Why So Quiet? Back On The 28th

In a bid to comply more accurately with the blog's overall aims, to offer a platform to contemporary British Jazz, The British Jazz Blog is currently undergoing a transformation. On Monday 28th May I'll be returning with the blog's new, fresher and more aesthetically palatable format. A prospect which will include a host of new features which are currently expending zero percent of my time but which will no doubt be in full flow by time the site launches.

Expect name changes, subsequent URL alterations, paradigmatic logos, brand overhaul and a generally more efficient approach to British Jazz in an attempt to prepare the site and the genre for the unchartered territory that it seems set to encounter this summer.

See you in one week

3 Mainstream Media Sites I Visit Daily To Stay Jazz Savvy

It is with a heavy heart that I, like many jazz fans, must concede that unless a project enjoys considerable financial backing, is receiving critical acclaim, or gets airplay through some unexpected vehicle of mainstream consumerism (such as an advert), then anything jazz related that postdates 1980 will struggle to make a considerable impact within the everyday media. When jazz is analysed, or it's 'cool' image is conjured by the wider press, the same names are thrown up; 'Louis Armstrong', 'Charlie Parker', 'John Coltrane', all of whom were imperative for the progression of the genre within their respective periods, but none of who inspire a sense of new, fresh avenues of exploration within anyone from later generations. As a result of this, I've put together my top 3 mainstream media outlets which I use to stay on top of the genres modern side and keep up to date with the scene:

1. Twitter

The worlds number one social media platform is a great way to find out about the latest and greatest jazz artists. With practical built-in facilities such as the 'Who To Follow' sidebar which is cleverly tailored to your current interests, following bands and discovering new artists, whilst gaining a key insight into how efficiently they summarise their latest gig in 140 characters, has never been easier.

2. eMusic

My vote for the worlds most credible music download service is a great platform for finding out about modern jazz. With handy services such as guest features and editorial picks for each genre, half an hours worth of hunting around and previewing albums will have you revelling in a seemingly boundless expanse of new music.

3. BBC Jazz

Britain's most cherished TV establishment has a good offering in terms of its jazz sub-site. The majority of the albums featured are the more popular records produced by the genre, so its a great place to visit presuming you've slightly 'Missed the boat' on a couple of new records. The 'Jazz & Blues' conglomeration is, I feel, slightly dated, but if you consider the site in its entirety, links to exclusive interviews and video clips of performances from shows such as Jools Holland and Jamie Cullum's radio 2 broadcast make BBC jazz worth a visit to hear something new.

Surman Vs Surman

Yes, you read correctly; it's the most anticipated showdown between the footballing and jazz community's that 2012 has seen so far. 100% not a product of me having witnessed a goal on Match Of The Day, noticing that the scorer carried the same surname as one of England's most influential saxophonists and extrapolating some tenuous link which , in an effort to be vaguely humorous, links two completely unrelated entity's in one perplexingly convoluted blog post. This... is SURMAN VS SURMAN

FIGHT!!! 

• Ability to wow an audience with a stunning performance: Honours Evens
• Experience in their field: John Surman
• Youth and agility: Andrew Surman
• Ability to develop meaningful compositions around a well structured melody before breaking into an improvisatory masterpiece, the likes of which have gained you your reputation as one of Britain's most eloquent improvisers: John Surman
• Most contorted Jazz face: John Surman
• Ability to look fantastically self assured in the above picture, whilst maintaining an air of dignity and approachability even though you are a hero in your field: John Surman

JOHN SURMAN WINS!!!

So John Surman has emerged victorious, partly down to the fact that this blog is unashamedly biased towards jazz musicians, but mostly because he's one of the coolest players on the UK circuit. He's got a new album coming out in June 2012 and I don't know about you, but I'm excited.

http://johnsurman.com/

Packaged And Ready To Ship: Two Album Releases That The British Circuit Is Begging For

Who: Melissa James

Where: The Green Note Club, Camden, North London

When: 21st June 2012

Why: From blistering renditions of bolshy blues classics to her own original soulful lullabies, Melissa James injects a huge dose of 21st century chique into a sound which would not seem out of place on a Motown record. Her voice is infectious, her musicians are at the top of their game and she's one of my leading lights in British blues/soul. 

Who: TrioVD

Where: (Nearest gig to release) 24th May @ HX7 Jazz Club, Hebden Bridge

When: 21st May 2012

Why: With the recent release of their debut video 'Brick', TrioVD have firmly established themselves as one of the great jazz innovators of the last few years. Their multi-rhythmic compositions, complex instrumental motifs and relentless recorded energy draw you in like a moth to a strobe light which is screaming 'Go Away'. I seriously cannot wait for this album.

Criticism In Reviews: My Biggest Industry Annoyance

"Your writing a blog, that means it's your opinions; an unedited account of your own personal take on the jazz industry and it's music, with absolutely no jurisdiction from a higher authority. Why would you never include criticism or even entertain the prospect of writing about someone's album that you didn't enjoy?"

The question has been ringing around my head ever since my housemate so fervently put it to me. Often it disappears into the alcoves of my consciousness, residing primarily in a deep corner of my mind alongside other non-important universal wondering's. However, I often find that it resurfaces as I begin to 'Tip tap' out another praise-filled album review for the blog. At the time of being asked, I had no answer for him, I recall easily shrugging the question off and going back to my game of Fifa (I was probably Huddersfield), but as time has progressed I have found myself perusing his point more thoroughly. In a way, it's a cut and dry question that doesn't really need answering; 'I don't enjoy criticising artists, especially when I currently have no viable source of musical output to offer myself', but my reasoning goes deeper than that.

I think it unfair to presume that because you are a blogger, no matter how audaciously titled your site may be (*Cough* this one) that your opinion on someone's output should be instantly recognizable as one of importance. I find that many art blogs, be they music, film, dance or theatre based, tend to descend into what essentially becomes a bit of a 'know it all' style tirade against something that the author hasn't enjoyed, or which they believe to be a lower form of their niche than their own personal preference encapsulates. I write this blog to promote myself and more importantly, the British jazz scene. I'd rather write laudably about the albums that I love whilst mentioning nothing of the records that I dislike, than to write a scathing account of my feelings towards someone's work which another person would probably love.

Perhaps this is an avenue that I am delving too far into, the internet is rife with opinion and my point should not be taken as an attack against 'untrained writers' (as I am one myself). The point I'm trying to convey is that If i came to this blog and saw a comedic, four line review of the record that I'd just grafted over for two years of my life, portraying the music as boring and uninspired, I'd probably ask serious questions as to who this Josh Jennings thought he was, and at the end of the day... who the fuck am I?