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08/05/2004 Jazz Café
The Jazz Café is one of London's best music venues - it sets new standards for a small club gig. Readily accessible in Camden Town, a couple of stops from central London by Tube, it showcases some talented performers. I've seen wonderful sets by McCoy Tyner, Fred Wesley, Georgie Fame, Robben Ford, and Carmel, among others, in the last few years. Acts I've had to miss include Pharoah Sanders, Joshua Redman and Wynton Marsalis. But, in recent months, little in the (beautifully produced) bi-monthly programme has led me to pick up the phone to book a show. Skimming the newly delivered May/June Events Brochure this morning, I think I know why. The venue has adopted a new slogan - "Jazz, Soul, Funk, World, Latin, Hip-Hop, New Sounds". I hope this doesn't signal a new widening out/dumbing down of the Jazz Café's programming. Jazz, world, hip-hop and some new sounds would pull me in, but soul and funk just don't ring my bell. Latin, though eminently fashionable, is over-rated. And, whereas many of the jazz acts booked are top names, musicians from the other genres are generally unfamiliar to me. Here's hoping that Jazz Café is not being forced by consumer indifference to widen out its programming to emulate the mis-titled radio station, Jazz FM, and focus on non-jazz musics. But if London fans don't support its programming, owners Mean Fiddler are bound to move away from jazz. One promising sign, though: the venue seems to be avoiding the endless succession of over-hyped would-be crooners currently being promoted as "jazz" singers. Deo Gratia. If you're going to be in London overnight, the Jazz Café programme is always worth checking out: www.jazzcafe.co.uk Gerry Smith
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