It’s so exciting and truly heart-warming to gather again in small rooms to celebrate jazz and discover amazing musicians. This is what came to my mind last week when I attended a jazz concert in Soho. I remember very well how much sad it was during the pandemic to be deprived of moments like this.
Celebrating Jazz during one intense week in Soho is always a memorable vibrant experience and the best way to get to know amazing venues too. I’ll give you a few reasons not to miss out on the Soho Live Jazz Week that I discovered recently, but also encourage you to support the jazz scene until the next edition.
Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON introduces you to an unmissable annual event for jazz musicians and fans, initiated and organised by Soho Live Jazz Club!

Soho Live Jazz Week

This year marked the 6th edition of this Soho Jazz festival, produced by the passionate Nathan Britton & George Hudson.

At the heart of this project are “a collection of venues and artists championing live entertainment and collaboration within Soho’s diverse melting pot of characters, art and history”.

This video above is just an introduction to what you can expect from such a special week: great venues (even with comfy benches in our present case!), talented musicians, a vibrant atmosphere, and remarkable performances during 3 days in September. A must-attend event for all jazz fans!

I am always extremely touched by the human warmth and energy that such live concerts generate. Music is so powerful, isn’t it?

Soho Live Music Club

The last few years have put all jazz venues at stake, inciting some places in Soho* to face these challenges and support live music together: the new Soho Live Music Club was created “to provide new stages and performance opportunities for artists” and give jazz lovers the possibility to encourage them.

By attending great live performances we are not only enjoying a moment, but we are also providing active support to Soho’s creative music legacy.

*The 2022 Live Music supporters in Soho:
1. The Piano Bar (one of my favourite Jazz venues in London)
2. Gerry’s Club
3. Jack Solomons
4. Balans No.60
5. House of St. Barnabas
6. Martinez
7. Karma Sanctum
8. The Blue Posts
9. 21 Soho
10. The Boulevard

The idea to create the Soho Live Jazz Week is of course motivated by the desire to promote different places dedicated to jazz in Soho. Last week I heard of new venues I am now very curious to discover.

I warmly invite you to look online for upcoming events in these venues and make the most of the Jazz scene in Soho!

Karma Sanctum Soho Hotel

This is one of the different venues where live jazz takes place during the Soho Live Jazz Week. We headed there full of excitement as we were about to discover a renowned Jazz singer…

It was the first time I went to this place (I did not even notice it before). There’s a bar on the ground floor with great interior decor highlighting portraits of some celebrities and offering comfy seats.

Unfortunately for us, the choice of drinks the night we came was limited (however my husband opted for an Iron Maiden-inspired beer!) and very expensive.

But we enjoyed the room downstairs, where we experienced our first live jazz with the amazing Big Mama!

Big Mama (Aydenne Simone)

She is such a character.
A person full of joy who embodies Jazz and makes us feel her emotions intensely.

I was extremely impressed to see that this woman, who was a bit struggling to walk down the stairs before her live show (I hope she won’t mind me saying that – I say it with all my admiration), was extremely dynamic and possessed by music as soon as she heard the first notes. As if music – jazz obviously- gave her the power to overcome all physical difficulties. Big Mama is a ball of energy that nothing can stop while on stage!

If you are lucky enough to see Big Mama, you will also love this energy and her voice, but also the way she interacts continuously with the audience, with a sense of humor and a nice repartee, making everyone feels at home sharing the same love for jazz.

Another important fact to describe Big Mama is her respect for the musicians she sings with. They were all extremely skilled that evening (even not knowing each other very well and playing together maybe for the first time?), and she took the time to thank them and show them her respect. She conveyed an amazing atmosphere that night and I found this considerate attitude very touching.

Now you’ve got two choices: either you wait until the next edition of Soho Live Jazz Week next September, or you take the time to discover each venue before it and create wonderful memories that will also help talented musicians to thrive and make a living of their passion.
(I’m not patient enough to opt for the first choice!!)

I’d like to thank Soho Live Jazz Week for their kind invitation, I had a blast! Can’t wait for the next edition 🙂

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are about to book a live concert from one of the venues mentioned in this post soon, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!

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To go further:
Follow and support Soho Live Music Club: @soholivemusicclub
Soho Live Jazz Week website
Follow and support these artists:
Big Mama: @Aydennesimone
Tom Dring (Bass): @Tomdring94
Matt Jacobs (Piano) @_m.jacobs_
Karma Sanctum Soho London: 20 Warwick St, W1B 5NF
Karma Sanctum Soho London website

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