606 Club, Chelsea, London : EFG London Jazz Festival Programme 14-23 November 2025.
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Laura Thorne of the 606 Club has forwarded details of the venue's programme for the 2025 EFG London Jazz Festival. Fully detailed schedule attached.
Laura Thorne writes;
Hello all you connoisseurs of culture and lovers of live music – greetings from the 606 in Chelsea, known for presenting the best jazz, soul, Latin, groove, R&B & blues musicians in the UK bar none.
This mail provides information about our 2025 EFG London Jazz Festival schedule, taking place from Friday 14th to Sunday 23rd November. It’s an opportunity for us here at the Club to put our best foot forward, with a mix of 606 favourites, exciting collaborations and the occasional new artist from outside the UK.
You can find these events on our website in the usual spot - https://www.606club.co.uk/events/ - but also, we have a dedicated page for all of our EFG London Jazz Fest shows here: https://www.606club.co.uk/efglondonjazzfest/
And though these events were published online last month, there have been several line-up/programme changes since so the information below is the most current and complete (for now).
606 CLUB – 2025 EFG LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL 14-23 NOVEMBER
Fri 14th 9:00pm IMAANI WITH SPECIAL GUEST ANGELO STARR
A terrific singer in the Soul/R&B tradition Imaani’s worldwide tours, television, live and studio output includes work with the likes of Gloria Gaynor, Carleen Anderson and Beverley Knight, but she is probably best known as one of the featured singers with the iconic band “Incognito”, of which she’s been a member for more than 20 years. Undoubtedly one of the finest Soul singers in Europe this is a rare chance to hear this giant of the UK Soul scene with her brilliant band featuring her Special Guest, US vocalist Angelo Starr. Angelo came over to the UK in the mid 2000’s to work as MD/guitarist for his older brother Edwin Starr (War)…and never left. With performance credits that include Ronnie Jordan, Alexander O’Neal, Chaka Khan & Lemar, Angelo has established himself as an artist of the highest calibre.
“The magnificent vocals of Imaani” DJ Times;
“Imaani…standout” JjazzproJect;
“Angelo delivers an authenticity that connects with music lovers of all genres in a way that just works” HnB
Sat 15th 9:00pm THE PETER KING MEMORIAL SAX SUMMIT FT. MORNINGTON LOCKETT, RACHAEL COHEN, ALEX CLARKE & FRASER SMITH WITH THE BARRY GREEN TRIO
Tonight we will be hosting an evening dedicated to one of the greatest saxophonists the UK has ever produced, the brilliant alto player Peter King, who very sadly passed away in 2020. He led our Sax Summit, which features a remarkable 4 sax front line, for well over a decade and so we have renamed this evening in his honour. A regular at the Club Mornington Lockett, who performed here with Peter for many years, is one of the UK’s leading tenor sax players. A former member of the Ronnie Scott quintet he has worked with singer Sarah Jane Morris and the Tracey’s - Stan and Clark - and was the driving force behind the brilliant “Celebrating the Jazz Couriers” quintet. A beautifully fluent and inventive alto saxophonist Rachael Cohen is widely considered one of the leading voices of her generation. The first female artist to be signed to Whirlwind Records, she’s been listed in ‘Downbeat’ as a “Rising Star” on three separate occasions. A 2020 BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year competition finalist, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and three-time Parliamentary Jazz Award nominee, Alex Clarke’s tasteful, melodic style and warm, round, tone fit perfectly with the straight-ahead jazz standard and bebop repertoire she performs. With a focus on swing Fraser Smith channels the sound of the “big US Tenor men” and has built a significant reputation on the UK scene. Including work alongside the likes of US stars Harry Allen and Chuck Redd his last album was streamed 1.3 million times. This stunning lineup will be accompanied by one of the UK’s leading jazz pianists Barry Green (Bobby Watson, Us3) & his trio.
“Lockett…plays with tremendous fluency and drive” Evening Standard;
“Cohen’s…playing…astonishing coherence and flow” UK Jazz News;
“Clarke is a rising star” Jazzwise;
“Smith…confident and…very hard swinging” UK Jazz News
Sun 16th: 1:30pm LUNCHTIME: WORLD HEART BEAT & THE JULIAN JOSEPH JAZZ ACADEMY PRESENT “TOGETHER WE GO FORWARD”
The 606 Club has always looked to the future generations of musicians and as part of that philosophy has good working relationships with a number of Schools and Academies. This afternoon we are very pleased to welcome two institutions particularly close to the 606 Club, World Heart Beat Music Academy and the Julian Joseph Academy who will be jointly presenting their programme “Together We Go Forward”. World Heart Beat’s jazz curriculum is spearheaded by the exemplary work of internationally renowned British jazz musicians such as Tony Kofi and Byron Wallen, as well benefitting from the energy of the new generation of jazz musicians including pianist Ayo Vincent, trombonist Wilf Diamond, and vocalist Ava Joseph. World Heart Beat students are exposed to specialist jazz programmes at Julian Joseph Jazz Academy, whilst JJJA students are given opportunity at World Heart Beat to expand their experience with opportunities in recording and live performance, as well as extra development in classical music, orchestra, Indian tabla, Latin and playing in the 51st State Big Band, performances and mentoring opportunities. This afternoon, expect a wonderful programme where young, soulful, and talented jazz musicians from the two academies play a mix of standards and jazz standards. Previous alumni of both academies have gone on to win Jazz FM Awards, Berklee scholarships, and the BBC Young Jazz Musician of The Year, so if you want to be the first catch the next generation of jazz musicians, this is most definitely the gig for you!
Sun 16th 8:00pm VIMALA ROWE QUARTET “FIND YOUR WORLD”
Highly acclaimed singer Vimala Rowe’s style has been described as a mix of “jazz sophistication and swing, soulful passion and a hint of Indian exoticism” and is quite enthralling. For this gig Vimala will be performing her brand new programme, “Find Your World” of new, original, music in its entirety created from her eclectic influences of Jazz and Blues to African and Indian folk via UK Indie and Soul. It tells the story of her direct experience of having multiple ‘mothers’ before being adopted by white, academic, parents before, as she puts it “taking wings” to travel the globe. She lived for 9 years in Bangkok where she joined Thailand’s first rap band TKO and then spent a year in India studying northern Indian Classical vocals and meditation. On returning to England she emerged as a sensational new talent on the Jazz Scene, where she is now justly celebrated. This performance showcases storytelling and music inspired by this journey. Over to Vimala: “Music, artists and poetry from Billie Holiday to William Blake always helped me navigate these sometimes challenging and often joyful experiences and are the cornerstones to the show”. Accompanied by Charlie Flint-piano, Mikele Montolli-bass & Darren Beckett-drums this promises to be a unique and enthralling show from one of the finest singers in the Europe.
“Vimala Rowe is sensational” The Arts Desk;
“astonishing versatility and adaptability…compelling” UK Jazz News;
“Rowe is one of the most distinctive singers to come along in quite some time” Sunday Times
Mon 17th 8:00pm A NIGHT OF BRAZILIAN DELIGHTS WITH “SAMARA” FT DENYS BAPTISTE
Tonight we present an evening celebrating the joyous and rhythmical delights of classic Brazilian MPB (Música popular brasileira) with the 606 Club’s outstanding Brazilian band “Samara”. Featuring the brilliant Brazilian vocalist Carolina Lelis alongside the powerful piano artistry of Neil Angilley and the swinging flute of the 606 Club’s “Gov’nor” Steve Rubie, the band take you on a road trip around Brazil, with music from the South, the North, the North East and beyond. And for this EFG London Jazz Festival show, Samara will be joined by the multiple Award-winning saxophonist Denys Baptiste (Courtney Pine), who includes the “Mercury Music Album of the Year” and “MOBO Award for Best Jazz Act” on a glittering cv. Considered a leading light of the UK jazz scene, his fluent and powerful playing has been heard in an impressive array of high profile settings. Don’t miss the music (and stories!) behind some of Brazil’s classic songs as the band performs an infectious blend of Brazilian Samba, Baião, jazz & Latin…everyone has a great time!
