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John Fordham

Headshot of John Fordham

John Fordham is the Guardian's main jazz critic. He has written several books on the subject, reported on it for publications including Time Out, Sounds, Wire and Word, and contributed to documentaries for radio and TV. He is a former editor of Time Out, City Limits and Jazz UK, and regularly contributes to BBC Radio 3's Jazz on 3

May 2023

  • Claude Tchamitchian, Clément Petit, Zaza Desiderio and Naïssam Jalal

    Jazz album of the month
    Naïssam Jalal: Healing Rituals review – cinematic album salutes the natural world

    A remarkable artist, the visionary flautist and her skilful partners have created a startling album that draws on techniques from classical, jazz, hip-hop and more

April 2023

  • Chet Baker performing in Amsterdam, 1983.

    Jazz album of the month
    Chet Baker: Blue Room review – gorgeous unreleased sessions by maestro of drowsy jazz

  • FILES-US-MUSIC-JAZZ-JAMAL-OBIT<br>(FILES) In this file photo taken on August 04, 2016 US jazz pianist and composer, Ahmad Jamal (born Frederick Russell Jones) performs during a concert in the Marciac Jazz Festival in Marciac. - Ahmad Jamal, a towering and influential jazz pianist, composer and band leader in a career spanning more than seven decades, has died at age 92, news reports said Sunday. Jamal's widow Laura Hess-Hey confirmed his death but did not give details, The Washington Post reported. Music news outlets in France and Britain also reported his death. (Photo by Rémy GABALDA / AFP) (Photo by REMY GABALDA/AFP via Getty Images)

    Ahmad Jamal obituary

March 2023

  • Tony Coe And John Picard<br>Tony Coe and John Picard, Bulls Head, Barnes, London, 2006. Artist Brian Foskett. (Photo by National Jazz Archive/Heritage Images via Getty Images)

    Tony Coe obituary

  • Ballaké Sissoko, Émile Parisien, Vincent Segal and Vincent Peirani

    Jazz album of the month
    Sissoko/Segal/Parisien/Peirani: Les Égarés review – genre-hoppers stray towards surprise

February 2023

  • Brad Mehldau, playing piano at the Lobero theatre, California, in 2017.

    Jazz album of the month
    Your Mother Should Know: Brad Mehldau Plays the Beatles review – classy jazz homage

    In a powerful live recording, the piano virtuoso brings out the boogie, blues and gospel in the Fab Four’s songs

January 2023

  • The Art Ensemble of Chicago on stage.

    Jazz album of the month
    Art Ensemble of Chicago: The Sixth Decade: From Paris to Paris review – devoted heirs carry the torch

    A live set celebrating the group’s 50th anniversary loops in a 20-piece orchestra, rousing poetry and new improvisers among the hardcore veterans

December 2022

  • Stewart Lee, Aidan Turner and Jenna Coleman, Beverley Knight and Sharon Rose, and Abba.

    The anti-hibernation culture guide: something to enjoy for every day in January

    You can spend the next few weeks under the duvet and in front of the telly, or enjoy world-class art, theatre, music, film and standup – here’s an event for each of the next 31 days
  • Fusion … Makaya McCraven, Mary Halvorson and Charles Lloyd.

    Best music 2022
    The 10 best jazz albums of 2022

    Kokoroko sounded fresh on their debut record, we heard a classic bebop set from the late, great Joe Harriott, and Charles Lloyd completed his three-part trio masterpiece
  • Brian Blain went on the road as promotions officer for the Musicians’ Union’s Keep Music Live campaign

    Other lives
    Brian Blain obituary

    Other lives: Jazz lover who gave up teaching for involvement in a variety of music organisations

November 2022

  • Modest maestro … Esbjörn Svensson

    Jazz album of the month
    Esbjörn Svensson: HOME.S. review – buoyant, capricious, sweepingly melodic

    This recently discovered piano meditation from the modest maestro behind the Esbjörn Svensson Trio will entrance fans and fascinate newcomers

October 2022

  • Marshall Allen, 98, leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra.

    Jazz album of the month
    Sun Ra Arkestra: Living Sky review – Marshall Allen keeps the cosmic flame alive

    The 98-year-old Arkestra vet Allen keeps the Ra flame burning with tranquil, semi-free jazz passages featuring kora, piano and his own abrasive sax. Even Chopin gets a look-in

September 2022

  • Keith Jarrett.

    Jazz album of the month
    Keith Jarrett: Bordeaux Concert review – a fearless final performance

  • Brian Blade, Christian McBride, Joshua Redman and Brad Mehldau AKA Joshua Redman Quartet.

    Jazz album of the month
    Joshua Redman Quartet: LongGone review – musical soulmates reunite to stunning effect

August 2022

  • Space, reflection and devotion … Charles Lloyd.

    Jazz album of the month
    Charles Lloyd Trios: Ocean review – a rich mix from a master enchanter

    Devotion to jazz’s roots fill the latest album from the veteran saxophonist and flautist, which at times seems an almost private interchange

July 2022

  • Barbara Thompson’s saxophone voice ranged from ‘the sensuous lyricism of Coleman Hawkins or Stan Getz to the power of John Coltrane’s turbulent soliloquies’

    Barbara Thompson obituary

  • Genius … Charles Mingus (right) in Paris in the 1960s.

    Jazz album of the month
    Celebrating Mingus 100 review – awestruck tribute to a jazz genius

June 2022

  • Palpable delight in jamming … Avishai Cohen Trio – Cohen, Roni Kaspi and Elchin Shirinov.

    Jazz album of the month
    Avishai Cohen Trio: Shifting Sands review – exhilarating, incandescent jazz

    With Elchin Shirinov on keys and 21-year-old sensation Roni Kaspi on drums, Cohen delivers a stark, superb set

May 2022

  • A composer of unpredictable but warmly expressive character … Mary Halvorson.

    Jazz album of the month
    Mary Halvorson: Amaryllis / Belladonna review – new landmarks in an inimitable jazz discography

    The release of two contrasting albums demonstrate how far this inventive, singleminded guitarist has come, and offers a glimpse of a dazzling future

April 2022

  • ‘Expressive power’ … Trish Clowes.

    Jazz album of the month
    Trish Clowes: A View With a Room review – a dreamy mix of structure and eclectic improv

    Cinematic reveries and uncliched improv come together on the saxophonist-composer’s impressive seventh album
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