Welcome back to this month’s edition of a new series, where I take a look at some of the most exciting UK jazz gigs coming up each month. I’m Evie Hill, a jazz vocalist and songwriter, and these are my personal top five gig picks for November. This month’s edition is, of course, heavily influenced by the incredible 400+ gigs happening as part of EFG London Jazz Festival. They’re in chronological order, from 16-29 November.
- Matt Carmichael and Gloria Yehilevsky at the Purcell Room
On Sunday 16 November, Matt Carmichael and Gloria Yehilevsky will be performing in the Purcell Room at the Southbank Centre, London. Each year, artists from the Serious Take Five development programme are showcased at EFG London Jazz Festival, and this year will feature Scottish saxophonist Matt, and London-based composer, percussionist and improviser Gloria. As some of the most exciting and current jazz artists in the UK, these two performers have extremely distinctive voices. Carmichael’s powerfully emotive blend of jazz and folk music sets him apart, whilst Yehilevsky’s dynamic, introspective and exploratory sound on percussion is a cognitive delight. An intriguing and compelling double bill. – DETAILS/BOOKINGS
- Jasmine Myra at Hackney Church
On Tuesday 18 November, saxophonist, composer and bandleader Jasmine Myra will be performing at Hackney Church in London. Myra will be playing her newest album Rising, but this gig will feature a special element – live strings. Her music is already uplifting and beautifully arranged, but this addition will take her compositions to another spiritual level. Supporting Myra will be Ancient Infinity Orchestra, a shifting collective of spiritual jazz musicians whose expansive sound blends ecstatic improvisation with deep, meditative grooves. This is going to be a beautiful experience, and in the perfect venue for it. – DETAILS/BOOKINGS
- Taylor Eigsti/ Gabrielle Cavassa / Becca Stevens at Cadogan Hall
Still in London, on Wednesday 19 November GRAMMY Award-winning NYC-based pianist and composer Taylor Eigsti will be performing at Cadogan Hall alongside vocalists Gabrielle Cavassa and Becca Stevens. Winner of Downbeat Magazine’s Rising Star ‘Pianist of the Year’ award in 2024, Eigsti has been labelled a prodigy, releasing 9 albums of incredible music and featuring on 80 more as a sideman. This combination – some of the top jazz vocalists in the world, alongside a Grammy-winning virtuosic jazz pianist – will result in some of the most inventive and exciting jazz that you will experience this year. It’s going to be an incredible night. – DETAILS/ BOOKINGS
- Oumou Sangaré / BBC Concert Orchestra at the Queen Elizabeth Hall
On Sunday 23 November, legendary Malian singer Oumou Sangaré will sing live with the BBC Concert Orchestra in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre. Grammy-winning icon Sangaré, known as ‘The Songbird of Wassoulou’, will bring her fierce spirit, soaring vocals, and genre-defying sound to the stage, blending tradition and innovation by weaving blues, folk, and rock into the rich tapestry of West African rhythm. Sangaré is a truly one-of-a-kind artist, and a truly legendary vocalist – there aren’t many chances to see her in the UK, so grab this opportunity while you can! – DETAILS/ BOOKINGS
- Plantfood and Yung Yusuf at Belgrave Music Hall
Finally, heading up to Leeds on Saturday 29 November, alt-jazz band Plantfood reunite with London rapper Yung Yusuf to perform at Belgrave Music Hall. They’re releasing a full joint EP together, and will be launching this fiery and vulnerable project at the gig. Yung Yusuf is an English-Palestinian rapper whose lyrics are marked by a deep exploration of fear and identity, whilst his wordplay and unique energy keep listeners on their toes. Performing alongside 6-piece Leeds jazz powerhouse Plantfood, audiences can expect a beautifully heavy night of music, from mosh pits to meditations. This is not one to miss. – DETAILS/BOOKINGS
