World renowned, award-winning, multi-Platinum-selling singer Diana Krall returns this year with one of her most beautiful albums to date as she explores the sumptuous Brazilian jazz songbooks. Entitled 'Quiet Nights' and released at the end of March 2009 this is a sensual, mature collection of songs from one of today's most alluring jazz singers. From Krall's refreshing version of "Where or When," to an utterly soul-stilling rendition of "You're My Thrill," the ten songs on Quiet Nights are disarming in their intimacy. Even those already familiar with the breathy vocals and rhythmic lilt in Krall's music - and now there are millions - will be taken aback by just how far the music pushes, unabashedly, into the realm of sweet surrender. "It's a sensual, downright erotic record and it's intended to be that way." Krall is the first to credit the musical team she assembled - her loyal quartet, ace producer Tommy LiPuma, engineer Al Schmitt plus legendary arranger Claus Ogerman - for much of the seductive power on Quiet Nights. But there's a deeper, palpable sense of maturity that she brought to the recording as well. "Most of my singing and playing on the album is really just first or second takes. 'You're My Thrill,' was a second take - "Too Marvelous," first take." "She's completely matured," says Tommy LiPuma, who should know, having first worked with Krall in 1994. "Even in the past few years. She approaches her vocal phrasing much more like an instrumentalist than a straight singer. It's in her reading of the lyrics, and the timbre of her voice, much more misty like Peggy Lee in her mature period." ("I didn't want to over sing -- I was drawing also from Julie London very strongly on this album," Krall confesses, noting that such influences are not always conscious on her part. "It just came out that way.") It makes sense that Quiet Nights (also the English name of the bossa nova classic "Corcovado" that is the title track) draws much of its musical spirit from the land that puts the "carnal" into its annual Carnaval celebration. "I was inspired to do this record because of my trip last year to Brazil," says Krall, who returned to Rio de Janeiro to shoot a concert for a new DVD release. "Then I just kept going back and found that everywhere you go you still hear the sounds of Jobim and bossa nova." Leading UK saxophonist and foremost ambassador UK jazz Courtney Pine has been awarded a with a C.B.E "for services to music" in the New Years Honours 2009. No stranger to such acknowledgements of his tireless work to promote, support and play jazz for over twenty years he was also awarded an OBE in 2000 for his services to Jazz. Speaking about the award he said; "I am deeply moved to be honoured, I never imagined that i would be recognized for playing improvised music in the united kingdom in this way. this acknowledgement for what i think of as a noble mission in uniting people through sound could not have been realized without the love, support and dedication of my family, management, band and the many supporters of music throughout this land - thank you, thank you, thank you" Pine was first signed to Island Records for £1,000 while performing a residency in a "dodgy" pub in Brixton, South London. Releasing his debut album in 1986 he arrived on the UK jazz scene just as jazz was becoming trendy within the ‘coffee table’ yuppie market but it also marked a genuine up surge in interest and activity within UK jazz artists. Journey to the Urge Within went on to sell more than 120,000 copies in the UK - an almost unprecedented amount for a jazz record. A tireless ambassador for the music in the UK and beyond, Courtney last year gigged with a new version of the Jazz Warriors and released a well-received album Afropeans, in part his own reflection on the bicentenary of the abolition of slavery in the former British Empire. He has also dedicated much time and effort to his own record label Destin-e, which released the debut album by the critically acclaimed band Empirical and will produce and release a new recording from Omar Puente in 2009. In February he releases his new album, Transition in Tradition, a homage to saxophone pioneer Sidney Bechet and returns to a busy touring programme which includes a gig at Ronnie Scott's on February 28th and a string of dates with the Jazz Warriors Afropeans lineup. The UK’s leading jazz magazine Jazzwise has voted legendary jazz bassist Dave Holland’s latest album ‘Pass It On’ their Album Of The Year. Voted for by the UK’s top jazz critics (who all contribute to