“Cracking Latin-jazz quintet led by 606 proprietor Steve Rubie on flute and alto saxophone…explores these Latin jazz classics in great rhythmic style” Time Out
; “Baptiste…the icon of British jazz” Time Magazine
Tue 18th 8:00pm NIGEL PRICE & LORNE LOFSKY
Nigel Price is a highly skilled guitarist as well as an accomplished composer whose swinging bebop approach combined with flawless control is a delight. He has played on more than 50 albums, spent ten years with acid jazz outfit the Filthy Six, was a member of James Taylor’s jazz/funk band and has appeared at Ronnie Scott’s over 600 times. As leader he has recorded 9 albums and has received the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Jazz Ensemble and the British Jazz Award for ‘Best Small Group’. Tonight he will be appearing with his Special guest, the Award-winning Canadian guitar legend Lorne Lofsky. An internationally recognized jazz guitarist, Lorne has been performing professionally for more than 40 years. He has played and recorded with a quite remarkable number of iconic jazz musicians, including Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, Tal Farlow, Johnny Hartman, Clark Terry, Larry Coryell, Joey DeFrancesco, Ray Brown, Rosemary Clooney and Dave Holland. But he is perhaps best known for the time he spent with the great jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, including numerous tours and featuring on three of Oscar’s albums. Accompanied by Jeremy Brown-bass & Joel Barford-drums this promises to be a very special night from two of the finest jazz guitarists on the international scene!
“Lofsky…a masterful improviser with a warm, appealing tone…full of daring choices and dazzling solo turns” Jazz Times;
“Lofsky…masterful technique and exquisite touch” Downbeat;
“Very few players could manage playing as fluent, imaginative and technically impeccable as Price” Evening Standard;
“Price…inventiveness, originality & ensemble playing…terrific” Guardian
Wed 19th 8:00pm GWILYM SIMCOCK TRIO
A multi-award-winning pianist, Gwilym Simcock is unquestionably one of the finest musicians of his generation. Fluent and highly inventive, Gwilym has carved out a career as one of the most gifted pianists and imaginative composers on the European scene. With ‘harmonic sophistication and subtle dovetailing of musical traditions’ Gwilym has been hailed as a pianist of ‘exceptional’, ‘brilliant’ and ‘dazzling’ ability. It’s a testament to his remarkable talent that he won the Perrier, BBC Jazz and British Jazz Rising Star Awards as well as being the first jazz musician to be a Radio 3 “New Generation Artist”. He won “Best Band” and “Jazz Musician of the Year” at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards, was nominated for two more BBC Jazz Awards and his album “Good Days at Schloss Elmau” 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize for Album of the Year. He has worked with the cream of international jazz artists such as Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler, Bob Mintzer, Bobby McFerrin and Nigel Kennedy, spent five years touring and recording with U.S. guitar legend Pat Metheny and in 2024, celebrated 20 years with UK saxophonist Tim Garland’s (Chick Corea) Lighthouse Trio. Gwilym is rightly considered to be one of the most exciting musicians to emerge from the UK in recent decades. Tonight he will be appearing with long-time musical associates Conor Chaplin-bass & James Maddren-drums. The programme will feature Gwilym’s uplifting and compelling music, including pieces written especially for this evening’s concert. “Simcock already deserves to occupy the inner circle of the great contemporary pianists” Cadence USA;
“remarkable…exceptional, as both player and composer” Observer;
“a jaw-droppingly exciting pianist” Guardian;
“A creative genius” Chick Corea;
“Gwilym is one of the most exceptional musicians that I have ever known” Pat Metheny
Thu 20th 8:00pm KAIDI AKINNIBI
Although his fluent and thoughtful playing is rooted in the classic jazz genres, growing up in South London and learning from the Kinetika Bloco and the Jazz Warriors families, saxophonist Kaidi Akinnibi has always had a multi-faceted outlook on music. The eclectic variety of artists he works and writes with include the likes of Tom Misch, Black Midi, Jason Moran & the Mercury Prize-winning Ezra Collective. In 2023 Kaidi released ‘Real Enough’ and ‘Devices’ with his own band, which saw him reveal his talent as a vocalist and guitarist, as well as deeply emotive lyricist and songwriter. A magnetic presence on London’s vibrant, creative jazz scene tonight Kaidi brings to the Club his band, put together especially for this London Jazz Festival show, which highlight his impressive jazz credentials.
