Philip Watson

A profile for the Irish Times of the gifted and “genre-fluid” pianist, composer and arranger Cormac McCarthy, ahead of his concert with ‪@rteco.rte.ie‬ big band at NCH Dublin on Aug 1, and his appearance with Martin Hayes @corkoperahouse.bsky.social on Sept 10. www.irishtimes.com/culture/musi...

My mid-year 2025 votes for the estimable Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll – 113 ballots brilliantly compiled by Tom Hull. (I guess I cheated a little with my No 1 selection: Linda May Han Oh’s extraordinary Strange Heavens, not out till 22 August.)
Full results at artfuse.org and hullworks.net.

A profile for the Irish Times of the acclaimed Irish documentary photographer and filmmaker Seamus Murphy and his timely new book of images of America and Russia, Strange Love, which explores the surprising similarities between people’s lives in the two countries. www.irishtimes.com/culture/art/...

I wrote the liner notes to this remarkable re-release from Livia Records: I Thought About You by Irish guitarist Louis Stewart. Recorded in London in 1977 with the crack US rhythm section of Sam Jones and Billy Higgins, plus English pianist John Taylor, it’s another great story and discovery...

A profile for the Irish Times of the "extravagantly gifted" 23-year-old English saxophonist, composer and bandleader Emma Rawicz, ahead of her eight-date Music Network tour of Ireland that runs to 13 June... www.irishtimes.com/culture/musi.... @triskelartscentre.bsky.social @jazzireland.bsky.social

A Tenderness Created in the Moment Lauren Kinsella and Chris Hyson’s Snowpoet have just released their fourth album, 'Heartstrings'. Philip Watson reviews.

A review for #TheJournalofMusic of Heartstrings, the intriguing and irresistible new album from #Snowpoet, the duo of the Dublin-born and London-based vocalist, lyricist and composer #LaurenKinsella and the London keyboardist, composer and producer #ChrisHyson… journalofmusic.com/reviews/tend...

Two IG posts reviewing Ireland's very fine 2025 Bray International Jazz Festival @brayjazz.bsky.social, featuring inspirational music from home and abroad... www.instagram.com/p/DJRlqCaMB_G/ and www.instagram.com/p/DJRmD0XsWww/. 📷 Dublin Jazz Photography

A profile for the Irish Times of the great Irish drummer, composer, educator and bandleader @kevinbradymusic.bsky.social ahead of a rare Irish tour next month with his acclaimed Electric Quartet, featuring Seamus Blake, Bill Carrothers and Dave Redmond... www.irishtimes.com/culture/musi...

Unlimited Editions: Greyfade - The Wire To accompany his report on Greyfade in The Wire 495, Philip Watson explores a playlist selected by label founder Joseph Branciforte

An online playlist to accompany my article in the new May issue of @thewiremagazine.bsky.social on Joseph Branciforte’s leading-edge New York label Greyfade, which releases music “at the intersections of procedural composition, minimalism and improvisation”... www.thewire.co.uk/audio/tracks...

A cover profile for Ticket, the Irish Times arts mag, of the "cool and charismatic" English saxophonist, composer and bandleader Nubya Garcia ahead of her appearance at @brayjazz.bsky.social. Includes a quick preview of some other acts to catch over the excellent May Bank Holiday weekend event...

A review for the Irish Times of a superb celebration at Arthur's Blues and Jazz Club in Dublin of the music of one of the most universally revered musicians in jazz: the late trumpeter, flugelhornist and composer #KennyWheeler. #RonanGuilfoyle #NickSmart #ECMRecords @jazzireland.bsky.social

A review for the Irish Times of the American pianist and composer @ethaniversonpiano.bsky.social's concert @triskelartscentre.bsky.social Cork, as part of his first solo tour of Europe. "Deep knowledge, harmonic elegance and an often supremely fleet and delicate touch." @jazzireland.bsky.social.

A v fine evening at Cork’s home of adventurous music, Cork Improvised Music Club @plugdrecords.bsky.social, feat two sets of agile interplay and acute listening from a trio led by bassist Liz Draper w/ saxophonist Nick Roth and drummer Dan Walsh @fixitymusic.bsky.social. All power to all involved!

