After years hidden away, Oldham’s memorial to six local volunteers who died fighting fascism in the Spanish civil war has been restored to public view, marking both a victory for campaigners and a renewed tribute to the town’s proud International Brigade heritage, says ROB HARGREAVES
John Edwards and Mark Sanders
Nisus Duets (Emanem 4094)
John Butcher and John Edwards
Optic (Emanem 4039)
John Edwards
Volume (psi 08.09)
STRANGE how a boyhood encounter with a two-stringed ukulele could have sparked the formation of one of Britain’s finest improvising bassists.
John Edwards was born in Hounslow, west London, in 1964. His elder brother played drums in a punk band and John would add to the rhythm on the front room chair arms.
When he picked up the ukulele, he made bass lines by plucking its two strings as if it were a bass guitar.
As part of the 2025 London Jazz Festival Rich Mix offered intriguing sessions titled 'Persian Jazz,' CHRIS SEARLE was there
Re-releases from Bobby Wellins/Kenny Wheeler Quintet, Larry Stabbins/Keith Tippet/Louis Moholo-Moholo, and Charles Mingus Quintet
CHRIS SEARLE wallows in an evening of high class improvised jazz, and recommends upcoming highlights in May
STEVE JOHNSON, CHRIS SEARLE and TONY BURKE review new releases from Steve Knightley, Jupiter & Okwess, Jason Palmer, Lisa Knapp and Gerry Driver, Kin'Gongolo Kiniata, Ingrid Laubrock/Tom Rainey, Dan Sealey, Simin Tande, PAZ



