About

When and Where

Norwich Jazz Club currently hosts two gigs per month; on the second Tuesday in the bar at the Maddermarket Theatre, and on the last Sunday at Yalm Food Hall. The arrangement is flexible, however, in response to venue or artist availability – so do please check the gig list.

Mission and Funding

Our programme continues to promote jazz to suit a wide range of tastes, from mainstream through to the most exciting contemporary projects, and features local, national and international artists alike. Our traditional / default format comprises a house trio backing a guest soloist, though currently you’re as likely to find a touring ensemble displacing the house band, and at least once a year we try to feature a local- or national-level big band. Except for when we’re hosting a big band in the theatre, we aim to provide the classic cabaret-style environment where patrons can enjoy the music seated, along with a drink and maybe a meal. Our venues page will help you to get the best idea of what to expect from each.

Run on a not-for-profit basis, the club aims to be self-funding through ticket sales, although we’re grateful to have received donations and / or sponsorship from individuals or organisations from time to time. Being essentially a freelance promoter rather than a bricks-and-mortar entity, the club relies on venues being happy to host us; however this can also make it harder for us to access grants from bodies such as Arts Council England or The Lottery Fund. With this in mind we’re especially grateful to have been one of a number of UK clubs selected to benefit from a grant from the Grassroots Jazz fund established by guitarist Nigel Price.

Open Mic / Jazz Jam

Between 2013 and 2020 Norwich Jazz Club hosted monthly jazz jams / open mic sessions at a succession of venues (Marzano Café in The Forum, The Maddermarket Theatre Bar, the Library Restaurant and Bedfords Bar) with a house trio comprising Simon Brown (piano), Ivars Galenieks (double bass) and Rob Masters (drums). Ultimately, funding the nights and a lack of suitable venues at the time caused us to suspend our own programme of jam sessions; however a regular Monday evening jazz jam hosted by guitarist Lee Vasey and his trio currently takes place at The Last Pub Standing where guest singers and instrumentalists are welcome to join in. Click here to find out more.

Contact

If you’ve any enquiries about the club, would like to subscribe to our newsletter or are an artist who’d like to perform here, please contact Simon Brown at norwichjazzinfo@gmail.com.

Past and Present

Norwich Jazz Club as an entity has a long history, due in no small part to the hard work and dedication of Mike and Barbara Capocci. From the Jolly Butcher’s and Santana’s to decade-long stints at the Red Lion and later the Green Man, the pair did an enormous amount to promote jazz in the city. Numerous articles have appeared in the local press over the years highlighting the club’s activities or celebrating its achievements, and there are links below to archived clippings and past programmes. Also below you’ll find a gallery of images of people past and present closely-linked to establishing and running the club.

If you’re curious to see who’s performed with us in the past, the more recent gigs can be found in our Gig Archive (an extension of our gig listings). The ‘Past Events’ section of our Facebook page lists all of our gigs extending back to 2013. If you have a Facebook account this link should take you there.

Eastern Daily Press article (Dave Wakefield) 05/12/2012

Eastern Daily Press article (Derek James) 12/08/2015

Eastern Daily Press article (Derek James) 19/08/2015

Green Man Programme Mar / April 2002

Green Man Programme Mar / April 2012