The EFG London Jazz Festival is making a third announcement today concerning its programme. The full programme launch event for the programmes of all venues will be on 12 September. Our listing below aggregates the events being announced today with those already announced in the Festival’s May and June press releases.
(Full text of today’s press release begins)
“The EFG London Jazz Festival has just announced a third wave of acts which will be appearing at the London Jazz Festival.
Today, Wednesday 12 July, the EFG London Jazz Festival is announcing a third wave of exceptional acts to add to its already unmissable lineup of multi-talented and multigenerational jazz musicians. Securing its position as the highlight of London’s jazz calendar after an amazing return to full force for its 30th birthday last year, the EFG London Jazz Festival unveils new shows of global music icons including Mulatu Astatke and Aynur, timeless jazz singer Judi Jackson, the explosive supergroup London Brew, and YolanDa Brown as well as the first group of vocalists performing at Jazz Voice. The EFG London Jazz Festival is also excited to announce a new partnership with Appleton Estate; more details are below.
On the opening night of the festival at the Barbican, Ethiopian musician and arranger Mulatu Astatke – best known as the father of Ethio-jazz – celebrates his 80th birthday at EFG London Jazz Festival. Born in the western Ethiopian city of Jimma, Mulatu has trained and performed all over the world and, given this pan-global education, his performance is sure to take the audience on an incredible musical journey, combining his jazz and Latin music interests with traditional Ethiopian music.
The following weekend, on Saturday 18th November, the Barbican will host the highly anticipated London Brew project for the first ever live reiteration of the epic album released this year, based on Miles Davis’ iconic ‘Bitches Brew’. The recorded project features visionaries of the burgeoning UK jazz scene, uniting a collective of experimental cross-genre jazz musicians, who will meet for a live performance on the Barbican stage for a boundary-pushing performance.
On the same day at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, one of the most prominent Kurdish singers of our time, Aynur, will bring a unique blend of her musical heritage, contemporary sounds and jazz influences to this iconic stage. Her impressive voice and extraordinary musical narration represent the Kurdish music tradition and her cultural roots as a global genre.
As part of a commitment to creating a home for emerging UK artists, the festival’s Homegrown strand will be based out of cutting edge new venue Lower Third to provide a platform for exciting UK artists who defy genre, embracing the rich tapestry of cross-genre sounds that straddle jazz and its adjacent musical realms. The first announced amongst these are soulful RnB singer BINA., Alex Hitchcock & Ant Law’s Same Moon and hotly tipped Rarelyalways who are fast becoming known for their distinct blend of jazz, rap, and alternative hip-hop soundscapes.
The EFG London Jazz Festival is also announcing the first group of exceptional soloists for Jazz Voice, the highly anticipated opening night gala that has been supported by Festival sponsor EFG for the past 15 years. To celebrate this milestone, Jazz Voice arranger Guy Barker has handpicked some of his favourite previous vocalists to grace the stage once again, including China Moses, Omar, Brendan Reilly, Judi Jackson, and Vanessa Haynes, with more names still to be announced.
The Wave 3 announcement also includes exciting new additions to shows, including the Hiromi Piano Quintet opening for her Sonicwonder show at the Barbican on Monday 13 November. Another exciting addition to a show is former Take Five alumnus Midori Jaeger, who supports Riopy at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall with her enchanting cello, whilst elsewhere the sought-after ECM recording artist, composer and virtuosic sax player Mette Henriette will open for Charles Lloyd at the Barbican with her trio featuring Johan Lindvall on piano and Judith Hamann on cello.
World-class dance group Clod Ensemble and Tomorrow’s Warriors’ Nu Civilisation Orchestra will present a new perspective on Charles Mingus’ iconic 1963 recording The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady on Friday 10th November at Shoreditch Town Hall, electrifying the dancefloor with a celebration of the sensuality and power of jazz.
Among other new additions to the bill are the captivating K-Music concerts featuring Jambinai and Leenalchi at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, where these boundary-pushing artists will fuse traditional Korean music with contemporary jazz influences.