Jazzwise) Holland’s new sextet album triumphed over EST’s final album ‘Leucocyte’ and acclaimed composer Django Bates’ ‘Spring Is Here (Shall We Dance)’. A Grammy-winning bassist-composer Dave Holland once again shows all of his composing and bass playing prowess on this vibrant new record. Says the perennial poll-winner of the title track of his third recording on his Dare2 imprint (distributed by Universal/Emarcy): "That's a piece I wrote for Ed Blackwell. And the reason I called it 'Pass It On' is because Ed was a great teacher as well as a great player. He could do a wonderful workshop about the history of the drums from Baby Dodds to Jo Jones and the whole way. I always thought of him as being a great carrier of the tradition and passing that tradition on to other people. So after he passed away, I wanted to write a piece to celebrate his memory and his great work." A remarkably interactive recording that organically melds advanced contrapuntal writing and wide open improvisation, Pass It On showcases Holland's new sextet featuring trombonist Robin Eubanks (a longtime member of Dave's working quintet), alto saxophonist Antonio Hart and trumpeter Alex "Sasha" Sipiagan (both members of Holland's acclaimed big band), veteran pianist Mulgrew Miller (a former Jazz Messenger and sideman in the Woody Shaw Quintet and Tony Williams Quintet), and the in-demand young drummer Eric Harland (a former member of the Joshua Redman Trio and the Kurt Rosenwinkel Group who also currently works with Charles Lloyd's quartet and the SF Jazz Collective). Click here to download the album now This year's London Jazz Festival, in association with BBC Radio 3, looks set to be the best ever. With not just one but two concerts by all-conquering pianist and jazz legend Herbie Hancock, there's a swathe of amazing new and big name Universal Jazz artists throughout the program. Alongside the free stages and the vibrant international mix of top level jazz, there will be superb performances from jazz artists across the spectrum of jazz, from vocal to bebop, nu-jazz to fusion there really is something for everyone. With performances from Kurt Elling, Jef Neve (pictured), Taylor Eigsti, David Sanchez, Richard Bona, Nils Petter Molvaer and an amazing collaboration between Chick Corea and John McLaughlin that makes it's UK debut on the closing night of the festival. Classicsandjazz.co.uk is proud to announce an exclusive offer to our subscribers - we're offering each and every one a free 'timed-out' download from many of the superb artists appearing at this years festival. These high quality tracks will be available until the last day of the festival on 23 November. Click on the links below to download tracks from artists at this year's festival: Jef Neve Trio - Remorse Nils Petter Molvaer - Perimeters Taylor Eigsti - Timeline David Sanchez - Adoracion Herbie Hancock - Both Sides Now Superstar Cameroonian bassist/vocalist Richard Bona returns to the UK for his first national tour - taking in four venues across the country before his headline show at this year's London Jazz Festival. Possessing a pure and sumptuous voice that melts hearts and is matched in quality by his expert bass playing. Well known for his work with the Pat Metheny Group, Joe Zawinul, Herbie Hancock and Bobby McFerrin, Bona has also built a reputation based on his own talents, which have pushed him from strength to strength. Drawing on the jazz tradition as much as Cuban, Brazilian and Caribbean dance music, Afro-beat and African traditional songs, Bona’s concerts move from intimate African folk songs to explosive salsa, from delicate ballads to funky numbers with grooving bass lines. Warmth and charisma shine through his live performances making them a pure delight to experience. His new album Bona Makes You Sweat - Live will be released on Universal Jazz in October. Visit Emarcy.com for more details and to hear clips from this release. Click here to see a live video of one of the songs on the album. Showcasing his native Cameroon's abundance of musical talent Bona will be joined by fellow countryman Muntu Valdo who will open all of the shows except the London date which will be filled by piano star Danilo Perez. A talented vocalist, guitarist, harmonica player and percussionist. His music is rooted in the blues, mixing African traditions with striking modernity and technical mastery building up layers of sounds with loops and samples. His debut album is called Gods and Devils. November 2008 Tour Wednesday 12BRISTOL St. George's 0845 40 24 001 ● stgeorgesbristol.co.uk