Portico Quartet

Guardian Music — Forest Fire, On tourWith their acoustic guitars and outdoorsy name, it's little wonder Forest Fire have convinced some they're a folk group. In fact, this Brooklyn band are pretty much textbook literate indie rock. Two albums in, Forest Fire are all ... more info

Guardian Music — Bishopsgate Centre, LondonYou can generate all kinds of similes listening to The Necks: a picture gallery, an urban landscape, the surface of the moon. But the metaphor that sprang to mind for their latest appearance, at the London Jazz festival, was... more info

Guardian Music — (Edition)When the conversation between pianist Andrew McCormack and saxist/composer Jason Yarde began on CD two years ago, the pair showed they could read and expand each other's thoughts with an impulsive empathy. The My Duo album's followup finds Y... more info

Guardian Music — Ronnie Scott's, LondonThis double bill was the first event in the current Brit jazz festival to sell out, and it didn't disappoint. Everyone lucky enough to witness it must have come away reeling at the sheer quality and quantity of music made by the... more info

NME — Line-up for Leicester festival expands more info

Guardian Music — (Edition)Last year, this young UK quartet turned into an overnight hot ticket for the balance of accomplished improv and original composing on their debut album, Kairos Moment. On the follow-up the playing of Waldmann, new recruit Ivo Neame on piano ... more info

Scotsman.com — PENGUIN CAFE AND PORTICO QUARTET USHER HALL, EDINBURGH **** more info

Guardian Music — (Real World)Portico Quartet, who created a popular signature sound by bathing minimalist music in the glow of the steelpan-like hang drum, are on tour opposite Penguin Cafe this month. They are seductively absorbing live, as some live tracks on this ... more info

DrownedInSound — This deluxe package, like so many, doesn't add much to the original, but if all it achieves is to bring in new listeners or serve a gentle reminder to old fans, this can only be a good thing. Read the full story on DrownedinSound.com more info

Guardian Music — You'll love the dark side of the Woon, a Brit School singer-songwriter moving towards dubstep. But his smoother songs ...Hometown: London.The lineup: Jamie Woon (vocals, music).The background: Jamie Woon, like James Blake, is one of those new male ar... more info