The 606 Club has recently unveiled its program for the EFG London Jazz Festival 2023, spanning from Friday, November 10th to Sunday, November 19th. Following the announcements by the festival organizers, Pizza Express, Ronnie Scott’s, and Piano Smithfield, the 606 Club has now shared its lineup for the prestigious event. Below is the detailed schedule, enhanced with additional information on each performance.
Friday, November 10th
- 9:00 PM – Imaani & Special Guest: Tonight, the Club features Imaani, a member of the iconic jazz-funk band Incognito for over a decade, along with her Special Guest. This promises to be a world-class night of soul and R&B. DJ Times praises Imaani’s “magnificent vocals.”
Saturday, November 11th
- 9:00 PM – The Peter King Memorial Sax Summit feat. Mornington Lockett & Tom Smith with the Will Barry trio & Special Guests: This event, named in honor of the late Peter King, showcases a four-sax front line featuring Mornington Lockett, Tom Smith, and two saxophonists TBA. They will be accompanied by award-winning pianist Will Barry and his trio. The Evening Standard commends Lockett’s “tremendous fluency and drive.”
Sunday, November 12th
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1:30 PM – Lunchtime Special: World Heartbeat & the Julian Joseph Academy Present “Together We Go Forward”: Two of the country’s leading music academies, World Heart Beat and the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy, present a special concert to showcase the next generation of jazz musicians.
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8:00 PM – Jo Harrop/Paul Edis-Autumn Serenade: When Autumn Turns to Winter: Rising star vocalist Jo Harrop, pianist/Musical Director Paul Edis, and their band present a program based on their 2023 Parliamentary Jazz Award-winning Jazz Album of the Year, “When Winter Turns to Spring.” Blues & Soul exclaims, “This girl was born to sing jazz!”
Monday, November 13th
- 8:00 PM – Emily Francis Trio: Combining influences from 60s and 70s-era electronic jazz, psychedelia, and prog rock, Emily Francis (piano/keys), Trevor Boxall (bass), and Jamie Murray (drums) have created a harmonically rich landscape of melody and groove.
Tuesday, November 14th
- 8:00 PM – Kaidi Akinnibi: Hailing from South London, up-and-coming saxophonist Kaidi Akinnibi has already collaborated with a diverse array of artists, including Tom Misch, Black Midi, Blue Lab Beats, and Mark Kavuma’s Banger Factory. Akinnibi is a standout figure in London’s vibrant jazz scene.
Wednesday, November 15th
- 8:00 PM – Shez Raja ft. Soweto Kinch: Virtuoso bassist Shez Raja, known for his dynamic live performances and Indo-jazz, funk, and groove styles, is joined by special guest and MOBO-award-winning saxophonist Soweto Kinch. The Evening Standard gives their performance a four-star rating, noting, “the hip-shaking mix of Eastern songlines and funky Western dance-beats never wavers.”
Thursday, November 16th
- 8:00 PM – TBC: Details for this performance are yet to be confirmed.
Friday, November 17th
- 9:00 PM – Samara with Special Guest: Adriano Adewale: Led by the 606 Club’s Steve Rubie, jazz/Latin group Samara features Brazilian singer Carolina Lelis and special guest Afro-Brazilian percussionist/composer Adriano Adewale (AKA Trio, Bobby McFerrin). Time Out describes Samara as a “cracking Latin-jazz quintet,” while The Guardian calls Adewale “a priceless asset.”
Saturday, November 18th
- 9:00 PM – Byron Wallen: A long-standing luminary in the UK jazz world, trumpeter and composer Byron Wallen has enjoyed an extraordinary career. He is a recipient of the BBC’s ‘Innovation in Jazz’ award and won the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Award for Artists in 2017. Resident Advisor praises Wallen’s performance as “an enthralling celebration.”
Sunday, November 19th
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1:30 PM – Lunchtime Special: Rachel Sutton, Jo Harrop & Eileen Hunter: Three of the 606 Club’s favorite singers – Rachel Sutton, Jo Harrop, and Eileen Hunter – perform timeless vocal-led jazz standards. Cabaret Scenes calls Sutton “a must-see,” BeBop Spoken Here labels Harrop a “singing sensation,” and Jazz FM admires Hunter as an “amazing musician.”
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8:00 PM – Liane Carroll: World-class performer Liane Carroll, with her powerful blues-tinged voice, strong piano playing, and infectious material, delivers a truly remarkable performance. The Observer states, “Liane Carroll…she seems in some magical way to be made out of music.”
For more information on the EFG LJF program and other related events, please visit the following links:
- 606 Club’s EFG LJF Programme
- Third Wave of EFG LJF’s Own Programming
- Ronnie Scott’s Programme
- Pizza Express (Three Venues / Fifty Gigs)
- Piano Smithfield
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