SOPHIE ALLOWAY QUARTET- EFG London Jazz Festival 2026 - SPICEJAZZ presents at Crazycoqs
Friday 13th November - Doors 6.30 pm - music 7.00pm.
Drummer Sophie Alloway has been the musician of choice for a wide variety of high-profile artists for some years now. With appearances for the likes of Later With Jools Holland, the Mercury Music Prize, Glastonbury Festival and most recently King Charles III, her featured tracks on ‘Abbey Road Masters: The Drum Sessions’ have been used on radio and TV across the world. Sophie also played drums for all the BBC Young Jazz Musician 2024 finalists (broadcast on BBC4 and BBC Radio 3). For this EFG London Jazz festival show, Sophie has put together a classic jazz 13thquartet formation with Ross Stanley-piano, Mornington Lockett-sax & Laurence Cottle-bass to perform material by iconic composers such as Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea & Herbie Hancock. An outstanding jazz gig.
“Goddess of groove…Sophie Alloway” Jazz FM
LINEUP
Sophie Alloway – Drums
Mornington Lockett – Tenor Sax
Laurence Cottle – Bass
Ross Stanley – Piano (tbc)
ROYAL ACADEMY of MUSIC ENSEMBLE- EFG London Jazz Festival 2026 - SPICEJAZZ presents at Crazycoqs
Saturday 14h November - Doors 1.30 pm - music 2.00 pm
Academy Jazz Ensemble featuring Femi Temowo and Nick Smart
The students from the acclaimed Royal Academy of Music Jazz Department will present an ensemble, mentored by and featuring one of the London jazz scene’s finest musicians, the guitarist and composer Femi Temowo. They will present a set of original music by Femi and arrangements of other classic, iconic tunes - which will also include head of jazz, trumpeter Nick Smart. Femi Temowo is widely regarded as one of the most original and exciting, genre busting voices to emerge in the British Jazz scene over the last several generations - and he continues to inspire in his role as mentor to young musicians. This ’side by side’ project is a rare chance to see intergenerational music making with established stalwarts of the scene and emerging young stars, composing and improvising together.
LINEUP
TBC
THE JAZZ DEFENDERS- EFG London Jazz Festival 2026 - SPICEJAZZ presents at Crazycoqs
Saturday 14h November - Doors 6.30 pm - music 7.00 pm
The Jazz Defenders are one of the UK’s most exciting and distinctive jazz groups, known for their infectious energy, rich sound, and deep musical roots. Led by acclaimed pianist and composer George Cooper, the band channels the legacy of the golden era of Blue Note Records – not by imitation, but through a bold collection of original compositions that honour the tradition while blazing a fresh and contemporary trail.
Their sound is built on irresistible grooves, razor-sharp horn lines, and a joyful sense of swing. Blending soul jazz with hip hop, funk, and cinematic influences, The Jazz Defenders create music that’s gritty, groovy, and full of swagger – equally at home on the dance floor as it is in a listening room.
They have ignited audiences at sold-out shows at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and other top venues across the UK and Europe, earning a reputation for electrifying live performances and world-class musicianship. Two of their albums have reached the top ten in the USA jazz charts, and they’ve been championed on air by Jamie Cullum, Lauren Laverne, Craig Charles, Jazz FM, and hundreds of other radio stations around the world.
Founder George Cooper brings a rich musical resume to the group, having worked with icons across genres including Hans Zimmer, Nigel Kennedy, Omar, U2, Slum Village, MF DOOM, Abstract Orchestra, Brother Strut, The Brand New Heavies and many more.
The Lineup:
Jake McMurchie – tenor sax
Quentin Collins – trumpet
George Cooper – piano/keyboards
Will Harris – double/electric bass
TBC – drums
“A class act”
The Guardian
“Absolutely storming!”
Jamie Cullum
“Crackles with energy and glistens with skill”
The Observer
"Unstoppable!"
TSF Jazz Radio FRANCE
“This stuff burns!”
Camden New Journal
“Terrific album... A total joy”
Funk City USA
“Bursting with energy, catchy arrangements,
fine soloing and superb horn section work... A great endeavour”
UK Jazz News
“Brilliant”
Enlace Funk SPAIN
“Flawless”
Possible Musics FRANCE
“Original, exciting and exacting...”
