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Track of the Week: Anouar Brahem’s ‘After the Last Sky,’ ECM
On the After the Last Sky title track new from Anouar Brahem, cellist Anja Lechner explores some pitch black, tonal dimensions wrapped within a poetically...
Book review – Song for Someone: The Musical Life of Kenny Wheeler by Brian Shaw and Nick Smart, Equinox Books
A review of a textbook calibre biography of Kenny Wheeler
Track of the Week: Willow’s Song/This West
''Though the ear choose not to hear, In the heart I echo, clear: Savage power I exercise, Transformed I am, to mortal eyes'' (Goethe). Fierce,...
Thoughts on lo-fi beats to study, lo-fi beats to study to and how Perfect Strangers fits in
Greg Sanders on Lophae's Perfect Strangers approach to the phenomenon of lo-fi beats to study, lo-fi beats to study to.
The creative sound of Xhosa Cole – hear the saxist’s FreeMonk band
''A genius is the one most like himself'' – Thelonious Monk. Xhosa Cole is alert to that wisdom
Elam Friedlander, Sound-Elements, Cellar Live ***1/2
Bassist Elam Friedlander hits the ground running. Sound-Elements includes some fiery playing from Abraham Burton on supreme form.
Believe, beleft, below themed
Defrazzle yourself. Themed for e.s.t., some great playlist picks today from Brian John McBrearty, Rumer and Ebba Åsman new in the blend.
Track of the Week: OMW by Taber Gable
Vamps to die for, shades of Bob James and the Pat Metheny Group in the blend. Aching for a new Robert Glasper in your life?...
Extraordinary new Elliot Galvin sounds
Reading the runes Galvin sees England as “a country that feels like a living ruin”
Monk from Cole and co
Imaginative UK sax star Xhosa Cole returns with a new live Monk album bristling with tap and a powerful vocal from Heidi Vogel.
A glimpse of Nick Costley-White
Julian Siegel appears on Nick Costley-White's new-for-2025 quartet album Poncha - watch a video of the band nestling into the studio.
Quite Simply Fab
We are looking ahead to more early-2025 highlights. The Fab focus today is on tracks from Thrive by Fabienne Ambuehl out in mid-January.
Track of the Week: Stephen Davis Unit, When We Were Gods, 577 ****
From The Gleaming World (577 Records) dramatic sax, free-ish bass lines and a rain of rhythm from Northern Irish drummer Stephen Davis.
Gigs coming up
Camilla George, Tony Kofi and Andy Hague are among acts to catch in the coming week.
Most read piece on marlbank in 2024: Kiss Me, Kate dir. Bartlett Sher, Barbican Theatre ****
A first night music theatre review of a new London production of Kiss Me Kate run back in June proved the most read article published...
Dr Linley Hamilton made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours
Boost for the Northern Ireland jazz scene
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