Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Kurt Elling with Yellowjackets booked for EFG LJF 2025 programme
Mike Flynn
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
The first wave of big names has been announced for this year’s capital-wide jazz festival in November
The first names have been announced for this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival that runs from 14 to 23 November 2025 across the capital’s biggest stages and smallest clubs and every imaginable performance space in between. The festival kicks off in grand style with the sumptuous symphonic jazz sounds of the Jazz Voice Opening Gala at the Royal Festival Hall (14 Nov) with guest singers to be announced soon.
Standouts announced so far include the blend of instrumental and vocal virtuosity on offer with the multi-Grammy Award-winning Kurt Elling joining forces with the skilful grooves of top fusion foursome The Yellowjackets as they collectively celebrate the music of Weather Report (Cadogan Hall, 15 Nov).
Inspired by Max Roach’s 1960 album We Insist!, singer extraordinaire Dee Dee Bridgewater presents her own fiery take on the music under her own band’s moniker, We Exist!, for a soul-stirring show (Barbican, 15 Nov). Closing the first weekend on Sunday, 16 November at Village Underground is American Neo Soul star Bilal, who returns to the spotlight following the success of his two album releases in 2024.
Further genre-crossing acts booked so far include celebrated UK vocalist Tanita Tikaram (Royal Festival Hall, 15 Nov); dazzling US neo-folk/jazz mandolinist Chris Thile (Queen Elizabeth Hall, 15 Nov); hip Chicagoan drummer/producer Makaya McCraven (KOKO, 19 Nov); the highwire fusion funk of Japanese pianist Hiromi’s Sonicwonder band (Barbican, 21 Nov) and hugely popular Californian duo Tune-Yards (Royal Festival Hall, 22 Nov). Jazzwise is festival media partner.
EFG London Jazz Festival Shows
14 Nov - Jazz Voice - Royal Festival Hall
15 Nov - We Exist! The Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet - Barbican 15 Nov - Tanita Tikaram - Royal Festival Hall
15 Nov - Chris Thile - Queen Elizabeth Hall
15 Nov - Kurt Elling and The Yellowjackets Celebrate Weather Report - Cadogan Hall
16 Nov - Bilal - Village Underground 19 Nov - Makaya McCraven - KOKO
19 Nov - Rita Payés - Union Chapel
20 Nov - Fergus McCreadie + Laura Jurd - Union Chapel 20 Nov - GeeJay - Islington Assembly Hall
21 Nov - Hiromi’s Sonicwonder - Barbican
22 Nov - Tune-Yards - Royal Festival Hall
For full details and tickets visit www.efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk
