EFG London Jazz Festival comes to Wood Green

Karamel in Coburg Road Wood Green is being recognised as a hot bed of new Jazz talent as it becomes one of this year’s new venues for the EFG London Jazz Festival.

Jazz programmer Preeti Dasgupta explains: “Karamel is an awarding winning restaurant. It has a really friendly atmosphere which brings the best out of the talent performers we are attracting. The idea of jazz can be quite scary for first time audiences, but we have something for everyone in our festival programme and we really hope that we will continue to attract new young and young at heart audience members.”

Saxophonist Samuel Eagles summed up this feeling perfectly: ‘Karamel is such a special place, we are so privileged to have this venue in London. Everything about the place is awesome, excellent menu, large open space to dine, space on the sofas to relax, staff who are super kind. Overall great atmosphere and one of my favourite places in London. I can’t wait for this gig!’

Samuel Eagles – Spirit, Saturday 16 November

Jazz Jam with Noah Stoneman, Wednesday 20 November

One of the events is free to attend and designed for families to attend.  Young, London-based jazz pianist Noah Stoneman was a BBC Young Musician of the Year finalist. Noah leads a swinging quartet playing polished renditions of standards from the Jazz songbook. His second set is open to musicians of all ages who have brought along their instruments.

Karamel’s offering is a very diverse festival offering, women are centre stage.

Jen Kearney Quartet, Friday 15 November

Boston, Massachusetts-born, recent London resident Jen Kearney offers an exciting mix of musical styles including soul, R&B and funk. Her music and attention to lyrics and has met critical acclaim nationally and internationally.

Azhaar & Global Wave, Saturday 23 November

Azhaar Saffar is jazz musician with Iraqi/Welsh origins. Her band, Global Wave, will be offering a sneak preview of her next album, described as an irreverent fusion of jazz featuring Gareth Lockrane.

Unnati & Jyotsna Srikanth featuring Alex Wilson, Indo Jazz double bill, Sunday 24 November

Two female Indo-Jazz performers bring together North & South Indian classical music traditions in this unique double bill. Unnati, a British Indian singer-songwriter-composer, presents her work Indigo Soul. Hailing from Bangalore, Jyotsna Srikanth is Europe’s foremost Indian violinist brings Carnatic Nomad. They are joined by Latin Jazz pianist Alex Wilson. Born in the UK of mixed English/African parentage, Alex is curator of the annual London Latin Jazz Fest. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

Other featured acts include:

Henry Lowther: Still Waters, Thursday 21 November

Leicester born Henry Lowther progressed from playing cornet with Salvation Army and colliery bands to study classical violin at the Royal Academy of Music.  Around 50 years ago Lowther found his calling as a jazz musician. The Still Waters band, which is performing at Karamel is described as a National Treasure.

Marco & The Freedivers, Friday 22 November

Marco & The Freedivers is a blues rock jazz trio. The name came from the fact that guitarist Marco Piccioni was a freediver.  Being underwater on a single breath leads to him connecting to the mystery of the Ocean. BBC Radio Wales described them as “one of the most distinctive acts on the jazz world scene”.

All shows start at 8 pm (doors open at 7 pm) and cost £10, except Noah Stoneman which is free and Unnati & Jyotsna Srikanth featuring Alex Wilson which starts at 4 pm and costs £15.

www.karamel.london        t: 020 3146 8775

Bookings & Info: www.musicglue.com/karamel  efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk