Marlbank

A 'Sermonette' of an episode

The podcast is back

A Danish piano trio wins the day

Live reviews dominate - a Hartman and Coltrane tribute, Immy Churchill, Oltremare and more

What's popular and a few thoughts on the stride revival

Who you gonna see?

Steve Wilson - album of the week - impressive stuff plus thoughts on Scott Hamilton and more. What's so wrong with meat and potatoes jazz?

Album of the week is Matthew Stevens

Trad jazz lands in the album of the week spot.

Trio bliss from Billy Childs, Matt Penman and Ari Hoenig - album of the week plus also in the new episode word on marlbank's new Hot Prospects page.

Album of the Week

The latest podcast from marlbank

A spring surge of festivals coming up.

Word on Alexander Claffy + The Bad Plus, Chris Potter and Craig Taborn at the Barbican.

Media indifference: why isn't the press giving jazz proper coverage?

Best bits this week on marlbank including live mentions Talkline at the Vortex, Nathan Carter playing the Palladium, year best jazz so far and more.

Thoughts on some of the top sounds in Jan and Feb - and what a strong start to the year for UK jazz.

Spring really hangs you up the most? Perhaps. But Vital Spark and more are reasons to be cheerful given a stronger week for jazz recently.

The extremely impressive debut from imaginative bassist and singer Niklas Lukassen is referred to in the main strand of this week's podcast on marlbank.

Includes Zuversicht in album of the week

Brief word on best bits on marlbank over the last week including Voyage of the Faithful upcoming from Julian Joseph and an interesting new act to know - Blair/Huber.

Getting out there is key to discovering new jazz.

From Sam Cooke-like soul to Nicaraguan flavours and an accordion-trumpet duo!

Moon Beans is album of the week.

Including Joanna Eden, Karim Saber and the Kildare Jazz Festival feat. Michael Buckley coming up - all sketched upon in this week's marlbank podcast.

Impressions of a late December Vortex gig given by Ethan Iverson with Calum Gourlay and Dave Ingamells..

Aggregate the numbers by all means. But a true consensus about something as subjective as jazz? Impossible.

Looking ahead - bigging up the unknowns, the new artists

In a sentimental mood it's a hymn to love in this week's episode.

Sun up for Sundance in 2026 - Karim Saber focus in the marlbank podcast this week

A brief word on the new album that Canada icon Wainwright has collaborated with the Pacific Jazz Orchestra on - album of the week on marlbank

PLUS we mention our new artist of the year making a splash

Approaching the eve of the EFG London Jazz Festival which begins on Friday, a focus on live jazz around London: James Allsopp, Simon Spillett & the formidable Count Basie Orchestra

Incredibly compelling new sounds from Loose Tubes and Quercus master, Iain Ballamy.

The great Charles Lloyd, Miles Davis and Keith Jarrett drummer Jack DeJohnette died this week. Impressions of what his work means to me.

Festivals get a lot more hype. But the club scene is the real body and soul jazz experience - day in day out.

Word on Ian Shaw and Barry Green's upcoming Stephensong plus looking ahead to Karim Saber's latest & a reminder of Lukas DeRungs who climbs the ladder of top Eurojazz releases this year so impressively.

Don Was, Grant Stewart and more plus thoughts on live albums

A focus on Joe Webb trio at the Green Note nominated for the Mercury which is coming up in Newcastle. It's rare trad jazz gets a look in.

Dark Eyes inspired - not at all Brahms and Liszt more jazz and lists in this week's podcast episode.

Wake up in the morning, fold my hands and pray for rain but do want to work at Magy's Farm again - live Jo Harrop, Muthspiel Muthspiel and more.

What a fabulous annus mirabilis for Irish jazz 2025 has proved.

Looking ahead

A few references to an array of choice new listening to dip into.

A new podcast to start the week. Dip in

The latest from marlbank

The marlbank podcast returns after a short break. Regular word from marlbank's Stephen Graham acts as a bonus feature attached to the jazz blog - www.marlbank.net

Word on new releases from Rachael & Vilray, Greg Foat, Joe Herbert and what is Eurojazz?

This week's episode reflects on a glimpse of this year's Sligo Jazz Festival plus word on a tremendous live return from Iain Ballamy and his Anglo Hungarian quartet.

We were blown away by a new album from Matt Benson this week.