A recap!
A Recap!
2 days, over 2200 people, 14 venues, 21 events of which 13 were free, the festival was a delight for residents and visitors to our neighbourhood. Almost a 100 musicians played across the festival; whilst we hosted 2 visual art and history exhibitions, a video and performance art installation, an open house with a local architect and a cycling tour that formed part of our programme.
Georgia Cecile
Georgia Cecile
Georgia Cecile
11th July | Hoxton Hall | 20:30
‘UK Jazz Act Of The Year’ and ‘Vocalist of the Year’ at the 2022 Jazz FM awards, Georgia Cécile is at the helm of the new wave of UK jazz crossover artists. Cécile’s band of top UK jazz players have featured widely across UK and European Festivals, including Love Supreme, Cheltenham and London Jazz Festival. Receiving great support from the national and international press, she was recently heralded by
The Guardian as one of six jazz artists “blowing up” 2023
Gordon Webster
Gordon Webster
Gordon Webster
11th July | Bishopsgate Institute | 19:00
One of the most sought after musicians in the lindy hop world based in NYC. His tremendous musicianship and passion, supported by his first-hand knowledge of social dancing, have inspired lindy hoppers at hundreds of dance events worldwide. Drawing on influences as diverse as Fats Waller, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris, Webster serves up a smorgasbord of styles unified by one characteristic: irresistible danceability.
Adrian Cox
Adrian Cox
Adrian Cox
12th July | St Peter's Church | 13:45
Internationally acclaimed clarinetist Adrian Cox brings his electrifying celebration of New Orleans music to De Beauvoir Jazz Festival. Renowned for his deep connection to the early jazz tradition, Cox leads his Trio with Honey Boulton (guitar) & Alex Gilson (bass) alongside special guests Tom Ward (piano) and Dan Higham (trombone) for an afternoon of music honouring the legendary composers and musicians who shaped jazz history.
From the groundbreaking works of Jelly Roll Morton and Lil Hardin Armstrong to the unmistakable sound of Sidney Bechet, this performance explores the rich tapestry of early jazz with fiery improvisation and heartfelt storytelling. With a career spanning performances with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, as well as his own internationally touring projects, Cox is widely regarded as one of the finest clarinetists of his generation.
Join Adrian Cox and his all-star band for an unforgettable journey into the soul of New Orleans jazz—bringing history to life with passion, swing, and virtuosity
Mark Kavuma and the Banger Factory
Mark Kavuma & the Banger Factory
Mark Kavuma and the Banger Factory
12th July | The Scolt Head | 19:45
The Banger Factory is a collective led by the genius Mark Kavuma, that is contingent upon bringing the people a good time. Over the last seven years, the band has developed and nourished a truly unmistakable group sound and attracts and features some of the most gifted and engaging musicians on the scene today.
Ewan Bleach & The Fleeting Paradise Orchestra
Ewan Bleach & The Fleeting Paradise Orchestra
Ewan Bleach & The Fleeting Paradise Orchestra
12th July | St Peter's Church | 15:45
Ewan Bleach is a clarinetist, saxophonist, pianist, singer, bandleader, composer, teacher and session musician based in London and specialising in the early styles of jazz, ragtime, blues and swing.
The Fleeting Paradise Orchestra is Ewan’s 10-12 piece jazz ensemble that plays arrangements of original blues and jazz numbers of late 20s and early 30s America, such as Benny Moten, Charlie Johnson, Fess Williams and Duke Ellington. They also play material from the polite society dance bands such as Guy Lombardo, Bert Ambrose and Ben Bernie amongst others.
Kinetika Bloco
Kinetika Bloco
12th July | De Beauvoir Square | 12:45
Kinetika Bloco are a Youth Music organisation, a Creative Learning partner at Southbank Centre and an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation. A grassroots music ensemble with an exuberant mix of young brass and woodwind players, drummers, steel pan and dancers all in costume creates a “unique new British Carnival sound with a decidedly London edge” (BBC Radio 2)
Kinetika Bloco's mission is to get young people from London engaged in long-term creative activity advancing their education, skills and capacity. Kinetika Bloco are also running two intergenerational workshops - dance and drumming - the same morning.
