Ace of Clubs

Ace of Clubs compiles oral history interviews from over 50 performers (as well as attendees, management) at Britain’s oldest jazz club, ‘The 100 Club’. Published by Brewin Books, this high quality, full-colour edition is a must-read for music fans. Available for sale within our retail shop or on our website.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund's approved purposes for our project allowed us to present a full celebration of all the jazz activities that have taken place at the club over seven decades. To begin with we were able to interview a wide selection of people central to the club's history; musicians to begin with, but also employees, dancers, fans, staff and - very importantly - the prime-movers who helped the club to recover its finances during the past decade and win charitable status. The result of all these interviews was the publication of a fascinating book, 'Ace of Clubs'.

Read the Blurb:​

"During its eighty years under London’s legendary Oxford Street everyone from Louis Armstrong to rock icons the Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols and Chuck Berry have played the historic 100 Club.

In Ace of Clubs, with foreword by Jools Holland, we read its story in the words of the people who came to the club to play, work, dance or just listen to the music. Handsomely illustrated in colour this is the first comprehensive story of one of the world’s longest running clubs, its seventy year jazz history and its transformation into the greatest grass-roots music venue in the UK.

Now granted special status it is ranked alongside Abbey Road Studios, Jane Austen’s home and Shakespeare’s birthplace. The 100 Club’s story is an inspiring and frequently hilarious must read for music fans everywhere."

Click the button below to learn more about our ‘Jazz at The 100 Club’ project on our website.