Jazz in the UK: A rich history and promising future
Photo: Kid Circus | Unsplash.
Jazz music has a long history in the United Kingdom, dating back to the early 20th century. The arrival of American jazz musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington in the 1930s helped popularize the genre, and jazz clubs began to emerge in London and other major cities.
As explained on Downbeat Magazine, “from the late 1940s to the early 1960s, thousands of men, women and children left their homes in the Caribbean, in the process helping to shape today’s Britain. They were encouraged by the 1948 British Nationality Act, which granted citizenship to members of the British Empire. Many of today’s U.K. jazz musicians are descendants of this Windrush generation, which brought with them the sounds of reggae and dub from Jamaica, calypso and the early beginnings of soca from Trindad and Tobago”.
“Many of today’s U.K. jazz musicians are descendants of this Windrush generation, which brought with them the sounds of reggae and dub from Jamaica, calypso and the early beginnings of soca from Trindad and Tobago.”
Many influential jazz artists have emerged from the UK, including saxophonist Courtney Pine, pianist and composer Django Bates, and trumpeter Guy Barker. Other notable figures include guitarist John McLaughlin, saxophonist Evan Parker, and the late pianist John Taylor. The British jazz scene has also been shaped by influences from other genres, such as rock, folk, and electronic music, resulting in a diverse and constantly evolving sound.
"The openness of the UK scene is fundamental and as important and natural for UK musicians as real ale”, according to Swedish saxophone player Mats Gustaffson in Reader’s Digest, "the UK jazz scene has always attracted me with its variety of languages, dialects, and the impact of different cultures".
This scene is also known for its vibrant clubs and venues, including Ronnie Scott's in London, which has hosted performances by some of the world's most famous jazz musicians. Other notable venues include the Vortex, the 606 Club, Café Oto, in London, The Jazz Bar in Edinburgh, and Band on the Wall in Manchester. These venues showcase a range of jazz styles and feature established artists whilst providing platforms for younger musicians to perform.
Nowadays, the UK jazz scene is flourishing, thanks to young people getting excited about the genre again. Recent years have seen the rise of young artists such as saxophonist Nubya Garcia, pianist Ashley Henry, drummer and producer Moses Boyd, the five-piece group Ezra Collective, UK jazz scene’s “primary party-starter” or the octet KOKOROKO a band filled with afrobeat and West African rhythms. These musicians draw on a wide range of influences, from traditional jazz to contemporary R&B and hip hop, and are pushing the boundaries of the genre in exciting new directions. As Sammy Stein points out “we are in the midst of a powerful jazz revival fuelled by the talent and effervescence of youth”.
We are sure that you already want to start listening to some of these talented artists, and luckily you can do it right away, first-row, on Oh! Jazz.
