I interviewed Mark Kavuma on the day that his new record label Banger Factory Records was officially launched. The Banger Factory began as a quintet performing weekly at The Prince of Wales in Brixton but now, seven years later, has grown to an octet and now a recording label. Your new album is out on […]
Vocalist Samara Joy won the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2019 and recently released her self-titled debut album. Here she answers questions put to her by Charlie Anderson. What did you find the most rewarding when you studied for your degree in Jazz Studies at Purchase College? I started at Purchase without a […]
Keyboardist Rod Pooley (pictured above, right) answers questions about his band The Drawtones and working with Jim Mullen. How did you first get into playing music? As a young kid growing up, my parents had a gramophone player. My favourite track that they regularly played was Swinging Safari – Burt Kaempfert. Apparently I used to […]
Bassist and composer Ruth Goller talks about her forthcoming debut album Skylla, which is released on 9th July. As a bassist, what was it that first attracted you to the lower register? I have always enjoyed low register sounds. I used to play the violin as a child, and still find high pitched violin painful […]
Musician Julia Biel released her latest album Black and White, Vol. 1 last year to critical acclaim. Here the vocalist and pianist talks to Charlie Anderson about her current work and upcoming projects. How did you first get into singing and playing music? I always loved to sing and got some encouragement early on from […]
Vocalist Ela Southgate spoke to Jim Burlong ahead of her concert ‘Ela With Strings’ at the Brighton Fringe Festival. Photo of Ela Southgate by Lisa Wormsley. How did you get into music to start with? My family was very musical, my mum was a teacher but could have pursued dancing as a career. She […]
Our May issue features a special programme for Emergence 2021, a four day event being held at Bexhill’s De La Warr Pavilion, 27th – 30th May. It features interviews with many of the artists appearing at Emergence, including Ahnansé of Steam, Ill Considered and two interviews by artist Gina Southgate, with saxophonists Chelsea Carmichael and […]
“When you’re young and you play with someone new… and together, for the first time for both of you, you find yourself floating and realise that the music is not about YOU anymore, it’s about life, love, fear, a search for freedom and happiness. That was my first experience with Dave.” – Django Bates. Exactly […]
Spike Wells is known for his enthusiasm, particularly behind the drum kit. On the day we spoke, the day after Ron Mathewson’s funeral, his sense of frustration was evident. Last summer he was able to officiate the funeral of long-time friend Peter King, which featured fitting tributes from Julian Joseph and Henry Lowther. In […]
The February 2021 issue of Sussex Jazz Magazine is out now. We have print copies available to new subscribers. You can subscribe here. The front cover of the magazine features drummer Spike Wells, photographed by Lisa Wormsley. Spike recently celebrated his 75th birthday and this month launches the debut album of QOW Trio that […]