Country Archives - Best of Jazz

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Pakistani Jazz in the 21st Century

Following its independence from British rule, Pakistan has witnessed significant developments in the Pakistani jazz scene. What made it possible is the collaboration of Pakistani artists with numerous artists from the West.

In the ‘50s, the singer-saxophonist Jannu Vaz formed a band with two soon-to-be extremely influential artists in Pakistani jazz music, saxophonists Alex Rodrigues and Dominic Gonsalvez. Rodrigues believed this band to be the first jazz group in pre-independence Pakistan. In the ’50s and ’60s, American jazz legends Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie performed in concerts and gigs, which was crucial. These gigs allowed for collaborations across cultures.

British Jazz in the 21st Century

The contemporary British jazz scene is arguably in its finest-ever shape. You can note that every decade in recent British jazz musical history has been marked by a genre of music that shapes and is shaped by its social background. Since 2015, the emergence of British jazz talent has snowballed, with jazz finally crossing over into the mainstream. At the heart of the contemporary British jazz scene are these artists, some of whom kickstarted the reemergence, and others who are propelling British jazz into dizzying heights. Here, we explore ten standout albums, some of which will be known and others that deserve more attention.

Jazz in India – 21st Century

Jazz in India sounds quite different to Western jazz because of the deep influence of Indian classical music in this region. Indian Classical music and jazz both share a common pillar that supports the foundations of these musical styles and traditions and that is improvisation. So, the fusion of these two was just a matter of time, and it happened in the last century with some of the greatest musicians we have ever seen. This trend of fusion turned the music into a new genre called Indo Jazz.

Jazz in Sweden – 21st Century

Jazz in Sweden in the 21st century is nothing short of a reaffirmation of its innovative music scene. While the country has long been home to jazz legends like Jan Johansson (Jazz på svenska turned 60 in 2024) and Esbjörn Svensson, a new generation of artists is releasing albums that are equally fascinating. We will dive here into the heart of Sweden’s contemporary jazz movement, exploring five standout albums, highlighting musicians who deserve your attention, and suggesting three independent labels for you to explore further on your own.