Giacomo Smith's Gypsy Jazz All Stars
Giacomo Smith's Gypsy Jazz All Stars
Giacomo Smith's Gypsy Jazz All Stars
12th July | The Block Party with Albers | 16:45
Celebrated clarinettist Giacomo Smith comes together with a stellar group across London and Paris, playing together to bridge culture, tradition and time to create unique concerts drawing on the history of Django Reinhard’s music. Performing original compositions, swing era classics, and other songs from outside the typical gypsy swing and Manouche repertoire.
Nathaniel Facey & Shane Forbes
Nathaniel Facey & Shane Forbes
Nathaniel Facey & Shane Forbes
12th July | Vortex Jazz Club | 20:30
Nathaniel Facey (saxophone) and Shane Forbes (drums) play Interstellar Space - the "fierce free-jazz rumination" album released by John Coltrane and Rashied Ali.
We're delighted to have Vortex Jazz Club at Gillett Square as our festival partners.
12th July | Vortex Jazz Club | 20:30
Nathaniel Facey (saxophone) and Shaney Forbes (drums) play Interstellar Space - the "fierce free-jazz rumination" album released
by John Coltrane and Rashied Ali.
We're delighted to have Vortex Jazz Club at Gillett Square as our festival partners.
Intergenerational Dance Workshop
Intergenerational Dance Workshop
12th July | Rose Lipman Building | 9:30am
Learn dance moves from different Carnival styles across the world with Kinetika Bloco’s Lead Choreographer Leon Hazlewood. Dance along to one of our tracks, and you are invited to join the Kinetika Bloco carnival marching band later in the day (12:45pm).
Kinetika Bloco are a Youth Music organisation, a Creative Learning partner at Southbank Centre and an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.
Intergenerational Drumming Workshop
Intergenerational Drumming Workshop
12th July | Rose Lipman Building | 10:30am
Learn drum rhythms from different Carnival styles across the world on Samba Drums, with Lead Drum Director Sam Agard, from Kinetika Bloco.
You don’t need any previous drumming experience, although if you are a drummer, you’ll also get lots out of the workshop, learning a different style and playing as a unit.
You’ll learn the groove to one of our tracks, and you are invited to join the Kinetika Bloco carnival marching band later in the day with some percussion (12:45pm).
Irene Serra
Irene Serra
12th July | East and South East Asian Community Centre | 13:30
Critically-acclaimed Italian Jazz vocalist Irene Serra is a charismatic performer with a beautiful vocal style and assured stage presence. She also happens to live in De Beauvoir! She sings a great repertoire of eclectic tunes from straight ahead jazz standards, swinging blues and beautiful Brazilian songs to quirky pop arrangements. Irene brings the Great British Playbook, her latest project with Luca Boscagin to the festival.
Grand Union Orchestra
Grand Union Orchestra
12th July | 15:15 at De Beauvoir Square and 16:30 at De Beauvoir Arms
40 years ago, composer Tony Haynes’s vision of creating a music and theatre company that brought together performers from all the diverse cultures flourishing in Britain today gave birth to a remarkable new ensemble – the Grand Union Orchestra.
Led by Claude Deppa, experience the magic of South and Western African as well as Caribbean Jazz at three special venues during the festival.
Carnival Headgear Making
(10-16 yr olds)
Carnival Headgear Making
(10-16 yr olds)
12th July | Rose Lipman Building | 9:45am
Learn to make a of the fabulous jazz carnival headgear from the very best carnival arts group, Tropical Isles. Based in De Beauvoir, Tropical Isles is a professional award-winning carnival arts organisation with creativity at its heart.
Wear out your newly created headgear with whatever you've chosen to wear on the day for the festival, and become part of the performance by joining Kinetika Bloco at 12.45pm!
Peter Werth &
the Jazz Crew
Peter Werth & the Jazz Crew
12th July | Rosemary Branch | 15:30
Peter's ensemble has a residency at one of De Beauvoir's much loved institutions every month. He's done brilliant amounts to keep the music going in the neighbourhood and we're delighted to have local musicians in the mix for our festival! Peter Werth and the Jazz Crew features a brilliant ensemble of musicians and his strongly female cast makes us smile big! Featuring Irene Serra (vocals), Julie Walkington (bass), Paul Elridge (piano), Andy Davis (trumpet), Jo Fooks (saxophone) and Peter himself (drums).
