Music festivals are sometimes reserved for the summer-time, when phases crop up in parks and throngs of individuals camp out to see all their favorite artists in a single place. Such occasions often have fun and thrive off of proximity – all of those musicians to see and things to do, multi function place. The EFG London Jazz Competition, nonetheless, celebrates jazz by spreading all of it via town for everybody to take pleasure in.
A ten-day competition, from November 11-20, the EFG London Jazz Competition sees jazz completely take over town of London. We’re speaking over 300 reveals, at greater than 60 venues, with in extra of 2000 performers. World legends of the scene and younger rising expertise will stand shoulder-to-shoulder on stage and within the audiences, with performers from all over the world in attendance. Various now-established names can in reality level to the EFG London Jazz Competition as being considered one of their first ever stay performances. It’s a celebration of one of the best the jazz world has to supply, no matter how well-known or prolific they might be as of but!
The competition strands
The EFG London Jazz Competition isn’t only a slapdash assortment of a bunch of gigs, as via traces join the numerous diverse performances. The competition programming, for instance, is basically pushed by the understanding that jazz “at its very roots, is a music created, developed and formed by Black tradition.” The primary weekend significantly celebrates the music of West Africa, as a part of the competition’s World Roots strand of efficiency. These performances may even have fun the historical past and legacy of jazz all over the world. The next weekend subsequently celebrates Afrocubanismo with an entire host of occasions and reveals. That weekend’s Última Fiesta occasion will unite so many musicians and actions in a single place that it’s nearly like a one-day competition throughout the competition.
The performances are additionally categorized and linked via the strands of Icons, Homegrown, Past Margins, Voices, New Creations, and Jazz Visionaries. These strands embody native UK expertise (Homegrown), those that are pushing the boundaries of what jazz is and might be (Past Margins), and thrilling new collaborations that lead to one thing fully new (New Creations). The spirit of collaboration that the competition conjures up ends in collaborations between wholly completely different artists, whose synergy then creates one thing new and thrilling. It’s the magic of jazz.
There may be additionally appreciable consideration being paid to creating certain that a few of London’s iconic jazz venues are highlighted. Their ‘Celebrating the Jazz Golf equipment‘ performances will happen in a number of the venues which have fuelled London’s jazz scene. Anticipate unbelievable performances in places starting from the Royal Albert Corridor, to the Vortex Jazz Membership, Pizza Specific (sure, that Pizza Specific), Café OTO, and extra.
Don’t-miss performances on the EFG London Jazz Competition
CHICAGOxLONDON (November 12) – jazz musicians from Chicago collide with a few of London’s finest within the fifth yr of bringing collectively the musical and non secular connections of Chicago and London’s jazz scenes.
African ManiFest: Sounds of West Africa (November 12) – A day-long celebration of Western African music, encompassing stay music, DJing, and workshops.
David Preston at “mu” (November 14) – The London-based guitarist and composer will lead a quartet, that includes Equipment Downes, Sebastian Rochford, and Kevin Glasgow, enjoying materials from his upcoming debut album.
MAMA’s Sunday Classes (November 13 & 20) – DJ units, stay jazz (I imply, clearly), and nice vibes are promised all through the night throughout the 2 Sunday periods at Mama Shelter London.
Printworks Takeover: The Hydra x EFG London Jazz Competition (November 19) – basically the thirtieth party for the competition, a stacked roster of DJs play all of the music that has impressed them through the years, with “a bit of little bit of all the pieces, multi function place.”
Última Fiesta: A Celebration of Afro-Cuban Music (November 20) – The Southbank Centre celebrates Afro-Cuban music with DJs, stay performances, and even a free salsa-dancing workshop.
A majority of the performances are ticketed, however roughly 30% of performances shall be supplied freed from cost, so anybody can take pleasure in them.
Past the gigs
The EFG London Jazz Competition is about way more than simply efficiency, with a wide range of workshops, movie screenings, and interactive experiences additionally obtainable. Dad and mom can take their tots to the Tots Tunes: Early Years Workshop for high quality ‘non-baby’ acoustic music the place they and their kids can sing, shake, and stomp alongside. Or you may be taught all about scatting and vocal dynamics on the Ashley Pezzotti Workshop. Dancers will certainly need to take a look at the African ManiFest: Dance Workshop, the place dance star French Nana will educate conventional African dance.
It’s all reasonably insane, however presents an unbelievable delight for jazz lovers and followers of stay music. And with 2022 marking the competition’s thirtieth birthday, having hit London venues for the primary time again in 1992, it doesn’t seem to be it’s slowing down any time quickly. The intention of the competition, even because it has grown extremely since its launch, stays the identical:
“celebrating the place of jazz in a metropolis which is comfy with its wealthy cultural variety, and drawing in a large number of venues throughout London who current the music, week in, week out, all year long.”
Its all jazz child. And that sounds nice to us.
The EFG London Jazz Competition will run from November 11-20, 2022. Head to the website to find out more, or to get a look at the full festival line-up and secure your tickets.
