Backstage: London Jazz Festival

Available for over a year

Backstage at the EFG London Jazz Festival, Nikki Bedi speaks to talented young musicians from across the globe who are revitalising jazz and discovers how to plan a city-wide festival comprising hundreds of concerts. We hear from French pianist Christophe Chassol, a collaborator of pop giants Frank Ocean and Solange, who has pioneered what he calls the ‘ultrascore’ – a glorious audio-visual tapestry, on show in his new film, Ludi. Two US trumpeters take a solo: Jaimie Branch explains why the instrument is her primary voice and we find out about the appetite for jazz in China with Theo Croker. Nigerian musician Etuk Ubong tells us why it is important for him to be politically aware in his music. South Korean quartet Black String on their fusion of ancient and modern sounds. And veteran saxophonist Gary Bartz says that he does not improvise - he means every note! We also find out why jazz is having a big moment with young audiences from Pelin Opcin, director of programming at the London Jazz Festival, and Alexis Blondel, DJ and co-founder of the Church of Sound (Photo: Christophe Chassol. Credit: Flavien Prioreau)