EFG London Jazz Festival

Every November, jazz spreads across London for ten days, filling concert halls, jazz clubs, churches, arts centres and bars in almost every corner of the city. Because it runs across many venues rather than a single site, the character of any given night depends entirely on where you choose to be, from a hushed set in a small basement room to a large-scale performance at a major South Bank hall. The programming reaches well beyond straight-ahead jazz, taking in soul, world music, classical crossover and electronic-leaning improvisation, alongside free foyer gigs, talks and family sessions. Names range from established international figures to younger British players making a mark. This suits those who like to build their own itinerary and are happy travelling between venues to follow particular artists or discover something unfamiliar.