The EFG London Jazz Festival marks its 30th birthday this year and to kick off the celebrations, staged a special summer series of four headline concerts at the Barbican in London, from Wednesday, 22 to Saturday, 25 June. Global jazz icon Herbie Hancock opened the series in style, defying his 82 years to produce a flawless set which blended old and new music from his extensive repertoire. The show thrilled the capacity audience who responded by giving him a standing ovation.
Award winning Brazilian singer Marisa Monte was up next, continuing her country’s rich tradition of producing great vocalists. Marisa transported an enthusiastic Barbican crowd back to Brazil with her energetic performance and stage visuals. The legendary pianist Brad Mehldau continues to push the boundaries of jazz and classical performance and set against a minimal backdrop on the Friday night, the audience’s attention focused on the purity and invention of the music, and they loved it. Supergroup SFJAZZ Collective closed the series to much acclaim, with highlights including a strong vocal performance from Gretchen Parlato, accompanied by saxophonist Chris Potter and drummer Kendrick Scott.
For EFG, it was a fantastic opportunity to extend our long-standing association with one of the most iconic festivals in the jazz calendar to the summer. The EFG London Jazz Festival 30th birthday programme will bring leading artists from the UK and around the world to London in November for 10 days of live and digital performances, special collaborations, fresh new music and exclusive commissions.
New shows are being announced all the time and you will be able to read more insights about plans for this year’s exciting Festival here and on the official EFG London Jazz Festival website.