Jazz Journal UK
HANNAH BRINE- EFG London Jazz Festival - SPICEJAZZ presents at Crazy Coqs
Sunday 15th November - Doors 4.30 pm - music 5.00 pm
Hannah is a jazz singer-songwriter, based in the Peak District, known for her warm, expressive voice & finely crafted songs rooted in the jazz tradition, with a voice & song writing style likened to Melody Gardot, Norah Jones & Rumer.
Hannah’s debut album Blue Sky Now was released in the summer of 2025, generating airplay on BBC Radio London as well as many local BBC Introducing plays around the country. The album received great reviews, highlighting Hannah’s serene, velvety vocals and how she captured the emotional gradients of each syllable, giving the world her valuable point of view, creating a listening experience akin to “eavesdropping on the long-ago”.
Hannah has also had success with You & I, written for Ciaran McAuley & Roger Shah, which reached number one in the global trance charts (2022).
Hannah is planning on returning to the studio in 2026 to record new material.
- "Brine fully embraces her core influences without chasing modern trends, allowing the songwriting to remain the heart of the album"— Neil Duggan, All About Jazz
- "The songs hit their target delightfully....Serene, velvety vocals...A new singer giving the world her valuable point of view"— Jazz Journal
- "A shrewd understanding of the pop-jazz idiom."[Text Wrapping Break]"Brine's effortless voice is smoothly in control throughout"— Jazzwise
Coltrane and Hartman on Impulse! - EFG London Jazz Festival 2026 - SPICEJAZZ presents at Crazy Coqs
Sunday 15th November - Doors 7.00 pm - music 7.30 pm
Coltrane and Hartman on Impulse! feat. Mark Lockheart and Marvin Muoneké
Revisiting the famous album when John Coltrane teamed up with vocalist Johnny Hartman to explore their favourite romantic standards, tenor sax virtuoso Mark Lockheart is joined by the extraordinary vocalist Marvin Muoneké and a top-flight rhythm section of Gary Crosby (bass), Alex Webb (piano) and Alfonso Vitale (drums).
As well as the songs from the 1963 Impulse album, the group explores other standards that Coltrane liked to play, including All Or Nothing At All, Out Of This World, Say It Again and a vocal versions of Moment's Notice and After The Rain. The original album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013, 50 years after its release.
Line-up:
Alex Webb: Piano
Marvin Muoneke: Vocal
Mark Lockheart: Tenor saxophone
Gary Crosby: Double Bass
Alfonso Avitale: Drums
‘A singing superstar in the making’ Jazzwise. Nominated in the 2026 JazzFM Awards, Marvin Muoneké has been dubbed 'The Young Man with The Old Soul’ and once you hear his voice you'll understand why – his sound has been likened to Nat 'King' Cole, Johnny Hartman and Billy Eckstine. He has toured with the award-winning swing band, Down For The Count and sung with the Vince Dunn Orchestra and NYJO (the National Youth Jazz Orchestra). He is also a gifted songwriter, arranger and trumpet player. ‘A new vocal sensation in the UK’ – JazzFM
‘Saxophonist Mark Lockheart is assured of his place in musical history’ – ThejazzMann.com
EMILY FRANCIS TRIO - EFG London Jazz Festival 2026 - SPICEJAZZ presents at Crazy Coqs
Monday 16th November - Doors 6.00 pm - music 6.30 pm
About
Led by keyboardist Emily Francis, with bass maestro Trevor Boxall, and drum superstar Jamie
Murray, Emily Francis Trio create their own original style of high-energy, melodically-driven jazz,
fueled by sounds from the worlds of progressive rock and pop, electronic music, and
influences spanning the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Building on the classic piano trio format, with an emphasis on melody and high intensity
improvisational interplay, the band incorporates a range of electronic sounds, leaning into
influences from the current US electro-jazz scene, such as Donny McCaslin, Kneebody, and
FORQ, prog supremos Pink Floyd, Genesis, and Peter Gabriel, jazz icons Herbie Hancock,
Brad Mehldau, and Avishai Cohen, as well as vintage TV and sci-fi themes, and 20th century
film music.
