JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2026: Hakim Jamal(UK)-Blue Black

“Blue Black” is the latest release of British composer, producer and multi-intsrumentalist Paul Wheatcroft aka Hakim Jamal.

A genuine music historian fusing past and present into unique conceptual projects he delivers a compelling concept-album blending vocal jazz with modern vibes. The sonic balance between past and present gives the theme of lost love a sophisticated timeless feel emerging from velvety bass lines, smooth piano and horns.

This alchemy brings in two worlds reimagined as one spectacular melodic performance composed by four themes explored on eleven colourful variations united by a sonic thread that binds them into an elegant format.

The composer is not contemporizing tradition with modern elements, he explores the essential of various genres to yield a signature sound, which “Blue Black” is the most delightful demonstration.

Hakim Jamal on Bandcamp

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2026

World Music Mix: Hakim Jamal(UK): Album: “Music From The Mint Hotel”(2023)

Nixon’s Priest
Based on a lilting 3/4 piano pattern, a jazzy and melancholy track with funky electric piano, acoustic guitar and moody saxophone solo.
Hunter S Thompson: “Father John McLaughlin revelled in his role as ’Nixon’s Priest’ (see “A Stroke Of Cheap Genius”) for about a month, but his start faded fast when it was discovered he was pulling down $25,000 a year and living in a luxury apartment at The Watergate. His superiors in the church were horrified… the Good Jesuit Father was planning to marry his girlfriend. McLaughlin disappeared very quickly and nothing has been heard of him since.”

“Music From The Mint Hotel” is multi-instrumentalist, and composer Hakim Jamal aka Paul Ashley Wheatcroft`s new album, a musical spectrum that includes jazz-funk, soul, R&B, and hip-hop, all expertly blended to fit the concept based on an essay by famous Beat Generation writer Hunter S. Thompson, known for his book “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” among his other best-sellers.

The album’s sonic construct gives the music an exquisite fluidity that take the listener on a cinematic journey through the stories of some fictional characters gathered during the (in)famous‘Mint 400’ Off-Road race. But one should not be familiar with Thopson’s writings to appreciate this wonderful album whose technical and artistic qualities deserve the superlative.

Each of the seventeen tracks stands on its own while seaminglessly integrated with the ensemble through a cohesive sound architecture that skillfully keeps an aesthetic balance between the retro flair and contemporary beats. Layers of instruments and vocal lines re-create the sound of the 60s along with “analog” retro vibes tastefully fused with deep seductive tempos sustained by lush bass lines.

Remarkably how the nostalgic feeling permeates the sonic ensemble as a whole, the composer built a creative bridge over time from today`s cultural perspective, and this is only one of the numerous aspects of the album that make listening to it an enjoyable listening experience.

Website CD Store

World Music Mix

 

Yuval Ron Trio European Tour 2023/4

Guitarist Yuval Ron is going on a European tour with his trio in 2023/4. Yuval Ron Trio’s style can be described as Cinematic Fusion as it combines elements of live playing, extensive instrumental compositions and a big, film-like background production of orchestral lines, soundscapes and sound effects. The show will mainly feature tunes from his latest album, Somewhere In This Universe, Somebody Hits a Drum which featured Marco Minnemann on drums, in new live trio rearrangements.

Currently confirmed tour dates:

APR 09  Zoetermeer, NL / Progdreams Festival
APR 21  Berlin, DE / Peppi Guggenheim
APR 22  Haan, DE / RRC Prog Night

MAY 26  Berlin, DE / Karneval der Kulturen
JUN 01  Tel Aviv, IL / Tmuna Theater
JUL 06  London, UK / Sci-Fi Rock Night
JUL 07  Abingdon, UK / Prog For Peart
NOV 15  Göppingen, DE / Jazz in Göppingen

NOV 16  Jena, DE / (TBC)

NOV 17  Leipzig, DE / naTo

NOV 18  Fürstenfeldbruck, DE / Subkultur

JAN 28 2024 Berlin, DE / Berlin Prog Night
FEB 23 2024 Hamburg, DE / Hamburg Prog Night

More info & tickets: https://www.yuvalron.com/live

Band Lineup:

Yuval Ron – guitar, vocals

Victor Nissim – bass

Yatziv Caspi – drums

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JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2022: Florian Arbenz, Jorge Vistel, Wolfgang Puschnig, Oren Marshall, Michael Arbenz-Conversation #8 – Ablaze

Swiss composer and drummer Florian Arbenz’s Conversations series continues with “Ablaze”, a new album where is joined by British tuba musician Oren Marshall, Austrian saxophonist Wolfgang Puschnig, Swiss pianist Michael Arbenz and Cuban trumpet player Jorge Vistel.

