| Jazz
fans who visit London will find it a friendly city where the
music is a lively part of the cultural scene. For example,
after purchasing my Saturday newspaper at Starbuck's, I was
handed a complimentary Latin jazz CD featuring Quincy Jones
and Astrud Gilberto. And the other day, while enjoying the
great art collection at the Tate Modern, I listened to a museum
recording of British Trad Jazz legend George Melly singing
a silly ditty about sculptor Henry Moore ("Don't make
any more, Mr. Moore. Mr. Moore, don't make any more.")
The vitality of London's scene is best reflected
in its diversity of cool clubs and record shops. At first
glance, it appears that twentysomething pianist Jamie Cullum
owns the town, since he seems to be playing every major jazz
venue around.
But London's jazz offerings are much more
interesting and extensive. When you're there, be sure to pick
up a copy of the Jazz in London newsletter which is available
in most local clubs and record shops. You can also download
a copy at the Jazz in London website. The newsletter's listings
are pretty comprehensive, organized both by venue and by night
of the week.
Also, be sure to check out the online schedules
of the clubs listed in the London section of this website
where you'll find my selection of the best places for live
jazz. I've recently added the 606 Club to the list - a cellar
club with great atmosphere, a diverse offering of music, and
tasty European fare (see photo 3.) The club is a bit out of
the way, but on a good night it's well worth the trip. All
the club Web sites listed in the London section have schedules,
so you can see who is playing.
Another important facet of the London jazz
scene is the city's terrific jazz record shopping. The most
famous store is Ray's Jazz which currently resides in the
legendary Foyle's Bookshop (see photos 1 and 2.) Ray's sells
compact discs and vinyl, used and new. The inventory covers
all periods and styles of jazz, as well as blues and world
music. The staff is friendly and helpful, and when you're
finished shopping you can pause in the comfortable adjoining
cafe.
Other shops worth checking out:
Harold Moores Records, a short walk from Ray's,
is a superb classical record store with a nice jazz selection.
The Notting Hill record stores Honest Jon's
and Intoxica are worth visiting.
The Oxford Street superstores HMV and Virgin
Records also have extensive selections. After a recent Sex
Mob gig at Vortex, I was able to find all their recent CDs
at HMV (none at Virgin.)
Finally, two other resources to consult for
jazz are the weekly listings magazine Time Out London which
will tell you about the concerts in major performance halls
not listed in Jazz in London; and the BBC's Jazz website where
you can learn about the latest UK jazz radio and television
programming.
The
History Of Jazz | Guitars
- One For Each Style | The
State of Jazz | Styles
of Jazz Music - part 1 |
Styles
of Jazz Music - part 2 |
Jazz
Improvisation | London
Jazz Guide |
Top
places for Jazz in New Orleans |
Four
Jazz Artists On the Move |
