6 iconic jazz venues around the UK
They were all up for Venue of the Year at the Jazz FM Awards!
Last updated 30th Oct 2020
Jazz fans were able to vote for their favourite jazz venue in the Jazz FM Awards 2020 with OANDA, which took place at Ronnie Scott's on Tuesday 27th October 2020. With six venues up for Venue of the Year, the public had the choice between Vortex, Church of Sound, Ronnie Scott's, Love Supreme, The Verdict and Band on the Wall.
Vortex in Brighton took the crown at the awards show, which was hosted by Marcus Brigstocke. Read up on the venues below...
Vortex, Dalston
The Vortex Jazz Club is one of the UK's premier jazz venues, programming almost 400 performances a year in an intimate space. As a volunteer-led jazz club in North London, Dalston, they have been given the accolade of being one of the world's best, and have even been singled out by the prestigious Downbeat magazine as one the top 150 jazz venues in the world.
For 25 years, the club has been serving as a platform for jazz, improvised and experimental music. The Vortex has been instrumental in the launch of up and coming artists' careers, such as Mercury-nominated bands including Polar Bear and Portico Quartet. Saxophonist Evan Parker has a long-standing relationship with the club, including a monthly residency; he once described the club as his spiritual home.
Church of Sound
Church of Sound is a regular gig in St James the Great Church, Lower Clapton Rd. A central speaker tower stands tall in the centre of the room, surrounded by musicians, audience and crew.
Emphasis is placed firmly on the music: carefully selected, joyfully performed and cleanly recorded. Over 24 hours, St James is transformed from a traditional worship space into a venue & then back again, leaving a minimal trace.
Their team is made up of musicians, music lovers, friends and family - they do their best to share this feeling of companionship with all those who walk through their big blue doors.
Ronnie Scott’s
In 1959, saxophonist Ronnie Scott opened the door to a small basement club in London's west end where local musicians could jam. Today, in its new home in buzzing Soho, Ronnie Scott's is one of the world's most famous jazz clubs attracting full to bursting audiences practically every night.
Since the early days of Sarah Vaughn, Count Basie and Miles Davis, the club continues to present the biggest names in jazz including Wynton Marsalis, Cassandra Wilson and Kurt Elling, all of whom shun the concert halls in favour of the intimate and welcoming environs of the club.
Ronnie Scott's is also a club firmly on the cutting edge; the first place to catch hotly-tipped rising stars, visionary artists and the next big thing.
With its introduction of the Late Late Show, a relaxed '50's speakeasy vibe with doors open till the wee hours, the Wednesday Jazz Jam (a late-night instrumental jazz jam session), plus Ronnie's Bar (upstairs at the club), Ronnie Scott's has become the hang for London's young hipsters and the place for music fans of all ages seeking jazz royalty in the worlds most stylish famous jazz club.
Love Supreme
Since launching in 2013, Love Supreme has grown to become Europe's biggest outdoor jazz festival now attracting over 50,000 people across the weekend.
The festival is renowned for its musically diverse bill and has seen legendary artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Ms. Lauryn Hill and George Benson share the weekend with jazz heavyweights such as Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea & Pharoah Sanders.
Alongside these established artists, Love Supreme has, since its inception, offering a platform for emerging talent. The inaugural festival saw early performances from now bonafide headliners Gregory Porter and Snarky Puppy and over the years the festival has given UK leading lights Ezra Collective, Celeste, Gogo Penguin and Nubya Garcia the opportunity to perform in front of thousands for the first time.
The Verdict
The Verdict is Brighton's only dedicated jazz club and is rated one of the top ten in Europe.
The club are proud to work with a plethora of musical and artistic talent from the south coast and beyond, and are enthusiastic about welcoming and showcasing emerging talent, facilitating collaborative enterprises and supporting Brighton's local jazz scene.
Band on the Wall
Band on the Wall has been a cornerstone of Manchester's thriving music and cultural landscape for two centuries. Their mission is to promote equality and diversity through music and to bring leading artists from around the world to the stage – both at their award-winning Manchester venue and nationally, through touring programmes and trailblazing creative music projects.
Their unusual name harks back to the building's days as The George and Dragon pub in the early 20th Century. Regulars would affectionately refer to the 'Band on the Wall' as the place where house musicians quite literally played on a stage halfway up the back wall to make room in the busy pub.
Read more about the Jazz FM Awards 2020 with OANDA right here.