In his Creole tribute to Louis Armstrong, I Love Louis, Gwyn Jay Allen weaves together the lives of the great man himself, taking us on a musical journey from West London to West Africa by way of New Orleans--as this writer discovers the wonderful world of Gwyn Jay Allen, and an album you can’t help but fall in love with. It was not the way any journalist would want to introduce themselves to an artist they’re hoping to interview. A text from my friend, passing …

Liane Carroll was the UK's best kept, jazz secret. Not any longer. In a week that saw her win ‘Jazz Musician of the Year’ at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, I met the multi-award winning artist and discovered that lunching with Liane is very much like hearing her play live. One moment you’re laughing along with her, sharing her joy, the next moment you're fighting back tears as she breaks your heart with the sadness of her stories. Liane and I meet in London’s foodie hotspot, Bo …

Claire Martin, ‘UK’s best jazz vocalist,’ made her debut at The Oak Room of the legendary Algonquin Hotel, on New York’s West Forty Forth Street this summer. Coinciding with the release of her twelfth album, He Never Mentioned Love, a tribute to the late, great Shirley Horn. We spoke with Claire on her return to the UK about The Algonquin, her musical friends and returning home again to the sea. Claire Martin’s Algonquin debut had been a long time in …