The Isle of Wight Jazz Weekend was enjoyed by many music fans this year, including reviewers from event sponsor the Isle of Wight County Press.

Rufus Pickles enjoyed watching the Matt Carter Octet:

Hailing from Devon and latterly London’s prestigious Royal Academy of Music, debonair pianist Matt Carter and his seven accomplished associates treated the Apollo Theatre to a Friday evening of buoyed up, breezy compositions drawn primarily from the group’s critically acclaimed 2023 release: Read Between the Lines. 

Carter’s writing has been likened to that of post-war, Californian pianist Marty Paich - an arranger known for his ‘50s associations with leading lights of West Coast Jazz like Chet Baker, Buddy Rich and Dave Pell.

The West Coast scene was known for its smooth, mellow sound - a quality the Matt Carter Octet emulate with euphoric effect.

With bassist Joe Lee, drummer Luke Tomlinson, George Jefford on trumpet, Tom Smith on tenor sax, Harry Greene on baritone sax, Jonny Ford on alto sax and trombonist Harry Maund, the emerging young UK jazz scene entrants featured debut album highlights including the sanguine Hope Song, written by Carter during a Covid lockdown, effervescent single Abode, and a cover of George Gershwin’s affectionate classic, You Can’t Take That Away From Me.

Jake Curran reviewed a couple of shows:

On Thursday, the second of five days of jazz, the Cameron Rossi Quartet performed to a sold out audience at Newport’s Mountbatten Hospice.

Alongside Cameron were Danny Piers on piano, Kielan Sheard on bass and King Ike-Elechi on drums, all of whom had travelled from around the UK to be at the gig.

The four musicians delivered an energetic and exciting show of two halves with a setlist made up of music that inspired Cameron.

As an Islander, Cameron pointed out his family and friends in the audience and thanked Jazz Weekend organiser, Jim Thorn, for his work with the Island jazz scene.

Bringing Bossa Nova rhythms to Newport Methodist Church, virtuosic Floridian guitarist, Nate Najar, was joined by Brazilian singer, Daniela Soledade, the following day.

Ranging from classic jazz tracks to a song written by Daniela’s grandfather, the audience was treated to an eclectic setlist, including a flute and guitar combination.

Nate and Daniela’s appearance was particularly special as they were heading back to America only days after their stop on the Isle of Wight, which was one of two gigs on their European tour.

The pair talked about a walk near Merstone, and how photos by Island photographer, Bob White, could end up on their new album.