LondonNet Music Guide
LondonNet Guide to the London Jazz Festival

The 13th Annual London Jazz Festival

Dates: 11-20th November, 2005; various London venues
Tickets: Available at the venue box-offices.
Featured gigs: Click here for our Jazz Fest picks
Festival Info: Click here for festival information
More London Jazz Tickets: Buy jazz tickets...

Interview with UK Funk legend Sam Kelly - click here!

Silhouette Brown, appearing at the London Jazz FestivalKicking off ten days of jazz concerts, ranging from the established, popular, international to home artists, the 13th Annual London Jazz Festival takes place 11th-20th November.

In association with BBC Radio 3, the London Jazz Festival is the widest ranging festival of its kind. This year, it features aspiring artists, special shows, writing projects and a selection of free concerts.

For ten days, no less than ten jazz acts are offered at various venues across London, including the Barbican, Wigmore Hall, Vortex, Rhythm Factory, The Albany, Stratford Circus, 606, Royal Albert Hall and Pizza on the Park. Other gigs are featured at Pizza Express, The Spitz, Royal Academy, and other indie-outlets.

Free events showcase at Ray's Jazz, Virgin Megastore Oxford Street, and the Guildhall School Music Hall; in addition, the Jazz for Free programme will take place in Freestage, hosted at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (QEH) and the Barbican.

Highly varied, with the infamous mingling with the yet undiscovered, this year's London Jazz Festival is a statement of belief in powerful, grassroots jazz.

Other London Jazz Gigs:

  • BB King & Gary Moore
  • Courtney Pine
  • Syd Lawrence Orchestra
  • Jamie Cullum
  • Glen Miller Orchestra



    • Jazz Fest Highlights:

    12th November

  • The Bad Plus: a post-modern piano trio, performing music from Queen to Black Sabbath, 19:30 at QEH.

  • Tony Kofi and Jonathan Gee: Reinterpreting the music of T.S. Monk with the alto sax and piano, the duo has won various awards. Free gig at Ray's Jazz, the Foyles, 14:00.

    • 13th November

  • Archie Shepp and guest Mina Agossi: QEH, 19:30.

  • Claire Martin: considered one of the finest jazz voices today, she performs at the 606 Club, 21:00.

    • 14th November

  • Vienna Art Orchestra: the Purcell Room, 19:45.

  • Gilad Atzmon: combines Middle Eastern folk, jazz and politics. The 606 Club, 21:30.

    • 15th November

  • Nois 4: Brazilian jazz, featuring Monica Vasconcelos. The Vortex, 20:00.
  • Eivind Aarset: the Nordic guitarist combines jazz and metal at the Spitz, 20:00.

    • 16th November

  • Maria Schneider: the Grammy winner and her musicians perform at QEH, 19:00.
  • Big Air: the Purcell Room at 19:45.
  • Asaf Sirkis and Inner Noise: at Freestage, QEH.

    • 17th November

  • Silhouette Brown: supported by Randolph Matthews with DJ Jake Holloway, at Stratford Circus, 19:30.
  • Mike Figgis Jazz Workshop: the renowned film director presents his special project of select musicians at the Vortex, 20:00.
  • Free! : There are a number of free gigs, including The Verb at the Purcell Room, the John Law Trio at Freestage, QEH, and Jazz Night at the Virgin Megastore, Oxford Street.

    • 18th November

  • Polar Bear: the punk/electronic/jazz performers, nominated for the Mercury Prize, are at the Spitz at 20:00.
  • UK Funk All Stars featuring Cymande Revue: UK Funk All Stars jamming to rasta-funk features Cymande Revue, Linda Lewis, and members of FBI at Stratford Circus, 19:30.

    • 19th November

  • Courtney Pine: performs at QEH at 15:00, showcasing his animated film Jazz Daze - perfect for a family outing.
  • The Charles Lloyd Trio: fusing improvisational music, thumping grooves, and jazz impressionism, 19:30 at the Barbican.
  • Live London Jazz Festival Special: features underground hip hop, grime and R&B artists, Sway, Crazy Titch, Tor and Fumin, performing with a live band at the Stratford Circus, 19:30

    • 20th November

  • Liane Carroll: BBC Jazz Award winner Liane Carroll performs at the 606 Club, 21:00.
  • Billy Jenkins: An all day celebratory event starts at 14:00, at the Vortex.

    • Other London Jazz Gigs:

  • BB King & Gary Moore
  • Courtney Pine
  • Syd Lawrence Orchestra
  • Jamie Cullum
  • Glen Miller Orchestra

    • More Info:

    The 13th Annual London Jazz Festival

    Dates: 11-20th November, 2005; various London venues
    Tickets: Available at the venue box-offices.
    Listings: Click here for gig times, venues and dates...

    BBC Radio 3 information line - 08700 100 300. Call for a free London Jazz Festival brochure. Radio 3 will also be broadcasting portions of the Festival on the air and online to UK and international listeners, spreading the London Jazz Festival all around the world.

    Official website of the London Jazz Festival, with the comprehensive line-up of festival events, artist websites, concert venues and ticket prices: click here...

    Full Listing of Free Events: click here...

    For more stuff: Click here (recommendations, ticket giveaways, artist bios, CD reviews, demos and the nifty London Jazz Festival Free Text Club)...

    More London Jazz Tickets:

  • BB King & Gary Moore
  • Courtney Pine
  • Syd Lawrence Orchestra
  • Jamie Cullum
  • Glen Miller Orchestra

    • Jackie Jou