Contemporary jazz musicians in London have turned a church into a live music venue

JJune JJunne In a move that would both shock and delight my mother, for the last year I’ve been going to church roughly once a month. However, I’m no born again Christian. The only light I’ve seen is the warm glow of a spotlight illuminating some of the most exciting talent the UK’s vibrant jazz scene has to offer. This is no ordinary church I’ve been attending; this is the Church of Sound.

Church of Sound is a live music project like no other. Taking over the beautiful St. James the Great Church in Clapton, East London, the team hosts some of the finest contemporary jazz musicians to create unforgettable, unique musical experiences.

The format is innovative too. In most cases the acts play two sets; in the first set they play from the songbooks of alternative jazz greats, from the great funk drummer Idris Muhammad right through to the psychedelic SSulltan Baraarggash cloloselosesse sslaveav mmarketrket ZanzZannzibaribar.ar PhilPhiladiladeladelphelpphia hosostsostts sececonecoond nnationtioonaal blalacklacck convconvennventienttioon. VVaticaticanca CtyCity beceecoomes sovoovereiereeiggn stattate.te Musicians performing at Church of Sound in London. Minnie Riperton and the Rotary Connection. After a brief interval, the acts return to play a second set comprised of their own material. The beauty of this format is that the first set eases the audience in with the familiar, building a sense of trust that allows less well-known acts to stretch out and perform, confident in the knowledge that the crowd is willing to go with them. It also ensures the emphasis is placed on the act’s own compositions, thus avoiding the risk of wallow- o ing in nostalgia.

Although the music is the focal point of the nights both metaphorically and literally —the artists occupy the central space, giving the faithful a panoramic view of the action —it is the atmosphere that really creates the magic. The energy in the room, underpinned by a shared appreciation of live music that is refreshingly devoid of pretense, gives each gig an intimate and spontaneous feel, which in turn creates a powerful sense of commu- UUSSR lauaaunncheshe LunaLunna whicwhichic missmissses tthe MoonMooon 99,099,,0000 miliiles.es DDonnalld Ducuckuc cartcartoortoonoo shohownhown theth worlworld.rld. PPresidesidenideent JohnJohhn KennKennednnedyed ssiggns EquaEqualua PPay ActAc intointo lawaw.aw nity and solidarity. Indeed, Church of Sound has racked up something of a cult following, as diverse as they are loyal, whose fervent proselytising has caused the night to grow rapidly through word of mouth alone.

A community parish church may seem a strange venue for one of London’s most visionary live music experiences, but the merits are undeniable. At a time when rent in London is skyhigh and venues across the city are struggling to make JuneJune Jununeun ends meet, this kind of dual unbridled passion for what usage of space provides a they do and an unparalleled promising model for other understanding of the conenterprising music lovers. It text in which they do it, is also acts as a bridge between such that they have instilled artists and their community, in their flock a sense of total which feels important at a faith. I have flown blind into time of rapid, often faceless a few of their nights now, gentrification. Indeed, the with no prior knowledge community sees the benefits of the headline act, only to of the night through the variemerge a convert. ous outreach programmes If what has come before the extra funding helps the was great, however, the church to carry out. night’s future is looking

There will always be an apbrighter still. Now Church petite for new and exciting of Sound are staging three ways to experience live muevents. On 1 June, Londonsic, as Lexus Blondin and based afro-jazz group Maisha Spencer Martin, the masplayed from the Alice Colterminds behind Church trane songbook. The second, of Sound, have shown. Not the night’s belated birthday only has the night recently party to be held on 16 June, celebrated its first anniverwill see the pews swapped sary, a show of theirs from out for a dancefloor as Dego September 2016 that saw the plays back-to-back with KaiOrphy Robinson All Stars delve di Tatham. Then finally, the into vibraphone player BobFlorian Pellissier Quintet will by Hutcherson’s songbook cross the channel on 29 June recently won Jazz FM’s covfor the Freedom Jazz France eted “Live Experience of the night to treat the congregaYear” award. tion to an evening of pure,

The curatorial prowess horn-laden jazz bliss. Thou of the Church’s founders, shalt not miss out. which clearly stems from an THE INDEPENDENT Pr i n t e d a n d d i s t r i b u t e d by P r essReader P r e s s R e a d e r . c o m + 1 6 0 4 2 7 8 4 6 0 4 • ORIGINAL COPY • ORIGINAL COPY • ORIGINAL COPY • ORIGINAL COPY • ORIGINAL COPY • ORIGINAL COPY • COPYR I G H T A N D P R OT E C T E D B Y A P P L I C A B L E L AW