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Jazz Cafe
Location 5 Parkway, Camden Town, London
Coordinates 51°32′20″N 0°8′36″W / 51.53889°N 0.14333°W / 51.53889; -0.14333
Public transit London Underground Camden Town
Owner The Columbo Group
Type Music venue
Genre(s)
Opened 1990; 35 years ago (1990) (current site)

The Jazz Cafe is a popular place in Camden Town, London, where people go to listen to live music. It first opened its doors in 1990. Before it became a music venue, the building was a Barclays Bank. Over the years, the Jazz Cafe has had different owners.

This music spot can hold up to 450 people on its two floors. The Jazz Cafe also organizes its own Jazz Cafe Festival. This is a day-long music event held in Burgess Park in London.

History of the Jazz Cafe

The very first Jazz Cafe was started in the 1980s by Jon Dabner and Jean Marshall. It was located in Newington Green, Stoke Newington. In 1990, the venue moved to its current home in Camden Town.

In 1992, a company called Mean Fiddler started managing the music bookings. Later, in 2008, MAMA & Company took over. They continued to run the Jazz Cafe until January 2016. At that time, The Columbo Group bought the venue.

After being bought by The Columbo Group, the Jazz Cafe got a fresh new look. It also received technical upgrades and a new menu for food and drinks. The new owners also brought a new approach to booking artists. Through all these changes, the club has always featured amazing performers. It has showcased music from many styles, including jazz, hip hop, electronica, blues, world music, reggae, Latin music, and soul. It's a place for both new and well-known artists to perform.

Famous Performers at the Jazz Cafe

The Jazz Cafe has welcomed many famous musicians over the years. Some of the jazz artists who have played there include Jamiroquai, Sun Ra Arkestra, Pharoah Sanders, Don Cherry, and Amy Winehouse.

Many top funk, soul, and disco artists have also performed. These include Ben E King, Evelyn "Champagne" King, The Blackbyrds, and Jocelyn Brown. Reggae stars like Lee Scratch Perry, Yellowman, The Skatalites, and Marcia Griffiths have also graced the stage.

The venue also features music from Africa and Latin America. In 2006, the American soul singer Bilal performed there. His show was very exciting and left the audience feeling energized.

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