HENRY THREADGILL: News

Kevin Le Gendrte / THE INDEPENDENT Chicago is one of the great musical powerhouses of America. Since the Twenties, its Black population has produced colossal talents, such as classical composer Florence Price and soul singer Curtis Mayfield, not to mention any number of jazz pioneers, from Sun Ra to Quincy Jones to Herbie Hancock. Less […]

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CHRISTINE McVIE: Eulogy by Mick Fleetwood

THE INDEPENDENT: Mick Fleetwood has shared the eulogy he wrote for Christine McVie, following her memorial service that took place on Monday (9 January). The service saw the remaining band members and Fleetwood Mac’s “extended family” gather to celebrate McVie, who died on 30 November after a “short illness”.  On 12 January, Fleetwood posted to […]

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JEFF BECK: The long read

THE INDEPENDENT / Mark Beaumont Within hours of the news of his death, tributes to Jeff Beck from the guitar greats rang out like a 21-string salute. “Jeff could channel music from the ethereal… his technique unique, his imaginations apparently limitless,” said Jimmy Page of this “six-string warrior” and “the spell he could weave around […]

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TAYLOR SWIFT: The long read

She has 11 Grammys, nine major-label albums, university courses studying her work and an unstoppable fandom… so how did Taylor Swift conquer the music industry? Ahead of her 10th record, ‘Midnights’, Zoya Raza-Sheikh explores how Swift’s songwriting is the secret to her success “Haters gonna hate…” but Taylor Swift’s influence over pop is undeniable. From […]

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BOB DYLAN: His 20 greatest albums … the long read

THE INDEPENDENT It’s a tantalising thought that even at 80, Dylan may still have great work left in him, writes Graeme Ross Bob Dylan, the rock era’s greatest and most influential poet, celebrates his 80th birthday on 24 May. It is also 60 years since Dylan recorded his debut album and began a career that […]

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AMY WINEHOUSE: News – the long read

Roisin O’Connor / THE INDEPENDENT The new Amy Winehouse biopic will focus on her “extraordinary genius, creativity and honesty that infused everything she did”. Or so we were told. But then we saw the pictures. Marisa Abela was pictured outside London jazz bar Ronnie Scott’s, with the singer’s signature beehive in disarray; black eyeliner smeared […]

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MASSIVE ATTACK: The long read

Misunderstood masterpiece or unmitigated disaster? Massive Attack’s 100th Window at 20 The trip-hop collective’s fourth album left both fans and critics scratching their heads. But, with the project’s themes of digital paranoia, political tumult and anti-war sentiment, Ed Power argues that it’s never been more relevant Twenty years ago, Massive Attack’s golden streak went up […]

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PINK FLOYD WATERS / GILMORE FEUD: The long read

THE INDEPENDENT The row between former bandmates David Gilmour and Roger Waters has roared back into life after an extraordinary attack from Gilmour’s partner and Floyd lyricist, Polly Samson. Ed Power delves into a decades-long feud that’s incorporated everything from liner notes to Russia’s war on Ukraine Brick by brick, the feud between Pink Floyd’s […]

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MORRISEY: News

Morrissey has announced a new album, and it’s up for grabs to any label who wants it. News of his forthcoming release, titled Without Music The World Dies, was shared via the musician’s Messages from Morrissey website on Monday (20 February). According to the former Smiths frontman, the new record was recorded in ….. MORE

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A SHOT IN THE DARK: Nashville Jumps – Blues & Rhythm On Nashville’s Independent Labels (8CD+Book Boxset)

Early blues and R&B recorded in Nashville, Music City USA. Original recordings made for BULLET RECORDS, TENNESSEE and REPUBLIC RECORDS, EXCELLO and NASHBORO RECORDS, a.o. Members of Nashville’s vibrant black music scene including Cecil Gant, Wynonie Harris, B.B. King, Christine Kittrell, Don Q. Pullen, and Louis Brooks, a.m.o. are all presented here.In the accompanying book, Martin […]

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JAZZ: Is it a dying art form?

First published November 2013 From this Friday, jazz enjoys its annual moment in the spotlight as the London Jazz Festival kicks off around the capital – but while the two-week event attracts mainstream publicity and popular audiences, the genre at large is in trouble. Audiences are down every-where – even at Ronnie Scott’s in Soho, […]

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VALERY GERGIEV: News

  The maestro tells Andrew Stewart about his passion for Slavic culture – and Putin It takes less than a minute to rattle Valery Gergiev. He looks irritated while I mention the names of several younger Russian musicians whose careers are located firmly in the West, Vladimir Jurowski and Vasily Petrenko among them. The 59-year-old’s […]

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STONE ROSES: News

  From the archives: The sign says Spike Island was the “birthplace of the British chemical industry”. Well, that’s one way of putting it. For any music fan, the Widnes wildlife haven is synonymous with a more recent event: May 27, 1990, when The Stone Roses played their near-mythical gig to 27,000 fans. A genuine […]

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