Jazz Today in South East London

Where to find Jazz south of the river.

There are many reports that Jazz is dying out, but that is not the case as far as South-East London is concerned. There are many places all over the area where you can hear good Jazz almost any night of the week. I have visited many of them, and here is my take on those I have visited and a report on some of those that I have not been to yet.

Where to start? Well, I will start with my favourite, The Oval Tavern on Oval Road, Croydon. This is a real old-fashioned boozer, serving a good selection of beers, coffee, and amazing food. Their Sunday lunch is not to be missed,

They have music most days of the week, but for me, the high spot is their Sunday Jazz lunch. Every week between 1.00 and 3.30 they have an absolutely top group playing. Musicians playing there lately have included Dave O’Higgins, Tony Kofi, Tony Woods, and Simon Spillet.

Every Sunday night they have a blues night, again with top blues groups like Eric Linton.

Monday is big band night, where the Big Beer Band plays. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1904351349583970

They are basically a rehearsal band of very high standards, playing standards from the golden age of big bands.

They also have Tomorrow Warriors every other Thursday, giving up-and-coming youngsters a chance to play. Folk music is featured every Friday plus an open-mike session once a week. Well worth a visit.

The other venue in Croydon is The Clocktower Cafe, next to the Town Hall. Every Thursday between 12.00 and 2.00 they feature top-class jazz musicians playing rather laid-back modern jazz. As the venue has a rather high ceiling the acoustics are not of the best, but the music is of a high standard. It’s a good place if your preference is for laid-back sounds and not all-out hard bop. Incidentally, the food in the cafe is very good and very reasonably priced. Get there early if you want a decent seat. Entry is free, but a hat is passed around for donations to pay the musicians

.Now to a couple of Jam sessions. Every Monday at Off The Cuff, underneath Herne Hill station, there is a jam session at 8.30 The resident quartet plays the first set, followed by a jam in which any visiting musicians get a chance to play. The music is usually of a pretty high standard and also does give singers a chance to perform. The session ends at 11.00 with an all-in jam.

Every Wednesday a jam takes place at The Plough, opposite Dulwich Library. This jam is run by the guys who used to run The Lordship Pub, a much-missed venue. The music here is of a similar high standard. Again the music is from 8.30 until 11.00.

Another venue in this area is a monthly session at The East Dulwich Tavern. This takes part on the first Wednesday of each month. Here a guest star plays the first set backed by the regular backing group. Stars who have appeared here include Jean Toussaint, Iain Ballamy, Claude Deppa, Alan Barnes and Jim Mullen

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The second set is usually a jam session, which gives local musicians a chance to play alongside a star musician.

The Crystal Palace Jazz Club meets in the basement of The Hopscotch cocktail bar, on Westow Street, Crystal Palace, every Tuesday and Wednesday. It is run by singer Georgia Mancio and drummer Dave Ohms. They have a couple of guest stars for every session. It is necessary to book in advance as it is a very small room, down a steep flight of stairs

Another venue with limited capacity is The Moustache on Kirkdale, Sydenham. They have guest groups once a month on a Wednesday evening. To find details you need to visit their website.

Out in Greenwich, there is Oliver’s Jazz Bar.

They have music every night, with Jam Sessions from Monday to Wednesday, and well-known groups from Thursday to Sunday. Again it is best to book, as space is rather limited.

Toulouse Lautrec has been going for some time and features well-known groups almost every night. Bands do two sets, and it is necessary to book again. I think it is rather an expensive venue, as you have to pay separately for each set., but they do have really top-line bands and musicians It is situated at the Elephant and Castle. You could call it the Ronnie Scott’s of South London.

Traditional Jazz is hardly catered for. I could only find one place that occasionally features trad jazz, and that is The Ivy House, at 40 Stewart Road, SE15 3BE. They have jazz every Sunday from 4.00 till 6.00. Amongst the regular groups they have is Doolally Flap, who play New Orleans Jazz.

Finally of the places that I have been to is Spikes Place out in Beckenham. They have sessions three times a month, held in the clubroom of the Club Langley Sports Club. Again they feature top-quality bands doing a two-and-a-half-hour session from 8.00 to 10.30. The last session I went to featured Alex Garnett Quartet, an extremely good quartet, with a fabulous rhythm section.

There are three places that I have not visited, which I think I should mention. Firstly Carshalton Jazz Club, which meets at the Cryer Arts Centre in Carshalton on one Wednesday a month. The program consists of jam sessions and visiting bands.

In New Cross, there is the Royal Albert pub, which has jazz every Sunday night. They appear to have different bands there every week.

Lastly, there is Peckham Levels. The South East London Jazz Collective, Steam Down have been playing their legendary weekly jam sessions every Wednesday night for more than seven years. Peckham Levels is the home for the next chapter in their journey. “The place to experience the raucous edge of London’s new jazz scene” -says The Guardian. I have been told that the music is pretty way out, and very exciting.

This just about wraps up what I know is happening at present. However new venues are always springing up and others are closing down. Most play modern jazz and there is a distinctive lack of traditional jazz.