Ron Carter, Angel Bat Dawid and Kurt Elling announced for EFG London Jazz Festival

This year’s EFG London Jazz Festival, which runs from 11-20 November, has revealed a second wave of acts as the event celebrates its 30th birthday this year. These include the guest vocalists for their opening night gala concert, Jazz Voice, which will feature US Grammy Award-winner Kurt Elling, American singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah, British lovers rock singer Carroll Thompson and South Carolina-raised jazz singer Dana Masters who will be backed by the expansive EFG London Jazz Festival Orchestra led by arranger/conductor Guy Barker at the Royal Festival Hall (11 Nov).

Also announced is a new iteration of CHICAGOxLONDON – the first since the inaugural 2018 two-city collaboration – this time taking over the Barbican on the first weekend. A deep dive into the culture and sounds of both scenes, past and present, the opening Saturday night features the rising stars of Chicago-based imprint International Anthem, alongside artists who’ve been part of the scene at London’s Total Refreshment Centre. These include UK spoken word artist/saxophonist Alabaster dePlume, Chicagoan keyboardist/vocalist Angel Bat Dawid, composer Ben Lamar Gay, guitarist Jeff Parker and more.

Sunday’s line up brings two of Chicago’s avant-garde masters to London; composer and woodwind player Henry Threadgill’s ZOOID with their first performance in the UK for over a decade and experimental composer, improviser and multi-instrumentalist Anthony Braxton, who will be performing with his new Acoustic Quartet, in a rare concert hall performance.

There’s also a newly announced performance by one of the bass world’s true living legends, with Ron Carter appearing as part of his 85th Birthday Tour (13 Nov, Cadogan Hall), while another ‘bass’ related concert comes from Tomorrow’s Warriors’ Nu Civilisation Orchestra, led by Peter Edwards, who will celebrate Joni Mitchell’s two classic albums that featured the legendary fretless bassist Jaco Pastorius, Hejira and Mingus (in the latter bassist’s centenary year) with sublime soul-jazz diva ESKA on vocals (17 Nov, QEH).

Jazz FM-award winning trumpeter/multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray will be part of the closing weekend’s club nights with a headline show at east London’s Village Underground (20 Nov), as she and her band reimagine classic UK dance tracks, for a one-off 'jazz rave' special. There’s also a great chance to hear the vibrant piano virtuosity of Nduduzo Makhathini – recently signed to Blue Note Africa – as he performs songs from his critically praised album In The Spirit of Ntu (20 Nov, Jazz Cafe).

Further newly announced shows include Friday 11 November: Binker Golding (Purcell Room); Tord Gustavsen Trio (Cadogan Hall); Byron The Aquarius (Jazz Cafe); Ishmael Ensemble (Kings Place, Hall One); Saturday 12 November: Fatoumata Diawara (Royal Festival Hall); RYMDEN: Bugge Wesseltoft, Magnus Öström, Dan Berglund (Queen Elizabeth Hall); ENEMY: Downes/Eldh/Maddren (Purcell Room, 4pm); AKI: Lucia Cadotsch/Kit Downes (Purcell Room, 7.45pm); Staples Jr. Singers (Jazz Cafe). Sunday 13 November: Melanie Charles (Lafayette); Yilian Cañizares (Queen Elizabeth Hall); Kurt Elling SuperBlue (Jazz Cafe, 5pm & 8.15pm). Monday 14 November: Hany Shenouda (Jazz Cafe). Wednesday 16 November: Trish Clowes - MY IRIS (Purcell Room); Camilla George (Jazz Cafe). Thursday 17 November: Colectiva (Kings Place, Hall Two); Sungazer (Jazz Cafe); Friday 18 November: Lady Blackbird (Barbican); The Big Swing featuring Emma Smith, Georgina Jackson and Vula Malinga (Cadogan Hall). Emma Rawicz (Jazz Café). Saturday 19 November: Jean Toussaint (Cadogan Hall); Justin-Lee Schultz (Powerhouse, Camden); Jitwam (Jazz Cafe). Sunday 20 November: Brown Penny (Kings Place, Hall Two).

These names join the first wave of acts announced, including Abdullah Ibrahim at the Barbican, Melody Gardot and Jan Garbarek Group at the Royal Festival Hall, Dianne Reeves at Cadogan Hall, Makaya McCraven at Islington Assembly Hall and Edmar Castaneda & Gregoire Maret at Wigmore Hall.

For the full programme and tickets visit efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/