Pershore 2025: Jazz on a Summer’s Day
Dave Doyle
September 29, 2025
How many concerts could you stand in one afternoon? Before August I’d have said two, perhaps three; that four would have my backside numb and
How many concerts could you stand in one afternoon? Before August I’d have said two, perhaps three; that four would have my backside numb and
As I write this, it’s September 2. The weather in southwest England is mostly still good, with mid-afternoon temperatures regularly approaching 25℃. But meteorologically speaking,
When I’m reviewing a record, I’ll often comment on how professional the production sounds. It’s always noted as a positive—from a quick word search of
So, my new friends in that local jazz trio which was seeking a pianist have heard me play keys and they have yet to ghost
If there’s one thing I miss about being a journo (and there is only one), it’s all the free theater tickets I used to enjoy.
I met a good friend for coffee the other day. I know she’s a good friend, because she turned up with a carrier bag full
For the first time in my life, I’m actually in a jazz band. I should caveat that claim by saying that my maybe-bandmates haven’t yet
After the minimalist musical joy that was reviewing a pared-down album, I was ready to hear something just a bit more symphonic. Enter stage left—and
Sometimes, important stuff just gets busied out: I still haven’t put the tumble dryer back together, called someone to fix the dishwasher and, until today,
The joy of digging through thrift store vinyl crates is the prospect of discovering new arrangements, new songs, even new bands or composers which had
I don’t know about you, but I simply cannot focus on work if I haven’t got music on. As an undergrad, Miles Davis and Dave
“Behind every great man, there is a great woman.” How many biographical articles have opened with that trite old aphorism? It acknowledges—quite rightly—that many of
Hello, reader—it’s been a while. (Happy New Year, by the way!) A while since I wrote, a while since I danced—a while since I did
There’s this internet meme from 2019 (bear with me) which goes, “Wake up babe, new just dropped.” The catchphrase implies insomnia-inducing levels of excitement about
I watched Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom the other night. I thought it was going to be a movie about music—it was not. Rather, it’s a
When I’m not writing about jazz, I’m a kids’ science educator. It’s true—since 2020 I’ve run a small business which delivers workshops and parties to
I live in South West England, amidst the glorious rolling green hills of the Cotswolds—or, more accurately, the scruffier end of a medium-sized town in
It’s only been a few months since I reviewed The Hot Toddies’ self-titled debut album, which was released last year. I’d like to think that
I’ve mentioned Swedish songstress and multi-instrumentalist marvel Gunhild Carling here more than once before, generally citing her as an example of either a uniquely superb
I’d never heard of non-profit Jazz at the Ballroom before today. I’m glad I finally got wise to them, as they’ve been busily celebrating “America’s
Last year, I happened across an old copy of Talking Jazz in a second-hand bookshop. The 1987 memoir is a compilation of essays and other
It’s a country sort of month this month, with both my review records having a hint of the wide open prairie about them. I felt
I’m a little too young to have experienced the philanthropic musical phenomenon that was Live Aid. Organized by Bob Geldof in 1985, the iconic charity
I must be up front with you, reader, and confess that I’m no expert on jug bands—they never really piqued my interest. I guess I
