The Independent — Gwilym Simcock’s 2011 Mercury Prize nomination for his solo piano album Good Days At Schloss Elmau gave mainstream acknowledgement to his fusing of jazz and classical traditions.      more info

Guardian Music — The Black Keys | Martha Wainwright | ATP: The Nightmare Before Christmas | The Impossible Gentlemen | Babelfish | Pierrot LunaireThe Black Keys, Newcastle upon TyneThe expression, "the harder you work, the luckier you get" could have been devised wit... more info

Guardian Music — Queen Elizabeth Hall, LondonEvidence for jazz's dynamic balance of past, present and future has been easy to find at the 2012 London jazz festival – in its profusion of young talent, but also in the continuing creativity of old stars such as Sonny ... more info

Guardian Music — (Edition)Originally a chamber trio in which pianist Gwilym Simcock and vibraphonist Jim Hart circled the muscular sax-playing of Stan Sulzmann, Neon gained space to breathe in 2010 when drummer Tim Giles joined them, and with the input of composer an... more info

Guardian Music — (Basho)The title of the UK saxophonist and composer Clowes' second album is from Oscar Wilde's poem The Sphinx, sung here by Kathleen Willison. With 2010's Tangent, Clowes unveiled a personal angle on jazz-classical crossovers that let jazz musicians... more info

Guardian Music — Choreographer, director and performer who challenged definitions of danceNigel Charnock, the performer, director and choreographer, has died, aged 52, of stomach cancer. When I first saw Nigel perform at a Dance Umbrella gala in 1985, I was struck by... more info

Guardian Music — Forge and Caponata, LondonEconomics makes long-term jazz lineups rarities, and opportunities to follow evolving relationships in this open and participatory music don't come that often. Lighthouse is an exception. UK saxophonist and composer Tim Garl... more info

Guardian Music — Our critics' picks of this week's openings, plus your last chance to see and what to book now• Which cultural events are in your diary this week? Tell us in the comments belowOpening this week TheatreRomeo and Juliet in BaghdadShakespeare's epic lo... more info

Guardian Music — (Act)Three remarkable musicians with an uncanny unity of thought and feeling. Virtuosity may be taken for granted nowadays, but this music demands it. The pin-point accuracy, the long, constantly evolving melodies, the variety of moods and textures a... more info

Guardian Music — (ACT)The Lighthouse Trio was formed six years ago to develop pieces by reeds-player Tim Garland, inspired by the acoustics of the north-east's St Mary's Lighthouse. Garland and pianist Gwilym Simcock share the writing, reflecting folk as much as cont... more info