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Philip Watson

@mrphilipwatson.bsky.social

77 followers 69 following 450 posts

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.

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Feb 25

Absolutely delighted with the paperback edition of my biography of @BillFrisell, Beautiful Dreamer… OUT NOW with @FaberBooks in the UK/Ireland/Europe (9 May in the US/Aus/NZ/rest of world). 1/2

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · 2d

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

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · 6d

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...

Reposted by Philip Watson

The Journal of Music @journalofmusic.bsky.social · 9d

// Stepping into the Trio Tradition // bit.ly/48ygyJu

The Nils Kavanagh Trio, who will be on tour from 26 October to 18 November, have recently released their debut album ‘No Expectations'. Philip Watson reviews.

Stepping into the Trio Tradition

The Nils Kavanagh Trio, who will be on tour from 26 October to 18 November, have recently released their debut album ‘No Expectations'. Philip Watson reviews.

bit.ly

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · 10d

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...

Reposted by Philip Watson

tombstome.bsky.social @tombstome.bsky.social · Aug 12

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!

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Jul 20

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...

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Jul 11

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.

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Jun 15

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/...

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Jun 8

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...

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Jun 5

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

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · May 31

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

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · May 5

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

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Apr 30

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...

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Apr 15

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

www.thewire.co.uk

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Apr 14

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...

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Apr 1

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

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Mar 19

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.

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Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Mar 6

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!

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Feb 24

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

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Feb 25

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/

‘The holy men thought it was vulgar and obscene’: Irish j...

The musician, whose jazz ballet suite Spondance is about ...

www.irishtimes.com

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Feb 25

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…

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Feb 25

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

Top five Irish jazz albums of 2024, from Mary Coughlan to...

‘Thank God I’m alive,’ Mary Coughlan sings on her album R...

www.irishtimes.com

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Feb 25

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)......

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Feb 25

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.

Philip Watson @mrphilipwatson.bsky.social · Feb 25

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

Danish guitarist Jakob Bro on Paul Motian: ‘It was the mo...

Cork Jazz Festival 2024: Bro got his big break when the r...