The Soho Jazz Festival 2024 kicks off today, continuing Soho’s long-standing cultural tradition.
Now in its 8th edition, the Soho Jazz Festival returns from 11th to 14th September 2024, showcasing an exhilarating lineup of the UK’s finest jazz talents, performing on some of Soho’s most iconic stages. This year, attendees will be treated to a distinctive 4-day celebration, featuring 15 stages, over 30 shows, and more than 100 artists.
Soho has always played a pivotal role in the global jazz scene, renowned for encouraging creativity and innovation, particularly in live music. The vibrant jazz atmosphere is energised by the heart of London’s famous entertainment district, which only becomes more dynamic with the introduction of new artists.
This very energy is what festival organiser and music mogul George Hudson has cultivated since opening his first venue, Piano Bar Soho, in 2015. Over the past 8 years, he has revitalised the historic festival, originally established in 1986. His collaboration with artists also led to the creation of the Soho Live Music Club, a recording and production hub, developed alongside Musical Director Nathan Britton.
George and Nathan have dedicated themselves to discovering and nurturing emerging talent, many of whom have gone on to achieve international success. This March, they launched a new venue, Alfie’s, on Greek Street, continuing their mission to preserve and evolve Soho’s jazz heritage. Through the Soho Live Music Club, they have cultivated a dedicated community of fans who enjoy 1,000 performances a year across two jazz clubs for just £35.
George explains: “The combination of the old and the new, the established and the emerging, perfectly captures Soho’s spirit as a jazz ecosystem and nurturing ground for talent.”
On Saturday, the festival will feature the Great Jazz Brunch in James Court, offering guests the opportunity to indulge in cuisine from four of Soho’s newest gourmet restaurants. This open-air event will be complemented by live performances from an outdoor stage, creating a relaxed jazz vibe. After the brunch, festival-goers can head to the grand finale, the Soho Jazz Jam, featuring over 100 of the festival’s artists in a five-hour jam session at Alfie’s, Soho’s newest jazz venue.
This year’s festival introduces a dazzling array of young talent and innovators. Audiences can lose themselves in electro-jazz rhythms from acts such as Cosmic Fusion, JSPHYNX, and Jackson Mathod, while Tru Thought’s Bryony Jarmon-Pinto debuts her new album, Below North. South London’s jazz collective Tomorrow’s Warriors will showcase rising star Donovan Haffner, and Incognito’s lead vocalist Natalie Duncan will impress with her soulful jazz stylings and piano expertise.
The Soho Jazz Festival also celebrates the more “traditional” jazz sounds and jam culture that have echoed through the neighbourhood for decades. Attendees can enjoy vibrant renditions of the classic American songbook from Marvin Muoneké, “the young man with the old soul”, alongside up-and-coming stars like Riketté Genesis, Fraser Smith, and Ineza Kerschkamp. Notably, internationally renowned musicians Andy Davies, known as “The King of Bebop”, and Ray Gelato, the “Godfather of Swing”, will also be making eagerly awaited returns.
Soho’s rich diversity is reflected in the festival’s lineup. The London Django Collective will honour the legacy of Parisian gypsy-jazz master Django Reinhardt, while the Sambroso All Stars will bring Latin flair with their salsa rhythms, and Catalan pianist Tomàs Fosch will present his new project, Swing’ing. Other performers include Tjoe Man Cheung, the Koko Collective, New Orleans trumpeter Jon Bauer, piano virtuoso Jay Verma, and saxophonist Reiss-Ellis Beckles.
This year’s performances will take place at some of Soho’s most iconic venues, including Piano Bar Soho, Alfie’s Soho, Pizza Express Soho, Jack Solomons Club, Century Club, Karma Sanctum Hotel, Scarlett Green, Union Club, Soho House’s Café Boheme, Crazy Coqs, and many more.
Rupert Power, Chairman of the Soho Business Alliance, says: “The Soho Jazz Festival illuminates the work of artists who embody the energy of Soho, revitalising it as Europe’s premier entertainment destination.”
Proceeds from the festival will support the Soho Live Artist Development Fund, which provides grants to help artists with promotion, production, and recording, advancing their careers in live music.
All-access passes for the Soho Jazz Festival start at £35, offering an enhanced experience with access to multiple daily performances, jam sessions, secret bars, and even an exclusive hop-on, hop-off Jazz Jam Bus service. Tickets for individual shows start at £15. Grab your pass today at https://www.sohojazzfestival.com.
