Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean Street, London W1
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Pizza Express Jazz Club may well be smaller than some of the capitol’s other live rooms but its classy interior and close audience to stage proximity ensures that each gig brings the best out of both. As a restaurant chain founded in the 1940 by Peter Boizot MBE, whose trip to Florence inspired him to create a pizza chain that prided itself on serving fresh, handmade pizzas, Pizza Express has long supported jazz in some of its larger restaurants around the UK.
Yet the flagship Dean Street London restaurant remains the jewel in the company’s crown and since its re-launch in 1996 (conducted by Van Morrison), has proved itself as a consistently capable of booking some of the biggest names in jazz, with a sensibility for promoting rising stars and legends alike. Often a place where some of today’s household names made their UK debuts or exclusive performances, the likes of Diana Krall, Brad Mehldau, Danilo Perez, Avishai Cohen, Mose Alllison, Peter White, Richard Bona, Rokia Traoré and a certain Jamie Cullum made an early showcase, while Norah Jones made her European debut, with Amy Winehouse and Peter Cincotti making early important performances there – Sting even took to the stage for an impromptu version of ‘Round Midnight once - such is the venue’s credibility and popularity.
Address: Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean Street, London W1V 5RL
Website: www.pizzaexpress.co.uk
Email: jazz@pizzaexpress.co.uk
Tel: 020 7439 8722
How to get there
Map
Nearest tube – Tottenham Court Road