“The saxophone performance by Kaidi Akinnibi was stunning” emmiemusic.co
Fri 21st 9:00pm SHEZ RAJA FT DENNIS ROLLINS & JOHN ETHERIDGE
Voted one of the ‘Hottest Bass Players in the World’ by readers of Bass Player magazine, Shez Raja is an electrifying live performer whose fusion of Indo-jazz, funk and groove has propelled him to the forefront of the UK jazz scene. Drawing comparisons to the legendary Jaco Pastorius, Shez has collaborated with global icons including Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Wayne Krantz and Trilok Gurtu, and his albums Journey to Shambhala and Gurutopia have earned him universal critical acclaim. Now touring his latest highly-praised album “Spellbound” Shez brings this exciting new music to the 606. Expect a thrilling fusion of East and West, tradition and innovation, groove and mysticism. For this unique 606 show Shez has invited two special guests; iconic guitar maestro John Etheridge, known for his breathtaking artistry with Soft Machine, classical guitarist John Williams and the late great Stéphane Grappelli, who brings his virtuosic flair and boundless creativity to every stage. And joining him will be the electrifying trombone innovator and multi-award-winning bandleader Dennis Rollins (Maceo Parker, Badbone & Co), famed for his explosive energy, soulful tone and cutting-edge approach to groove. Completing this stellar line-up are long-time collaborators Chris Jerome (Courtney Pine)-keyboards and Sophie Alloway, dubbed the ‘Goddess of Groove’ by Jazz FM on drums. This promises to be an unforgettable night of deep grooves, dazzling interplay and mesmerising soundscapes.
“Chic, contemporary and groove-laden” The Musician;
“The hip-shaking mix of Eastern song lines and funky Western dance-beats never wavers” Evening Standard;
“Shez Raja personifies the modernisation of jazz. He is fearless….” All About Jazz;
“John Etheridge is one of the best guitarists in the world” Pat Metheny; “Rollins…a wonderful sense of lightness in his facility on the horn, a gorgeous, bright tone, and superb control” UK Jazz News
Sat 22nd 9:00pm ALEC HARPER “A NIGHT OF ELLINGTON” WITH SPECIAL GUEST: PETE HORSFALL
Alec Harper has established himself as one of the leading tenor saxophonists of his generation. He was a member of the wildly popular UK outfit Kansas Smittys, with whom he recorded numerous albums to critical acclaim including Jamie Cullum’s best-selling Christmas record, and still performs alongside Jamie at his annual Christmas concert at The Royal Albert Hall. In addition, he has toured the globe with Tom Misch, Soft Cell and WDR Big Band at festivals including North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, C6 Festival (Sao Paolo) and currently runs a weekly jazz night in London at Eastcheap Records, where he aims to inspire the next generation of talent allowing young musicians to sit in with the band. Tonight he has put together a truly impressive band featuring Special Guest: Pete Horsfall-trumpet. Pete has performed at most major UK jazz venues and has made numerous international appearances, including Paris’ Duc Des Lombards as well as a week in New York City at Jazz at Lincoln Center. His album, ‘Nighthawks’, was acclaimed by the Guardian as ‘ravishing’, and he’s also worked with artists as varied as DJ Shadow, De La Soul, Kurt Elling, Jamie Cullum and Guy Barker. Alec describes the band as his “exploratory quintet” and compositions for the night will be carefully picked from Duke Ellington’s vast repertoire, with the emphasis firmly on improvisation and arranging in the moment. As Alec says “Expect a journey through many soundscapes and rhythms with twists and turns at every opportunity”. With this magical two-horn front line and a brilliant rhythm section featuring Liam Noble-piano, Will Sach-bass & James Maddren-drums this is set to be a fun and engaging evening of music and creativity.
“Harper…a leading contender among the heavies” BeBop Spoken Here;
“Horsfall…individual and refreshing” Jazz in Europe
Sun 23rd 1:30pm THE DIVAS: RACHEL SUTTON, JO HARROP, EILEEN HUNTER
Following their past triumphs here for EFG London Jazz Festivals we have asked back three of our favourite singers to perform both separately and together in what has become an LJF tradition! With a rich tone and sense of swing, Rachel Sutton’s performances include standards and show tunes along with her own arrangements of more modern popular songs, plus the occasional original. Her album “A Million Conversations” was received with acclaim, described as ‘a revelation’ by Jazz Views. A consummate artist with a winning onstage persona. An Award-winning vocalist, recording artist and songwriter, Jo Harrop has established herself as one of the leading jazz vocalists on the UK scene. She possesses a wonderfully clear, controlled and expressive voice that has led to 4 highly regarded albums, including Album of the Year (2023 Parliamentary Jazz Awards) and an invitation to tour with US jazz star Gregory Porter. An artist and song stylist whose influences are steeped in jazz, blues and soul she is known as having an intimate, velvet, smoky, bluesy tone which, it has been said, is able to ‘melt even the chilliest of hearts’. Eileen Hunter is not only a wonderful vocalist with a lovely, breathy delivery but also a highly accomplished musician, fluent on both piano and flute. Signed to Jive Records in 2003 her first CD “I Miss the Sky” was released through Jazz FM and she’s worked at venues including the Royal Albert Hall and Regents Park Open Air Theatre as well as the 606 for many years. Accompanying these wonderful singers will be a rhythm section that includes Roland Perrin-piano. A delightful, fun-filled, unique afternoon of great music.
“Sutton…immaculate vocals and bursting-with-life stage presence…a must see” Cabaret Scenes;
“Harrop…a rare mix of delicacy and boldness. Sheer perfection” The Guardian;
“Eileen not only provides an inspiring vocal performance but she is an amazing musician” JazzFM
Sun 23rd 8:00pm LIANE CARROLL
Winner BBC Jazz Awards 2005/6 & Parliamentary Jazz Awards Musician of the Year 2008 The first artist ever to win two BBC Jazz Awards in the same year, for Best Vocalist and Best of Jazz, Liane Carroll is a dynamic vocalist and pianist whose amazing talent has been captivating audiences around the world. She is recognised as one of the finest singer/pianists on the scene, working with the likes of Gerry Rafferty, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Paul McCartney, and has been a featured performer at Glastonbury Festival. Her albums have been received with universal acclaim and led to an hour-long special on BBC TV featuring her performance at the Brecon Jazz Festival. Her CDs “Up and Down” and “Ballads” on Quiet Money Records, produced by Grammy-nominated trumpeter/producer James McMillan, garnered impressive reviews while “Seaside”, on Linn Records received a Parliamentary Jazz Award nomination for “Jazz Album of the Year”. A world-class performer, her powerful, blues-tinged voice combined with strong piano playing and exciting infectious material, not to mention a wicked sense of humour, make this a truly remarkable gig.
“Liane Carroll…she seems in some magical way to be made out of music” The Observer;
“utterly brilliant” Time Out;
“a musical force of nature…world class” Guardian;
“…deeply soulful” The Times;
“…unswerving honesty and molten intensity…burningly expressive” Jazzwise;
“Liane Carroll doesn’t just sing jazz. She is jazz” MOJO
606 Club
90 Lots Road
Chelsea
London
SW10 0QD
020 7352 5953