There’s a wealth of club and freestage gigs taking place across the 10-day programme with a vast number of performances from international names and UK talent

The EFG London Jazz Festival has unveiled the final details of its 33rd edition, running from 14 to 23 November, with the ambitious core programme complemented by a packed club programme; free stages; and the return of the pop-up Jazz Social venue, which hosts a series of talks and intimate performances.

Highlights of the club shows includes vocalist and playwright Somi making her Jazz Café debut (22 November), bringing her blend of African and American sounds drawing on jazz, theatre and activism to the stage in Camden. Over in Soho, Ronnie Scott’s presents a week of shows kicking off with trumpeter Yazz Ahmed (16 Nov) performing her distinctive blend of Arabic sounds and electronic textures. Pianist Ashley Henry previews new material (17 Nov) and Grammy-nominated vocalist Jazzmeia Horn brings her commanding stage presence (19 Nov), before a collaboration between Mark de Clive-Lowe, Melanie Charles and Shigeto on 20 November.

Rising star vocalist Anaïs Reno makes her Ronnie’s debut (21 Nov), ahead of the heavy grooves and sounds of Daniel Casimir’s Big Band (22 Nov). The club’s week closes with two shows from Beninese-French singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo and French piano virtuoso Alexandre Tharaud (23 Nov).

Dalston’s Vortex Jazz Club once again proves a hub of experimentation across a week of premieres and collaborations. The venue’s festival line-up opens on 14 November with NYJO joined by Axel Kaner-Lidstrom, the Levitation Orchestra founder bringing his collective, high-energy spirit to two shows in one night. On 15 November, pianist Rick Simpson unveils Future Myth, a large-ensemble exploration of improvisation, followed on 16 November by the live debut of The Great Reset, featuring vocalist Sunny Kim, pianist Joanna Duda and bassist/singer Helen Svoboda. Saxophonist Alice Leggett returns to the club with her quintet (17 Nov), while singer-songwriter Fini Bearman hosts a one-off night celebrating jazz songcraft with special guest Michelle Willis (18 Nov).

Other names at the Vortex include Sam Newbould Quintet (20 Nov); Gary Crosby OBE presenting his latest band, Africa Space Programme (21 Nov); and pianist Nikki Yeoh’s Infinitum with the bass and drums of the Mondesir brothers (22 Nov). Later that same night, saxophonist Alex Hitchcock leads a transatlantic line-up formed especially for the festival.

Highlights of PizzaExpress Soho’s bookings include Joe Webb Trio (14 Nov) and the Harper Trio (15 Nov), Scots jazz-funkateers Mama Terra (16 Nov), and the improvisations of the Howl Quartet (18 Nov). Midweek, Dave O’Higgins leads his Take The Coltrane group (19 Nov) followed by two nights from the Eddie Henderson Quartet (20–21 Nov). The week closes with Mark Kavuma & The Banger Factory (22 Nov); the Royal Academy Jazz Orchestra’s big-band celebration of the NDR Big Band (lunchtime, 23 Nov) and an intimate vocal-led set from Jon Regen (evening, 23 Nov).

In Chelsea, the 606 Club presents a series of sets with leading UK and international artists. The programme ranges from Imaani with Angelo Starr (14 Nov) to the Peter King Memorial Sax Summit featuring Mornington Lockett and Denys Baptiste (15 Nov), from Liane Carroll (23 Nov), Gwilym Simcock Trio (19 Nov), Kaidi Akinnibi (20 Nov), to Shez Raja with John Etheridge & Dennis Rollins (21 Nov).

Acclaimed pianist Rebecca Nash (below left) and vocalist Sara Colman launch of their new album Ribbons at on Sunday 23 November 2025 at World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens. Blending jazz, folk, classical, and singer-songwriter influences, this intimate and creative performance features Henrik Jensen (bass) and Jonathan Silk (drums), showcasing songs born from friendship, collaboration, and storytelling. With support from Bridget Walsh, whose dynamic career spans Glastonbury to New Zealand’s Jazz Festival.


There’s also the Baby Jazz Club with Nishla Smith (above right) and Matthew Bourne at The Jazz Social, Citypoint, 1 Ropemaker Street, London from 2.30pm. The Baby Jazz Club offers a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere that still delivers the highest quality of performances, it aims to introduce babies and children to live music alongside a great experience for their adults to hear some of the best names in jazz and beyond. The session is hosted by award-winning jazz singer Nishla Smith, known for her passion for storytelling, alongside pioneering pianist Matthew Bourne, she’ll present an eclectic and adventurous programme – from Bill Evans to Brian Eno, threaded through with unheard original music that draws from themes of nature, from the tiniest seed to a sky full of exploding stars.

Alongside ticketed concerts and club nights, the Barbican FreeStage spotlights Australian talent in collaboration with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival (15 Nov), featuring saxophonist Jeremy Rose (above centre) and flautist Erica Tucceri. The same day, Southbank Centre’s Clore Ballroom free stage hosts the Milestones Blues Party, capturing the energy of 1960s–80s Caribbean house parties. On 16 Nov, the Barbican FreeStage highlights Polish acts Nene Heroine, Immortal Onion, and Tryp Tych Trio, while the Clore Ballroom presents London Line Up, showcasing the capital’s top youth jazz bands. The second weekend continues the international focus: Nigerian jazz takes centre stage at the Clore Ballroom (23 Nov), while the Barbican FreeStage hosts a live edition of BBC Radio 3’s Round Midnight with Soweto Kinch and Festival artists.

The Festival continues its partnership with Guildhall School of Music & Drama with the Guildhall Jazz Festival at Milton Court Concert Hall (18–23 Nov). Celebrating the School’s jazz community, it spans five afternoons and evenings with headline sets from Alexandra Ridout, Fabian Almazan performing a re-imagined Alcanza Suite, Linda May Han Oh, NYJO with Sam Eastmond, and Harry Trevillion’s Cityscape.

The programme also features students, alumni, and guests including Jacqui Dankworth, Junior Guildhall Big Band, Kinetika Bloco, and the Guildhall Jazz Orchestra with guest saxophonist Binker Golding marking the 50th anniversary of Neil Ardley’s Kaleidoscope of Rainbows alongside the release of a new audiophile vinyl edition of the album.

Festival sponsor, EFG Private Bank, has extended its support until 2028, with their collaborative EFG Elements Series this year including concerts such as Jazz Voice (14 Nov, RFH), violinist Nigel Kennedy (18 Nov, Cadogan Hall), singer-songwriter Tanita Tikaram (15 Nov, RFH), and Cuban cellist Ana Carla Maza (20 Nov, Cadogan Hall). Jazzwise is festival media partner.

Full details and tickets visit www.efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk