Dream Band in Manchester tomorrow

North by northwest the Manchester Jazz Festival is currently happening and tomorrow tenorist Alex Hitchcock's Dream Band, in The Yard, are an eye-catching element within Steve Mead's long-running festival. Dream Band released by Catalan label Fresh …

Published: 22 May 2022. Updated: 18 months.

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North by northwest the Manchester Jazz Festival is currently happening and tomorrow tenorist Alex Hitchcock's Dream Band, in The Yard, are an eye-catching element within Steve Mead's long-running festival. Dream Band released by Catalan label Fresh Sound New Talent towards the tail end of last year was startlingly vivid and mature while essentially hugging the middle ground in the company of several line-ups.

The band (Cary Grant has been unavailable since 1986) that Hitchcock, above, another master of suspense in the making, though has with him is revealed by the organisers as: top-notch altoist Rachael Cohen; gifted pianist Deschanel Gordon heard compellingly last year on Brick Lane with Mark Kavuma during his 91 Living Room residency; stirring bassist Joe Downard and Empirical great, drummer Shaney Forbes. Hitchcock's own tunes are outstanding and his very fine technique certainly catnip for tenor sax lovers. Click for tickets

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Black Acid Soul by Lady Blackbird is currently the UK's biggest-selling jazz and blues album

While charting high very consistently since release the latest UK Official Jazz and Blues chart now features for the first time Black Acid Soul at number 1. Here's our live review of Lady Blackbird's first London gig last summer at the 100 Club …

Published: 21 May 2022. Updated: 18 months.

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While charting high very consistently since release the latest UK Official Jazz and Blues chart now features for the first time Black Acid Soul at number 1.

  • Here's our live review of Lady Blackbird's first London gig last summer at the 100 Club and there is a brief audio backstage interview with Lady B and Chris Seefried the singer's musical director and guitarist as an extra. Seefried produced Black Acid Soul, which is issued and distributed by the multi-national major label BMG in a deal with Ross Allen's London company Foundation Music Productions.
  • The 5-star album itself is reviewed here
  • Black Acid Soul also featured very high up in last year's marlbank albums of the year at no. 2 pipped only by an epic Abdullah Ibrahim solo piano album Solotude

Lady Blackbird photo: Christine Solomon