As always his drumming spans a wide spectrum of tonalities and rhythms, ranging from organic, free-flowing beats to strong strokes, which offers this all-star multinational gathering of talents support and vitality.

Right from the start British tuba player Oren Marshall showcases his prowess giving strength and heart to the interaction. On the opening track, “Catch Me If You Can,” the tuba’s rich, resonant tones support Florian Arbenz‘s inventive drumming and the vivacious free discussion between the trumpet and saxophone.

“Rivulets” starts off gently with the tuba soloing an amazing “throat singing”-like intro, followed by saxophone, and trumpet playing in unison, building further into a jazzy blues crescendo with all players dancing gleefully, before making room for exuberant saxophone and trumpet solos.
The lyrical highlight of the set is “Choral,” a gorgeous impressionistic work in which the melodic piano unfolds with all its splendour.

In full force “The Mirror” follows, the entertaining melodic line sustained by tuba introducing thrilling saxophone and trumpet solos. Freedom Dance present on Arbenz’s previous albums, gets new clothes reaching a big band quality full of surprises with Puschnig playing hojok (a Korean wind instrument). On “Wild flower,” a minimalist velvety ballad with moments of brilliance from Vistel’s trumpet, the pianist Michael Arbenz shines once more.

The free-form “Insight Straight” rounds up the seven-piece performance with a creative tour de force in which all the instruments combine their creative forces to produce an amalgam of unexpected sonorities.
Strongly advised for jazz lovers open to a “burning” artistic adventure.

Bandcamp

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2022

World Music Mix: Haftor Medbøe and Konrad Wiszniewski(UK)-Poiesis(Subcontinental Records, 2022)

 

World Music Mix: Haftor Medbøe and Konrad Wiszniewski(UK)-Poiesis(Subcontinental Records, 2022)

Poiesis is a mesmerizing improvisational musical journey that takes the listener on an ambient and ethereal adventure created by Haftor Medbøe on guitar/effects and Konrad Wiszniewski on saxophones. The album is collection of ten dialogues permeated by an unearthly sense of infinity and borderless astral energy.

What came out from the synergy between the two musicians is a balanced sonic experience in which each instrument finds its right place in time while leaving no room for overstated interventions. The result is not just organic in its essence but adventurous reaching the unexpected.

From mellow to majestic, going through meandrous melodic lines that reach the lyrical realm, the fusion between acoustic and electronics offers a singular and enthralling experience. It is also about the solidarity of human souls facing the mystery of the universe using the music as vehicle for meaningful expression.

As Ralph Waldo Emerson put it: “All life is an experiment”, a vision that both musicians embraced throughout their spiritual encounter fueled by individual creative freedom.

Website

World Music Mix

 #worldmusicmix #jazzalbums2022 #playlist #streaming #worldjazznews #crossover #worldmusic #newmusic #jazzworldquest  #electroacoustic #ambient #experimentalelectronic #scotland @haftormedboe #ambientmusic

World Music Mix: The B Roads(UK)-Anywhere You Want(2022)

 

The B Roads(UK)-One Way Trip
Composer: Paul O’Hara
Label: Manse music
Album : Anywhere You Want(2022)

A noir Jazz night road trip, to a 70’s soundtrack in a movie that doesn’t exist. Inspired by the roadmap of the UK, The B Roads is the alias of multi-instrumentalist John Paul Turner, mixing jazz, folk, blues and minimal to create reflections of middle age middle England. Ivor Novello winner Joris de Man calls The B Roads “Off-kilter, original and refreshing”, while the BBC Late Junction show named their ‘Senseless acts of beauty’ album ‘one of the most ear catching records of the year’

