London Jazz Scene

The London Jazz Scene

Live jazz in London is mostly found in Soho restaurants and bars.

Of course, there is the famous Ronnie Scotts, and the equally legendary The 100 Club.

The following bars and restaurants have an extensive live jazz programme The Green Note, Bar Swift, The Nightjar, The Oriole, The Ned, The Phoenix Arts Club, Crazy Coqs, Cafe Boheme and Pizza Express Live.

Outside Zone 1 there are some famous and well known live music venues that are worth the trip: The George IV (Chiswick), The Ram Jam (Kingston), The Toulouse Lautrec (Kennington), The Bulls Head (Barnes) and The Hideaway (Streatham).

Cafe Boheme has a Live Jazz Set every Afternoon

Cafe Boheme has a live music set every day from 3pm-5.30pm. This is free to drinkers and diners. There are an eclectic mix of London’s best jazz performers including The Sugar Kings who sing vocal harmonies from the salons of Old Havana, Davide “shorty” Sciortino who plays spirited early soul and jazz from Sicily and Joplin and Bianca who specialise in Belle époque and ragtime jazz. Their live music calendar changes monthly and can be found on their website.

Crazy Coqs has a Well Curated Jazz Programme

Crazy Coqs is a beautiful red, black and white Art Deco club in the basement of Brasserie Zedel. You can expect an enticing programme of cabaret and intriguing performances. For example, Miss Salvi explores the fine line between creativity and sanity with her psychothera pianist Michael Ferreri. Ticket prices depend on the act but you can expect to pay £15-£35 for a show. The restaurant critic Jay Rayner is one of the best jazz piano players in town and is a regular performer here with his bassist Robert Rickenberg, saxophonist Dave Lewis and singer Pat Gordon-Smith. There is table service with a selection of cocktails and wines and spirits on offer along with bar snacks. You may want to get there early and have the famous Brasserie Zedel set menu in the adjacent restaurant which I review here.

The Oriole Provides Sublime Cocktails, Sophisticated Jazz Acts in a Tropical Explorer Ambiance

The Oriole gives you a buzz as soon as you step inside its tropical explorer style bar. The cocktails are a veritable work of art with creative and unexpected containers and garnishes. Sometimes I just let the bar tender choose for me. The surprise adds to the evening’s delight. The Oriole is hidden away under Smithfield meat market and you feel like a London expert just for finding it.

The Phoenix Arts Club has an Alternative Jazz Dive Feel 

The Phoenix Arts Club is famed for being the dressing room of John Gielgud and is borrowed under the Phoenix Theatre in Tottenham Court Road. For a long time, this dingy  jazz dive with its range of gay, drag, comedy and jazz performances felt like my spiritual home.

Originally, it was  intended as a private members club for those working in the entertainment industry and it hasn’t forgotten its origins. When the theatres close, you will find the most spirited audience dancing and singing here.

Pizza Express Live, Holborn Hosts Big Names in London Jazz

Pizza Express Live in Holborn is a new(wish) live music space in the basement of the Pizza Express Restaurant opposite Holborn tube. They host some of the big names in jazz and music who play the London scene. I like to get there early and have dinner before the show starts. They also have successful comedy nights. A word to the wise don’t sit in the front row if you don’t want to participate!

Pizza Express Live, Soho is their Original Gritty Jazz Venue  

Pizza Express Live Soho is the original live jazz club in Dean Street. In terms of decor and vibe my preference is with the Holborn venue but this one has the advantage of being slap bang in the centre of Soho.

Pizza Express at The Pheasantry, Chelsea hosts Live Jazz in Intimate Elegant Surroundings

Pizza Express at the Pheasantry in Chelsea is the third live jazz venue for Pizza Express and has, in my view, a very similar feel to Crazy Coqs…it is classy, intimate and exclusive with some solid acts.

Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s is an Insider Secret

Upstairs at Ronnie Scott’s is another hidden gem on the London jazz scene. The main venue is often sold out with big name acts…but if you head upstairs you will find a similar atmosphere and some class jazz music performed by London’s up and coming musicians. The shows that I have enjoyed are Dom and the Ikos and Tim Penn and the Second Line. If you obtain membership to Ronnie Scotts’ you will have an opportunity of participating in wine and spirit tasting in this space. These are fun, members only events.

Click here to see some Live London Jazz musicians.