Dave Okumu, Joshua Idehen and more added to EFG London Jazz Festival

The EFG London Jazz Festival which runs from 10 to 19 November across the capital, has announced a clutch of new names and news of some Sold Out shows, extra dates and upgrades. The Festival already includes an unmissable lineup of multi-talented and multigenerational jazz musicians who will descend into London’s various iconic venues for the annual 10 day celebration of jazz in all its forms.

High demand has resulted in a venue upgrade for Scary Pockets who now perform at The Troxy on Friday, 17 November having sold out their KOKO show, whilst extra dates have been added for Mayra Andrade at Union Chapel and Ron Carter at Cadogan Hall. Samara Joy’s performance at the Barbican has already sold out with Marcus Miller, Hiromi and Sergio Mendes on course to sell out shortly.

Also on the second Friday at the festival, British-born Nigerian spoken word artist Joshua Idehen is performing a special show at Lower Third. Having collaborated with artists like The Comet is Coming, Alabaster dePlume and Sons of Kemet, Idehen is firmly established in the new London jazz scene as he continues his journey as a solo musical artist.

One of the Festival’s closing parties will take place at the iconic Village Underground on Sunday, 19 November with a special evening of music curated by James Lavelle, who will also be performing a DJ set. Best known for his work with UNKLE, Lavelle has been a crucial figure in progressive music culture in the UK since the 90s with his fingerprints on so many great records and movements.

Another artist with a far-reaching influence in London’s music scene is Dave Okumu who will be performing with The 7 Generations at Bush Hall on Thursday 16 November in a rare headline performance. Okumu’s career took off in the mid noughties’ with the Mercury nominated art rock trio The Invisible. Beyond the band, Okumu also developed a reputation as a producer, session player, and musical mentor with the encyclopaedic knowledge and calming attitude to coax the best out of a cavalcade of artists including, Tony Allen, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Jessie Ware, and his hero Grace Jones.

Take Five is an annual talent development mentorship programme, run by EFG London Jazz Festival producers Serious, which works with emerging jazz musicians from across the UK and Ireland. The programme is designed to equip artists with knowledge to help them with the next steps of their careers through online workshops and year-round mentorship and guidance from specialists in the music industry. The participants take part in an artistic residency in the Cotswolds, musically led by composer and saxophonist Jason Yarde. This year the residency featured movement sessions led by movement director Coral Messam, and musical collaboration sessions working on each other's compositions which culminates in a final performance at the EFG London Jazz Festival at Pizza Express, Holborn. Jazzwise is festival media partner.

Further updated or newly added EFG London Jazz Festival Shows are as follows:

Monday 16 November

Josh Barry (Cory Henry support) | HERE at Outernet

Thursday 16 November

Dave Okumu & The 7 Generations | Bush Hall

Friday 17 November

Mayra Andrade (second show) | Union Chapel

Joshua Idehen | Lower Third

Scary Pockets (venue upgrade) | Troxy

Saturday 18 November

Take Five Presents SAHRA, Ladies of the Midnight Blue, Córas Trio | Pizza Express, Holborn

Sunday 19 November

James Lavelle [UNKLE] Presents | Village Underground

Take Five Presents: Luca, Johanna Burnheart, tyroneisaacstuart | Pizza Express, Holborn

Full line up and tickets here efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk