London Jazz Festival

The first London Jazz Festival took place in 1993. From the very beginning, experimental work, commissions, workshops and educational events all played a part in setting the agenda for a festival that would develop over the next ten years to have an impact across the whole city.

It was to be a Jazz festival that didn't just have Jazz in it, but looked at Jazz's antecedents and connections with Caribbean, Latin, African, Indian and European music. Jazz was to be a touchstone, with musical ideas moving between, or colliding with, other genres. What has set the Festival apart has been its constant attempts to mix the familiar with new, tradition with experiment, one culture with another.

The Festival also branches out to other venues including the Wigmore Hall, the Arts Depot, The Royal Academy of Arts and Wapping Project. As well as dozens of concerts across some of London's major concert halls, the festival celebrates the clubs and independent producers that keep the flame burning year round. A mass of new work and collaborations can be heard in London's Jazz clubs and the extensive PizzaExpress FreeStage programme.

The immensely successful new writers' initiative continues for another year and is again looking for aspiring or semi-professional journalists to take part. In partnership with the South Bank Centre, BBC Radio 3, and Jazzwise magazine, Jazz enthusiasts will have the opportunity to work with professional journalists to improve their writing skills, receive insights into career paths and develop an understanding of Jazz criticism. Professionals involved include writer and broadcaster Kevin LeGendre and Jazzwise's Publishing Editor Jon Newey. As well as writing seminars, the initiative also includes attending lots of concerts.

Among the 2010 artists schedualed to perform are Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, Esperanza Spalding, Brad Mehldau, Terence Blanchard, Robert Glasper, Martial Solal, Cleo Laine, Charles Lloyd, Gary Burton, Chucho Valdes, John Etheridge, Geri Allen, Manu Katche, Tymon Tymanski, Leszek Mozdzer, Andy Sheppard, Raul Malo, Palle Mikkelborg, Marilyn Mazur, Helen Davies, Mikkel Nordsoe, Polar Bear, Pete Cater, Courtney Pine, Christian Scott, Yaron Herman, Murcof & Francesco Tristano, Paolo Conte, Alex Riel, Art Theme, Peter King, Humphrey Lyttleton, Andy Hamilton, Nikki Yanofsky, Neil Cowley, Soweto Kinch, Gilad Atzmon, Paco de Lucia, Ibrahim Maalouf, John Butcher, Eddie Prevost, Guillaume Viltard, Sebastian Lexer, Claire Martin, Salena Jones, Creole Choir of Cuba, Matthew Herbert, Natalie Williams, Jovino Santos Neto, The Bad Plus, Juliette Greco and Billy Jenkins.

The 2010 London Jazz Festival is held November 12 to 21.

Related Links:
• London Jazz Festival - Official website.
• Other Jazz Festivals - AP4J Festival Guide