This year’s Battersea Jazz Festival, the fourth, consists of nine events in six venues over a thirteen-day period, starting with the opening night party tonight. Hugo Jennings set the festival up in 2022 whilst writing a “jazz mass” for the St Mary’s Battersea choir. The festival’s aims are to showcase some of Hugo’s favourite musicians in London and beyond… and also to create more spaces for live jazz. He writes:
“The festival has grown into a jazz landmark, featuring British jazz greats from all generations, and international artists like Baptiste Herbin from Paris. We have appeared at the historic Clapham Grand twice, new venues like the World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens, and also helped build a legacy at St Mary’s and the Landor, both of which now host regular jazz year-round.
In 2025, we will be back at the Clapham Grand with 70 performers on stage, and feature British legends such as Jim Mullen and Allison Neale, new talent like the trio Sula and Christ-Stéphane Boizi, and more international musicians including Daniele Gorgone from Italy and Gabrielle Stravelli and Pat O’Leary from New York.
In the past years, we’ve shown year-on-year growth in our programme and have become an established cultural event on the London jazz agenda. This year we’ve also focused a lot on strengthening the team and organisation to future proof the festival’s journey for the years to come.”
PROGRAMME BY VENUE
Pizza Express Dean Street
Launch party with the Hugo Jennings Big Band. 30 June. 8pm.
The Landor Space, 70 Landor Road, SW9 9PH:
Opening Night feat. members of the North London Jazz Collective, July 3rd, 8pm start, doors open 7pm
Jim Mullen Organ Trio, July 10th, 8pm start, doors open 7pm
St Mary’s Church, Battersea Church Road, SW11 3NA:
Sula – (trio of drummer Miranda Radford, bassist Aleks Dimitrova and pianist Kezia Abuoma). July 4th, 8pm start, doors open 7pm
Allison Neale Quartet, July 5th, 3pm start, doors open 2pm
Daniele Gorgone Trio, July 5th, 8pm start, doors open 7pm
The Clapham Grand, 21-25 St John’s Hill, SW11 1TT:
Duke Ellington Sacred Concerts ft. South London Jazz Orchestra and large choir, July 6th, 7pm start, doors open 6pm
World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens, 3 Ponton Road, Nine Elms, SW11 7BD:
Gabriele Stravelli Quartet, July 11th, 7.30pm start, doors open 7pm
St. George’s Church, 11 Patmore Street, SW8 4JD:
Christ-Stéphane Boizi Sextet, July 12th, 8pm start, doors open 7.30pm
PROGRAMME IN DATE ORDER WITH BOOKING LINKS
June 30th Launch party: The Hugo Jennings Big Band, Pizza Express Dean Street
July 3rd: Opening Night feat. Members of the North London Jazz Collective, The Landor Space June 30th:
July 4th: Sula, St Mary’s Church
July 5th: Allison Neale Quartet, St Mary’s Church
July 5th: Daniele Gorgone Trio, St Mary’s Church
July 6th: The Duke Ellington Sacred Concerts feat. South London Jazz Orchestra and Large Choir, The Clapham Grand
July 10th: Jim Mullen Organ Trio, The Landor Space
July 11th: Gabrielle Stravelli Quartet, World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens
July 12th: Christ-Stéphane Boizi Sextet, St. George’s Church
Tickets for performances can be purchased via the Festival’s website – link below.
Battersea Jazz Festival, a Community Interest Company (CIC), is raising money for the Lily Foundation, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to fighting mitochondrial disease. £1 of every ticket purchased will be donated directly to the Foundation’s work.
