The Jazz Cafe takes its place in the South London festival scene

The Jazz Cafe has spread its wings, gliding from iconic music venue status into the world of outdoor festivals.

On September 15, the Jazz Cafe Festival landed in Burgess Park, for a day-to-night line-up of R&B, Soul, Afro-Cuban funk and experimentalism that promised to stretch out the last moments of summer.

Despite the eclectic range of festivals already established within South London – from Rally to Cross the Tracks, Project 6 and Gala – the Camden venue had no trouble curating its debut programme reflective of 35 years in the heart of the capital’s music scene.

The four stages had been divided according to genre, with The Plant Room hosting an impressive bill of hip-hop.

At around 2pm, North West London’s Qendresa strode on to the platform in knee high boots as crowds bustled into the fully transparent greenhouse-style building – with gaps in the ceiling for circulation.

The smell of hot grass, damp clothes and weed filled the air as the R&B artist debuted her unreleased track ‘Sticky’, followed by fan favourites from her latest two albums. 

Still early in the afternoon, Buena Vista All Stars – the musical heirs and successors of the renowned Buena Vista Social Club – took to the main stage.

The group is led by Ibrahim Ferrer Jr., son of Buena Vista Social Club’s golden-voiced singer, standing alongside some original members, plus a dozen Cuban musicians.

Bound by the magical vocals of Mr Ferrer, Buena Vista All Stars revisited the lovelorn ballads, patriotic hymns and gentle dance numbers heard in Havana lounges as far back as the 1920s.

With a strong crowd in place, the all stars were replaced with Syrian singer Omar Souleyman, who was met with a huge reception for his modernised version of the traditional Arabic ‘dabke’.

Pacing across the Parkway stage sporting dark shades and a keffiyeh headdress, Mr Souleyman filmed the crowd on his Iphone throughout the set with a smile momentarily flicking across his stern face.

Later on in the Plant Room, esteemed producer The Alchemist was followed by New York rapper Roc Marciano, with Californian ex-Odd Future star Earl Sweatshirt headlining.

Meanwhile Giles Peterson’s three hour DJ set included music from Africa, Jamaica, Detroit as well as a series reflecting the European new jazz generation.

A longtime radio presence and label head within the UK’s underground club scene since the mid 1980s, the famously eclectic DJ has kept his boyish charm and undeniable energy – smiling all the way through his set.

As the night wore on, headliner Nils Frahm closed the festival with a stillness that permeated the surrounding buzz of noise.

Known for combining classical and electronic music,  the Berlin based composer mixes a grand piano, upright piano, Roland Juno-60, Rhodes piano, drum machines, and Moog Taurus for his works.

With his equipment stacked around him on the main stage, the Berlin based composer unleashed canvases of sound filled with melodies and texture that spread throughout the crowd.

As the rain started to fall, the festival ended, with the last moments of summer filled with feel good music in the heart of South London. 

To find out more about the Jazz Cafe, visit: https://thejazzcafelondon.com/event/jazz-cafe-festival/

Pictured top: Syrian singer Omar Souleyman received a huge reception on the main stage (Picture: Tom Lee)