the table, with so much detail in the layers of composition and production. Shabaka launches ‘Of the Earth’ at London’s Village Underground on 7 April 2026 or find it on Bandcamp  now

It was great to see an intimate quartet show from trumpeter and vocalist Georgina Jackson, who has held her own in West End Shows, Rat Pack shows and alongside artists such as Frank Sinatra Junior, Nancy Sinatra, Four Tops and Temptations and Seal. Georgina Jackson @rw_crowley Georgina is a hugely entertaining performer and the crowd at West Side Jazz in Hertfordshire’s Welwyn Garden City packed the cinema. They were all appreciative of her performance of tunes made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, bessie Smith, Peggy Lee and many more. The quartet was Georgina (vocals, trumpet and flugelhorn), Jim Watson (keyboard), Sandy Suchodolski (bass) and Dave Tandy (drums). West Side Jazz is run by Dave and it’s a credit to him that these stalwarts of the UK jazz scene come and appear each month. Everything from the opening Almost Like Being in Love  to I Thought About You  and Making Whoopie  was a delightful rendition of classic tunes, including Georgina’s adept vocals and additional interjections of trumpet and flugelhorn. This was no imitation, but a reinvention for the 21st century. Suchodolski, Jackson and Tandy @rw_crowley But, above all, Georgina and her quartet performed in an entertaining and enthusiastic manner. All the solos added a personal interjection from each of the ensemble - even when the leader changed the order and added in a wildcard. One particularly gorgeous interpretation was the quartet's version of Wichita Lineman : Georgina's flugelhorn absolutely shone! Georgina in full flow with Watson and Suchodolski @rw_crowley British jazz is in good hands, with understated solos from Watson’s keyboard, Suchodolski’s bass and - as usual here at West Side Jazz - Tandy’s drums. Jackson’s highly entertaining and witty introductions interspersed the tunes, making this a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Next up at West Side Jazz  are James Hudson on 1 April and an exciting Big Band made up of some of the UK’s best musicians on 6 May.

Gustaf Ljunggren has conceived of a beautiful album along with collaborator Skúli Sverrisson on bass guitar. ‘Along the Low Road’ brings together a collection of compositions that Ljunggren uses to bring us meditative Nordic jazz. All the tracks evoke something of the landscape and temperament of the north of continental Europe: on Stevelen , for instance, we are taken on a walk, accompanied by the composer, who was inspired by the quiet power of cliffs and open skies. The title track is another example of the many layers of instrumentation that each bring a different element of Ljunggren’s world and collectively gather us up to travel with him. While Sverrisson provides the bass on all the tracks (except Here and Not Here ), Ljunggren delivers baritone ukulele, mandola, guitars, charango, pedal steel guitar, langspil, tenor sax, flute, bass clarinet, piano, organ, celeste and synth. It’s impossible to keep track of all these instruments throughout the album, as each performs a specific role on a specific tune. Without the bass, Here and Not Here brings a different texture to this final track on what is a colossal, complex album. The meditative sense nevertheless demands our presence and the composition encourages us to listen to all the musical layers individually and collectively. Along the Low Road  takes us on a Nordic walk and leads us needing more - perhaps the opportunity to see this duo interpret the compositions in an inevitable unique way on stage. ‘Along The Low Road’ from Gustaf Ljunggren with Skúli Sverrisson is released by April Records on 1 May 2026

