Music & Entertainment Blog

Continuing in our series looking at jazz's greatest albums and recordings, we are turning our head toward Charles Mingus. A master of the double bass and an excellent composer, Mingus is a legend of the jazz genre, but choosing a record to represent his influence can be difficult. Take a look at why we think Mingus Ah Um is a great example of what Mingus' brought to the genre. 

In this entry into our list of legendary jazz recordings, we’re looking at the current jazz star, Robert Glasper. With a slew of awards and a sound that screams the evolutions that jazz has gone through in recent years, Glasper is truly an artist to be heard and researched. You can really loose yourself in his work and back catalogue. In this blog we look at his incredible album, Black Radio.

In this week’s look at legendary jazz albums we are turning to two giants of the genre. In their classic record Ella & Louis, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong really prove that opposites do attract. You couldn’t get two singers with more distinctly different tones and yet the chemistry on show is beyond question.

In the third instalment of our look at legendary jazz albums and the musicians that made them, we are looking at the flamenco flair of the acoustic guitar on Friday Night in San Francisco. Read on to learn a little more about the men behind the record, the instrument and style they play and, of course, the recording itself.

Continuing in our look at some of the greatest jazz albums and musicians of all time we turn to the percussion section. Jo Jones has remained an icon of jazz drumming for decades and his influence can be seen in rock and roll and other genres of music too. Beginning with a short look at his life and his instrument, today we are looking at what makes The Jo Jones Special an essential for any jazz enthusiast or any one looking to learn a little more about the history of the genre.

In this new series of blogs we will be looking at some of the most important jazz albums and recordings. We will not only be looking at famous albums in the history of jazz but albums that just really represent changes in the genre when it comes to certain instruments or styles. They might not always be the biggest or most well known albums but they will all highlight an important moment in jazz history. We hope that all the albums featured can be both interesting to newcomers of the genre and to jazz aficionados alike! A list like this wouldn’t be complete without featuring John Coltrane so in this first entry we thought we start with his brilliant album, Giant Steps.

The most famous living guitarist in the world, Eric Clapton’s (b. 1945) career has passed through an extraordinary series of highs and lows during his five decades as a guitar hero. He has also experimented with numerous stylistic changes but has always returned to his first love, the blues.

No best blues guitarist lineup would be complete without a mention of Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954–90). Exploding on to a generally lethargic blues scene in 1983 with his Texas Flood album, Stevie Ray Vaughan administered a high-voltage charge that revitalized the blues with his stunning playing and imagination. 

Heading back to the Chicago blues classics, this week we take a look at George 'Buddy' Guy (b. 1936) who is known best for his influence on guitarists such as Jimmy Page (b. 1944), Keith Richards (b. 1943) and Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954–90).

Last of the 'Three Kings,' but not least, this week we have the short-lived hard-party musical career of Freddie King (1934–76), the father of many classic soul-stinging riffs and one of the first blues musicians in history to play in a mixed race group.