Goobi Kyazze’s Grass Roots organisation nurtures talent, makes jazz more inclusive, and has been instrumental in the efflorescence of jazz talent in London over the past six years.
Grass Roots has provided a vital platform for emerging London-based jazz artists to perform original live material, filling a gap left by venue closures following Brexit, Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis.
Goobi, also known as ‘Mr Boogie’, is a part-time DJ, jazz and Latin music aficionado, dedicated to the notion of jazz being as accessible as possible:
“Grass Roots is an initiative aiming to make jazz more inclusive. It is fully committed to keeping our events as affordable as possible to encourage a wide range of attendees, regardless of their age, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation or disability.”
Several individuals and groups have benefited from Grass Roots such as Faker Villain, Grifton Forbes-Amos, Sultan Stevenson, Ze Nuno & The Lunar Shift, William Wood and many more along the way.
Goobi says that one of Grass Roots’ crucial pillars of support for emerging artists is “simplifying frequently complicated payment processes for young musicians by handling all of their financial arrangements directly with venues, striving to ensure that they are paid fairly and on time.”
Spaces like The Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston, the Notting Hill Arts Club and the CLF Art Lounge in Peckham have been vital in providing opportunities for young, up-and-coming jazz stars to strut their stuff.
Grass Roots forms part of an ecosystem of inclusive jazz organisations and hothouses in the capital whose goal is to produce ever-advancing generations of accomplished artists – organisations such as Tomorrow’s Warriors, jazz re:freshed, Black Lives in Music, Women in Jazz, the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy, and World Heart Beat among others.
In August and September 2025, Grass Roots artists are performing at the Karamel in Wood Green, North London (N22) given CLF Art Lounge’s imminent relocation to a new home in Peckham.
On 6 September, the quartet of tenor saxophonist George Johnson, 2024 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year finalist, will be offering up a captivating concoction of original material and reworkings of his cherished compositions.
Drawing from his jazz roots and groove sensibilities, George’s multi-faceted repertoire comprises Latin, soul, art rock and hip-hop selections. His group includes Kai MacRae on drums, Scottie Thompson on keyboards and Zaki Osahn on double bass.
