With a sound that slips between jazz, club and experimental, Glasgow outfit corto.alto is hard to pin down — and all the more exciting for it. Headed by trombonist and producer Liam Shortall, the group brings raw energy and genre fluidity to the stage. Ahead of their show at XJAZZ!, Anna Grubauer spoke to him about live shows, creative freedom, and the friendships that keep it all moving.
On her search for hope in times of despair, Peruvian artist Sofia Kourtesis found it in the work of a famous neurosurgeon and her Berlin community. Her first full-length album "Madres" tells the story of her mother's recovery, of finding and nurturing family, and of fighting against homophobia. Norman Fleischer met with Sofia to discuss some of these topics.