Thursday 13MANCHESTER RNCM 0161 907 5555 ● rncm.ac.uk Friday 14KENDAL The Brewery Arts Centre 01539 725 133 ● breweryarts.co.uk Saturday 15SOUTHAMPTON Turner Sims 023 8059 5151 ● turnersims.co.uk Sunday 16 LONDON Barbican 020 7638 8891 ● barbican.org.uk Having just been awarded a Lifetime Achievement award at this year's BBC Jazz Awards Chick Corea will be returning to London this November for what promises to be another highlight of his career, joining forces with guitar legend John McLaughlin for an explosive closing night at this year's London Jazz Festival. Chick Corea and John McLaughlin have created some of the most explosive electric jazz of all time. They came together for the first time since they were an essential part of the seismic days - some 40 years ago - when Miles Davisbrought the language of jazz into collision with the technology of rock andfunk. Their own bands of the 1970s, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return to Forever, were further landmarks in the evolution of a post-acoustic vision of jazz - reunited, they play music from past, present and future with a stellar band. Kenny Garrett continues the Miles connection, the saxophonist from the trumpeter's latter-day bands;and Vinnie Colaiuta and Christian McBride arethe drum and bass teampar excellence- irresistible power and groove. Chick Corea and John McLaughlin with Christian McBride, Kenny Garrett & Vinnie Colaiuta Sunday 23 November, 7.30pm Royal Festival Hall www.southbankcentre.co.uk 0871 663 2505 The first UK performance in 25 years by Chick Corea and Return To Forever, Best Vocalist nominee Ian Shaw’s first public performance of the late, great Humphrey Lyttleton’s Sad, Sweet Song and an exclusive performance by Jamie Cullum, Jeff Beck and Kyle Eastwood were just some of the highlights of the 2008 BBC Jazz Awards celebrating the best of British and international jazz, held at the Mermaid Theatre in London on Monday 21st July. Chick Corea and his ground-breaking jazz-fusion group Return To Forever received the Lifetime Achievement Award from legendary Beatles producer Sir George Martin, before performing their standout composition Romantic Warrior. Bassist Charlie Haden was presented with the International Award by Jazz On 3 presenter Jez Nelson and Level 42 bassist Mark King, and performed alongside British pianist John Taylor. Pianist Kit Downes took home the Rising Star Award before being joined onstage by his band Empirical, and the Best Vocalist Award went to Christine Tobin who performed a rendition of her song Camille with star violinist Nigel Kennedy. Saxophonist Tony Kofi received the award for Best Instrumentalist from legendary guitarist Jeff Beck, while the Album Of The Year Award went to Bristol-based quartet The Blessing who announced their name change to Get The Blessing, and played the track Cake Hole from their debut release All Is Yes after being handed their award by DJ and producer Goldie. The BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line-Up Best Band Award was given to Curios, the modern piano trio led by Tom Cawley, and the BBC Radio 3 Jazz On 3 Innovation Award went to ultra-contemporary ‘post-jazz’ group Fraud, with saxophonist James Allsopp leading the band through one of their trademark daring numbers. Scottish sax supremo Tommy Smith picked up the BBC Radio 2 Heart Of Jazz award for his unstinting work on the British and international scene. CEO of Candid Records Alan Bates was presented with the Services To Jazz In The UK Award by his most famous signing, Jamie Cullum, in recognition of his efforts as head of one of the UK’s premier jazz labels. Bates was then further honoured by a rendition of Quincy Jones’ Let The Good Times Roll, with Cullum joined by bassist Kyle Eastwood and Jeff Beck alongside the Guy Barker Jazz Orchestra. Longstanding ambassadors of jazz, Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine were presented with the Gold Award, adding another well-deserved trophy to their collection. As well as acknowledging the stars of the present and future, the evening also paid homage to a revered figure from the music’s past. Veteran broadcaster and bandleader Humphrey Lyttelton, who died earlier in the year, was posthumously awarded the title of BBC Radio 2 Jazz Artist Of The Year. Few people in the history of British jazz have done more to further the popularity and profile of the music while remaining true to its spirit.Ian Shaw, winner of last year’s Best Vocalist Award, gave the world premiere of Lyttelton’s Sad, Sweet Song. Lyttelton had