Jazz In London?

[bertrand]

I will be in London this Spring. What record stores are still open for jazz, if any? Is there any good place to hear jazz other than Ronnie Scott's and Pizza Express? Anyone here live in London proper?

Thanks,

Bertrand.

[RogerF]

I work in Central London. There are few record stores left now. Ray's in Foyles (Charing Cross Road) is still going. HMV in Oxford Street is still going but when I visited the jazz dept in the basement a couple of weeks ago it looked like they had emptied it of at least two thirds of the stock. Looked kind of post-apocalyptic and sad. Some second hand record stores in Berwick Street (eg Reckless Records which has a fair bit of jazz) are still going. Not really much else. For gigs check out this website: http://www.jazzinlondon.net/JIL/JILfrontpage.htm

Please of venues still going such as the 606, Vortex and the relatively new Hideaway in Streatham, South London.

Edited March 18, 2013 by RogerF

[Fer Urbina]

Ray's Jazz at Foyles in the Charing Cross Road is probably the best choice now. HMV and Fopp have been put into administration, so there may be none of them by the time you get here. Not that they have a lot of stock at the moment, to be honest.

As for clubs, what RogerF said. If you're into jazz or non-jazz avant-garde, Vortex and Cafe Oto (five minutes walk, in Dalston, East London) are the places to go.

F

[mjazzg]

As already mentioned Ray's Jazz is the sole survivor of the exclusvely Jazz variety. however if you're interested in other genres as well there are a couple of stores that hold good if not large Jazz selections - Honest Jons in Portobello Market (which may be an interesting trip anyway) stocks an intriguing range of genres (check their website for an idea - although shop stock is not exactly the same.

Close to Rays Jazz and HMV, Oxford Street (in its death throes?) is Berwick street where a cluster of shops have good to fair selections of second hand jazz - you can easily take a walking route that connects HMV to Rays via Berwick Street. You might try out Sounds of the Universe shop along the way in Broadwick street, another store like Honest Jons that has a small., eclectic stock amongst an array of other genres (see website for an idea)

If you make it to Portobello Market you'll find Intoxica Records with a selection of second hand vinyl (the prices of which will probably shock you compared to US) and also a Record and Tape Exchange at Notting Hill underground with similar.

As for live, I'd second RogerF's suggestion of checking JazzinLondon to see the variety available especially at smaller 'local' venues.

I can't recommend Cafe Oto highly enough - the programme is eclectic to say the least but if you can find someone you like it has a great atmosphere. Vortex is good too. More mainstream at Ronnies (overpriced) and Pizza Express, Dean Street.

Edited March 18, 2013 by mjazzg

[RayB]

One place I often go to listen to jazz is 'The Spice of Life', a pub at Cambridge Circus just a hundred yards or so along Charing Cross Road from Foyles. There's music every night in the basement music room with jazz on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and again on Friday lunchtime. It's a nice atmosphere and serves decent pub grub at resonable prices and a nice range of drinks ( and no I'm not on any kind of commission).

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Yes, Sounds of the Universe used to be Soul Jazz Records and is still owned by the record label of that name.

MG

[fasstrack]

In terms of live music my old buddy Frank Griffith has a nonet that plays fairly often around. Check the listings when you get to town. He's a fine arranger and reedman and I recommend his group.

[sidewinder]

HMV in Oxford Street is still going but when I visited the jazz dept in the basement a couple of weeks ago it looked like they had emptied it of at least two thirds of the stock. Looked kind of post-apocalyptic and sad.

I was hoping that that wasn't the case - too bad. I'm in town on Friday and was thinking of calling in but will give it a miss. Will stick with Ray's I think. End of an era !

More mainstream at Ronnies (overpriced)

Ronnie wouldn't have allowed it !

The 'Bull's Head' in Barnes might be worth a trip - the likes of Stan Tracey and Peter King often play there.

Comprehensive London listings for March here..http://www.jazzinlondon.net/JIL/Mar-13.htm

Edited March 18, 2013 by sidewinder

[Blue Train]

http://www.honestjons.com/shop.php?CatID=1&sort=ArtistIndex&max=all



http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/

http://www.cafeoto.co.uk/


http://www.dauntbooks.co.uk/

http://www.shapero.com/


You can also check out Rays (which was already mentioned) at this

http://www.foyles.co.uk/

http://www.hatchards.co.uk/

http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/navigate.do?pPageID=200003

Edited March 18, 2013 by Blue Train

[mjazzg]

Musician curated events - they are small and will take you out of the centre of town but are accessible. worth it if you find a line-up that tempts on a night you're here

http://theoxfordjazz.com/ younger, London-based musicians many associated with Loop Collective

http://flimflam.org.uk/ improv/free jazz

Beware the Ray's jazz section of the Foyle's website, posted above, it's hopeless and doesn't reflect the store. Foyles itself is a fine bookshop.

[sidewinder]

Foyles is definitely worth a trip - after scanning the racks at Ray's it's always worth a coffee at their very fine cafe, one of the best in the West End IMO.