There are some musicians who can only be described as legends, and Bill Frisell is one of those. His new album - ‘In My Dreams’ - takes him on a new adventure with a group of trusted musical collaborators. Out today, In My Dreams  brings the guitarist together with a unique sextet: Jenny Scheinman (violin); Eyvind Kang (viola); Hank Roberts (cello); Thomas Morgan (bass); and Rudy Royston (drums). Although Frisell has worked with them all before, this is their first project together. Frisell has spoken about a dream that transformed the way he thinks about music and his instrument, chasing the ideal of purity and vibrancy he experienced that evening. He says: “There have been times, over the years, where I’d be playing with these guys and it felt like I was approaching that dream I had all those years ago, where all that music was happening simultaneously.”   The brief opening track Trapped in the Sky  features the remarkable string section and serves as an introduction that leads into When We Go , with plucked strings juxtaposed with Frisell’s guitar in an effortless combination with the jazz trio. Although my reviews rarely discuss album tracks in order, there are times when the music makes that necessary. The third, title, track begins with Frisell’s guitar and it seems to be the real perfecting of this sextet. It makes sense that this was one of the early singles released in advance. Perhaps In My Dreams  of all the tunes sums up this purity and vibrancy the initial dream had heralded. On tunes like Hard Times , Frisell’s guitar wends its way between the string melodies, while simultaneously creating links to the jazz trio context with which we are perhaps more familiar. By the time we reach Home on the Range , the conclusion of this delightful album seems to combine all the elements of Frisell’s dreamscape in collaboration. A false end takes us back into the dream of this sextet, away from the original tune. The core tracks were recorded live in 2025, at concerts in Brooklyn, Denver and New Haven: the additional studio work is combined into a flawless whole that brings In My Dreams  into the light and reality. ‘In My Dreams’ is released on Blue Note on 27 February 2026

It’s always a delight to listen to new music from guests I have chatted with on Harmonious World, and that is definitely true of the fabulous composer William Susman and pianist Nicole Brancato. I chatted with Bill in 2022  and 2021  and Nicole in 2023  and 2024 . I have reviewed Bill’s music before, especially his Music for Moving Pictures   in 2024 .  I also reviewed Nicole’s opera  Infinitessimal  with Jeremy Weiss,   when they brought it to London in 2025. Now Nicole has joined with violinist Dylan Hamme to record Bill’s music on Scattered Threads . I often recommend listening to albums from the start (it’s how the artists curated it!) and that is certainly true with this one. Aria  shows off both piano and violin beautifully. Like much of Bill’s work, this is contemporary classical music that will make the listener’s life just a little better. And we all need that right now. I’d never heard Hamme’s playing before, and I’m glad I have now. Each track on Scattered Threads  takes on new voicing and timbres, so it’s right to move onto the energetic Duo Montuño  next, before the beautifully composed, performed and recorded Seven Scenes for Four Violins . This is a mesmeric track that is both clever and captivating. The album continues with more of this duo’s outstanding playing, including frenetic Motions of Return  and the divine Scatter My Ashes . The briefest of end pieces comes with Katrina Ballerina , with a violin that almost sounds improvised over a theme: a plaintive end to this wonderful collection. Bill says: “ Scattered Threads is the debut album of Dylan Hamme, violin, alongside extraordinary pianist Nicole Brancato, performing my music. The album brings together a collection of works that trace evolving musical ideas, reimagined through new voices and timbres. While some pieces have appeared in different forms before, each recording on this album offers a fresh perspective and a world-premiere interpretation.”   As usual, the best way to listen to this music (if you can’t see the artists in performance) is on Bandcamp

Composer and guitarist Mark Tonelli  took many visits to Brazil over four years to experience the music and culture firsthand: ‘Brasiliana’ is the exciting result. Beginning with the bossa nova Velha Alma , this collection of tunes celebrates Mark Tonelli’s multiple visits to Brazil, a country he has come to love. Six of the nine tunes show just how seriously the guitarist took this project to immerse himself in the culture: the other three combine more of the American jazz styles, performed by Tonelli and his Brazilian ensemble. The rhythmically-challenging Four-Sided Circle  shows off some of the extraordinary ensemble that Tonelli worked with in Sao Paulo, including solos from Guilherme Ribeiro (piano) and Raphael Ferreira (sax). An intensely personal album, the tunes tell the story of Tonelli’s quest to get under the skin of Brazilian culture. The most gorgeous of all these tracks, for me, is Doi Mas É Bom  (it hurts but It’s good) a gorgeous, expressive bossa nova that perfectly shows off Tonelli’s guitar - born in America but immersed in Brazil. Acclaimed Brazilian filmmaker Thiago S. Barbosa has made a one-hour companion documentary to be released at the end of 2026 about the process that eventually led to Brasiliana .  ‘ Brasiliana ’ is released on Friday 13 March on Artists Recording Collective

