Here Come The Girls: Madeleine, Melody and Diana

This year sees the return of three of today’s finest female jazz singers; Madeleine Peyroux, Melody Gardot and Diana Krall. Each returns with a more mature outlook on life, a more sensual approach to the their music and another outstanding chapter in their recorded histories.

For Peyroux her album ‘Bare Bones’ sees her once again collaborate with the amazing musical talents of producer/writers Steely Dan’s Walter Becker and producer Larry Klein, who once again bring an innate level of musicality and sophistication to the album. It also sees her considerable gifts as a songwriter emerge to reveal her strongest and most personal set to date, since her wild days busking on the streets of Paris as a high school drop out before being discovered and going on to worldwide success and critical acclaim. ‘Bare Bones’ consolidates all of her previous promise with Peyroux writing all of the songs in collaboration with the likes of Julian Coryell, Joe Henry, David Batteau and Sean Wayland. One song, “I Must Be Saved,” was written entirely by Peyroux. The result is arguably her best album to date, an artistic breakthrough that finds her sublime voice wrapped around a collection of songs that she helped craft from their inception, marking her evolution as a songwriter.

Peyroux says the album builds from wariness, to loss, to acceptance, and finally to hope. “I’m really happy that I got to write,” says Peyroux, “It feels like a new segment, and it’s great work. I’m surrounded by beautiful sounds, really honest musicians, really honest playing.” It is indeed a fitting follow up to the success of her 2004 Rounder album ‘Careless Love’ that was a major ...

The Best Of Universal Jazz 2008

2008 has been a momentous year for many reasons, yet in spite of all the new uncertainties and challenges ahead, jazz has remained a vital and uplifting force that can get us trough the toughest of times.  Herbie Hancock proved this with his amazing double Grammy Award win for his beautiful album ‘River: The Joni Letters’ scooping the prestigious ‘Album Of The Year Award’. And as if to prove his continuing creativity and incredible staying power he performed a sell-out tour of the UK that culminated in two mesmerising shows at this year’s London Jazz Festival.



There have been outstanding albums from right across the spectrum of the Universal Jazz roster with bassist Dave Holland recording one of his finest works to date with his new sextet with the album ‘Pass It On’. Fellow bassist, and equally iconic figure in jazz, Charlie Haden explored his country roots with a stirring collection of charming Americana classics on ‘Ramblin’ Boy’ while piano legend Chick Corea toured the world with a reformed Return To Forever and also found time to record a stunning reworking of his classic ‘Crystal Silence’ album with vibes virtuoso Gary Burton.

New talent shone brightly as well with brilliant new albums from jazz chanteuses like Melody Gardot or Lizz Wright, with their outstanding albums ‘Worrisome Heart’ and ‘The Orchard’ respectively. Pianists Taylor Eigsti, Jef Neve and the amazing Danilo Perez all produced superb new albums spanning everything from swing, contemporary and world jazz influences. And not to be left behind trumpet star Roy Hargrove was back to his funky bebop best with ‘Ear Food’, likewise fiery multi-reedist James Carter reminded us that he’s a force to be reckone...

David Sanborn - Exclusive Video Interview

Iconic saxophonist David Sanborn is an unrivaled player who straddles the pop and jazz worlds while commanding respect in both. He's worked with everyone from Miles Davis to Stevie Wonder to The Rolling Stones to name just a few. Remember David Bowie's "Young Americans" or the Saturday Night Live theme - that's Sanborn.



He returns with his latest solo album Here & Gone that pays a heartfelt tribute to the sound of Sanborn's most formative influences Hank Crawford, David "Fathead" Newman, Ray Charles and other greats who mixed jazz, soul and R&B. For this supremely swinging blues set he's joined by a stunning band that includes Steve Gadd (drums) and Christian McBride (bass) with outstanding guest performances from Eric Clapton, Joss Stone, Sam Moore, Derek Trucks and Anthony Wilson. The album was produced by yet another legend and longtime friend: Phil Ramone.

Sanborn, who has been friends with Eric Clapton for many years and a collaborator with him on several previous projects, asked Eric to play on Percy Mayfield's 'I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town'. "Fortunately he agreed not only to sing on it but play on it! But he's got such a great understanding of what the music is about and the way it should be presented."

As a child, David had polio. His doctor suggested he play a wind instrument to improve his lung strength. His father took him to a basketball game in his hometown of St. Louis. Hank Crawford performed during halftime, Sanborn was inspired and immediately took up the sax - the rest is history. He talks about all this and more in our exclusive interview video, as he explains his deep love and passion for the music that first inspired him to become a musician.