Carnival of Soul

The EFG London Jazz Festival has been one of the capital’s most keenly anticipated annual events every autumn since its launch in 1992. It never fails to surprise and this year’s lineup, of big names and emerging acts, was no exception. The festival is produced by music promoter Serious and presented in large London venues such as the Barbican and the Royal Festival Hall, along with smaller jazz clubs, such as Ronnie Scott’s, the 606 Club, Toulouse Lautrec, The Hideaway and The Oxford. Last month’s festival, was packed with excellent performances from jazz veterans like Herbie Hancock and Art Ensemble of Chicago, along with newcomers to the jazz scene, plus sold-out performances from musicians not usually thought of as jazz performers, Bilal and Iggy Pop. Here are the top gigs and musicians to look out for year round.

1.Hermeto Pascoal – Ronnie Scott’s, Soho

Hermeto Pascoal, described by Miles Davis as “the most impressive musician in the world,” performed a rare gig at this year’s festival. One of the oldest jazz clubs in the world, Ronnie Scott’s, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, presented a phenomenal performance from the Brazilian multi-instrumentalist and his brilliant band. Recognised as a genius of improvisation, Hermeto Pascoal’s music is often made with objects like toys, household items and animal noises alongside traditional musical instruments like the saxophone, guitar and flute. Hermeto Pascoal on piano, keyboard, flute and more was joined by Fabio Pascoal on percussion, Itibere Zworg on bass and vocals, Andre Marques on piano, Jota P. on sax and flutes and Ajurina Zwarg on drums. And another delight in a gig filled with surprises was a guest appearance by Daniel Owusu, a young singer who Pascoal had just met the night before and spontaneously invited him to jam with the band.

2.Cécile McLorin Salvant – Barbican

Cecile McLorin Salvant, a French-American storytelling songstress with an incredible vocal range, managed to make a large venue feel intimate. Still only 30 years old, this young vocalist’s career has soared since winning the first prize in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2010. She had the crowd at the Barbican center begging for more after showcasing songs from her newest release The Window. The singer was admirably accompanied by pianist Sullivan Fortner, while support was from the brilliant UK duo, pianist Andrew McCormack and sax player Jason Yarde who performed a memorable composition of their own “Antibes.”

3.Luigi Grasso Quartet – Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club

Luigi Grasso’s quartet, featuring his guitarist brother, Pasquale Grasso, was part of the brilliant Bop Festival, organised by two musicians, vibes player Nat Steele and saxophonist Allison Neale. The festival which runs annually as part of the main jazz festival is hosted in a classic jazz haunt, an intimate room that can fit around 100 guests at a squeeze, upstairs at Toulouse Lautrec in south London. The festival kicked off with a sublime performance by the Luigi Grasso quartet, featuring the UK debut of his guitarist brother, Pasquale Grasso, who has been described by Pat Metheny in an interview in Vintage Guitar magazine as “the best guitar player I’ve heard in maybe my entire life….the most significant new guy I’ve heard in many, many years.”

4.Bilal –Jazz Cafe, Camden

Think Prince, James Brown and Jimi Hendrix rolled into one and you have the brilliance of performer Bilal. Camden’s Jazz Cafe gig by a Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter was justifiably packed with eager fans. Since making his album debut in 2001 with First Born Second that sold over 300,000 copies, the American musician has continued to garner critical and popular acclaim. He works across multiple genres including gospel, jazz, soul, blues, and hip-hop and has collaborated with a wide range of musicians including Kendrick Lamar, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Robert Glasper and The Roots. All this came into play during his lively Jazz Cafe gig.

5.Peter Horsfall Quartet – The Oxford, Kentish Town

British trumpeter and singer Peter Horsfall brought his new project “RED” to the festival at The Oxford, an intimate setting in north London’s Kentish Town. The gig was a fascinating and brilliant insight into the unsung great, New Orleans trumpeter Henry “Red” Allen who, in addition to touring the UK in the 1960s and recorded under his own name, also played and recorded with Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Billie Holiday and Benny Goodman. Peter Horsfall brought the late musician back to life by intercutting original radio interview recordings with the evening’s numbers. This genius idea contributed to making an entertaining evening one of the best of the festival.

6.Nat Steele Quintet – Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club

Nat Steele, arguably the UK’s top vibraphonist, was joined by acclaimed American jazz pianist Michael Weiss as part of the annual Bopfest. Nat Steele’s debut album, Portrait of the Modern Jazz Quartet, released in 2017, was the vibes player’s genius take on one of the twentieth century’s most influential jazz groups. For the LJF gig with Michael Weiss, they performed the pianist’s own compositions from his forthcoming vinyl album, Soul Journey, along with bebop classics from Coleman Hawkins and Buddy Montgomery.

7.Eddie Gomez Quintet – PizzaExpress Jazz Club

The final gig of the London jazz festival was a real treat and a fitting conclusion to an excellent event. Grammy award-winning American bassist, Eddie Gomez, who has played with many of the jazz greats, including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans, Gerry Mulligan and Benny Goodman performed with his quintet at another London jazz institution, the atmospheric basement club at Pizza Express in Soho. Two acclaimed Italian saxophonists, Marco Pignataro and Renato D’Aiello joined Mr Gomez in an engaging set of standards and his own compositions, including the lovely tribute to Dizzy Gillespie “Cheeks.” 

The next edition of the EFG London Jazz Festival will run from Friday 13th to Sunday 22nd November 2020.