The Actors’ Church have been presenting a three-part series of concerts ‘Festival of French Jazz’ to celebrate the considerable influence the European jazz capital has had on the global musical industry.The event has been running throughout October with the last show due to commence on Sunday 27th November.
The festival pays tribute to three of the most influential jazz musicians of all time such as Django Reinhardt, Richard Galliano, and Stephane Grapelli. Bringing together several leading British musicians for a rare opportunity to hear timeless music within the grade 1 listed, 400-year-old acoustic of the Actors’ Church, The Festival of French Jazz will be held in association with the theatre community of London’s West End.
October saw John Etheridge’s Sweet Chorus which was a tribute to his friend and Mentor, Stephane Grapelli and second show Coloriage: The World of Richard Galliano, a tribute to the world’s greatest accordionist.
On Sunday 27th November, The London Django Collective unites several of London’s foremost musicians of the style commonly known as ‘Gypsy Jazz’. Born of the desire to bring together artists inspired by Reinhardt, the London Django Collective innovate on their roots to create distinctly contemporary music which sits beside the very best of London’s thriving jazz scene.
Be sure to attend the Actors’ Church in Covent garden to catch the third and last show of the festival.
Words by Carmen Lees-Green