Written by Amongst the rattle of street buskers, tourists, and Sunday day drinkers, sat the Brick Lane Jazz Festival. Dotted on and around one of London’s most popular streets were multiple music venues, showcasing an abundance of British jazz talent. It felt refreshing to walk two minutes between opposite ends of the jazz genre, from the light, neo-soul grooves of Sol Paradise to the straight-ahead intensity of Mark Kavuma’s band. The festival didn’t just host an incredibly diverse range of music, but musicians and ensembles from different stages in their careers, with a particular focus on emerging talent within the scene.
Miriam Adefris
The festival returned for its fourth year, and what seemed like its busiest year yet. The venues were packed to the point where the people trailing out the door were politely turned away, which was a shame if you had your heart set on seeing one specific act but ended up at the back of the queue one minute after the call time. I guess this highlighted the sheer growth in the festival’s popularity and the general expansion we’ve been experiencing in jazz, to more mainstream audiences. This expansion was also aided by the partnership with Tomorrow’s Warriors, an organisation dedicated to supporting young musicians as well as female and black artists who may encounter boundaries in their careers. It has also been a huge advocate in extending the scene and making jazz an accessible force in today’s world.
Tomorrow’s Warriors had several stages across the festival, in which they platformed young talent, getting to grips with the industry and what it means to take the spotlight as a UK jazz festival. It was a pleasure to see the Klara Devlin Quartet take the stage at the Brick Lane Tap Room, an energetic and enlivening moment for all those in the room.
Klara Devlin
Another artist that stood out was harpist, sound artist and composer Miriam Adefris. Rooted in both improvisation and composed structures, her solo sets aim to immerse the listener, creating auditory experiences. This was a performance set in memory; looking around at the astounded faces in the room, enthralled by every pattern and harmonic gesture, it was breathtaking.
Jasmine Myra also captured the audience with her sophomore album Rising, an uplifting and radiant set of works which were not to be missed. The sheer number of people who came along to see Myra was wonderful, as it shows the impact that festivals like the Brick Lane Jazz Festival have on emerging artists in the scene.
Madison McFerrin
There are several other acts I saw to note, including Marysia Osu, Alley Lloyd, Madison McFerrin and Alina Bzehezhinska & Tony Kofi, to name a few. It was exhilarating to see so many women on one lineup, something that hasn’t been a feature of many jazz festivals until recently. For sure, it is an exciting time in jazz, and the diverse energy we are experiencing is what keeps the music alive. I can’t wait to see what Brick Lane Jazz Festival has in store for 2026.
Website: Brick Lane Jazz Festival
Photos courtesy of Brick Lane Jazz Festival. Photographers names not provided.
Last modified: September 30, 2025