Website

World Music Mix

World Music Mix: Tom Glide feat. Sophia Ripley (UK)-A Deep Love

 

Tom Glide feat. Sophia Ripley (UK)-A Deep Love

Composer: Tom Glide

Tom comes back here with an organic , magical dream team/cast of international musicians as Eddie Brown on Pianos , Antoine Katz on Bass and Kamil Rustam on Acoustic Guitar , mixing and arranging the yummy jam with soulful house ,latin or afro spices in a groovy , contemporary jazz house saucepan . Good Appetite !
released November 26, 2021

Tom Glide feat. Sophia Ripley
A Deep Love ( Tom Glide / Sophia Ripley )
Sophia Ripley : Lead Vocals
Eddie Brown : Acoustic Piano , Rhodes Piano
Antoine Katz : Electric Bass
Kamil Rustam : Acoustic Guitar
Tom Glide : Synths , Percussions , Keyboards Programmation
Patrick Smadja : Production Coordinator , Percussions , Acoustic Ouichechla
Website

World Music Mix

World Music Mix: Hakim Jamal(UK)-Album: LA Night (2022)

Hakim Jamal(UK)-Neon Sign Album: LA Night 

Composer: Paul Ashley Wheatcroft
Label: TakingHead TV Recordings (2022) 

The new album from Hakim Jamal is inspired by the work of the great and sadly underrated Japanese Jazz-Funk musicians of the 1970s and 80s. It’s Hakim’s most uptempo album today, comprised of mostly instrumental dance/disco music with some stunning individual solos. Streaming 

Hakim Jamal-Neon Sign

Streaming CD Store Website

JazzWorldQuest Showcase 2022: Iwan VanHetten(UK) – Parrabean Tales (Blue Canoe Records 2022)

 

Iwan VanHetten(UK) – Parrabean Tales Composer: Iwan VanHetten Album: Parrabean Tales Label: Blue Canoe Records

 Blue Canoe proudly presents the addition of trumpet player Iwan VanHetten to their roster. Parabbean Tales is VanHetten’s latest solo album and features a stellar cast of Grammy Award winning musicians including Yellowjackets members Will Kennedy, Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip and Bob Mintzer as well as Lenny Castro, Melvin Davis and Andy Narell. In Parabbean Tales Iwan combines the rhythms and melodies of Caribbean music and contemporary jazz with a strong groove to weave a narrative of his childhood and express the love for his native music. Iwan’s career as a trumpet and keyboard player, composer, arranger and producer spans over twenty-five years of touring, performing and recording as a solo artist and with some of the greatest names in the industry including Candy Dulfer and Sister Sledge. All songs on Parabbean Tales are composed, produced and arranged by Iwan VanHetten. 

Website @Blue Canoe Records

World Music Mix: Hakim Jamal(UK) Album: When You Are Who You Are

Hakim Jamal(UK)
At Last I Am Free/Think I’ll Call It A Day/We Are Who We Are
Album: When You Are Who You Are
Composer: Paul Ashley Wheatcroft
Label: TakingHead TV Recordings (2022)
When You Are What You Are’ is the new studio album by Hakim Jamal, slated for release in Spring 2022. The album is a return to Hakim’s jazz roots, and of course nods towards the ever-present influence of black songwriters and the black power movement.
Streaming CD Store Website

Jazz Festivals News: USA, UK, SWITZERLAND

 

Performance artists take stage at Don't Miss a Beat Jazz Festival at Woodstock Park
ActionNewsJax.com
The Jazz Festival is a family-friendly event that will feature performances by artists from the Jacksonville area and beyond

Aberjazz Fishguard Jazz festival makes welcome return
Western Telegraph
FISHGUARD will be jumping to jazz during the August Bank Holiday weekend as the Fishguard Jazz Festival, organised by Aberjazz return

Ellicottville hosts annual summer jazz festival
Spectrum News
Ellicottville hosts annual summer jazz festival. By Spectrum News Staff Ellicottville. PUBLISHED 6:49 AM ET Jul. 25, .

