Tag Archives: Fiona Mactaggart

Festival Review: Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival (EJBF) July 2022

Text and photos by Fiona Mactaggart

This year’s lavish, multi-venue, ten-day juggernaut of an Edinburgh Jazz and
Blues Festival (EJBF) opened with a bang, with a ‘Mardi Gras’ in Edinburgh old
town’s Grassmarket and an Edinburgh Festival Carnival along the beautiful,
new town Princes Street getting the party started over the first few days. EJBF
has now screeched to a halt while some other festivals Edinburgh is famous for
have taken off, and it feels timely to reflect on some of this year’s jazz festival
offerings.

Bigger than ever this year, EJBF encompassed a wide range of jazz and blues
and prompted the feeling that there may have almost been as many bands
coming from overseas as from within Scotland itself.

EJBF

De Beren Gieren

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Keyna Wilkins

CD Review: Keyna Wilkins and Jalal Mahamede “Set Me Free” – Musical improvisation to the poetry of a refugee in detention in Australia.

Keyna Wilkins & Jalal Mahamede Artist: Keyna Wilkins & Jalal Mahamede
Title:
 Set Me Free
Label: Artist release
Genre: Improvisation and spoken word
CD & Digital release:  November 2021

Review by Fiona Mactaggart

“I love my tears as much as my laughter. I need my tears as they ease my pain.”

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Evelyn Laurie

CD Review: Evelyn Laurie “My Scottish Heart” – Scottish Jazz/Folk from the UK

Evelyn LaurieArtist: Evelyn Laurie
Title: My Scottish Heart
Label: Evelyn Laurie
Genre: Scottish jazz/folk from the UK
CD & Digital release:  August 6, 2021

Review by Fiona Mactaggart

Paisley, the Scottish town that is famous for its textiles and ‘Paisley pattern’ has over the years produced more than its fair share of creatives, from weaver poet Robert Tannahill, to folk popstar Kenneth McKellar and artist John Byrne. From this rich cultural background Paisley buddy Evelyn Laurie released her debut album A Little Bit of Me in 2018 to a very positive reception, and it is likely her charming follow-up album My Scottish Heart will be similarly popular.

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CD Review: Glasgow’s Glasshopper “Fortune Rules”

Glasshopper Artist: Glasshopper
Title: Fortune Rules
Label: AMP Music and Records
Genre: Spiritual jazz/ jazz-rock from the UK
CD & Digital release: 30 November, 2020
Review by Fiona Mactaggart

As anyone who, at last month’s EFG London Jazz Festival experienced the thoughtful and candid, often filmic soundscapes of London-based band Glasshopper will testify, this 6-year-old band’s debut album Fortune Rules has been worth the wait.

Glasshopper. L-R: Jonathan Chung, Corrie Dick, James Kitchman. Photo credit: Marieke Macklon

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