MARK TURNER wallows in the virtuosity of Swansea Jazz Festival openers, Simon Spillett and Pete Long

HERE’S a story of two powerful and epochal saxophonists, one from the US, the other a Londoner.
The first is Wayne Shorter, born in Newark, New Jersey in 1933, who died in March this year, after a lifetime of jazz invention. The musical director and fiery hornman of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers in their most rampaging years between 1959-1963; leader of the series of ’60s insurgent albums for Blue Note, tenorist in one of Miles Davis’s most formidable quintets from 1964 -70, and co-instigator of Weather Report, a pioneering fusion band of electronic jazz.

CHRIS SEARLE encourages you to go hear a landmark performance, and introduces some of the musicians

CHRIS SEARLE hears the ordeal of the Palestinian people in the improvised musicianship of a UK jazz trio

Reviews of the Neil Charles Quartet, the Freddie Hubbard Quintet, and the Olie Brice Quartet

CHRIS SEARLE speaks to Chris Laurence, bassist and bandmate of saxophonist TONY COE