Friday night summer series of Jazz in the gardens kicks off
A new summer series of live jazz is about to kick off, filling your Friday nights with smooth, soulful sounds.
World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens in Nine Elms, Battersea, welcomes its first ever Jazz in the Gardens concert series.
Starting on April 25, the series will run until July 11, transforming the 200-capacity auditorium with 360-degree surround sound into a vibrant destination for jazz lovers.
The series will showcase 11 jazz concerts, with some of the world’s finest artists prepped to take the stage.
First up, pianist and composer Hans Koller will premier with a brand-new jazz orchestra project, featuring soloists John O’Gallagher on the alto saxophone and Bryon Wallen on trumpet.
May will see saxophonist Trish Clowes and pianist Ross Stanley presenting a celebration of two masters of composition, Wayne Shorter and Antonio Carlos Jobim, followed by the retro sounds of Artie Zaitz Quartet.
Picking things up with a jazz-funk twist is renowned bassist and composer Yolanda Charles MBE who will announce her latest album with collective Project PH, followed by a celebration of tangos and Latin American folk music from Federico D`Attellis and Ana-Josefina Nickelé.
May listings will finish up with an exciting visit from the Grammy Award-winning Jean Toussaint, who will take to the stage with the Emile Hinton Trio.
As the summer heats up, the newest jazz innovators will take over the embassy gardens for June.
From jazz and rock blends to acoustic guitar sets and Portuguese poetry, the series will welcome names like Henry Spencer, Ant Law, Brigitte Beraha and Tammy Weis.
The season’s finale month will offer unforgettable performances from the Julian Joseph Trio and Gabrielle Stravelli who will be bringing her quartet to present a programme of well-known classics and lesser-known gems from jazz’s history.
The series offers the perfect Friday night out, stacked with sensational performances and a lively atmosphere.
Sahana Gero, MBE, World Heart Beat founder and artistic director said: “For the aficionado and those new to jazz, there’s something here for everyone at World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens.
“Whether you come for the deep, soulful originality of Grammy Award winning tenor sax giant Jean Toussaint or celebrated composer and pianist Julian Joseph, we have even more great artists who embrace the rich tapestry that makes jazz so irresistible.
“Jazz on a summer’s evening evokes the perfect listening atmosphere so we welcome you to immerse yourself in the sound, warmth and energy of Jazz in the Gardens.”
World Heart Beat, a leading music education charity supported by Arts Council England, opened its Embassy Gardens in 2023.
Through its training and mentor programmes, the charity supports hundreds of Black, culturally diverse, female and LGBT+ talent from South London through the music industry.
Pictured top: Grammy Award-winning Jean Toussaint, who will perform as part of the season in May (Picture: Carl Hyde)