asked Shaw to record the song, to which he’d written the words, at the BBC Jazz Awards in 2006 and it was eventually recorded within a few days of Lyttelton’s death. Audiences can watch highlights of the BBC Jazz Awards 2008, including the award presentations and performances at www.bbc.co.uk/music/jazzawards2008 from Wednesday 23 July. WINNERS LIST - Rising Star Award – Kit Downes - Best Vocalist Award – Christine Tobin - Best Instrumentalist Award – Tony Kofi - Album Of The Year Award – The Blessing, All Is Yes - Services To Jazz In The UK Award – Alan Bates - BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line-Up Best Band Award – Curios - BBC Radio 3 Jazz On 3 Innovation Award – Fraud - BBC Radio 2 Jazz Artist Of The Year Award – Humphrey Lyttelton - BBC Radio 2 Heart Of Jazz Award – Tommy Smith - International Award – Charlie Haden - Lifetime Achievement Award– Chick Corea & Return To Forever - Gold Award – Sir John Dankworth & Dame Cleo Laine Melody Gardot's debut album Worrisome Heart was released earlier this year, to great critical acclaim. She has variously been described as being 'a remarkable talent' (Sunday Times Culture), having a 'gorgeous voice' (Uncut Magazine) and writing 'intimate, jazz-tinged' songs (The Guardian). Having penned her debut album from her hospital bed only a few years ago, it is extraordinary to think that this same disc has now sold over 100,000 copies worldwide, and has given her a sold-out concert career across Northern America and Europe. Taken from that album, Quiet Fire is further evidence of this extraordinary artist's talent. With a chorus at once catchy and subtle, and lyrics that display a knack of capturing the essence of a specific emotion, this song is an instant classic. Referencing refined jazz and soul alike, Gardot has managed to combine old and new to forge a gorgeous and unique new sound. And with delicate backing on drums, bass and horns, Quiet Fire showcases Melody's vocals perfectly. This single is sure to draw further attention to a singer who is building an international reputation as a musician of extremely high renown. She is performing at the top jazz festivals throughout Europe over the summer, will be playing at the Bloomsbury Theatre, London on 21st July, and is sure of an acclaimed, and increasingly high-profile career. To watch a clip of the video for 'Quiet Fire' Click Here The nominees in the BBC Jazz Awards 2008, hosted by BBC Radio 2 and 3, and the recipients of this year’s special awards were announced on June 24th at a special launch event at London's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho hosted by Paul Gambaccini. Veteran bassist Charlie Haden received the International Award; the Lifetime Achievement Award goes to pianist Chick Corea and his seminal fusion ensemble Return To Forever; and the special Gold Award goes to longstanding ambassadors of the of the UK jazz scene Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine. Amongst the nominees for this year’s awards are; Guy Barker, who is nominated in three categories, including Best Album; pianist and BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Gwilym Simcock, nominated for both Best Instrumentalist and Best Album; and the late Humphrey Lyttelton receives a posthumous nomination for the Radio 2 Jazz Artist of the Year. The winners of the BBC Jazz Awards will be announced on Monday 21st July at The Mermaid Theatre in Blackfriars, London. The 2008 Nominations in the Rising Star, Best Vocalist, Best Instrumentalist, Services to Jazz in the UK and the Best Album categories were chosen by a panel of over 200 top UK jazz industry figures. BBC Radio listeners were invited to vote for the winners of the BBC Radio 2 Jazz Artist of the Year, BBC Radio 2 Heart of Jazz Award, ‘BBC Radio 3 Jazz Line Up Band of the Year’ and ‘BBC Radio 3 Jazz On 3 Innovation Award’. All of the special awards recipients will be performing at the Award Ceremony on 21st July, alongside other high profile nominees and winners. Return To Forever will make a special unplugged appearance; while Charlie Haden is traveling from the US especially to be reunited with international piano star John Taylor; and Sir John and Dame Cleo will perform with the awards band led by MD, Guy Barker. BBC Jazz Awards broadcast details: BBC Jazz Awards (full concert) BBC Radio 2, Monday 22nd July 10.30pm-midnight. Jazz Line-Up, BBC Radio 3, Saturday 26th July 4.00pm (highlights and interviews) There will be more information on the awards and a chance to listen again at bbc.co.uk/radio2 and bbc.co.uk/radio3.  