The list of nominees for Jazz FM Awards 2026 with PPL and PRS for Music has just been made public, including Ezra Collective, Raye, Mavis Staples, Samara Joy, Emma-Jean Thackray, Omar, Shabaka Hutchings, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Snarky Puppy. Jazz FM is at the forefront of championing and broadcasting music that has often been hidden in the shadows. One more, their awards will celebrate some of the finest UK and international talent, with a show at KOKO in London on Thursday 16 April 2026. What is particularly exciting is that the coveted Album Of The Year and UK Jazz Act Of The Year categories will once again be determined by a public vote, with nominees including Ambrose Akinmusire, Fergus McCreadie, Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell, Tyreek McDole, Emma Rawicz, Kokoroko and Tom Skinner. There will also be some special awards presented on the night and those will be announced in the coming weeks. Past recipients since the Jazz FM Awards began in 2013 include Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Dame Cleo Laine, Tony Bennett, George Benson, Pat Metheny, The Rolling Stones, Jools Holland, Georgie Fame, and Ahmad Jamal. One of the jobs that Jazz FM does particularly well is championing some of the newest faces on the scene and that is reflected in the names of the 2026 nominees. The impressive list of winners over the years is here .   Nick Pitts, Jazz FM and Magic Classical Content Director, said: “The nominees for 2026 perfectly capture the breadth of today’s thriving jazz landscape. In the last year, jazz as an artform has really broken ground and not only continued to innovate in its own creative universe but has also heavily influenced the mainstream music world with the likes of Ezra Collective and RAYE. It’s brilliant that our esteemed judging panel have recognised their talents alongside some of the new and established jazz artists who are making a massive impact across the community. Good luck to them all!” Jazz FM Awards 2026 with PPL and PRS for Music - Nominees    Breakthrough Act of the Year  Donovan Haffner  Earth-o-Naut  Poppy Daniels    International Jazz Act of the Year  Linda May Han Oh  Nate Smith  Samara Joy    Blues Act of the Year  Alice Armstrong  Gary Clark Jr.  Mavis Staples    Soul Act of the Year sponsored by Oanda  Omar  RAYE  Young Gun Silver Fox    Instrumentalist of the Year  Joe Webb  Laura Jurd  Shabaka    Vocalist of the Year  Brigitte Beraha  Marvin Muoneké  Yazmin Lacey    The Innovation Award sponsored by Mishcon de Reya  Emma-Jean Thackray  Ezra Collective  Theon Cross    The Collaboration Award  Balimaya Project meets Discos Pacifico All-Stars - Calima  Snarky Puppy and Metropole Orkest - SOMNI  The Jazz Social and EFG London Jazz Festival    Album of the Year – PUBLIC VOTE  Ambrose Akinmusire - honey from a winter stone  Cécile McLorin Salvant – Oh Snap  Emma-Jean Thackray - Weirdo  Fergus McCreadie - The Shieling  Terri Lyne Carrington & Christie Dashiell – We Insist 2025!  Tyreek McDole - Open Up Your Senses    UK Jazz Act of the Year – PUBLIC VOTE  Emma Rawicz  Kokoroko  Tom Skinner  The Jazz FM Awards 2026 will take place at KOKO in London on Thursday 16 April

