Live Music Every Week:

See the best of British Jazz

GET TICKETS

The Jazz Centre UK

The Jazz Centre UK is the UK's national cultural centre for jazz.

It is a registered charity, housed within accessible physical premises open to all.

Our Mission:
To preserve, promote and celebrate the art of jazz in all its forms

The Jazz Centre UK acquires and curates vital cultural artefacts for public display, provides information and educational resources for musicians, students, enthusiasts, the curious, and its stakeholders. Through its activities and live music events, it fosters a dynamic platform for both emerging and established artists, encourages community engagement, and celebrates contributions to UK jazz.

READ OUR VISION STATEMENT

NYJO and Sam Eastmond Take John Zorn’s Masada on Tour

Music venues are a lifeline for the survival of musicians

The History of Jazz Harp: From Swing-Era Pioneers to Alice Coltrane to Today

CENTREPIECE NEWS

We have several channels to stay up to date with everything we do all under the heading Centrepiece.

Follow us on social media @thejazzcentreuk, subscribe to our website, read our blog or subscribe to our free quarterly e-magazine Centrepiece.

All our news is volunteer powered. Would you like to help us out? You can volunteer for our editorial team to help contribute articles and great content for our website or social media.

Not able to volunteer? Why not send us a small donation to help us fund and improve our content.

DONATE

JAZZ FAN COMMUNITIES

Are you a jazz lover looking to meet others who share your passion? Visit our Cultural Centre to enjoy live jazz performances every Saturday or join our weekly and monthly clubs. It's a fantastic way to make new friends and deepen your appreciation of jazz.

Another great way to join our community is by volunteering with us. Help with projects, daily operations, or greeting the public. You'll be part of a friendly team and participate in occasional social events and meetings, ensuring a welcoming community atmosphere.

We hope to see you at The Jazz Centre UK soon!

JOIN A CLUB

VOLUNTEER

The Jazz Centre at Love Supreme Festival

Jazz Inspired Flapper Dress by Pheobe Maynard

PROJECTS

The Jazz Centre UK undertakes projects of various scales, ranging from small local community events to large initiatives funded by public contributions, sponsors, or funding organizations. As a Cultural Centre committed to preserving, promoting, and celebrating jazz in all its forms, we engage in a wide array of activities.

Our involvement extends to attending prestigious music and jazz festivals, organizing both in-house and external exhibitions, and securing grants to support music education workshops in schools throughout Essex. Additionally, we collaborate with university students in disciplines such as fashion and music.

The Jazz Centre UK serves as a vital platform for jazz throughout the UK, ensuring its history, present, and future are well-supported and recognized. Through our diverse projects, we actively engage with the public to promote, preserve, and celebrate this rich cultural heritage.

PAST PROJECTS

AT FESTIVALS

Greg Abate Saxophonist. Photo by Mick Gawthorp

PERFORM ON OUR STAGE

At the Jazz Centre UK, we celebrate and promote jazz in all its forms. Our stage welcomes a diverse range of jazz performances, from emerging talents to world-class professionals. We celebrate the wide spectrum of jazz music, dance, and other cultural art forms, offering a rich and vibrant experience for all.

Performance at our Cultural Centre occurs every Saturday between 2 PM and 4 PM. Two of the Saturdays are booked by promoters Trevor Taylor of Jazz 825 Susan May-Robinson of Spike's Place Jazz Club, each of which promote at other venues across the Essex area. The other two Saturdays of each month are managed by our volunteer events team.

If you would like to perform at The Jazz Centre UK, we welcome you to register a free account on our website, choosing the 'Performer Member' subscription option. There, you will gain access to further resources and your profile will be visible to our events team and our partners. Click register to learn more.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Volunteer
Our organization is run by volunteers across various teams, many of which do not require extensive knowledge of jazz. If you're interested in volunteering and have skills to offer, please get in touch.

Donate
Your donations are crucial for sustaining our volunteer-run organization. Support us in providing valuable programs and services to the community. Consider contributing through single or monthly donation options to help us thrive.

Rare Items
If you have rare jazz items you'd like to donate, we'd be thrilled to incorporate them into our collection. Your contributions help preserve jazz history and enrich our community exhibits. Please contact us to discuss how your donation can make an impact.

Jazz Vinyls and CDs
If you have vinyl records or CDs to donate, we'd be delighted to help. Whether it's expanding our collection or finding the right home for your items, we're committed to preserving musical history. Contact us to explore how your donation can make an impact, either with us or another suitable organization.

HOW TO HELP

CONTACT

VISIT US

The Jazz Centre UK's Cultural Centre is based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK. Being in the centre of the City has it's advantages. We are directly next to the Liverpool Street trainline from London, and close by to the Fenchurch Street line, Southend Bus Station, and Southend Airport. There is a large pay-and-display car park next to our building and our building is fully accessible. Read more about accessibility on our dedicated page.

We offer live music performances every Saturday, featuring a diverse range of artists. Additionally, our museum provides a comprehensive walk-through history of jazz, displaying items from renowned jazz musicians and related art pieces. Visitors can also explore our extensive audio collection and browse in our vinyl shop. Beyond the museum experience, we host weekly club events and various other activities dedicated to jazz enthusiasts.

Our building is open to the public from Wednesday to Sunday, 11 AM - 5 PM. We welcome school visits and large groups. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for larger groups, please contact us in advance to arrange your visit.

Southend-on-Sea boasts a lively and dynamic jazz scene. There are also several nearby venues and clubs are dedicated to promoting jazz, often featuring some of the top musicians from across the country. Come to Southend and have a jazz fueled day out!

ABOUT US

ACESSIBILITY

THE UK'S NATIONAL JAZZ CENTRE

BECOME A MEMBER

WEBSITE MEMBER

Free Membership to access more features/content

Access our past Centrepiece e-Magazine issues.
Keep track of your purchases.
Save your details to our website for future use.

PERFORMER MEMBER

Free Membership for Performers

In addition to Website Member features:

Build your performer profile
We may contact you to perform.
Access a growing platform of resources.
And more!

FRIEND OF