Synaesthetic Tapes 02 / Charlatan Jazz

Bristol-based radio show and music promotion Charlatan Jazz explore the stylistic fluidity of contemporary British jazz in the new installment of Synaesthetic_Tapes. Founder and resident DJ Gabriel Gifford, helped by Kira Radley, put together a playlist that guides the listener to discover the new UK Jazz scene, beyond obvious circles.

Whether that be the playful piano piece of Jack Stephenson-Oliver or the more electronic arrangements of Bristol’s Ishmael Ensemble, Charlatan Jazz have brought to the city the British scene’s fresh take on jazz and mixed it with the genre’s heritage, to house an indiscriminate variety of music under one roof.

Gabriel Gifford by Phil Martin

Resident Gabriel Gifford, who started the show in June 2018 from Noods Radio airwaves, explains: “My main craft is as a producer. I'm currently working on a solo project with featured vocalists which will be out by the end of the year. I also help produce and play live with my long term collaborator and flatmate Harvey Causon. I finished 2019 on tour playing bass for Lucy Lu, supporting Loyle Carner in Europe.“

Charlatan Jazz logo, arts by Raissa Pardini

Although the current emergency has put Charlatan Jazz live nights on hold, Gabriel has been keeping himself busy recording and releasing solo project A Film in My Head - OST. Conceived as an imaginary soundtrack, Gabriel defines the work as a series of “quarantine sketches”.

You can listen to Charlatan Jazz every third Tuesday of the month, 2-3pm (GMT), on Noods Radio.