The full list of nominations for this year's awards is as follows: Rising Star Jay Phelps Kit Downes Nathaniel Facey Best Vocalist Christine Tobin Ian Shaw Norma Winstone Best Instrumentalist Gwilym Simcock Tom Arthurs Tony Kofi Best Album Ambulance, Accident And Insurgency Empirical, Empirical Guy Barker, The Amadeus Project Gwilym Simcock, Perception Simon Spillet, Sienna Red The Blessing, All Is Yes Services to Jazz In The UK Alan Bates Oliver Weindling Steve Rubie BBC Radio 3, Jazz Line-Up Best Band Empirical Jazz Warriors - Afropeans Tom Cawley’s Curios BBC Radio 3, Jazz On 3 Innovation Basquiat Strings Corey Mwamba – Argentum Evan Parker Fraud BBC Radio 2, Jazz Artist of The Year Guy Barker Humphrey Lyttelton Sir John Dankworth & Dame Cleo Laine BBC Radio 2, Heart of Jazz Guy Barker Ray Gelato Tommy Smith International Award Charlie Haden Lifetime Achievement Award Chick Corea & Return To Forever Gold Award Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine The aclaimed Swedish jazz pianist and composer Esbjorn Svensson has died in a scuba diving accident near the Swedish capital Stockholm. He was 44. His Esbjorn Svensson Trio, known as EST, became renowned for bringing jazz to a younger audience. They gained international acclaim playing in rock venues, using light shows and fog machines at concerts. The music of EST drew on disparate influences, ranging from classical music to funk. Burkhard Hopper, EST's manager, told Reuters news agency that Svensson had died on Saturday in Sweden's Stockholm archipelago. "Musically, he was the light that lit the world because in what he did he was pushing boundaries," Mr Hopper said. "His music inspired people in all corners of the world." (BBC World) For all of those who had a chance to meet Esbjorn it comes as a big shock to have lost such a warm and gentle person and such an incredible talented musician. Europe’s jazz scene will miss him very much. Universal Jazz and Emarcy Universal's thoughts are with his family and friends at this tragic time. Growing from the seeds of Miles Davis' electric bands of the 60s came an explosion of creativity in the '70s and the birth of a burgeoning jazz crossover scene that included pioneering jazz fusion bands such as The Headhunters, The Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report. Alongside these bands was the seminal band Return to Forever, whose loud and exciting tunes were played on radio alongside rock acts such as Yes, King Crimson and Genesis, in a heady aural stew of progressive jazz & rock. After a touring absence of more than 25 years, Return to Forever make a dramatic return in 2008 to embark on an expansive worldwide tour. This tour reunites the group's classic quartet line-up, the most popular and successful version of the group - Chick Corea on keyboards, Al Di Meola on guitar, Stanley Clarke on bass and Lenny White on drums - and to coincide, a special Return to Forever anthology is released featuring personally chosen remixed and remastered tracks from the four classic albums from that 1973 - 1976 quartet period. They will visit the UK for a single date at the Indigo2 Venue on 21st of July. They also release a stunning double CD retrospective on the same day (21 July). The Anthology is a double CD collection that documents this legendary group's ground-breaking repertoire, uniting the electric period from the vaults of two major labels, Polydor and Columbia, yet released on a third, Concord, via Universal. The band selects tunes from albums written and recorded during a period of profound creativity - Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy ('73), Where Have I Known You Before ('74), No Mystery ('75) and their top selling gold recording, Romantic Warrior ('76). The original master tapes have been taken back down to basics and built back up with cutting edge studio tools certainly not available back then. Never-before-seen photos of the band, individual recollections from each member and a deeply honorific and entertaining narrative liner essay all contribute to the top-notch treatment this collection exudes on every page. There is a short clip on the Return to Forever website where the band rips through a tune fueled by the stomp funk bedrock of Stanley & Lenny ignited by Chick's analog keyboards and gem-cutting flurries from Al's beautiful inlaid wood guitar, and you can't imagine it's been 25 years plus. It's as though they just stepped out for a cup of coffee, came back in and jazz rocked out again. Watch the Return To Forever EPK video below: