The Jazz Cafe facts for kids
| Location | 5 Parkway, Camden Town, London |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°32′20″N 0°8′36″W / 51.53889°N 0.14333°W |
| Public transit |  Camden Town |
| Owner | The Columbo Group |
| Type | Music venue |
| Genre(s) | |
| Opened | 1990 (current site) |
The Jazz Cafe is a famous music spot in London, England. It's located in an area called Camden Town. It opened in 1990 in an old bank building. Many different owners have run it over the years.
This cool venue can hold up to 450 people on its two floors. The Jazz Cafe also organizes its own music event. It's called the Jazz Cafe Festival. This festival is a one-day event in London. It takes place in Burgess Park.
The Jazz Cafe's Story
The very first Jazz Cafe started in the 1980s. It was founded by Jon Dabner and Jean Marshall. This original club was in a different part of London. It was in Newington Green, Stoke Newington.
In 1990, the club moved to its current home in Camden Town. A company called Mean Fiddler took over booking artists in 1992. Later, in 2008, MAMA & Company bought Mean Fiddler. They continued to run the venue.
In 2016, The Columbo Group bought the Jazz Cafe. They gave it a fresh new look. They also improved the sound system. The food and drink menu got an update too. They also brought in new ideas for booking artists.
Through all these changes, the club has always shown amazing talent. It features many types of music. These include 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.
Who Has Played at The Jazz Cafe?
The Jazz Cafe has hosted many famous musicians. Lots of jazz legends have performed there. These include Jamiroquai, Sun Ra Arkestra, Pharoah Sanders, Don Cherry, Jimmy Smith, Abbey Lincoln, Ahmad Jamal, Archie Shepp, Eddie Harris, Cassandra Wilson, and Mulatu Astatke.
Many top funk, soul, and disco artists have also played at the venue. Some of these include Amy Winehouse, Ben E King, Leroy Burgess, Evelyn "Champagne" King, The Blackbyrds, Jocelyn Brown, Jean Carne, and The Fatback Band.
Reggae stars have also graced the stage. You might know Lee Scratch Perry, Yellowman, The Skatalites, Max Romeo, Luciano, Horace Andy, Johnny Osbourne, and Marcia Griffiths.
Other artists like Italian singer-songwriter Elisa and singer-songwriter Benedict Cork have also performed. The venue also loves to showcase music from Africa and Latin America.
In 2006, American soul singer Bilal played at the Jazz Cafe. An American writer named Tamara P. Carter was there. She later wrote about how exciting his performance was. She said it left her "drenched in sweat."
See also
- List of restaurants in London