Audiences can also look forward to the enchanting collaboration of Soojin Suh and Kit Downes at the Purcell Room.
Newark-born composer and multi-instrumentalist Tyshawn Sorey is playing two very special shows at the EFG London Jazz Festival, firstly at Kings Place on Friday 17 November with pianist Aaron Diehl and bassist Matt Brewer. On the following day he plays Cafe Oto alongside acclaimed pianist Pat Thomas for what promises to be a highlight of the festival.
Saxophonist Sean Khan premieres his new project The Modern Jazz and Folk Ensemble (MJAFE) at the EFG London Jazz Festival on Thursday 16 November at the Grand Junction, Clapham with very special guest Pentangle’s Jacqui McShee and rising stars Rosie Frater Taylor and Kindelan. MJAFE brings together British Folk and Jazz musicians, established and emerging, to celebrate songs from the classic era of British folk music that includes Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, Fairport Convention, John Martyn and Pentangle.
Ezra Collective trumpeter, Ife Ogunjobi will take the stage at Omeara on Sunday 12 November for a special show, captivating listeners with his distinctive sound that oscillates between spiritual jazz solos and dance-fueled Afrobeat maximalism. His recently released debut single ‘Standing Here’ offers a tantalising taste of what’s to follow.
Award-winning composer and saxophonist YolandDa Brown will bring her soulful reggae jazz fusion to Cadogan Hall on Saturday 11 November. On Sunday 12 November, accomplished singer-songwriter Judi Jackson will grace the stage at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, to deliver a soul-stirring performance rooted in the Great American Songbook.
The Samara Joy and Scary Pockets shows are the latest SOLD OUT shows ahead of the festival with Sergio Mendes, Marcus Miller and Ron Carter’s second night all selling fast.
These captivating performances are just a glimpse of the extraordinary talent and artistic excellence that will grace the stages of the EFG London Jazz Festival. For the full lineup and ticket links to all shows currently announced, please head to the EFG London Jazz Festival website.
The EFG London Jazz Festival is a place to explore music and to celebrate the legacy and the future of an inspiring musical universe. The Festival’s producers Serious are grateful to EFG for their extended support of the EFG London Jazz Festival. The Launch Party for the EFG London Jazz Festival takes place on 12th September at Lafayette. This much-awaited event heralds in the upcoming Festival and, for the first time ever, it will be celebrated with an open-to-public live show featuring a headline special performance by Colectiva with DJs taking over until late including a DJ set by James Priestley (Secret Sundaze).
The EFG London Jazz Festival is also excited to announce a new partnership with Appleton Estate to present a special series of shows at the festival this November. The Appleton Estate Jazz Sessions will celebrate the ongoing influence of Jamaica on the British and international jazz scene. Audiences will have the chance to sip on the brand’s signature Mai Thai cocktails whilst enjoying some of the best live jazz at this series of intimate shows across the capital. Pelin Opcin, Director said: “We’re so pleased to be partnering with Appleton Estate as part of this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival. The Appleton Estate Jazz Sessions will celebrate the ongoing dynamism of generations of Black British jazz artists and their musical lineage ranging from West Africa to Jamaica and other Afro-Caribbean influences, and their impact on the current jazz scene in a series of intimate shows across the Festival. We can’t wait to share the line-up with audiences.” (PRESS RELEASE ENDS)
