EFG London Jazz Festival 2022 - Jazz FM Recommends

Here's our annual rundown of some of the key performances the Jazz FM team are recommending that you go and see at this year's festival

Author: Alastair SteelPublished 1st Nov 2022
Last updated 1st Nov 2022

In the run-up to the 30th anniversary of EFG London Jazz Festival, our team of presenters have looked through the fantastic line-up on offer at this year's festival to highlight the gigs and performances which they're excited to see.

Take a look below and see which concerts we'll be heading to...

EFG London Jazz Festival 2022 - Jazz FM Recommends:

Fatoumata Diawara - 12 November 2022 | Sarah Ward

I’d hot-foot it to The Royal Festival Hall to catch the thrilling Malian singer and songwriter Fatoumata Diawara. She’s a breathtaking performer with challenging and uplifting songs rooted in her cultural legacy. She’ll have you dancing and her lyrical force will leave your head spinning.

Hackney Colliery Band - 12 November 2022 | Lil' Koko

Taking the New Orleans brass band tradition and melding diverse influences, this band continue to innovate. Expect an eclectic and completely unique mix of dancefloor-filling contemporary rock, jazz, soul and electronica. Delicate one minute, powerfully energetic the next and always conjuring a huge party.

The Coalminers - 12 November 2022 | Lil' Koko

Riotous, uplifting funk bursting at the seams plus raw, powerful vocals. This is 'Swamp Soul' from a brilliant 7-piece band keeping the rhythm and soul of New Orleans alive, playing songs from Professor Longhair, Mardi Gras parade anthems to Fats Domino, Rock & Roll classics. and the swampy funk of The Meters.

Kurt Elling Superblue - 13 November 2022 | Tony Minvielle

The incomparable Kurt Elling is easily one of the coolest dudes on the planet, and his latest album SuperBlue has exceeded all expectations. This is down, in part, to his fantastic virtuosity and also to the prowess of his accompanying band, genius guitarist Charlie Hunter, and two of Virginia's finest musical sons Corey Fonville and DJ Harrison from Butcher Brown.

Fergus McCreadie - 13 November 2022 | Nigel Williams

The Jazz FM Award-winning pianist Fergus McCreadie is taking part in this year's festival. Be inspired by this virtuoso pianist who brings the great outdoors to his music.

Native Rebels Recordings presents - 15 November 2022 | Sarah Ward

Checkout Shabaka Hutchings’ Native Rebels record label showcasing recent signings including South Africa’s The Brother Moves On, fusing ancestral legacies with the country’s powerful history of musical protest, plus our 'Breakthrough Act of the Year', Chelsea Carmichael.

Chelsea Carmichael, our Breakthrough Act of the Year, alongside Binker Golding

Nu Civilisation Orchestra presents Joni Mitchell's Hejira and Mingus - 17 November 2022 | Tony Minvielle

A dream threesome of the work of one the world's supreme singer-songwriters, one of the world's great jazz icons, and the talents of the UK's most gifted arranger, Tomorrows Warriors alumni, Peter Edwards. Not forgetting the phenomenally gifted orchestra containing some of the UK's most exciting musicians.

Lady Blackbird + DoomCannon - 18 November 2022 | Deb Grant

Nothing can replicate the experience of hearing Lady Blackbird’s voice in person. I saw her first UK show at the 100 Club and the spectacle of watching an entire room completely rapt by her voice was almost as remarkable as actually seeing her performing on stage. Don’t miss the chance to see this superstar in the making, fresh from her recent Jazz FM Award win!

Dhafer Youssef with Ballaké Sissoko and Eivind Aarset - 19 November 2022 | Sarah Ward

This is a fascinating meeting between a trio of masters of their instruments with Dhafer Youssef on the beautiful middle eastern oud, Ballake Sissoko on the rippling west African kora harp and from Norway the sonic adventurer, guitarist Eivind Aaarset. There’ll be plenty of groundbreaking grooves.

Melody Gardot - 19 November 2022 | Nigel Williams

Melody Gardot performs her Sunset in the Blue album in the UK for the first time. The album that got me through Lockdown! Especially the line from ‘From Paris with Love,’ they fall in love like falling out of bed!

Ewan Bleach and Friends - 20 November 2022 | Lil' Koko

Virtuosic multi-instrumentalist and bandleader Ewan Bleach reignites old pre-war tunes in danger of being lost and injects them with verve and mystery - love watching him play at swing dance events- music for dancing and romancing. A must.

Listen to Jazz FM

Listen to Jazz FM on DAB nationwide, on our free app, online or via your smart speaker (“Play Jazz FM”).