Shaken, not stirred: Pure Desmond to tour

Des res: this long running German band samba shimmer and generously - while intentionally or not - ladle on the extra portions of Weißlacker with much gusto. Flavoured by the sound of Lorenz Hargassner's Paul Desmond-like alto saxophone, guitarist …

Published: 13 Feb 2023. Updated: 14 months.

Des res: this long running German band samba shimmer and generously - while intentionally or not - ladle on the extra portions of Weißlacker with much gusto. Flavoured by the sound of Lorenz Hargassner's Paul Desmond-like alto saxophone, guitarist Johann Weiss, bassist Christian Flohr and drummer Sebastian Deufel complete the sound. They're nothing like the Dave Brubeck quartet - the clue is in the occasionally Hank Marvin-like guitar solos. The James Bond stuff they play is familiar but not necessarily brilliant jazz vehicles although these plucky Germans are up for the challenge. More a James Last easy listen than the next edgiest thing ever, go on: pass the Nieheimer. Pure Desmond's upcoming dates include Matt and Phred's, Manchester on 2 March; Peggy's Skylight, Nottingham, 4 March and Komedia, Bath, 5 March.

Pure Desmond, photo: press

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Buzz grows as Sultan Stevenson track streams ahead of the pianist's debut album

One of the most anticipated debut releases by a UK pianist in many years arrives next month. And ahead of the 24 March release for Faithful One album track 'Guilty by Association' is streaming. The work of the McCoy Tyner influenced Sultan Stevenson…

Published: 13 Feb 2023. Updated: 14 months.

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One of the most anticipated debut releases by a UK pianist in many years arrives next month. And ahead of the 24 March release for Faithful One album track 'Guilty by Association' is streaming. The work of the McCoy Tyner influenced Sultan Stevenson, a pianist and fine writer who has been impressing all who have heard him on the London grassroots jazz club scene over the past few years, features guesting UK tenor saxophone icon Denys Baptiste - the last artist to have an album released in 2011 on the fabled Dune label - on 5 of the album's tracks which is rooted by Stevenson's trio double bassist Jacob Gryn and drummer Joel Waters plus on five tracks of the Whirlwind label release introducing trumpeter Josh Short.

Stevenson, from London of Barbadian and Vincentian lineage, is grounded in the church, bebop, swing and a wide range of music of the African diaspora. Sultan Stevenson photo: press is playing the Jazz Cafe in Camden on 31 March

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