Top Ten UK Jazz Venues

Having just returned from a tour around the North of England, I thought it high time that I took a look at the various venues I've played around the UK and document my favourites.

Scarborough Jazz Club May 2010

1. Scarborough Festivals (Scarborough Jazz Festival and Coastival) and jazz club.  I haven't played at Scarborough Jazz Festival, but if Coastival is anything to go by, I expect it'll be well-programmed, well-organised and well-attended.  And hopefully in scheduling it in September means it won't rain so much!  The jazz club too is exceptional - a well-attended weekly gig, showcasing the finest of this country's jazz talents.

Imperial Wharf Jazz Festival Sept 2010

2. Imperial Wharf Jazz Festival, London.  I performed here last September and it was a wonderful gig - excellent location, well looked-after by the organisers, and an excellent free jazz event for the public.

3. Marlborough Jazz Festival.  My quartet and I played here in July.  Excellent stage, good sound, and again, a lovely (mostly) free festival for the public.

Carswell Country Club June 2010

4. Carswell Country Club, Oxfordshire.  I performed here as one of the last gigs of my 2010 album tour.  I remember it being a lovely day, and sitting on the patio with a glass of Pimms and listening to the gentle tap of golf balls was a great way to prepare for a gig.

Pizza on the park August 2008

5. Pizza on the Park, London.  Sadly now closed, but this venue will remain one of my favourites - excellent sound, excellent sight-lines for audience members, good location and a couple of years' worth of good gigs there with my quartet.


6. Swansea Jazzland.  I performed here with the Dave Cottle trio in January this year and found it to be one of the most friendly clubs I had ever been to - much of the audience knowing each other, and going to socialise as much as listen to the jazz.

Seven Jazz May 2010

7. Seven Jazz, Leeds.  A jazz haven where the jazz program seems to grow and grow.  Also, a club where the audience spans a wide age-range.  On Sunday I believe the youngest audience member was about 9.


8. Davenham Arts.  A lovely little theatre in Northwich, Cheshire which is sadly suffering from threat of closure owing to lack of funding.


9. Cinnamon Club.  "The Ronnie Scott's of the North."

Spice of Life September 2009

10. Spice of Life, London.  Always a great night on a Wednesday (jazz is promoted on Wednesdays and Thursdays - Wednesday being singers' night and Thursday typically featuring instrumentalists), some of London's best singers perform or attend, or get up in the jam session and do both!