Header Image, Pictured (L-R): Adrian Younge, Camilla George, Aja Monet, Jasmine Myra, Hiromi, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Mulatu Astatke, Shabaka Hutchings, ESKA, Mackaya McCraven, Nubya Garcia. Photos: Alexis Maryon, Itzi Marques, Mariana Pires, Casanova Cabrera, Siân O’Connor, Daniel Owusu.
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THE BLUE NOTE POP-UP STORE
The official Blue Note Records Pop-Up Store, curated by Everything Jazz, returns to The Jazz Social at Ropemaker Street for the duration of the 2025 EFG London Jazz Festival.
Offering one of the finest selections of collectable vinyl from Blue Note, Verve, Impulse! and more. This year we’re bringing together rare releases, exclusive editions and branded merch you won’t find anywhere else. We’ll have giveaways and in-store offers too!
EXCLUSIVE MERCH & JAPANESE IMPORTS
Only available in-person at The Jazz Social Pop-up store we have some very special premium branded merch from Blue Note, Verve, Impulse!, Blue Giant and Everything Jazz.
As well, we’re celebrating Japanese jazz with exclusive Blue Giant merch & imports, signed vinyl and the beautiful Tokyo Jazz Joints hard-back.
You won’t find these available to purchase elsewhere in the UK.
The friendly Everything Jazz team will be on hand for recommendations, advice and chats. We absolutely LOVE talking about jazz, so if you’re looking for a hot tip, drop in and let us give you a few pointers or send us an email at info@everythingjazz.com.
WHAT’S ON
The Jazz Social takes its place once again at the festival with a schedule packed full of talks, artist performances, DJs, live radio and plenty more. Here’s our top picks of the events on offer. Come down and enjoy the music while you sip a Blue Note Manhattan from the fully stocked bar!
Hiromi (Live Set)
Thursday 20th November – 7:15PM (Tickets here)
The electrifying Japanese pianist joins us for an intimate performance followed by an audience Q&A. This is your chance to get close to the fireworks.
Elysia Biro (Live Set)
Saturday 15th November – 7:45PM (Tickets here)
The effortlessly cool Canadian singer / pianist puts takes to the Jazz Social stage to showcase her latest work. Catch a star in her ascendence.
British Jazz Explosion (Talk)
Wednesday 12th November – 5PM (FREE)
The history of British jazz has always been rich, and in the 1960s it was bursting with creative energy. Join us for a panel discussion tracing the roots of a thriving scene which helped sow the seeds for today’s new jazz voices.
The Jazz Quiz
Sunday 16th November – 4PM (Tickets here)
Jazz nerds assemble! Quizmaster and pianist Neil Cowley will be firing questions from the keyboard for teams of up to six. Expect jazz trivia, music based challenges, and some serious competition.
Gabrielle Cavassa + Paul Cornish (Live Set)
Wednesday 19th November – 8.30PM (Tickets here)
An evening celebrating the next generation of boundary-pushing Blue Note Records artists. Gabrielle Cavassa, a true rising start, brings her deep, rich, and fragile voice to the stage with Paul Cornish, LA-based pianist and composer whose artistry bridges jazz, soul, and contemporary sounds.
The Jazz Social in the Culture Mile is part of the ‘Voices and Illuminations’ winter offer by the Culture Mile which promotes the cultural and creative scene from Farringdon to Moorgate and with events all the way through the season which you can also check out here.
STORIES
Learn more about the artists performing at this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival and the stories behind some of the talking points at the events.
Hiromi’s Blue GIant soundtrack is a masterwork
Like the young male protagonist of “Blue Giant”, the new animated movie bringing Japanese jazz front and centre, the pianist and composer known mononymously as Hiromi once had visions of becoming one of the greatest jazz musicians in the world.
Nubya Garcia’s Journey to Self-Belief
Nubya Garcia has taken her time for her sophomore album “Odyssey”. The London-born and bred saxophonist speaks on the genesis of the new material, the necessity for an artist to step out of hustle culture, and the importance of self-belief.
The Story of Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records, founded in 1939, is one of the most important names in the history of jazz. Discover the key moments, images, stories and albums that tell the illustrious story of this genre-defining label.
The Story of the British Jazz Explosion in the 1960s
With the current renaissance in UK Jazz, the time is ripe for a re-evaluation of an earlier golden period in the 1960s. The British Jazz Explosion series shines a light on the overlooked artists who worked together to create an original home-grown sound that resonates loudly today.
RECOMMENDED LISTENING
The 85 Best Blue Note Albums
With over 1000 albums in its archives, defining the essential records and artists in the Blue Note discography is a nearly impossible task, but here are the 85 records we think everyone should know about.
The 25 Greatest Jazz Piano Albums
After much debate, consultation, and a lot of listening, here is our chronological (not ranked!) list of the 25 greatest jazz piano albums of all time. Of course, this is a subjective list, and we’ve not included the early piano pioneers who came of age before the concept of the album, but we think these records qualify as essential listening.
KEEP IN TOUCH
To find out more about our stories, music and Everything Jazz, email us at
info@everythingjazz.com. We’d love to hear from you!
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