"There were 8 Million stories at the 2021 EFG London Jazz Festival. These are 4 of them..."

“T” Stands for Tony

"On the mornings before the nights after, two ensemble groups prepare to celebrate the music of “Uncle” Tony Allen and Marvin Gaye’s watershed albums What’s Going On + Trouble Man."

Entangled Monuments

"“Communal”, “spontaneous”, “fiery” and “urgent” are adjectives equally and frequently attributed to International Anthem’s Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble and Irreversible Entanglements. Is the bond that generates spontaneous expression discernible in the minutes before and after their London shows?"

Xhosa & Joe & Jas & Chums*

"Drummer Jas Kayser and Tenor Saxophonist Xhosa Cole are among the very brightest young stars in the UK Jazz celestial sphere. Here, they and their bandmates are bridesmaids for a night, ‘supporting’ stateside superstars Cecile McLorin Salvant and Theo Croker/Kassa Overall in their respective Cadogan Hall and Oslo (Hackney) gigs."

*"“Xhosa & Joe & Jas & Chums” doubles as a reference to those Experimental Jetset t-shirts worn by cooler much younger folks than myself. The ones that bring out my inner Larry David."

It’s Time

"Shell down. Like the Max Roach album from which the name is lifted, ‘It’s Time” is a sprawling, panoramic, free-for-all, Bombay Mix of the EFG London Jazz Festival gig experience. In the key of spectator POV."

- George Nelson