ABOUT US
Welcome to The Jazz Centre UK, the nation's Cultural Centre for jazz. Situated in accessible, welcoming premises in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, we are dedicated to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the rich and diverse art of jazz in all its forms. Since our founding in 2016 by renowned musician, broadcaster, and writer Digby Fairweather, we have worked tirelessly to acquire and curate vital cultural artefacts, providing educational resources for musicians, students, and jazz enthusiasts. Through our dynamic live music events and community activities, The Jazz Centre UK fosters a vibrant platform for both emerging and established artists, ensuring the legacy of UK jazz continues to thrive. Our commitment to accessibility and inclusivity ensures that everyone has the opportunity to engage with and enjoy the world of jazz.
OUR MISSION:
WE PRESERVE, PROMOTE AND CELEBRATE THE ART OF JAZZ IN ALL ITS FORMS.
TO PROMOTE JAZZ
Promoting Jazz Through Music, Dance, Art, and Culture
One of the core objectives at The Jazz Centre UK is to showcase and promote jazz across music, dance, art, and the broader culture surrounding this vibrant art form. Operationally, we are committed to expanding jazz’s reach through a regular stream of live events, the publication of our quarterly newsletter, and ongoing support for networking channels and educational activities.
Supporting Contemporary Jazz Performance and Education
To further our mission, we actively seek arts and cultural grants aimed at bolstering contemporary jazz performance and education. We have partnered with local schools, colleges, and universities to provide workshops, research resources, and opportunities for students to perform and present their work, fostering the next generation of jazz talent.
Stay Connected with Centrepiece or Website Membership
Never miss an update by subscribing to our newsletter or becoming a member of our website, Centrepiece. Stay informed about the latest news, events, and initiatives at The Jazz Centre UK as we continue to support and celebrate the jazz genre.
Preserving the History of Jazz Music in the UK
We founded The Jazz Centre UK with the aim to preserve the history of jazz music and its culture in the UK. This motivation started when we acquired the Humphrey Lyttelton Collection in 2016. We recognized that no other organization exists within the UK with the aim to wholly protect the heritage of jazz music and its culture. Jazz has had a strong presence in Britain for over 100 years and we feel it is important that this significant part of British culture is valued, represented, and its history protected.
Caring for Our Collections
We ensure our collections are properly looked after. Our dedicated volunteers work hard to ensure our collections are well presented within our Centre, and when necessary, we hire specialists to repair and restore our artefacts.
Learn More About Our Origins
Our heritage acquisitions include the instruments of jazz legends such as Louis Armstrong’s ‘Special’ trumpet and Sir John Dankworth’s first piano. We also have the complete archives of British jazz’s most eloquent and well-remembered spokesman, Humphrey Lyttelton – including his desk, his instruments, eight decades of his scrapbooks and private correspondence (donated by his son Stephen Lyttelton), and a lifetime of achievements and music awards (donated by Eton College).
TO PRESERVE JAZZ
TO CELEBRATE JAZZ IN ALL ITS FORMS
Celebrating Jazz and Its Culture
Over and above the large festive events we hold, the celebration of jazz and its culture is at the heart of every activity we accomplish.
The Influence of Jazz in the UK
For over a century, jazz music has had a significant influence on the culture of the UK. Its impact can be seen and heard in popular music, film, television, fashion, video games, art, and much more. Even in contemporary times, we are witnessing new microcosms of the genre emerging within the London and northern 'jazz scenes,' sparking new thoughts, sounds, and opinions, and constantly redefining what jazz is and means.
Our Commitment to Jazz
At The Jazz Centre UK, we aim to celebrate jazz in all its forms, reflecting both the historic and contemporary values of the music held by its community.
Upcoming Events and Activities
Please see our events listing to view all our upcoming events and activities.
EXAMPLE PROJECTS
JOIN US, BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Do you love jazz? Are you located in South Essex? We are looking for passionate volunteers to help propel our organization forward. Visit our volunteering page to discover the various areas of our organization where you can make a difference and easily register using our simple contact form.
DONATE TO OUR CHARITY
Support The Jazz Centre UK
The Jazz Centre UK (CN. 1167421) is a volunteer-led organization that thrives on public support and grant funding. None of what we do would be possible without your generous contributions and the dedicated efforts of our volunteers.
Preserving Jazz Heritage and Accessibility
Historic artefacts such as Sir John Dankworth’s piano and much of Humphrey Lyttelton’s heritage would have been lost forever without support. We are committed to increasing accessibility to jazz music for all through free admission workshops, events, and by providing study resources to students, researchers, and musicians via our research and media centres.
Become a Friend of The Jazz Centre UK
You can further support our mission by becoming a Friend of The Jazz Centre UK with a website membership for just £3 a month. This membership will help keep our live events and activities funded, our museum open, and our educational resources free to students. Alternatively, if you'd prefer, you can make a one-time donation online via our website.