Soho’s Jazz Revolution Continues with the Return of Soho Jazz Festival

SOHO, UK. 11th September, 2024 - Now in its 8th year, the Soho Jazz Festival returns from 11th - 14th September 2024, with an electrifying lineup of the UK’s most talented jazz musicians, performing on Soho’s most legendary stages. This year’s festival offers a unique 4-day experience, featuring 15 stages, over 30 shows, and 100 artists.

Soho has long been a key spot on the international jazz scene, known for fostering experimentation and growth, centred around live music. The dynamic nature of jazz feeds off the energy of the capital’s most iconic entertainment district, which only grows stronger with the influx of fresh artists.

This energy is precisely what festival producer and music impresario George Hudson has harnessed since the opening of his first club, Piano Bar Soho, in 2015. For the past 8 years, he has reimagined the legendary festival that started in 1986. His work with artists led to the development of the Soho Live Music Club, a recording and production studio, in collaboration with Musical Director Nathan Britton.

George and Nathan have focused on discovering and developing upcoming talent, many of whom have since made waves on the international jazz scene. This March, they launched a new club, Alfie’s, on Greek Street, continuing their mission to preserve and evolve Soho’s jazz legacy. Through the Soho Live Music Club, they’ve created a community of dedicated fans who enjoy 1,000 shows a year across two jazz clubs for just £35.

George says: “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, where guests can savour cuisine from four of Soho’s newest gourmet restaurants. This unique outdoor experience will be accompanied by live performances from an outdoor stage, offering a laid-back jazz atmosphere. Following the brunch, festival-goers can continue their day at the grand finale the Soho Jazz Jam featuring over 100 of the festivals artists in Soho's newest jazz club, Alfie's five-hour Jazz Jam at Soho’s freshest jazz club, Alfie’s.

This year, the festival unveils a glittering wave of young artists and innovators. Audiences can immerse themselves in electro-infused jazz grooves from the likes of Cosmic Fusion, JSPHYNX, and Jackson Mathod, while Tru Thought’s Bryony Jarmon-Pinto presents her new album, Below North. South London jazz collective Tomorrow’s Warriors will showcase rising star Donovan Haffner, and Incognito lead singer Natalie Duncan will dazzle with her soulful jazz arrangements and piano chops.

A key feature of the Soho Jazz Festival is its celebration of the more “traditional” sounds and jamming culture that have historically resonated throughout the village. Audiences can enjoy youthful renditions of the classic American songbook from Marvin Muoneké—“the young man with the old soul”—alongside rising stars Riketté Genesis, Fraser Smith, and Ineza Kerschkamp. Internationally acclaimed artists Andy Davies (aka “The King of Bebop”) and Ray Gelato, the “Godfather of Swing,” also make highly anticipated returns.

Soho has always been a melting pot of cultures, and this is reflected in the programme. The London Django Collective will pay tribute to Parisian gypsy-jazz pioneer Django Reinhardt, while the Sambroso All Stars bring the salsa, and Catalan pianist Tomàs Fosch presents his new project Swing’ing. Other artists include Tjoe Man Cheung, Koko Collective, New Orleans trumpeter Jon Bauer, piano virtuoso Jay Verma, and saxophonist Reiss-Ellis Beckles.

This year’s performances will be held at iconic Soho venues such as 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 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.”

All proceeds from the Soho Jazz Festival go to the Soho Live Artist Development Fund, which provides grants to help artists promote, produce, and record, advancing live gigging artists to the next stage of their careers.

Jazz Festival all-access passes start at £35, offering an elevated experience with access to multiple daily performances and jam sessions, secret bars, and even an exclusive hop-on, hop-off Jazz Jam Bus experience. Individual show tickets start at £15. Swing by and grab your pass at https://www.sohojazzfestival.com.