EFG London Jazz Festival Shows
3rd wave (plus previously announced)
Friday 10 November
announced today
Jazz Voice featuring China Moses, Omar, Brendan Reilly, Judi Jackson, Vanessa Haynes and more tba | Royal Festival Hall
Mulatu Astatke | Barbican
K-Music: Jambinai & Leenalchi | Queen Elizabeth Hall
BINA. + Ashaine White | Lower Third
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady: Clod Ensemble and Nu Civilisation Orchestra | Shoreditch Town Hall
Greg Foat & Gigi Masin | Kings Place Hall Two
previously announced
Gazelle Twin: Album Launch | Bush Hall
GOAT (jp) | Kings Place (Hall Two)
Saturday 11 November
announced today
YolanDa Brown | Cadogan Hall
previously announced
Makaya McCraven & London Contemporary Orchestra: In These Times | Barbican
Sunday 12 November
announced today
Judi Jackson | Queen Elizabeth Hall
K-Music: Soojin Suh & Kit Downes | Purcell Room
Ife Ogunjobi | Omeara
Alex Hitchcock and Ant Law: Same Moon | Lower Third
Adjunct Ensemble | Cafe Oto
previously announced
Nai Barghouti | Kings Place (Hall One)
Yazz Ahmed with Hector Plimmer & Ralph Wyld | Kings Place (Hall Two)
The Cookers | Cadogan Hall
Southbank Centre / Royal Festival Hall | Marcus Miller + Camilla George
Joep Beving | Milton Court
Barbican | Joshua Redman Group featuring Gabrielle Cavassa
Monday 13 November
announced today
Hiromi: The Piano Quintet opening for Hiromi’s Sonicwonder | Barbican
previously announced
Catrin Finch & Aoife Ní Bhriain + Angeline Morrison | Union Chapel
Cory Henry | Here at Outernet
Tuesday 14 November
previously announced
Sam Gendel | Milton Court
Avishai Cohen Quartet + Emma Rawicz | Cadogan Hall
Wednesday 15 November
announced today
Rarelyalways | Lower Third
previously announced
Bill Orcutt Guitar Quartet | Kings Place (Hall One)
Tom Skinner | Kings Place (Hall Two)
Irreversible Entanglements | EartH (Theatre)
Cécile McLorin Salvant | Southbank Centre / Queen Elizabeth Hall
Sissoko, Segal, Peirani and Parisien | Cadogan Hall
Nikki Yeoh’s Café Oran feat. Stuart Hall, Demi Sabat Garcia & Guildhall Student Bands | Milton Court
Sergio Mendes | Barbican
Thursday 16 November
announced today
Dina Ögon | Jazz Cafe
Modern Jazz and Folk Ensemble | Grand Junction
previously announced
Ron Carter “Foursight” | (& Fri 17 Nov 2023) Cadogan Hall
Jazz Then and Now | Southbank Centre / Queen Elizabeth Hall
Mayra Andrade ‘reEncanto’ | Union Chapel
Norah Jones | Southbank Centre / Royal Festival Hall
MA.MOYO & friends with Wonky Logic and Lorenz Okello-Osengor | Kings Place (Hall Two)
Friday 17 November
announced today
Mette Henriette opening for Charles Lloyd | Barbican
Tyshawn Sorey Trio | Kings Place Hall One
Nok Cultural Ensemble | Kings Place Hall 2
previously announced
Scary Pockets | KOKO
Angélique Kidjo with Ibrahim Maalouf, Youssou N’Dour, Chineke Orchesttra | Royal Albert Hall
Samora Pinderhughes | Union Chapel
Marius Neset: Geyser | Southbank Centre / Queen Elizabeth Hall
Charles Lloyd Ocean Trio | Barbican
cktrl | Bush Hall
Saturday 18 November
announced today
London Brew | Barbican
Aynur | Royal Festival Hall
Midori Jaeger opening for RIOPY | Queen Elizabeth Hall
Tyshawn Sorey / Pat Thomas (Duo) | Cafe OTO
previously announced
Kroke | Union Chapel
China Moses | Kings Place (Hall One)
RIOPY | Southbank Centre / Queen Elizabeth Hall
Sunday 19 November
previously announced
Nikki Iles featuring the NDR Bigband | Cadogan Hall
Bill Laurance & Michael League | Southbank Centre / Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Necks | Kings Place (Hall One)
Samara Joy | Barbican
The Symphonic Music of Wayne Shorter | Southbank Centre / Royal Festival Hall
Madison McFerrin | Jazz Cafe
James Brandon Lewis Quartet | Cafe OTO
