Mike Westbrook congeda il 2025 ripensando alle ultime note eseguite in pubblico dalla Band of Bands, l'inattesa ripresa di un celebre tema dedicato ai compianti Danilo Terenzi e Tony Marsh a conclusione del concerto dello scorso 23 novembre al Livermead Cliff Hotel di Torquay: "Torquay was one of those gigs that nobody wants to end. We’ve said pretty well everything that needs to be said, in music, song and improvisation. What’s left? My only thought was a reprise of D.T.T.M., which we’d played in an extended version during the set. There are a few well wrought, time honoured phrases in that short song that are pure gold. I needed to hear them again. Both as an end-of-year signing off and a promise that this special blues will be there next year, and forever. There was a moment of confusion before Marcus took charge, followed by Matt on keyboard, while Pete and Chris were deciding what should happen next. Then the two altos were joined by Karen’s accordion in that bewitching unison sound which is such a feature of the Band of Bands. Quiet and soulful at first, then with Coach and Marcus slipping effortlessly into gear, and choice fills from Matt, taking the line to its passionate conclusion. Kate and I weren’t playing. Just to be there was enough."

https://www.westbrookjazz.co.uk/pictureshow/January2026.shtml

Tra le iniziative che Mark Wastell condurrà nel corso del 2026 per festeggiare i trent'anni di attività della sua encomiabile etichetta Confront Recordings c'è una serie di concerti in forma di dialogo dal titolo Duo-intern in programma a cadenza mensile a Londra presso la Hundred Years Gallery. Il primo incontro, sabato scorso, è stato con il contrabbassista Graham MacKeachan: è documentato su YT.

https://www.confrontrecordings.com
http://hundredyearsgallery.co.uk

Delle due splendide serate da tutto esaurito al Cafe Oto londinese dedicate al quartetto di Alexander von Schlippenbach con Evan Parker, John Edwards e Paal Nilssen-Love la seconda, quella di sabato 10 gennaio, è stata trasmessa in live streaming per la gioia di chi non ha potuto essere presente di persona, mentre la prima è recensita (e illustrata) da Geoff Winston su UK Jazz News. Altre immagini fotografiche si trovano su FB alle pagine di Peter Freeman e di Seán Kelly.

"On a stormy night in London town, the quartet of pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach with Evan Parker (tenor sax), John Edwards (double bass) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums, percussion), played two storming, uninterrupted, extemporised sets on the first night of their two-day residency at Cafe Oto, underpinned by their commitment to invention, close musical dialogue and technique of the highest order. With von Schlippenbach and Parker batting the melodic initiatives back and forth, Edwards and Nilssen-Love marked out the engine room, driving and moderating pace with flair, energy and imagination. Each musician dug deep to expand on themes picked out by Schlippenbach’s large, nimble hands spanning the Yamaha’s keyboard to chart, with shared knowledge and awareness, a rich musical seam brimming with surprise and inspiration." 

https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/schlippenbach-parker-edwards-nilssen-love