Since their formation in 2014, the trio has built up a loyal following among both jazz and prog
enthusiasts, following a series of acclaimed releases and tours. Their 2022 album, LUMA,
described as a “thing of rare beauty” by Jazzwise magazine, was featured on JazzFM and BBC
6 Music, receiving praise from the likes of DJ Deb Grant, UK jazz legend Ian Shaw, Snarky
Puppy manager Mike Chadwick, and others.
The band knows no bounds when it comes to sonic exploration in their performances, and they
have headlined many venues across the UK and Europe including several main stage
performances at London’s renowned Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and iconic jazz festivals such as
London, Manchester and Cheltenham.
Following the release of their 2024 EP, Atomic, they were invited by famed DJ and label owner
Gilles Peterson to participate in the Rhodes Piano ‘Triology’ video series. Atomic Tour Live,
released in 2025, is their first live album, which continues to see the band receive widespread
acclaim.
The trio is excited to be touring and presenting new music throughout 2026.
“[Francis’s] embrace of timeless, prog-friendly keyboard sounds is inspired and sincere.
The interplay between her, Boxall and top drummer Jamie Murray is natural,
banter-laced fun.”
Grant Moon, Prog Magazine
"For anybody who has seen them at a gig, Atomic Tour Live is an essential souvenir, but
it’s a recording that also stands up on its own merits. There’s some terrific writing and
playing here."
Ian Mann, The Jazz Mann
“What’s not to like?”
Andy Robson, Jazzwise
Line-up:
Emily Francis - Keyboards
Trevor Boxall - Bass
Jamie Murray - Drums
THE FILTHY SIX - Album Launch - EFG London Jazz Festival 2026 - SPICEJAZZ presents at Crazy Coqs
Monday 16th November - Doors 8.15 pm - music 8.45 pm
About
THE FILTHY SIX – Album Launch Party!
Grammy winning trumpeter Nick Etwell is back with his Soul Jazz/Funk sextet The Filthy Six, as they celebrate the release of their fourth album - "Return of The Swagger Junkies: Vol 1.”
London based Etwell has enjoyed a varied and diverse career working with everyone from David Axelrod to Beck, Roger Daltrey to Foo Fighters and Noel Gallagher to Tom Jones, as well as over a decade touring with Mumford & Sons. Over the years though he has leaned heavily into his deep passion for the diaspora of Black American music. His wide ranging credits in this sphere include legacy artists such as Carla Thomas, Ronnie Spector, Mavis Staples and Fred Wesley, all the way through to modern exponents Jill Scott, Thee Sacred Souls, Antibalas and Jon Cleary.
Alongside session work Etwell's main musical focus has been The Filthy Six, releasing three albums on legendary UK label Acid Jazz in the 2010s and returning with their second record for Denver based Color Red. Arguably the most exciting, authentic Soul Jazz outfit in the UK today the group have long established themselves as one of the most electric live acts on the scene.
Their soaring horns, soulful guitar and gut-wrenching organ are fuelled by one of the hardest grooving rhythm sections around, with the band’s combined CV featuring some of the biggest names in music: Amy Winehouse, Rod Stewart, Jack White, Dionne Warwick, Duran Duran, Mark Ronson, Madness, Robbie Williams and Jamie Cullum to name a few.
They take the blueprint of Blue Note/Prestige masters Lou Donaldson, Grant Green, Jack McDuff et al and add a host of modern influences to the mix, bringing the Soul Jazz workout right up to date with their analogue produced ‘Instrumental Soul’. Their unique blend of Soul Jazz, Funk Blues and Latin Boogaloo present sonic musical adventures for the mind, body and soul, all served up with a heavy dose of Filth.
The band launch the album a week ahead of release in a special show for Spice Jazz, as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. They will play the album in its entirety alongside special guest and long term collaborator Snowboy on percussion.