The marvellous Metropole Orchestra  are soon to release their 80th anniversary album ‘Arakatak’ featuring compositions by Louis Cole, Donny McCaslin, Vince Mendoza, Miho Hazama and more. Arakatak  is a brand new collection of music - eight pieces by eight prominent composers, shedding light on the Metropole Orchestra of the past, present and future.  Conducted by one of the Orchestra’s regular guest conductors, composer and arranger Miho Hazama, Arakatak  features compositions by Vince Mendoza, Donny McCaslin, Tineke Postma, Mark Guiliana, Shai Maestro, and Louis Cole. The title track was composed and arranged by horn player Morris Kliphuis, with a huge orchestral arrangement that we recognise as the signature of the Metropole Orchestra. Beginning in 1945, Metropole has evolved into an extraordinary ensemble, working with many of the very best pop and jazz artists. Alongside the stunning orchestral composition, arrangements and playing, Arakatak  includes many beautiful improvised and scored solos. Trumpet fanfare lines begin the celebratory Vince Mendoza tune Bright Lights and Jubilations . One of my favourite sax players around right now is Donny McCaslin (who I first heard on David Bowie’s final album, Blackstar : McCaslin’s Luminosity  is followed by conductor and composer Miho Hazama’s Splash the Colors. This is a fine album from start to finish until the rather brilliant Doesn’t Matter  by Louis Cole brings the collection to a close. Cole makes use of the whole ensemble, with strings and some lovely oboe which finishes all too soon. ‘ Arakatak ’ from the Metropole Orchestra will be released on 6 March 2026

It’s rare to hear an album with just tenor sax and piano. Rarer still to have those two musicians - Christoph Irniger and Marc Perrenoud in this case - playing their own compositions inspired by some of the great jazz standards. New Lines  brings together Irniger’s sax and Perrenoud’s piano in their first recorded collaboration. Hailing from Switzerland,  the duo have taken some classic jazz tunes and re-examined them for a new era. Taking on a Charlie Parker tune like Confirmation  is bold and that bravery is rewarded as the duo create the intricate, collaborative Dry Sensation . Later, Fast Finish  is a detailed, contrapuntal version of John Coltrane’s Countdown : its only failing is its brevity. In both of these tunes, there is a sense of the original, but composed in a very new era, decades since these sax greats played and composed.  As Perrenoud’s piano chords ring out on The Unit , the final track of this glorious duo album, Irniger’s sax worries around the melody. Not knowing the source or the original composition is irrelevant: the listener is simply enticed into a world that is rooted in jazz history, brought to life in an intimate and delightfully direct collection of tunes. ‘New Lines’ is out on Unit Records on 27 March 2026

It was a delight to hear Niklas Lukassen  with a (nearly) new quartet delivering his album, ‘Still Waters’ at its UK launch. Neame, Slavin, Lukassen. Maddren Niklas was joined by an absolutely superb group of musicians, including Wanja Slavin, one of the two sax players on Still Waters.  Their mastery of Lukassen’s complex and dynamic compositions was matched by Ivo Neame (bass) and James Maddren (drums) on top form. It was great to hear a slightly different version of the album tracks and to see Niklas’s truly brilliant and inventive bass playing in person. Read my review of the album here . Intent concentration throughout from Niklas I last saw Maddren with Julian Arguelles at the 606 Club (read my review here ) and my next task is to hear his trio with Niklas and Gwilym Simcock (who was also on the Arguelles gig). Still Waters  is on Kurt Rosenwinkel’s Heartcore Records . He also adds guitar to some of the tracks. The more pared-down version of the tracks was highly effective live and added a different flavour and textures. Although Slavin was obviously having problems with leaky pads or sticky keys on his alto sax at the Vortex, his playing is extraordinary - another new discovery for me. These intuitive players produced dynamic textures and rhythmic complexity that had a freedom rare in ensembles that are not used to performing regularly together. Neame’s piano improvisations particularly had an impetus of their own, responding delightfully to motifs from bass and sax.   As well as tunes from Still Waters , the quartet performed new work from the follow-up album that has yet to be recorded. Indeed, Day by Day  was only finished hours before the gig: it’ll be interesting to see how that tune evolves. Slavin’s sax worked particularly well on Karma , adapting the album arrangement that uses two saxes. I’m not sure how often he has worked with Neame or Maddren, but you would have been forgiven for thinking that the quartet has a long history. Niklas’s compositions, arrangements and band leading are exemplary: another London gig that brought together jazz musicians and influences from around the world. ‘ Still Waters ’ is out now: please check out live dates  to see where you can buy the album direct