TOP NEWS JAZZ

Cafe Oto, LondonThe indefatigable saxophonist breathes endless life into the standards, straddling the line between tension and releaseThe standard is a quintessential concept in jazz. A canonical composition reinterpreted and disassembled by both new players and established elders, they are works that cement their place in tradition through virtue of ... read more

Jazz saxophonist, composer and brilliant arranger nicknamed Little Bird who enjoyed a seven-decade careerThe saxophonist Jimmy Heath, who has died aged 93, flew the flag for bebop – that hyperactive, melodically cryptic, highwire-act of a jazz idiom – with grace, wit and originality throughout a seven-decade career. He worked with ... read more

From the big-band era through bebop and fusion, Heath’s career straddled seven decades of jazz historyJimmy Heath, the US jazz performer and composer whose career spanned seven decades, has died of natural causes aged 93. His death was confirmed to the New York Times by his grandson Fa Mtume, who ... read more

The comic novelist on the genius of jazz organist Barbara Dennerlein, Spike Milligan’s Puckoon and his love of MunichBorn in Birmingham in 1961, Jonathan Coe studied at Cambridge and received a PhD in English literature from Warwick University, where he taught poetry. He published his first novel in 1987, gaining ... read more

From Waves to Beat Horizon, here’s our pick of the best films, concerts, exhibitions, theatre and dance over the next seven days Continue reading... ... read more

After three albums, the Atlantans have faced down racism, repression and commercial indifference – but, they say, pessimism is the easy way outLast February, Algiers released one of the most extraordinary tracks of 2019. Can the Sub_Bass Speak? was a five-minute collage of free-jazz sax, drums and sampled southern US ... read more

Jazz saxophonist was on ITV show discussing racism in the UK and treatment of Meghan MarkleThe musician Soweto Kinch has spoken of how he was not allowed into a first-class train carriage, despite carrying the right ticket, as he discussed racism in Britain following the treatment of Meghan Markle.The jazz ... read more

New Orleans and Cuban musicians join in Havana’s annual jazz festival, defying Trump’s efforts to weaken US-Cuba relations Continue reading... ... read more

My friend Jak Kilby, who has died aged 72, was a freelance photographer who documented the early years of the free jazz and free improvisation scene in London with great diligence and empathy. Following his mid-life conversion to the Muslim faith and his adoption of the name Muhsin, his camera ... read more

Wigmore Hall, LondonPianist Iyer’s postgrad arts course brought Ritual Ensemble together – and this was an uplifting evening, with a star performance from vocalist GanavyaVijay Iyer introduced the Ritual Ensemble’s concert in his Wigmore Hall composer-in-residence series by observing: “We all have an affiliation with Harvard University. But don’t hold ... read more

(Jellymould Jazz)There’s a rare unanimity of thought when saxophonist Stan Sulzmann and pianist Nikki Iles play together. The way they latch on to one another’s ideas is often surprising but never at cross purposes. They have held these elegant and good-humoured conversations on two previous albums, and this time, with ... read more

(International Anthem)The US trumpeter – and now vocalist – lets out a furious, chaotic shriek in response to Trump’s AmericaAt its peak, Jaimie Branch’s trumpet playing has the feeling of a prelingual shriek, a cry out into the distance that intuits no response. It’s a dark, deeply felt tone, which ... read more

Our pick of the year’s finest albums brings American dreaming, teenage dynamism, heartbreak, barbed rap, impetuous indie and beautiful soundscapesMore on the best music of 2019Continue reading... ... read more

We’ve announced our favourite releases of the year – now the Guardian’s music critics reveal their top picks of 2019The 50 best albums of 2019The 20 best songs of 2019AlbumsNick Cave and the Bad Seeds – GhosteenMichael Kiwanuka – KiwanukaSturgill Simpson – Sound and FuryBillie Eilish – When We All ... read more

(Ubuntu Music)This came out a few weeks ago, but I couldn’t let such a bold and deftly performed venture slip away unnoticed with the old year. It’s one thing to create bad imitations of Monk or Coltrane, and quite another to accept the fact that they are to be admired ... read more