London Jazz Festival hits the capital

"No Europe, no jazz," as legendary Boston promoter and pianist George Wein recently put it, and London has Europe's most swinging jazz scene. With clubs from Croydon to Barnet, it's busier than Paris, Brussels or Berlin.

Whereas 20 years ago only a handful of local heroes - Peter King, Courtney Pine, Jim Mullen, Julian Joseph - could compete with the giants of American jazz, most players now have the technical resources to sound impressive even on an uninspired night. US stars are regularly spotted working and recording alongside British groups.

Next week, for example, you can hear tenorist Mark Turner with guitarist Phil Robson or drummer Adam Nussbaum with Gwilym Simcock.

Jazz education, too, is booming. Colleges across Britain offer jazz degree courses and scores of students graduate every year. A few will turn professional, the rest will form knowledgable audiences for the music on a par with the opera world.

And at a stressful time, what better music to help us unwind? Chicago turned to jazz for escapism during the Roaring Twenties and something similar seems to be happening in London.

Three new jazz hot spots have opened in different parts of the city, defying the economic downturn. Cafe Oto in Dalston attracts free-jazz specialists. Chelsea FC's millionaire owner Roman Abramovich brings funk and soul to his stadium bistro, Under the Bridge, where jazz guitarist Femi Tomowo's recent album was launched. And in Streatham an artfully converted snooker-hall, The Hideaway, has become the major flagbearer for the genre in south London.

Back in the US, by contrast, top stars must now travel the world to earn their living. But like New York a century ago, the capital is rapidly becoming the global hub for jazz and world music.
This year's London Jazz Festival, in its 19th year, is the biggest yet with 280 gigs and 700 artists on the bill. Opening next week, it hopes to draw more than 75,000 people to 10 nights of jazz from the hottest and hippest acts.

Swing out: best of the fest

McCOY TYNER
Nov 12, 7.30pm at Barbican, EC2

The legendary pianist of the immortal John Coltrane quartet is still a superb improviser who combines muscular rhythmic drive with complex "outside" harmonic variations uniquely his own.

HERMETO PASCOAL
Nov 20, 8pm at Barbican, EC2

Miles Davis described this Brazilian multi-instrumentalist as a genius, and nobody demurred. A composer of truly fabulous original lines, he can produce wonderful music from keyboards, flute, guitar, saxophones and even a copper kettle.

GRETCHEN PARLATO
Nov 18, 8pm at Kings Place, N1

Young American singer-songwriter whose intimate, fastidious style has impressed an unusually wide array of critics. Her songs are clever and original and her breathless delivery of them conceals subtle melodic shifts.

STEVE COLEMAN
Nov 11, 7.30pm at Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1

Free-spirited US altoist who founded the M-Base school (that's macro-basic array of structured extemporisation), with pupils including pianist Geri Allen and singer Cassandra Wilson. British tenor ace Steve Williamson completes a strong double bill.

ARCHIE SHEPP & JOACHIM KUHN
Nov 17, 7.30pm at Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1

Majestic tenorist and composer Shepp, based in Europe for many years, in a meeting of minds with highly rated German pianist Kuhn.

RICHARD GALLIANO
Nov 17, 7.30pm at Royal Festival Hall, SE1

Superb French accordionist engages US trumpeter Dave Douglas and UK saxmeister John Surman in tribute to great Italian film scorer Nino Rota.

ROY HAYNES
Nov 18, 7.30pm at Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1

Veteran drum superstar with incredible but true CV (Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane) still sounding amazing with his Fountain of Youth group. UK alto icon Peter King opposite.

MICHEL PORTAL
Nov 14, 7.30pm at Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1

Distinguished French multi-reedman whose unusually strong festival band features guitarist Lionel Loueke and award-winning trumpet newcomer Ambrose Akinmusire.

BILL FRISELL
Nov 20, 7.30pm at Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1

Regular favourite with British fans, this mild-mannered US guitarist lends a peaceful, countrified, almost sanctified ambience to each of his carefully produced efforts.

ORNETTE COLEMAN
Nov 20, 7.30pm at Royal Festival Hall, SE1

Last-minute booking of the 81-year-old alto-sax iconoclast, who is notorious for claiming there was nothing left to play on standard tunes. A gifted composer, he retains the power to charm certain listeners and infuriate others.

Get rhythm: best of the rest

REGINA CARTER
Nov 14, 7.45pm at Purcell Room, SE1

Versatile violinist from Detroit with few rivals on her instrument.

DAVID SANBORN
Nov 15, 7.30pm at Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1

Nobody hits the high notes cleaner and sweeter than this big-selling US altoist, who has hot Hammond-organist Joey DeFrancesco in his festival line-up.

LOUIS
Nov 13, 3pm & 8pm at Barbican, EC2

Silent movie based on the childhood of Louis Armstrong, accompanied by live scores from Wynton Marsalis's Lincoln Centre Jazz Orchestra.

ROBERT GLASPER
Nov 16, 9pm at XOYO, EC2 and and Thurs Nov 17, 8pm at Kings Place, N1

Ultra-hip New York pianist-composer who bridges jazz and hip-hop beats with greater success than most.

STEFANO BOLLANI, MARTIAL SOLAL & MARCIN WASILEWSKI TRIO
Nov 16, 7.30pm at Barbican, EC2

Three of Europe's finest pianists, from Italy, France and Poland respectively, on one good-value bill.

JAZZ VOICE
Nov 11, 7.30pm at Barbican, EC2

Singers galore, including Gregory Porter, Mary Pearce, Ian Shaw and Norma Winstone, with Victoria Wood keeping order.

SOUL REBELS BRASS BAND
Nov 16, 7.30pm at Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1

Young troupe from New Orleans, celebrating the post-Katrina resurgence of the city which gave us jazz.

BENET McLEAN
Nov 13, 7.30pm at The Forge, NW1

Gifted young pianist and singer who infuses bebop and soul with a powerful shot of contemporary energy.

EMILIA MARTENSSON
Nov 11, 6pm at Foyles, WC2; Nov 13, 8pm at Green Note, NW1; Nov 17, 12pm at Cafe Consort/Royal Albert Hall, SW7

A sprinkling of Scandinavia settles on the festival every year. This time it's Swedish nightingale Emilia.

HENRY THREADGILL
Nov 19, 7.30pm at Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1

Ancient anarchist from Chicago who plays all the reeds remains determined to be unpredictable. New York-based London pianist John Escreet opposite.