Hermance: une 29e édition de Jazz sur la plage sur réservation
bluewin.ch

WORLD MUSIC MIX: Hakim Jamal(UK)-Album: U Come Thru (2021)

 Hakim Jamal(UK)-Lord, Here I Come

Composer: Paul Wheatcroft
Album: U Come Thru (2021)
Label: TalkingHeadTV Recordings
This is the first track from the new LP, ‘U Come Thru’. I’ve long had an interest in traditional black music and felt the time was right to re-appraise and musically investigate the genres of Blues and Gospel. There are 8 tracks on the album and each of them is a modern reworking of either a Southern Baptist hymn or a traditional Blues song. The vibe is a kind of mashup of styles, trying to link the secular Blues medium with the religious Gospel one. Yet as with ‘In My Mind’ both styles are set against stripped-down hip-hop beats and jazzy figures. The aim is to use an 8-track style approach to limit the number of instruments and give room to the vocal samples I’m using.
Website CD Store

World Music Mix: Hakim Jamal(UK)-In My Mind (2021)

 Hakim Jamal-In My Mind (2021)

Welcome to the world of Hakim Jamal’s evolved silky grooves from the ’70s, augmented by a vivid complex instrumentation and glamorous female vocals. “In my mind” takes the past to a new level reaching a climax of luscious enigmatic sonicscapes travelled by hypnotic sensual grooves. Extended arrangements and propulsive funky basslines just add to the intensity and mystique of this exotic land inhabited by languorous rhythms. An album that will please both your ears and your soul.

Website

http://jazzworldquest.com/music-mix

@hakimjamalmusic #JazzFusion #jazzmusicians #jazzmusic #jazzpromotion #worldjazz #jazzfunk #jazzalbums2021 #jazzalbums #indiejazz #playlist #streaming #Music #worldmusicmix #jazzworldquest #funk #soul #discover #IsaacHayes #funk #triphop

World Music Mix: Konstantin Nikolaev(UK)-6:59 / Album: One Minute To Seven (2020)

 

Konstantin Nikolaev(UK)-6:59
Composer: Konstantin Nikolaev
Album: One Minute To Seven (2020)

“One Minute To Seven” is a surprising album for many reasons. First in line comes the excellent quality of original compositions and arrangements. Various styles, rhythms and genres are brought together under one creative roof by Konstantin Nikolaev a COO of a London based IT company as he presents himself. He sings with warmth and feeling about life, love, and family, giving voice to a rainbow of emotions. Konstantin plays all of the instruments, he wrote the lyrics, and then recorded the entire album. From the first to the last track, this one-man band album is highly enjoyable.
YouTube | Apple Music | LinkedIn

World Music Mix: Hakim Jamal(UK)-The Soul Of Hakim Jamal(2021)

 

World Music Mix: Hakim Jamal(UK)-The Soul Of Hakim Jamal(2021)

Personnel
Drums: Curtis ‘Stubblefield’, Benny Powell, Che Ramirez
Percussion: Augustin Espina, Rose Valdes
Bass: Simon Goulding
Guitars: Rob Aitken, Paul Wheatcroft, Ray Russell
Keyboards/Programming: Paul Wheatcroft
Brass: Simon Beddoe, Rob Mitchell, Snake Davis
Strings: Jessica Diamond
Backing Vocals: Adjua, Sulene Fleming, Humphrey, Leo Wood, Joshua David
Lead Vocals: Paul Wheatcroft
Sampled Voices: John F. Kennedy Jr., Reverent Jones, Peter Dyneley, Chet Faker , Musical Direction, Voodoo: Hakim Jamal
Composition, Arrangements, Engineering, Production: Paul Wheatcroft

An album covering a wide range of black music styles, from funk, to disco, to jazz and soul.

This is an album about people with 'soul.' You may not like all of the characters (some factual, others fictional) which the album is based upon; but good or bad, what they share is desire: life-affirming desire.

