Celebrating Mingus 100 review – awestruck tribute to a jazz genius
Played by a classy nonet at Berlin’s Philharmonie hall, at its best this set of Charles Mingus material is full of the exultant, forward-charging energy of its composer
October 2021
Pasquale Grasso: Pasquale Plays Duke review – boggling brilliance from the guitar virtuoso
From Cleopatra’s sorrow to Duke Ellington’s solitude, music helps us heal
Joyce DiDonato
December 2020
Claude Bolling obituary
Leading figure in French jazz, as a pianist, composer and bandleader, who also wrote more than 100 film scores
July 2020
Bringing black composers into exam syllabuses
Letters: A syllabus for one instrument can take anything up to four years to develop, writes Leslie East, former chief executive of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, whileLaurie Smith highlights George Bridgetower
June 2020
Keith Tippett obituary
Brilliant jazz pianist and composer who could make the outlands of modern music feel like the most hospitable of places
August 2019
Experience
Experience: I’m a world-class whistler
I do between 75 and 100 concerts a year and earn twice as much as I did as a nurse
July 2019
The week in theatre: The Bridges of Madison County; Oklahoma!; Blues in the Night – review
Three musicals explore every shade of love and longing
April 2019
Sharp suits, thin ties and the coolest musicians on Earth: Jazz 625 is back!
It was a piece of black and white magic, a perfect fusion of sound and music boasting Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington – and lots of smoke. Can the landmark TV show now bewitch a new generation of fans?
August 2017
Other lives
Sandi Russell obituary
Kandace Springs on Ella Fitzgerald at 100: 'She'll always be my hero'
April 2017
Duke Ellington: An Intimate Piano Session review – always striking the right note
(Storyville)
March 2017
Readers recommend
Readers recommend playlist: songs about purple
Mary Lou Williams: Live at the Cookery review – a unique talent
February 2017
From the Guardian archive
'Genius' Duke Ellington concludes British tour - archive, 1967
22 February 1967: Ellington’s sacred music package is a strange amalgam of Ellingtonia, gospel music and show business
December 2016
Duke Ellington: The DukeBox 2 review – a trove of fascinating Ellingtonia
August 2016
Music blog
Claire van Kampen: my favourite Shakespeare-inspired compositions
Without the riches of Shakespeare, the musical world would be a poorer place. The composer, playwright and director picks her 10 favourite pieces
July 2016
Charles Davis obituary
Jazz saxophonist and composer who performed with John Coltrane, Philly Joe Jones and Dizzy Gillespie among many others
May 2016
Buster Cooper obituary
Dynamic jazz trombonist who played for Duke Ellington, excelled in Hollywood and toured around the world
March 2016
Duke Ellington: Rotterdam 1969 review – the bandleader and friends on fine form
This live concert recording of Duke Ellington and many of his star musicians captures them at the top of their untidy, glorious game
