Your Custom Text Here
The cover of Yussef Dayes’ forthcoming album, Black Classical Music
Song of the Day: A whirlwind of brilliant dynamism, energy and invention by the British jazz drummer with the title track of his forthcoming debut solo album, out on Brownswood Recordings, Warners and Cashmere Thoughts Recordings
Read more
Cover art for Nubya Garcia’s album – Source
Song of the Day: With a brilliantly bold melody, added developed rhythm and carefully crafted keyboards, an addictive new arrangement of the original instrumental from 2020 album Source by the Camden-born jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader
Read more
Machinedrum, aka Travis Stewart, left, remixes Manchester trio GoGo Penguin
Song of the Day: Intricate, pace-changing and with beautiful narrative arcs, two versions of the recent piece by the Manchester experimental jazz trio of pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka, and drummer Rob Turner with a new dance remix by American producer Travis Stewart
Read more
Billy Taylor (1920-2010) with his trio
Song of the Day: Moving on to another TV theme, best known for the original Barry Norman BBC TV film review programme that began in 1972, this wonderful jazz piano piece was originally associated with the 1950s civil rights movement
Read more
Get Carter (1971) starring Michael Caine, with soundtrack by Roy Budd
Song of the Day: Resuming a thread of film soundtrack music that transcends their original source - this time the classic thriller starring Michael Caine and directed by Mike Hodges from 1971
Read more
Clara Smith
Song of the Day: After yesterday's sprinkling of tragic and dirty songs by Bessie Smith, let's get a little filthier courtesy of the so-called Queen of the Moaners from South Carolina who actually had a chirpy, perky, high voice
Read more
Bessie Smith, carrying more than weight on her famous shoulders
Song of the Day: After a series of early bluesmen, it's time to sprinkle some attention on the first true star of of the blues crossing into jazz, who not only mixed a little dirt into her powerful voice, but also into her lyrics
Read more
Rotary Connection, featuring Minnie Riperton and Charles Stepney (right).
Song of the Day: How to move from bluesy road tunes to this elaborate jazz-soul number at the peak of the psychedelic movement? Partly because this band also backed Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters
Read more
Chet Baker - lost in music in the 1950s
Song of the Day: The world wide web will be awash with Valentine's songs today, so here's one too - a jazz standard but with a darker edge, embellished with extraordinarily beautiful trumpet and voice of Chet Baker
Read more
Maybe nine can win? Fabulous family band The Sylvers
Song of the Day: After yesterday's Ty Segall/Hot Chocolate cover comparison, more material playing on the topic of who or may not be the winner in a relationship from the brilliant hip hop and jazz producer and the 70s funk and soul family group
Read more
Moondog in Manhattan
Song of the Day: After Captain Beefheart, could there be any musical figure more influential, eccentric, strange and innovative? Louis Thomas Hardin, aka the Viking figure who for years silently stalked New York's 6th Avenue, is a strong contender
Read more
Captain Beefheart, aka Don Van Vliet – musician, artist, visionary.
Song of the Day: With the recent passing of The Fall's Mark E Smith, and all the songs, tributes and stories that have followed, it now seems only appropriate to follow up with music Smith loved by one of his major influences
Read more
Hugh Masekela, 1939-2018
Song of the Day: A triple tribute to the sadly departed but hugely influential South African trumpeter, composer, singer, cornet and flugelhorn player, and leading anti-apartheid campaigner
Read more
Amy Winehouse
Song of the Day: The voice, the lyrics and the timing – tears don't get much more moving than this – a double from the much missed singer who had many downs, but undoubtedly hit the heights with her Back to Black album of 2006
Read more
Funk-jazz fusion kings Weather Report
Song of the Day: The opening track to the jazz-funk fusion band's 1977 album Heavy Weather is not only a tribute to the legendary New York jazz club inspired by Charlie Parker, but a wonderfully evocative instrumental conjuring up sights and sounds of the city streets
Read more
Frank Zappa: masterful, mischievous invention
Song of the Day: How could there a more joyful, eccentric, evocative and infinitely inventive opener than this, on album described by Zappa as "a movie for the ears" – 1969's Hot Rats?
Read more
From Atlantic single cover, 1962.
Song of the Day: For those facing what is often an arduous, weather-affected journey, travelling home after a Christmas visit, or waiting for their beloved to return with this 1962 classic
Read more
From the video for Let There Be Horns
Song of the Day: Echoing yesterday's great drum break, let's now celebrate the work of the Ohio multi-instrumentalist and hip-hop artist, who is behind the theme tune to Mad Men, and so much more
Read more
Nat King Cole
Song of the Day: The opening vocals and style of yesterday's 3WW by alt-J, "There was a wayward lad" may spark a musical echo, this beautiful 1948 recording by the jazz pianist and singer, written by the original 'hippie' eden ahbez
Read more
Fats Domino
Song of the Day: A tribute to the sadly departed New Orleans pianist, and singer and songwriter, who reached the ripe old age of 89. This more-than-appropriate number for today was co-written with composer and arranger Dave Bartholomew, released in 1955, and, while a sad song, still exemplifies the joyful charisma and technique of the great performer
Read more