Here's just a few of the things people are saying about the album:
“Wonderful vibes! Throws us back to the late 60s, early 70s movie soundtrack grooves.” - Da Silve & Lino, Music Producers for Universal, Sony, Warners

“This is Jazz 2021!” - Mark Roberts, Record Industry Of America Multi-Platinum Songwriter

"In all seriousness... On 1st Feb @HakimJa95723384 releases 'The Soul of Hakim Jamal' which is off the scale of beautiful."
- Craig Bunce, Horsham Theatre Manager

“That's some seriously soulful feel-good lounge/nightclub music right there. Can't help but feel the influence of Curtis Mayfield's work there, among a few others.” - Da Silva and Lino, Music Producers for Universal, Sony, Warners

“@Hakim Jamal I feel the heat ... cool funky grooves. Thank you.” - Audrey Hall, Radio Presenter ALLFM

“Awesome!” - George Miller, Universal Music Group

“Hakim Jamal: Chart-topping LA Artist riding high in music fans' playlist.” - ReverbNation

Website

CANADA/UK/Czech Republic: Antoine Fafard'-Chemical Reactions - Pre-order your copy

 

Chemical Reactions The new joint album project with Gavin Harrison on drums I'm glad to announce the upcoming release of a joint album project I produced in equal partnership with Gavin Harrison. The title of the album is Chemical Reactions and consists in probably the most ambitious project I've been involved in to this day. It all began with the concept of composing music to full symphonic orchestra... and from that simple idea, things eventually materialized into something real. In Chemical Reactions, you'll find music performed by the Janacek Philharmonic orchestra recorded in its home town of Ostrava, in the Czech Republic. The album also offers music performed by a string quartet, and to top of it all, old-time collaborator Jerry Goodman is also featured on one piece. I hope you'll check out this new venture. Gavin and I will be posting videos related to this project into the weeks to come and I hope you'll enjoy what we came up with. Many thanks for your support! Antoine

Pre-order Chemical Reactions You will automatically receive a download link for the digital album immediately after purchase. The CD will be shipped to you as soon as manufactured Gavin Harrison and Antoine Fafard's new upcoming album entitled Chemical Reactions can now be pre-ordered

UK/RUSSIA: Yuri Goloubev - Two Chevrons Apart (Basho 2020)

The internationally acclaimed bassist and composer releases his first album as leader with Basho Records, emphasising rich harmony, powerful melodic lines and a playful sense of humour.

‘In this music, I feel that jazz is alive, healthy and moving forward in the 21st Century’ – Bob James, Grammy winning pianist  

Born in Moscow, bassist and composer Yuri Goloubev has made the transition between an acclaimed classical music career and successful jazz performance with unusual fluidity and authority. Goloubev has featured on over 100 recordings and is in high demand as a musician internationally. ‘Two Chevrons Apart’ features a quartet with Tim Garland, John Turville and Asaf Sirkis and is his first release as leader for Basho Records (he also featured on pianist Gwilym Simcock’s Blues Vignette album).Basho 

UK:Kevin Haynes Grupo Elegua - Ajo Se Po (2020)

 

Ajo Se Po is the third album by alto-saxophonist and percussionist Kevin Haynes, released with his band Grupo Elegua. The album integrates musical elements with references to his deepening spiritual understanding. Haynes has created a modal harmonic language incorporating Afro-Cuban melodies and classical kora playing - his alto-sax, infusing the album with a personal 'voice'. Yoruba spirituality is at the heart of Haynes' musical thinking which also includes both Nigerian and Cuban dimensions. 

This is especially reflected by the use of recitation and Cuban bata drumming being employed on all tracks, with each piece growing out of a particular bata rhythm. Each such rhythm is dedicated to a particular Orisha, or divinity. As well as influences from Afro-Cuban, Native Nigerian and folkloric Bata, Haynes' music is a fusion of contemporary jazz incorporating Mandinga folk and praise songs and hard bop. Kevin Haynes and Grupo Elegua have performed at renowned jazz festivals including Havana Jazz Festival, Cuba and Salamanca Jazz Festival, Spain. Haynes has also featured on Moses Boyd's hit album Displaced Diaspora.

Kevin Haynes - Saxophone Bata drums and Lead vocals Ronald Thomas - Bata drums backing vocals Bill Bland - Bata drums backing vocals Jonathan Idiagbona - Piano Diabel Cissohko - Kora vocals Neville Malcolm - Double Bass Shane Forbes - Drum kit Lanre Olafia Olemuyiwa - Narration vocals Illam Jalal - Backing vocals Paula Allen - Backing vocals