DJ Lil Koko
DJ Lil Koko
DJ Lil Koko
12th July | De Beauvoir Block | 15:00
DJ Lil' Koko spins rare New Orleans 50's RnB, swampy Brass, funk, Jazz, gut-bucket Blues and Cajun punk oddities with a few detours into the Bayous of Louisiana. Setting EFG London Jazz Festival alight in 2024, she DJed and hosted a New Orleans stage at the Southbank and opened for the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. She tours the world spinning vinyl live, hosts a New Orleans radio show on One Jazz (previously on Jazz FM) and as a broadcaster and music journalist, she brings the rich musical history and culture of New Orleans and the Deep South to the masses.
DJ Island Girl
DJ Island Girl
DJ Island Girl
12th July | The Block Party with Albers | 18:00
Bianca Wilson aka Island Girl is a DJ, banjoist and vocalist whose work is based on an exploration of their cultural heritage and diasporic experience. Influenced by both traditional Jazz and folk music, and by her urban upbringing, she blends these elements to create her own unique sound.
Hylozoic/ Desires
Hylozoic/ Desires
12th July | On The Square, De Beauvoir Square N1 4LE | Multiple screenings,
pre-registration required
Setting the Stage for a Gathering of Friends, 📺 a video work, scored with free-jazz drumming , forms part of the festival lineup. It is set up to be viewed at a house on De Beauvoir Square, beautifully restored back to life in the recent years.
The video work created in 2020, at a time of global isolation - is a poignant inclusion for a festival focused on bringing the community together. A good reminder for all that’s been and the fragility of all we rejoice and hold dear.
Hylozoic/Desires is a multi-media performance duo - who also happen to be De Beauvoir residents (Himali Singh Soin and David Tappeser) - whose work combines experimental poetry and original music to conjure different, speculative futures.
Giacomo Smith's Hot Five
Giacomo Smith's Hot Five
Giacomo Smith's Hot Five
12th July | The Scolt Head | 21:15
Giacomo Smith's Hot Five is a nod to Louis Armstrong’s ground-breaking ensemble of the same name recorded way back in 1926. Smith’s ongoing exploration of this period of music is born of a fascination with an era in which genres of blues, ragtime, swing, and Latin music all blurred together into a sincere and barely commercialised artistic expression.
Exhibition of Jazz Posters
Exhibition of Jazz Posters
Exhibition of Jazz Posters
3rd - 13th July | 40 Cross Street N1 2BA
An exhibition featuring brilliant posters and artworks by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi CBE RA, Keith Haring amongst others forms part of our festival. The exhibition is hosted by 20th Century Posters at 40 Cross Street, a short walk from De Beauvoir Town.
Eduardo Paolozzi - the Scottish designer and artist, is possibly best known in London for his tile murals at Tottenham Court Road as well as the magnificent sculpture “Newton after Blake” in the forecourt of the British Library. As it happens, Paolozzi also designed a series of posters for the Soho Jazz Festival that ran from 1986 to 2002.
Twentieth Century Posters is led by David Bownes, previously Head of Collections at London Transport Museum, Director of Collections at the National Army Museum.
3rd - 13th July | 40 Cross Street N1 2BA
An exhibition featuring brilliant posters and artworks by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi CBE RA, Keith Haring amongst others forms part of our festival. The exhibition is hosted by 20th Century Posters at 40 Cross Street, a short walk from De Beauvoir Town.
Eduardo Paolozzi - the Scottish designer and artist, is possibly best known in London for his tile murals at Tottenham Court Road as well as the magnificent sculpture “Newton after Blake” in the forecourt of the British Library. As it happens, Paolozzi also designed a series of posters for the Soho Jazz Festival that ran from 1986 to 2002.
Twentieth Century Posters is led by David Bownes, previously Head of Collections at London Transport Museum, Director of Collections at the National Army Museum.
A history of Album Cover Art
A history of Album Cover Art
A history of Album Cover Art
12th July | 11:30am-5:00pm | The Scolt Head
National Jazz Archive will be sharing their exhibition of album cover art “100 Jazz Albums that Shook The World”
Based on the seminal work edited by Jon Newey at Jazzwise Magazine- the exhibition will be open in the back room of the much loved neighbourhood pub, The Scolt Head
12th July | 11:30am-5:00pm | The Scolt Head
National Jazz Archive will be sharing their exhibition of album cover art “100 Jazz Albums that Shook The World”
Based on the seminal work edited by Jon Newey at Jazzwise Magazine- the exhibition will be open in the back room of the much loved neighbourhood pub, The Scolt Head
Tickets also available on DICE.
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De Beauvoir Jazz Festival is a Community Interest Company
De Beauvoir Jazz Festival is a Community Interest Company