Philip Watson
@mrphilipwatson.bsky.social
Jazz writer, the Irish Times. Biography of guitarist Bill Frisell, Beautiful Dreamer, out now with Faber. Former deputy editor at GQ, editor-at-large at Esquire. www.philipwatson.info.
Delighted to be nominated, in the Arts Journalism and Criticism category, for this year’s Irish Journalism Awards. Many thanks to Liam Stebbing, my editor at the Irish Times, for all his encouragement and support, and to the IJA judges... irishjournalismawards.ie/slist25
When is a jazz festival not a jazz festival? My attempt at a counter to the dispiriting line-up of the 2025 Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, in this weekend's Irish Times... www.irishtimes.com/culture/musi...
A profile for the Irish Times of the extraordinary virtuoso Norwegian tuba and bass trumpet player Daniel Herskedal, ahead of his Music Network tour of Ireland that runs from 21-26 October.... www.irishtimes.com/culture/musi...
Excited to host the next 'Listen Back' session with Sounds From A Safe Harbour festival. It will focus on @samamidon.bsky.social - All Is Well [Bedroom Community, 2008] Sam will be in conversation with @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social. Wed 10 Sept City Library | Grand Parade 11.00 am All welcome!
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 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...
A Tenderness Created in the Moment
Lauren Kinsella and Chris Hyson’s Snowpoet have just released their fourth album, 'Heartstrings'. Philip Watson reviews.
journalofmusic.com
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...
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...
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
thewire.co.uk
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
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…
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.
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”)......
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
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
A profile for @IrishTimesCultr of the upbeat and uplifting London band @EzraCollective – the first jazz act to win the Mercury Prize – and their inspirational drummer and bandleader Femi Koleoso (@FemiOnDrums)... @partisanrecords...
I wrote the sleeve notes to this new album from Ireland’s @LiviaRecords: The Dublin Concert, a previously unreleased 1982 duo recording featuring two modern guitar masters, Louis Stewart and Jim Hall, at their very best. It’s quite a story and discovery....