Nick Etwell – Trumpet, bandleader
Mark Brown – Tenor Saxophone
Pete Whittaker – Hammond Organ
James Fenn – Guitar
Dan Drury - Bass
Joel Barford – Drums
Special guest: Snowboy - Percussion
- "These guys have got all the licks! Soul Jazz how we like it; rough, rugged and played by guys totally on top of their game. A very exciting addition to the UK Scene"— The Craig Charles Funk And Soul Show, BBC6Music
- "There are so many talented players in this band, they’re absolutely brilliant!"— Jamie Cullum, BBCRadio2
- "Led with brassy authority by trumpeter Nick Etwell this punchy band recalled the muscular funk of Jimmy Smith and Brother Jack McDuff... dazzling guitar breaks and appropriately booting sax solos went down a treat!"— London Evening Standard
- "The Filthy Six bring the soul-jazz workout right up to date with a joyful exposition of groove led abandon"— Echoes Magazine
SOLA AKINGBOLA & THE EEGUNS RHAPSODY- EFG London Jazz Festival-SPICEJAZZ presents at Freight Brixton
Wednesday 18th November - Doors 6.00 pm - music 8.30 pm
Booking link: https://www.skiddle.com/e/42599133
About
Solá Akingbolá is a multifaceted vocalist, composer, and world-class percussionist who stands as the architect of a new sonic movement known as Black Atlantic Funk. Born in Yorubaland, Nigeria, and raised in London, Akingbolá’s work is a celebration of cultural fusion, bridging his Nigerian heritage with his British upbringing. He views rhythm not merely as accompaniment, but as a "spiritual technology" and a living force that carries ancestral intelligence through sound.
Akingbolá’s career began in the early 1990s jazz scene with the Ronny Jordan Band after nurturing his talent in Gasper Lawal’s Oro Band. For over 25 years, he played as an integral member of the global funk sensation Jamiroquai, co-producing the "groove chemistry" found on their last seven albums and performing at major international venues. Beyond his work with Jamiroquai, he has collaborated with legendary artists including David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, and Damon Albarn.
As a composer, Akingbolá has achieved significant critical acclaim, winning the BMI Award for Best Film & TV Score in both 2023 and 2024 for his work on the CBS series Bob Hearts Abishola. His compositional reach extends to prestigious theater stages, where he has created original music for the Royal Shakespeare Company (including productions of Hamlet and Othello) and the National Theatre. In early 2025, his percussion masterclass at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama was met with enthusiastic reception, further cementing his status as a master of his craft.
In 2025, Akingbolá released of his most personal project to date, How Should I…, recorded in part at the iconic Abbey Road Studios. The album is a "sonic odyssey" that explores themes of migration, memory, and the complexities of the African diaspora. At its core, How Should I is about reimagining what it means to belong — not as a return to a fixed origin, but as an unfolding dialogue between the ancestral and the contemporary. How Should I is a sonic cartography of the Black Atlantic — a rhythmic journey through diasporic memory, cultural entanglement, and the ever-shifting terrain of identity. Composed and produced by Sola Akingbola, this album pulses with the unmistakable intensity of Yoruba drum language, refracted through the lens of funk, jazz, spoken word, and ambient orchestration.
This is Black Atlantic Funk not as genre, but as a philosophy — a vessel through which ancient forces and modern truths collide. In a time of digital fragmentation and social disconnection, the album asserts rhythm as a form of resistance, groove as a form of intelligence, and sound as a living archive. Through tracks like "Touch My Soul" and "Everyday"—the latter a tribute to his parents' journey from Nigeria to the UK—Akingbolá invites audiences to join a dynamic conversation about identity and belonging in a globalised world. He continues to push musical boundaries, blending Yoruba mythology with contemporary sounds to create a soundscape that is both deeply rooted and groundbreaking.
The music doesn’t just tell stories — it moves them forward.
LINE UP:
Sola Akingbola (LEAD/VOCALS)
Kwame Yeboah (KEYS/VOCALS)
Eric Appapoulay (GUITAR/VOCALS)
Yolanda Charles (BASS)
Michel Castellanos-Rojas (DRUMS)
Oli Savill (PERCUSSION)
"Sola has pulled off a masterstroke." — Echoes Magazine
"Stunning." — Jumoké Fashola, BBC Radio
"Nothing short of a masterpiece—a seamless fusion of cultural identity and musical innovation." — Subba-Cultcha
"A masterful exploration of Sola Akingbola's artistic vision." — Musikepool
"A one-of-a-kind experience." — Teethsound
"An excellent piece of work." — Chris Nickson, AllMusic