BBC Young Jazz Musician 2020 entries open

BBC Young Jazz Musician – the BBC’s platform for young, talented jazz musicians – recently announced that applications were open for the 2020 edition of the competition.

Following the success of the first three editions, the biennial BBC Young Jazz Musician competition returns in 2020 to support and celebrate the wealth of young talent on the UK jazz scene

The 2018 edition was one by Xhosa Cole, rising star saxophonist, who went on to be awarded as Jazz Newcomer of the Year in the 2019 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, as well as performing in some of the UK’s most prestigious venues.

To find out more go here

Jorja Smith, Ezra Collective and more unite for ‘Blue Note Imagined’

Blue Note Re:imagined presents classic Blue Note tracks, reworked and newly recorded by a selection of the UK scene’s most exciting young talents today.

Representing a bridge between the ground-breaking label’s past and future, the project will feature contributions from a rollcall of internationally acclaimed jazz, soul and R&B acts – Shabaka Hutchings, Ezra Collective, Nubya Garcia, Mr Jukes, Steam Down, Skinny Pelembe, Emma-Jean Thackray, Poppy Ajudha, Jordan Rakei, Fieh, Ishmael Ensemble, Blue Lab Beats, Melt Yourself Down, Yazmin Lacey, Alfa Mist, and Brit Award-winning Jorja Smith.

Blue Note Re:imagined will be released September 25 and is available for pre-order now on vinyl, CD, and digital formats.

Jorja Smith – Rose Rouge (St. Germain cover) Review

R&B starlet Jorja Smith drops her new single ‘Rose Rouge’ originally wrtten by St Germain from 2000 album ‘Tourist’.

On the lead single from upcoming Blue Note Record’s Blue Note Re:imagined compilation Jorja gives an sultry interpratation to the orginally vocal-less jazz track from the French musician.

Stylistically the track is new sound from her own sound but not too far from her collaboration with jazz ensemble ‘Ezra Collective’.

Jorja gives a typical confident croon over complex jazz arrangements that is ultimately captivating.