A night of empowerment, celebration and unforgettable jazz!
Since my relocation to ‘the big smoke’, I have been eager to experience the city's legendary music, and the Jazz Cafe in Camden has been at the top of my list. Following its original opening in Stoke Newington, the Jazz cafe’s stage has held the likes of Amy Winehouse, Lee Scratch Perry and Adele. Yet its importance as a venue isn't just in the names of the past, but also in the stage it gives to the musicians of the future.
It is difficult to properly discuss London's cultural impact on the jazz scene without drawing light on the current hardship that young people face to learn and perform music. Severe funding cuts and soaring lesson prices have made it increasingly difficult for young people to attend music lessons and benefit from the vital social space that music schools and youth clubs provide. So, when discovering the work of Tomorrow's Warrior’s a group dedicated to ‘creating an open, inclusive creative environment for musicians, with a focus on the underserved global majority and female musicians’- I was thrilled to see an all-female performance at the Jazz cafe.
What a perfect way to finally see what all the venues hype is about! 2023's event 👇
The Jazz Cafe, despite its fame, is a cozy venue with a relatively small capacity of just over 400 people. I won't deny that the crowd felt a bit cramped at times, but this only enhanced the experience. I would argue Jazz’s intimacy is sometimes lost in larger venues and being able to closely watch the musicians-- eyes closed, swaying to the melody- allows such a vital glimpse into how deeply they value the chance to perform and inspire. To share this experience with approximately 400 fellow Jazz lovers was an incredible experience.
The stage was filled to the brim with an impressive mix of instruments- from the ethereal sounds of the flute to the powerful strum of the double bass and guitar, all kept together by the steady rhythm-keeping of the drums and the vital sounds of the saxophone and trumpet. Each instrument added its own personal touch to the music, whilst blending seamlessly into the lush sound. The venue's dim, warm lighting with a singular spotlight allowed each musician's solo to be showcased, whilst their collective voice spoke (literal) volumes for the work of Tomorrow's Warriors in unifying the young musicians of today.
The music itself was luxurious. The harmonious blend of instruments glided gracefully through the compositions, which were commissioned by the performers themselves. Experiencing this collaboration of such an audibly diverse range of instruments was nothing short of remarkable and the talent necessary for this has not gone unnoticed, as host Eska pointed out when she introduced trumpet player Klara as a finalist in the BBC Young Jazz Musicians of the Year. It would be impossible to stand in this audience and not see how such recognition and achievement are so deserved. I stood in complete awe of the flutist, whose accompanying vocals at times matched the lyrical sound of her flute and at others held the very power Tomorrow's Warriors presents; the promising talent and spark that comes from an inspired youth.
A particular highlight came from a heartfelt speech by Host and performer, Eska, who spoke passionately of the financial struggles faced by musical organisations and parents who want to provide their children with the rich experience learning music can offer. Whilst there was a fun and joyful atmosphere throughout the night, her speech grounded us in the deeper importance of such celebrations and the need for funding to allow such displays of talent to be possible. Her speech was closed off with an announcement of the last song ‘I am Warrior’; an upbeat song that allowed the audience to get involved in both the music as well as promoting support for the organisation. ‘’Sing it with me !", she exclaimed and the crowd replied in unison and continued to sing- with enthusiasm but a bit off-key- throughout the final song. It was the perfect end to a moving night. The joy and passion visible in the musicians during this song will likely stay with the audience and hopefully inspire them to support such vital work.
It is hard to write words that give full justice to the incredible work of Tomorrow's Warriors and their immense importance in the London Jazz scene. However, I will say these young musicians are definitely ones to watch. If you missed this year's annual Jazz Cafe performance, their live album on Spotify will keep you going until next year! 👇
As always, we will see you at the front!
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