Discovery Discothèque: International Jazz Day

We are introducing a new series to the Center Stage blog!! Our Discovery Discoteque will feature a new genre per article – digging deep into its extensive family tree and the key artists, producers, and venues that have fostered that genre over the years. Each installment will culminate in a curated playlist for further independent music exploration. 

As International Jazz Day is tomorrow (April 30th, 2025), we wanted to highlight a localized jazz expression for the first Discovery Discoteque. In the past, we have spoken briefly about the history of jazz – from its birth in New Orleans, Louisiana to its syncretic offshoots in Ethiopia, Egypt, Brazil, and more. However…partly inspired by Raye’s recent Grammy performance, which harkened back to the old-school jazz divas with her bare feet, corded mic, and minimal stage production, and a listen to her great live jazz album…today, we are turning to London, England.

The London Jazz scene is one that has been lauded for some time now. Funded by local initiatives and community centres, it is propelled by grassroots efforts and embellished by immigrant cultures. At the forefront of the conversation is Tomorrow’s Warriors, a free workshop for young (11 - 25 years old) people interested in jazz. Since 1991, Tomorrow’s Warriors’s alumni land as some of the biggest names in modern UK Jazz, including Moses Boyd, Theon Cross, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings, and more. It has fostered musical communities; members of the Ezra Collective first met as participants of the program. Launching national initiatives in schools and communities, it has continued to expand its reach to underfunded communities outside of London. Other similarly functioning grassroots workshops, such as Kinetika Bloco and The Roundhouse, work to make jazz accessible. In addition, venues such as the Total Refreshment Centre, and labels such as jazz re:freshed, provide opportunities for live performances and frequent artist collaborations.

But what makes London Jazz different? The British soundscape has produced a multitude of genres and subgenres over the decades – Britpop, Grime, UK Funky, UK Garage, Drum and Bass, Jungle, Broken Beat and Dub to name a few. In addition, with the Windrush Generation (1940s - 1960s), dancehall, soca, calypso, and reggae migrated with London’s large Afro-Caribbean population. Pirate radio stations like Radio Invicta, where Giles Peterson (arguably the biggest name in UK jazz radio play today) launched his career, spread soul, hip-hop, jazz-funk, and reggae to the masses. Acid jazz – combining elements of funk, soul, hip-hop, jazz, and disco – would originate in London clubs in the 1980s; meanwhile, the last twenty years have seen an increasing influence of afro-beat on London’s music production. This shift parallels a rise in African immigration to the city. The result, in tandem with London’s many other immigrant populations, is a unique blend of musical traditions that constitutes London Jazz’s vibrancy.