Take a chance, cross the line, trace the footsteps of music from the beyond
Discover the shows and book at efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/beyond
Deep dive into the Festival shows that take jazz on a journey; mixing progressive, electronic, hip hop, punk, noise, underground, or spiritual, creating fresh and unique visions. Read on for just some of the shows on offer:
Gwenifer Raymond | Friday 12 November | Kings Place
Welsh multi-instrumentalist brings her awe-inspiring technique and musicality with heavy shreds, hard-hitting claw-hammer, and emotional licks
'Transporting, beautiful, intimate and intense’ (★★★★★ Guardian)
Watch: ‘Hell For Certain’
Robocobra Quartet + Archipelago | Saturday 13 November | Kings Place
Northern jazz punks take over
Award-winning UK trio Archipelago with genre-fusing sound, augmenting their core sax-drums-bass palette with voice, electronics and synth.
Described as 'a cunning marriage of jazz, spoken word and punk' by Quietus, Robocobra Quartet's unmatched live performances channel moments of joy and playfulness, and periods of intense fury
Enjoy their digital EFG London Jazz Festival 2020 shows here.
Irreversible Entanglements | Saturday 13 November | Kings Place
The much-anticipated live Festival appearance by the liberation-orientated free jazz and spoken word collective of poet Camae Ayewa (aka Moor Mother), saxophonist Keir Neuringer, and bassist Luke Stewart
Moor Mother also opens for art-rock band Black Midi in an EFG London Jazz Festival x Pitchfork Festival x Concrete Lates crossover the night before – check it out here
Catch Irreversible Entanglements EFG London Jazz Festival 2020 digital gig here
Greg Foat + Kassa Overall | Sunday 14 November | Colour Factory
Future facing jazz double bill
Versatile jazz musician Greg Foat moves from soul-jazz to cinematic, haunting compositions and pastoral acid folk
Singer, producer, drummer, and MC Kassa Overall melds avant-garde experimentation with hip-hop production
New music video from Kassa Overall here
One of Greg Foat’s many amazing collaborations can be enjoyed here
Amadou & Mariam + Yugen Blakrok Sunday 14 November | Royal Festival Hall
The great ambassadors of Malian music invite South African hip-hop luminary Yugen Blakrok to open the night with her powerful messages and commanding political hip hop
Watch Yugen’s Stream From Africa concert here
Sarathy Korwar & special guests | Sunday 14 November | EartH
One of the most original and compelling voices in the UK jazz scene, tabla player Sarathy Korwar mixes spiritual jazz and classical Indian music.
We’re excited to announce the special guests invited to explore this genre-busting musical journey; British-Pakistani poet and writer Zia Ahmed, pianist Al MacSween (Kefaya), producer and synth player Danalogue (Comet Is Coming), Melt Yourself Down vocalist Kushal Gaya, trombonist Rosie Turton (Nérija), saxophonist Christopher Williams (Let Spin), multi-instrumentalist Idris Rahman (Ill Considered), and innovative South African cellist Abel Selaocoe.
Relive Sarathy’s EFG London Jazz Festival 2020 stream from Total Refreshment Centre here
Nazar Live with Rob Heppell | Sunday 14 November | Kings Place
Coining his sound as "Rough Kuduro", Nazar's Guerrilla – released on Hyperdub to critical acclaim – is a powerful body of work and his interpretation of traditional Angolan music and dance. Translating a traditionally upbeat style to expose the darker side of his native Angola's history.
He is joined in this special AV show by Rob Heppell, a video and 3D animation artist known for his work with Gaika, Loraine James, Warp, and Hyperdub
Here’s a taste of his music
L.U.M.E. (Lisbon Underground Music Ensemble) | Sunday 14 November | Purcell Room
Experimental big band project composed of some of the most experienced Portuguese jazz and classical musicians. Improvisation, funk, boogie woogie, impressionist with a Zappa-esque twist
‘An air of gainful urgency as the group careered through densely textured, sumptuous soundscapes - some tending towards cacophony - interspersed by lyrical balladic slots, funk and groove’ (Jerusalem Post)
Check them out here
Damon Locks - Black Monument Ensemble + Angel Bat Dawid | Monday 15 November | EartH
Composer, clarinettist, singer visionary of the Chicago improvisational scene Angel Bat Dawid opens the show with ‘vibrant, spiritual, free-jazz document of black life as it stands today’ (Pitchfork)
The evening continues as music and dance collective Black Monument Ensemble presents their new International Anthem album NOW
Experience the performance style here
Woodkid + Alban Claudin | Wednesday 17 November | Royal Festival Hall
The only British concert from the world-renowned film director and producer
Opening set from pianist Alban Claudin with new album It’s a Long Way to Happiness out this year
The epic production of Woodkid’s World tour coming to EFG London Jazz Festival previewed here
Jgrrey, Kay Young + DJs Izzy Bossy & Rosie Lowe | Wednesday 17 November | Colour Factory
Women in Jazz and EFG London Jazz Festival celebrate the influence of the UK female rappers, hip hop and neo-soul
Check out brand new material here
GLOR1A and friends | Wednesday 17 November | Space 289
Multidisciplinary artist rooted in music and technology laced visual art, creating worlds both in reality and for online audiences. With her work, she challenges the underrepresentation of Black females in sci-fi and myth.
For her debut headline show, she’ll be joined by some of her closest artistic friends and collaborators for a series of performances and DJ sets
Her Serious Livestream Sessions digital show brightened our lockdown!
Jaimie Branch | Friday 19 November | Jazz Café
Chicago trumpet player returns to London following her new International Anthem live album recording release Fly or Die Live of clear messages through bold jazz
Live performance of ‘prayer for amerikkka’
Yo La Tengo | Friday 19 November | Royal Festival Hall
Iconic indie rock band make their London return with influences of folk, shoegaze, punk rock, noise and electronic music
‘What Is Yo La Tengo?’ This is the answer
Peter Sandberg; Midnattssol | Saturday 20 November | Kings Place
Swedish phenomenon Peter Sandberg brings his new project in tribute to the land and folklore of the Swedish midnight sun with uplifting blend of piano-based tracks and beautifully-weighted vocal-led moments
New music video ‘Frihet’ here
Matthew Bourne: The Crowd | Sunday 21 November | Purcell Room
King Vidor's 1928 classic silent film The Crowd is scored by the fearless jazz pianist and composer in a London premiere performance of this latest Opera North Project
Matt Calvert | Sunday 21 November | Kings Place
Breaking from the high octane sounds of his bands Three Trapped Tigers, Strobes and Goldie’s live band, composer Matt Calvert showcases his entirely acoustic album Typewritten
Listen to our Beyond Margins playlist here
Want to see more stories of this year’s Festival?
efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/vocal
Brilliant singers celebrating the power, connection and expression of song
https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/icons
Major International names coming to live London stages
https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/homegrown
From the hottest emerging to already the leading established, the inspirational artists from UK scene
efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/bigmix
One-off collaborations, special commissions, unique projects
efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/guitar
Setting the guitar into centre stage with these incredible guitarists
EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL X MIXCLOUD
We’ve invited artists and DJs to mix their highlights of this year’s Festival. Hear what the upcoming Festival sounds like for Sarathy Korwar, Tina Edwards (Worldwide FM), Irreversible Entanglements, and more from next week at mixcloud.com/efglondonjazzfestival
