John L. Walters
LightNews LightNews
johnlwalters.bsky.social
John L. Walters
@johnlwalters.bsky.social
220 followers 310 following 85 posts
Writer, composer, editor, musician, record producer.
Posts Replies Media Videos
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Good to hear Kurt Elling and the Yellowjackets last night, playing the music of Weather Report at Cadogan Hall. #efglondonjazzfestival #jazz
Kurt Elling (fourth from left) and the Yellowjackets, playing the music of Weather Report at Cadogan Hall. Left to right: Russell Ferrante, keys Dane Alderson, bass Bob Mintzer, saxophone and EWI William Kennedy, drums Kurt Elling, vocals
November 16, 2025 at 11:38 AM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Great day in celebration of Michael Gibbs’s honorary doctorate at Birmingham Conservatoire.
Friends, family, staff, students and lots of music inc. a terrific student big band at the Eastside Jazz Club.
Big thanks to Ed Puddick.
#doctorhonoriscausa #jazz #jazzcomposition #michaelgibbs #mikegibbs
Michael Gibbs receives an honorary doctorate at Birmingham Conservatoire, 13 November 2025. 📷 JLW Big band at the Eastside Jazz Club at Birmingham Conservatoire playing Mike Gibbs’s chart ‘Knees Up’. 📷 JLW One of several wall displays celebrating the life and work of jazz composer, arranger and bandleader Mike Gibbs. Photo of me (John L. Walters) and Mike Gibbs at Birmingham Conservatoire by Mike’s daughter Nikki. Thu 13 November 2025. I have known Mike since I was a student, and produced his 1988 album Big Music for Virgin / Venture. At the time it was his first album for 13 years. Not yet available via streaming, you can hear the album on YouTube, https://youtu.be/ojvmI0XOybk
November 14, 2025 at 12:49 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
‘The ouroboros of hype’
My review for @eyemagazine.bsky.social
Packed with information, The AI Con pours cold water on ‘AI’ hysteria, while drawing attention to the tech’s environmental and ethical implications.
www.eyemagazine.com/blog/post/th...
@emilymbender.bsky.social
@alexhanna.bsky.social
Cover of The AI Con Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 Emily M Bender and Alex Hanna Cover of The AI Con
November 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Imagine my surprise … @financialtimes.com @ftweekend.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:46 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Ewan Bleach with his Fleeting Paradise Orchestra – album launch at Sands Films in Rotherhithe. Wonderful.
November 5, 2025 at 10:42 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Design history in Ankara, www.eyemagazine.com/blog/post/te...
October 26, 2025 at 12:33 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Not to mention Thomas Pynchon, Anthony Powell (as always) and The AI Con (highly recommended and currently on the Kirkdale Bookshop shelves).
Paperback copy of The AI Con by Emily M. Bender & Alex Hanna.
October 9, 2025 at 10:38 AM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Or this Don Cherry on #Tidal
October 6, 2025 at 11:23 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
What a thrill to hear the Northern Spy / @bandcamp.com ‘listening party’ for Disquiet by The Necks.
October 6, 2025 at 10:26 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
There was a great exhibition of her work at Pallant House gallery, pallant.org.uk/whats-on/jan...
September 16, 2025 at 10:35 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Another HP review, from July 2016, londonjazznews.com/2016/07/22/r...
@barbicancentre.bsky.social #UKjazznews #HermetoPascoal
Hermeto Pascoal at the Barbican, July 2016.
September 16, 2025 at 7:17 AM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Say it loud: ‘Google quietly vanishes its net zero carbon pledge.’

pivot-to-ai.com/2025/09/05/g...

@davidgerard.co.uk
Remember ‘Don’t be evil?’
September 5, 2025 at 10:53 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Nice piece about the role of tech in our lives by Ian Dunt.
We barely have the language to speak about what's good about tech anymore. We're so used to it being this monstrous oppressive force that it feels almost unnatural to observe the ways in which it has improved life.
May 23, 2025 at 1:03 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
This is a bizarre game of chess.
May 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Raymond Scott recital in Dulwich.
May 17, 2025 at 10:35 AM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha …
Hubris
May 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
One for @kirkdalebooks.bsky.social ‘shopping hour points out that … nature is very violent’
May 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
@coldwarsteve.bsky.social
J. D. Vance (bearing scythe) visits the Pope.
April 21, 2025 at 11:44 AM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
AI hype is drowning in #slopaganda
FT article by Sid Venkataramakrishnan, with pointed quotes from @edzitron.com
@financial-times.bsky.social

www.ft.com/content/2421...
April 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Two years ago. Glass sculpture by Arabella Marshall in Suffolk.
April 9, 2025 at 9:35 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
My review of Lee in the current @eyemagazine.bsky.social, www.eyemagazine.com/review/artic... #Eye107 #leemiller
April 7, 2025 at 2:17 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Wayne’s world, www.theguardian.com/music/2005/a... #jazz @theguardian.com @sonymusicofficial.bsky.social
April 5, 2025 at 8:28 AM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
‘A nightly reaffirmation of the creative life.’ My review of Jimmy Scott at Ronnie Scott’s for @theguardian.com April 2005.

www.theguardian.com/music/2005/a... #jazz
April 3, 2025 at 8:32 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
Osbert Lancaster's muted
Penguin cover (1962) for A Question of Upbringing, just purchased at the excellent @kirkdalebooks.bsky.social
#musicoftime
@penguinbooksuk.bsky.social
April 3, 2025 at 4:10 PM
johnlwalters.bsky.social
He’s always had a nasty streak.
April 3, 2025 at 11:04 AM