Forum 2026
Correspondence from our readers this year
Topics:
April
Breaks and Solos
March
Chris Watford
A Kind Word
February
January
New Jazz Festival For Birmingham
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Breaks and Solos
Perhaps readers can give their views on this and help clarify something? When does a 'break' become a 'solo'? The general view seems to be that a 'break' is a short break by a band of perhaps 4 bars where a drummer or another musician plays a short solo. An example is in our Take Two article Rhythm Is Our Business this month. Taking Count Basie's Flight Of The Foo Birds, however, the distinction seems more blurred as the 'breaks' are more extended and seem more like 'solos'. On which note (sic) I have tried to find other examples of solos in Flight Of The Foo Birds on YouTube but none that impress me as much as the Basie solos - can anyone suggest others?
Chris Watford
Bass player Ron Drakeford writes having seen our report that clarinettist Chris Watford had passed away: "Sorry to read that Chris Watford has passed through the departure lounge. I first met Chris when he played with the Dolphin Band down Hastings way. I was playing with the Preacher Hood Jazz Missionaries band when we did gigs down in Hastings alongside the Dolphin band, I think it was called the 1066 club even then. Chris did a good write up in Just Jazz magazine with respect to our band and the CD that was issued a lot later by George Buck with Barry Martyn's assistance. Chris will be sadly missed, he was an excellent clarinet player and a real gentleman to boot!"
A Kind Word
Last month we included guitarist Stephen Godsall's album Tingling Skin, Buzzing Wires in our Recent Releases section. Stephen responded "Thanks Ian, I've been looking at a lot of online jazz content over recent weeks and must say that yours is the most interesting. Much appreciated and please keep up the good work!" [Thank you back, Stephen - Ed]
New Merlin's Cave
Hugh Evans writes: "I enjoyed hearing about the history of New Merlin's Cave. I spent many an enjoyable Sunday lunchtime there when I was a medical student in the '60s. I remember George Melly in particular. Such very fond memories."
[Our page about New Merlin's Cave in Clerkenwell is here. It is a page I need to update and so if any readers would like to add their memories, please let me know and I shall include them - Ed]
New Jazz Festival For Birmingham
Fiona Fraser writes: "I hope the following news of a brand new jazz festival for Birmingham (12 & 13 Feb 2026) will be of interest to you. Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) is to host a brand new jazz festival for Birmingham taking place over two days, 12-13 February 2026, across the multi-venue building. Eastside Jazz Festival will bring together internationally-renowned musicians with some of today’s most interesting and innovative talent, alongside grassroots promoters and exciting local and student musicians showcasing Birmingham’s thriving and creative jazz scene. Jeremy Price, Head of Jazz, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said: “The brand new Eastside Jazz Festival aims to celebrate Birmingham’s ever-growing and diverse jazz scene and strengthen the city’s position as a European centre for contemporary jazz. It’s a two-day focus on year-round programming: alongside musicians of the highest calibre, and leading innovators in contemporary jazz, we’re also working with grassroots promoters Digbeth Jazz and showcasing RBC’s own graduates and students." [There are details of the Festival here, and we have added the dates to our list of UK Jazz Festivals here - Ed]
Traditional Jazz
In a recent conversation, the question came up about where and when the term 'Traditional Jazz' originated? Was it in the 1940s, or the 1950s at the time of the 'Jazz Revival' - it seems as though it was in the 1950s that the term was probably shortened to 'Trad Jazz' which is more commonly used today. Did Ken Colyer devotees possibly prefer the term 'New Orleans Jazz'? The film It's Trad, Dad! (you can watch it here) was released in 1962, which again suggests that the term might have started in the 1950s. The film signals the beginnings of Rock 'n Roll so things were changing then. Does anyone have more specific information?
Arts Council England Review
Chris Hodgkins tells us that The independent review of Arts Council England by Baroness Margaret Hodge has been published and can be seen here. Chris, who is Secretary to the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) says : "The organisations who responded can be seen here. I could only spot three jazz organisations who responded - individuals are not disclosed. The Department Of Media, Culture and Sport states that: "This list is accurate to the best of our knowledge. These organisations were all invited to provide evidence through a variety of means. This, however, does not mean all attended and provided evidence." This is clearly nonsense as the Parliamentary Jazz Group submitted its response (here) through the consultation process and was not invited to give evidence or attend any meeting. I shall be making a full response early in the New Year." a response from MP Lisa Tandy, Secretary of State for DMCS, is here.