A profile for @irishtimes.com of Irish jazz pianist, composer and living legend Jim Doherty, whose jazz ballet suite Spondance will be performed at the National Concert Hall Dublin on Fri Feb 28, the same day @liviarecords.bsky.social reissue the album on CD and Bandcamp download. bit.ly/41fh2i7

‘The holy men thought it was vulgar and obscene’: Irish j... The musician, whose jazz ballet suite Spondance is about ...

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2025/02/22/the-holy-men-thought-it-was-vulgar-and-obscene-irish-jazz-pianist-jim-doherty-on-70-years-in-music/

My votes in various categories for the estimable annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll – 177 ballots brilliantly organised and compiled by @tomhull747. Full results to be published soon @theartsfuse and at http://hullworks.net…

Top five Irish jazz albums of 2024, from Mary Coughlan to... ‘Thank God I’m alive,’ Mary Coughlan sings on her album R...

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2024/12/22/top-five-irish-jazz-albums-of-2024-from-mary-coughlan-to-adjunct-ensemble/

In a very good year for jazz in Ireland, and with around 40 first-rate and fantastically diverse releases to consider, I eventually managed to settle on a “Top Five Irish Jazz [and Beyond] Albums of 2024” for @IrishTimesCultr. Link (subscriber-only)......

Two 4-star live reviews for @IrishTimesCultr from the recent @corkjazzfest: the “resonant, romantic and richly textured baritone” of Californian vocalist and songwriter @GregoryPorter; and the “versatile and virtuoso” Danish percussionist, composer and bandleader Marilyn Mazur.

Danish guitarist Jakob Bro on Paul Motian: ‘It was the mo... Cork Jazz Festival 2024: Bro got his big break when the r...

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2024/10/22/cork-jazz-festival-2024-jakob-bro/

A profile for @IrishTimesCultr of the “meditative and luminous” Danish guitarist Jakob Bro, who plays in a trio with double bassist Thomas Morgan @znusgy and drummer Joey Baron @TriskelCork on Sunday as part of @corkjazzfest. Link (“subscriber only”)......

@corkcitylibrary @BillFrisell

Tomorrow! https://x.com/MrPhilipWatson/status/1841151616319107083

Nubya Garcia: Odyssey – An exhilarating mix of jazz, regg... This multilayered and carefully crafted music feels like ...

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/review/2024/10/10/nubya-garcia-odyssey-an-exhilarating-mix-of-jazz-reggae-dub-neosoul-and-rb/

A review for @IrishTimesCultr of Odyssey, the exhilarating new album by the London-born tenor saxophonist, composer and bandleader @nubya_garcia – a multilayered mix of jazz, classical, dub, neo-soul and R&B. @ConcordJazz ...

A profile for @IrishTimesCultr of the mesmerising Pakistan-raised, Brooklyn-based vocalist and composer Arooj Aftab, whose “global soul” music is a remarkable commingling of classical south Asian singing, jazz, alt-folk and ambient. @arooj_aftab @VerveRecords @NCH_Music

Listen Back with Philip Watson [Bill Frisell - Good Dog, ...

https://journalofmusic.com/listing/15-09-24/listen-back-philip-watson-bill-frisell-good-dog-happy-man

I will be presenting a Listen Back session on @BillFrisell's 1999 album Good Dog, Happy Man – "a deceptively simple and quietly timeless masterpiece" – @corkcitylibrary, Weds 23 October, 11am. FREE! All welcome! @corkjazzfest @NonesuchRecords More here…...

I wrote the liner notes to this extraordinary album from @redhookrecords... Breaking the Shell, featuring "a unique and highly anticipated new collaborative trio" of guitarist @BillFrisell, pipe organist Kit Downes and drummer Andrew Cyrille. https://www.redhookrecords.com/rh1006

Ezra Collective: ‘The Irish and Nigerians have got a lot ... Ezra Collective’s new album, an ‘ode to the sacred act of...

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/2024/09/28/ezra-collective-the-irish-and-nigerians-have-got-a-lot-more-in-common-than-guinness/