Nestled unassumingly in Nine Elms, Battersea, is one of South London’s best kept secrets for serious music lovers – World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens. This state-of-the-art concert hall, recording studio and music academy doesn’t pop up in the list of ‘usual suspects’ when listing London jazz clubs, but it absolutely should. With 120 luxury handmade seats more closely resembling those found in a movie theatre rather than a jazz club, and a permanent d&b soundscape system designed by Brian Eno and Björk for superior sound quality, there really isn’t a more comfortable way to experience live music in London.
World Heart Beat have programmed a diverse line-up of established and up-and-coming jazz artists for this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival.
November 15th kicks off with ‘Secret Night Gang‘ – British jazz, funk and street soul masters led by Manchester musicians and childhood friends, Kemani Anderson and Callum Connell. They’ve appeared at the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz and Primavera Sound, so this will be a rare opportunity to see them play in such an intimate setting.
Bassist Orlando Le Flemming brings his Romantic Funk project to World Heart Beat for the second night of the festival on Nov 16th, with a killer lineup of UK heavyweights: Nathaniel Facey on alto sax, Tom Cawley on piano and James Maddren on drums. There will also be a special opening set from fusion jazz pianist, Asa Martinson. By far the funkiest night of the festival program!
Sunday 17th hosts a special tribute to Jamaican guitar legend Earnest Ranglin, led by Nick Cohen on bass, who spent time touring with Ranglin. The band (Femi Temowo on guitar, Jason Rebello on keys and Kenrick Rowe on drums) will perform some of Raglin’s most iconic tunes, including music from his Below the Bassline album.
On Monday the 18th the ‘Cameron Scott Jazz Orchestra‘ will be squeezing their 18-piece band into the World Heart Beat concert hall to perform Cameron’s original compositions and arrangements. A talented young trombonist, euphoniumist, composer and arranger, Cameron sites Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, Bartók, Stravinsky and Shostakovich as his musical influences.
Rosie Frater-Taylor will be performing her celebrated new album, Featherweight, on Tuesday the 19th. This young virtuoso guitarist and vocalist has caused serious waves in the UK and Europe with her unique style that boldly blurs the lines between rock, alt pop, neo soul, jazz and folk.
Wednesday the 20th hosts an incredible double-bill for an evening of traditional jazz with the Ayo Vincent Trio and the Deelee Dubé Quintet. With so much genre bending and jazz-adjacent music in this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival, Ayo and Deelee are joyously bringing things back to the tradition.
British jazz legend Zoe Rahman will be performing music from her 2023 album Colour of Sound alongside brand new compositions in an intimate trio performance on Thursday the 21st. She is joined by Gene Calderazzo on drums and Alec Dankworth on double bass. A rare opportunity to see Zoe perform in such a stripped back setting.
Friday the 22nd hosts a very special evening with legendary pianist, composer and World Heart Beat artist in residence, Julian Joseph – ‘Atmospheres in Audio Theatre’. Julian is joined by Benet McLean on violin and Alok Verma on tablas performing new music specially composed to showcase the groundbreaking capabilities of the d&b Soundscape System.
Lastly, renowned jazz guitarist and composer David Preston presents Volume 2 of his acclaimed quartet album, Purple / Black, released in September this year. He is joined by Marc Michel on drums, Ivo Neame on keys and Kevin Glasgow on bass for what promises to be a stunning end to the World Heart Beat EFg London Jazz Festival program.
On Wednesday the 27th, if you still want more, why not join the ‘Jazz Supper Club’? Guests will enjoy a light 2-course meal with wine, and jazz from the students at the World Heart Beat Academy. These events help raise vital funds to support the World Heart Beat charity’s work with children and young people.
Ticket prices for the EFG London Jazz Festival program range from £14 – £35 with the average ticket price sitting at £25.
