jazz in London
 

My DH would like to take in some jazz while in London and I would appreciate some suggestions. Ronnie Scott's seems the tourist place to go, which no doubt is why I'm pulling back from there. ;-)

Generally he likes traditional jazz, Django through Miles Davis, rather than be bop and its aftermath. And no fusion. He especially likes jazz guitarists.

He likes the look of Le Cuecumbar with gypsy jazz on Battersea High Street (is that a safe area to be roaming around on foot at night?).

I've wondered about Pizza Express and Pizza on the Park near Hyde Park (maybe because I think I can find them easily), and Vortex in Dalston, which I think may be near our flat in Archway.

Bad reasons, I know, but there are so many choices. Help!

Battersea High Street is fine.

Is there nothing that appeals at the Jazz Cafe in Camden?

Your best bet is probably just to score a "Time Out" once you are there and see what's on.

Getting from Archway to Dalston isn't that easy.

If you've got a car, fine. East to Highbury Corner, then follow your nose along the Balls Pond Road.

By public transport, about an hour of constant changes, involving all kinds of train/tube/bus permutations. If your flat's near Archway or Highgate tubes, Battersea's probably just as easy to get to - and the West End venues you mention are a lot easier.

RonnieScottphobia, frankly, is silly. If someone decent's on, why should you care where the rest of the audience comes from? And if whoever's on's crap, why are they any less crap if the audience is all from Hoxton?

As afterall says: get T Out and choose whatever act appeals. In this as in all London entertainment decisions.

afterall asks "Is there nothing that appeals at the Jazz Cafe in Camden?"

Only that I hadn't noticed it in the long list of jazz places. ;-) Sounds like a good (and close) place to investigate. Thanks.

flanneruk -- Thanks for the info on public transport to Dalston. Vortex is off the list.

The Time Out idea sounds good, the downside being we won't know the acts, so hope their style is mentioned as well.

You can search the Time Out website for jazz gigs during the dates that you are in London. See

http://www.timeout.com/london/music/

A free venue that often has jazz is the foyer at the National Theatre:

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

It's not dificult to get from Archway to Dalston. You need to get the tube to Angel, and then you can catch a 38 bus to Dalston. It should take about 40 mins.

Hi, I wanted to bump this. I'd really like to find a good jazz club in London... and Paris too. I'm specifically looking for gypsy/hot club type jazz - ala Reinhart and Grappelli. Any suggestions?

We love the 606 club in Chelsea.

You could also try asking the BBC's jazz messageboard:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/jazz/

It may seem strange, but Pizza Express in Dean St (soho) is highly regarded. And you can have a pizza too!

mark