Exclusive: Dave Holland and John Scofield announce second EFG London Jazz Fest show and Lakecia Benjamin/Alina Bzhezhinska salute John and Alice Coltrane

This year’s EFG London Jazz Festival runs from 12 to 21 November across the capital and will now include two performances from Dave Holland/John Scofield at Cadgoan Hall, with an additional matinee concert at 4pm to take place before their already scheduled show at 7pm on Sunday 14 November. These two veteran virtuosos will pair up for two conversational sets of originals, drawn from their extensive back catalogues, as well as playing favourite jazz standards.

Further additions to the programme include an evening of music honouring John and Alice Coltrane performed by fast rising US sax star Lakecia Benjamin who makes her debut headline London show at Cadogan Hall (13 November) performing music from her widely praised 2020 album Pursuance: The Coltranes, her star-studded celebration of the music of John and Alice. The gig will open with UK-based harpist Alina Bzhezhinska who performs a selection of original pieces and spiritual jazz songs by Alice Coltrane via on a solo harp and electronics set.

A further tribute concert comes in the form of Chick Corea's The Vigil Songbook and features former Corea saxophonist Tim Garland with top pianist Jason Rebello stepping into the late jazz legend’s sizeable shoes, alongside a heavy-hitting rhythm section of drummer Asaf Sirkis, guitarist Ant Law and double/electric bassist Conor Chaplin (Kings Place, 15 November). With much of the club programme to be announced soon, one night that is confirmed is an appearance by acclaimed Danish pianist/bandleader Kathrine Windfeld with support from Israeli trumpeter Itamar Borochov (Ronnie Scott’s, 15 Nov), both of whom are recipients of the 2020 LetterOne Rising Stars Jazz Awards and appear as part of the new-talent prize’s European tour dates. And leading pianist Robert Mitchell will appear with his True Think band of bassist Tom Mason, drummer Saleem Raman plus guitarist Zayn Mohammed and singer Alice Zawadzki on a double bill with UK-based Polish vocalist Marta Gornitzka Sextet at Milton Court (15 Nov).

Other new additions include mesmerising Indian classical singer Ranjana Ghatak who opens for Shai Maestro Quintet (Cadogan Hall, 15 Nov), while Take Five presents... at Southbank Centre, showcases the future of UK jazz with compelling sets from J Frisco, John Pope, Samuel Eagles, and more (20 Nov). There’s also a double bill of suave lounge-jazz keyboardist Greg Foat and exciting Brooklyn-based MC/singer/drummer Kassa Overall at Colour Factory. Another notable opening set comes from the hugely talented Nérija who open for Charles Lloyd Quartet (Barbican, 20 Nov).

These shows join those already announced in Jazzwise that include Archie Shepp and Jason Moran (Barbican, 12 Nov); Daniel Casimir (Purcell Rom, 12 Nov); Robocobra Quartet and Archipelago (Kings Place, 13 Nov); Lisbon Underground Music Ensemble (Purcell Room, 14 Nov); Aynur (Barbican, 14 Nov); Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble (EartH, 15 Nov); Marcel Khalifé and Bachar Mar-Khalifé (Barbican, 15 Nov); Avishai Cohen (Barbican, 16 Nov;); Cécile McLorin Salvant (Cadogan Hall, 16 Nov); Shabaka Hutchings, Cassie Kinoshi, Elliot Galvin and Laura Jurd, with the London Sinfonietta (QEH, 17 Nov); Jasper Høiby’s Planet B Trio (Purcell Rom, 18 Nov); Jason Yarde’s ACOUTASTiC BOMBASTiC (Purcell Room, 19 Nov); Soweto Kinch & London Symphony Orchestra: The Black Peril (Barbican, 19 Nov); Calabashed (Kings Place, 19 Nov); Matthew Bourne (Kings Place, 20 Nov)  Yazz Ahmed with the BBC Concert Orchestra (QEH, 21 Nov) and the Brad Mehldau Trio (Barbican, 21 Nov). Jazzwise is festival media partner.

Visit the official festival website for more details and tickets www.efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk and efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/events/dave-holland-and-john-scofield