The Jazz Centre UK Secures Future at Southend's Beecroft Gallery

The Jazz Centre UK, which opened in 2016 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, has secured its ongoing future at the city's Beecroft Gallery for the next 15 years. This welcome news follows a period of considerable uncertainty when the centre was given a year's notice in 2022 to quit the Beecroft Gallery, which houses its exhibition area, archive and performance space. A new lease has been agreed with the local council and founder of the TJCUK, trumpeter Digby Fairweather, said the new lease arrangement is, "tremendous news, with a safe and steady stage on which to move forward.

In addition to jazz memorabilia and museum exhibits (such as the Jazzwise 100 Jazz Albums That Shook the World one above), extensive jazz recordings, film, book, magazine and documents archive, the Jazz Centre also presents regular talks and live performances, which will now be extended under the new lease. Following performances in early March by guitarists Dominic Ashworth, Simon Hurley and Andy Watson, and Trevor Taylor's Jazz 825 performing Terry Riley's 'In C' as part of its ‘Across The Great Divide’ series which explores the bridge between classical music and improvisation, the centre continues its programme with: Esther Bennett Sings The Duncan Lamont Songbook (16 March);  Martin Speake, alto sax and Colin Oxley, guitar (23 March); The Leon Greening Quartet Plays the Music of Bobby Timmons (30 March).

Further details from www.thejazzcentreuk.co.uk