2025 is a big year for Norwich Arts Centre. Not only are they celebrating their 45th anniversary, but for the first time in 20 years, they’re launching the return of Norwich Jazz Festival (15 – 24 May 2025)!
You might have noticed the jazz revival taking place across the UK. And if you haven’t? Well, this is the chance to experience it for yourself! Here in the City of Stories, we’ve got loads of amazing independent culture venues, perfect for the festival’s performers. Think esteemed local bands, emerging UK artists and even international jazz icons.
We spoke to Bradley Glasspoole, Artistic Director for Norwich Jazz Festival, as well as Head of Music Programming and General Manager of Norwich Arts Centre, about this much-anticipated return to the city’s festival scene. If you’re new to jazz or already an avid fan, read below to find out more!
Ebi Soda is one of the many forward-thinking groups that make up the UK’s jazz scene
This year marks the 45th anniversary of Norwich Arts Centre, making it the perfect time to bring the Jazz Festival back to life.
Jazz is experiencing a major revival, with incredible new talent emerging and touring across the UK. A fresh generation is discovering and falling in love with the genre, and we saw this as a unique opportunity to put the festival back onto Norwich’s cultural calendar.
From 15 – 24 May, Norwich Arts Centre will host a city-wide celebration of jazz, presenting top UK and international jazz talent at venues including EPIC Studios, Anteros, Duke Street Production Theatre, and Cinema City.
There is a nice mix of music, film, and talks, so hopefully something for everyone. We’ve got headliners like local favourites Mammal Hands, Brazilian jazz-funk legends Azymuth, the 20-piece National Youth Jazz Orchestra, hip hop-jazz fusion crew Ebi Soda, the super-talented saxophonist Jasmine Myra, and folk-jazz singer Caoilfhionn Rose.
Each event also features some excellent local support acts and DJs, plus we have a film screening of Soundtrack to a Coup D’État—an award-winning documentary about jazz and decolonization—showing at Cinema City. Local jazz group Chris Cooper Trio will be popping up in the pretty courtyard at Anteros for some chilled afternoon jazz, as well as Tangential Trio, a Norwich-based jazz three-piece playing at Cinema City’s courtyard.
Jasmine Myra is a super-talented saxophonist and she’ll be supported by local artist Freya Roy!
Jazz has been a continually evolving artform across the decades. The range of jazz in this year’s festival hopefully gives a broad flavour of the current scene and might introduce you to a style of jazz you’ve never heard before.
Caoilfhionn Rose’s jazz style is gentle and introspective, with elements of folk influences, while Jasmine Myra blends contemporary jazz with subtle influences from neo-soul, classical, and even post-rock. It’s the kind of jazz that feels both modern and meditative—perfect for fans of artists like Portico Quartet or GoGo Penguin.
Then you’ve got Ebi Soda with a very different style. They’re part of the UK’s forward-thinking jazz scene, and their sound blends traditional jazz instrumentation with hip hop beats, electronic effects, dub, funk, and psychedelia.
Meanwhile, Azymuth will transport you to 70s Brazil with Brazilian rhythms, jazz improvisation, and 70s-style funk and soul. It’s jazz you can dance to!
Absolutely not. We welcome curious newcomers! If you don’t know much about jazz but love live music and events, then come and discover new sounds and enjoy a cultural night out.
If you want to dance, then we’d recommend Azymuth; if you want a chilled vibe, then Caoilfhionn Rose or Jasmine Myra; if you want something a bit more leftfield, then Ebi Soda or Mammal Hands.
We’re really excited to bring the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO) to EPIC Studios. They are a powerhouse of young UK jazz talent, known for their big band sound, tight arrangements, and high-energy performances.
They’ve just performed at The Southbank Centre with their show The Fire Next Time! A Tribute to James Baldwin, which they’re bringing to the Jazz Festival.
Brazilian jazz-funk legends Azymuth will transport you to ’70s Brazil- you’ll want to get up and dance!
Yes. As well as Chris Cooper Trio and Tangential Trio, who we’ve already mentioned for more traditional laid-back jazz, we’re so pleased to have Norwich trio Mammal Hands back who are known for a hypnotic, genre-blending take on jazz that mixes elements of minimalism, electronica, classical, and world music.
We also have local artist Freya Roy supporting Jasmine Myra with her nu-jazz, neo-soul sound and lots of brilliant local DJs for each evening. And NUA professor George McKay will be giving a fascinating talk: A History of the Jazz Festival, its Origins and Significance at Duke Street Theatre.
We’d love to develop partnerships and collaborations across the city with other venues and organisations putting Norwich Jazz Festival on the map!
So please visit our website, take a look at the full programme and we hope to introduce you to fresh sounds and bold ideas that just might change the way you hear jazz!
Norwich Jazz Festival is taking place at Norwich Arts Centre and independent venues across the city from 15 – 24 May 2025. Book tickets via Norwich Arts Centre’s website!
