Join us for the Guildhall Summer Jazz Festival, when the intimate Milton Court Studio Theatre transforms into a jazz club featuring some of the most celebrated artists on the UK jazz scene.
Talented Guildhall jazz musicians showcase their work in combos led by Guildhall professors during the day, before evening concerts offer performances from a spectacular line up of special guests including Cleveland Watkiss, Laura Jurd and Nikki Iles.
Tuesday 30 April, 12pm-4pm
Milton Court Studio Theatre
Student combos
Student combos led by Guildhall professors Carlos Lopez Real, Martin Speake and Brandon Allen. New combos perform every hour.
Admission free
Tuesday 30 April, 7.30pm
Milton Court Studio Theatre
Guildhall Jazz Orchestra: Duke Ellington
In the first evening concert of our 2019 Jazz Festival, Martin Hathaway directs the Guildhall Jazz Orchestra in a celebratory programme of the music of the great Duke Ellington, transcribed and arranged by Michael Kilpatrick.
Tickets: Free but tickets required
Wednesday 1 May, 12pm–4pm
Milton Court Studio Theatre
Student combos
Student combos led by Guildhall professors Jules Jackson, Gareth Lockrane and Stuart Hall. New combos perform every hour.
Admission free
Wednesday 1 May, 7.30pm
Milton Court Studio Theatre
Cleveland Watkiss UK All Stars
Guildhall welcomes back Cleveland Watkiss, praised by the Evening Standard as “the best male jazz singer in the UK”, and his all-star band, assembled from some of the most prolific British musicians active today. The vocalist, actor, composer and activist’s inimitable approach to improvisation draws from the group’s heritage and experiences to create unforgettable sound worlds: a sonic blend encompassing soul, reggae, jazz, grime, poetry, classical, pop, dubstep, hiphop and more.
Tickets: £15 (£10 concessions)
Thursday 2 May, 12pm–5pm
Milton Court Studio Theatre
Student combos
Student combos led by Guildhall professors Sarah Gail Brand, Gareth Williams, Malcolm Miles and Chris Allard. New combos perform every hour.
Admission free
Thursday 2 May, 7.30pm
Milton Court Studio Theatre
dinosaur
Regular guests at some of the world’s most prestigious international jazz festivals, the 2017 Mercury-nominated band dinosaur visit Guildhall to present immensely colourful new music from their highly anticipated second album Wonder Trail. Expect folk-infused grooves and glistening melodies created and led by Laura Jurd: a BBC New Generation Artist 2015-17 who’s developed a reputation as one of the most distinctive composer-performers to have emerged in the UK in recent years.
Tickets: £15 (£10 concessions)
Friday 3 May, 12pm–5pm
Milton Court Studio Theatre
Student combos
Student combos led by Guildhall professors Barry Green, Barak Schmool, Stuart Hall and Robbie Robson, New combos perform every hour.
Admission free
Friday 3 May, 7.30pm
Milton Court Studio Theatre
Nikki Iles & The Printmakers
The Guildhall Jazz Festival closes in style with a very special concert from The Printmakers. Led by pianist Nikki Iles – described as a “formidable UK jazz presence” by the Guardian – and starring Grammy-nominated vocalist Norma Winstone MBE alongside four of the UK’s most brilliant jazz instrumentalists, the band is fully deserving of its ‘supergroup’ reputation. Brought together by their collective love of song, The Printmakers’ music defies category and sets out to cross the boundaries that traditionally separate jazz, folk and the contemporary music world.
Tickets: £15 (£10 concessions)
All ticketed events can be booked through Barbican Box Office
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