We're thrilled to announce a programme of interactive and free events coming to EFG London Jazz Festival this November
ARTicle 10: Women V Culture
We are proud to announce that we will be bringing back ARTicle 10 for EFG London Jazz Festival 2021. Following the importance and success of ARTicle 10: Conversations in the era of Black Lives Matter in 2020, we bring you our newest edition, ARTicle 10: Women V Culture. A series exploring the complex relationship between women and culture, we dedicate Saturday 13 November to a series of conversations and film premieres, with a focus on women’s roles as artists, cultural leaders, and audience members. We take the name for our annual conversation series from Article 10 of the Human Rights Act - the freedom of expression, with a focus on freedom of expression through art and culture – and as such we position this series as a space for key industry figures to talk freely about the realities of each subject, with no limitations or expectations. The Festival team are delighted to be working with author and broadcaster Emma Warren, who will curate and host this year’s edition, which will be hosted live at Southbank Centre's Clore Ballroom and livestreamed to our digital channels.
As part of our ARTicle 10 series, She Is Jazz returns for its second edition under the leadership of Cassie Kinoshi. Once more, women have claimed centre stage, performing newly arranged music, celebrating the artistry of female composers and bandleaders. Filmed at Kings Place, we will premiere the performance as part of our ARTicle 10 event, live in the venue and online. Serious were also able to document the process, under the expert direction of Ashleigh Jadee, who has created a “behind the scenes” mini-documentary of the project, which will also premiere live and online.
Why are we doing this? “As a woman and a musician, I face gender inequality every day” - She Is Jazz Performer, 2019.
As a Festival, our responsibility to our audiences goes beyond what we put on stage. As we emerge from an extended period of social and cultural isolation, it is more important than ever to support people to engage with night-time culture and feel safe doing so. We want to do more, and so are proud to be working on a new night-time safety campaign.
Emerging Talent
Showcasing talent has always been fundamental to the EFG London Jazz Festival, and through our Creative Engagement programme we are able to create opportunities specifically to develop and display London’s, and the UK’s, emerging talent pipeline.
Kicking off on Sunday 14 November, we will deliver a variety of workshops, intended to build key musical and personal skills for those simply looking for a challenge, or those striving for an exciting career. These sessions are an important part of our programme, bringing in main stage artists to interact with our audiences, in an intimate setting, and with tickets available at no cost. At Kings Place’s St Pancras Room, Power of Uke will deliver an introduction to ukulele (with a jazz twist, of course!), and Ranjana Ghatak will deliver a bespoke vocal masterclass.
For this year’s Festival, we are delighted to be working with the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham on a special collaboration between EFG London Jazz Festival and Becontree Forever, including the premiere of a newly-commissioned dance film from Ashleigh Jadee, and a vocal showcase presenting the talent of young people around the borough, curated by Zara McFarlane and hosted at Kingsley Hall - details of our full Becontree programme coming soon
We conclude the Creative Engagement programme for the Festival with the newly branded London LineUp. This showcase, at Southbank Centre’s Clore Ballroom on Sunday 21 November, will present musicians from Guildhall’s Impossibilities, NYJX, Wandsworth Jazz Orchestra, ArtsTrain, Tomorrow’s Warriors and Trinity Laban, who together form the foundations of an exciting and dynamic future for the British jazz scene.
Celebrations
We see the EFG London Jazz Festival as a chance to celebrate, in 2021 more so than ever before, as we welcome back live audiences. Our programme for this year harnesses this spirit and will take the opportunity to celebrate different musical influences.
On Sunday 14 November, we are delighted to present African ManiFest, an event dedicated to the musical heritage and culture of African countries. Staged across the Clore Ballroom and the Level 5 Function Room of the Southbank Centre, we will present some of the most exciting artists and bands of the moment, including K.O.G, Balimaya Project, and a new collaboration between Jally Kebbah Susso and Fehdah, as well as free interactive workshops of African Drumming led by One Drum and African Dance led by French Nana.
Saturday 20 November is dedicated to funk and soul, with our family facing event We Got The Funk.
We kick off the event with a free interactive craft activity, facilitated by Collage Club, before performances of All Day Breakfast Café’s killer horn arrangements with hard hitting disco grooves, and Youthsayers, with their unerring energy and vibrancy.
Jazz Yoga returns!
We are over the moon to be bringing Jazz Yoga to its first live audiences at this year’s Festival! For the perfect way to unwind on the last day of the Festival (21 Nov), watch this space for some exciting updates coming soon.
