"The Jazz Age" is the fourteenth studio album by English singer Bryan Ferry, released in 2012. It features re-recordings of Ferry's songs from his solo career and his time with Roxy Music, reinterpreted in the jazz style of the 1920s. The album consists of instrumental performances by The Bryan Ferry Orchestra, with arrangements by Colin Good. Ferry himself does not perform vocally on this album, opting instead to present his compositions purely through jazz instrumentation.
The album includes 13 tracks selected from 11 of Ferry's previous albums, ranging from his debut with Roxy Music in 1972 to his most recent solo album, Olympia (2010). The project was co-produced by Ferry and Rhett Davies, and the music features typical 1920s jazz instrumentation, such as banjo rhythms, clarinets, and a vintage brass section. The result is a mix of swing, jazz, and early popular music that reflects the atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties.
Ferry’s inspiration for The Jazz Age came from his childhood love of the music from that era. In interviews, he explained that the idea for an instrumental album of his own songs grew out of a desire to see how his music would stand up without vocals. He noted that he was fascinated by how his songs could be reinterpreted through jazz, an interest sparked by his early exposure to the genre as a young boy.
Despite its creative approach, The Jazz Age was Ferry's lowest charting album, peaking at number 50 on the UK Albums Chart. However, the album was well received for its innovative arrangements and its ability to bring a new life to familiar songs.
The album's cover art features illustrations by renowned French artist Paul Colin, known for his iconic jazz-themed lithographs from the 1920s. His work captures the exuberance of the jazz age, and his portfolio Le Tumulte Noir (1929), featuring images of jazz dancers like Josephine Baker, is the visual inspiration for the album artwork.
Recorded at Ferry's own Studio One in London, The Jazz Age was engineered using modern techniques to achieve a vintage sound, giving the impression that these recordings were lost archival material from the 1920s, rediscovered and remastered for contemporary listeners. The sound design blends the best of modern recording with the authenticity of an earlier jazz era, making it a unique addition to Bryan Ferry's catalog.
