The library is open until 7pm giving you an opportunity to view a special exhibition of materials from the National Jazz Archive and explore the Library’s extensive jazz collection.

Black people have played a major role in all areas of musical entertainment in Britain for well over a century and this has been particularly true for British jazz. Stephen Poliakoff’s wonderful drama, Dancing on the Edge, was no fiction.
From Ken ‘Snakehips’ Johnson, Cab Kaye, Leslie ‘Jiver’ Hutchinson and Leslie Thompson through Dizzy Reece, Joe Harriott, Harry Beckett and Coleridge Goode to Courtney Pine, Julian Joseph, Gary Crosby, the contribution of black artists to the UK’s jazz scene has been of huge significance. Now, a whole new generation of younger players like Nathaniel Facey, Peter Edwards, Moses Boyd, Zoe Rahman and Nubya Garcia continue that legacy.

Jazz is a music of migration and, in the case of jazz in Britain, speaks the true meaning of “Commonwealth”.

Duncan Heining has written about jazz for twenty years for a range of publications including Jazzwise, Jazz UK, The Independent, The Independent on Sunday, Record Collector, Avant Magazine and the Jazz Rag. He currently contributes to the All about Jazz website. Duncan has published two books so far – Trad Dads, Dirty Boppers and Free Fusioneers: British Jazz 1960-1975 and George Russell: An American Composer. Mosaics: The Life and Career of Graham Collier will be published by Equinox in 2017.

Cost
Tickets £6 with refreshments – Book online

Tickets are also available to be purchased at any Surrey Library, or by credit or debit card from the Library Information Service via a mediated booking service (a small handling charge will apply) on 01483 543599 or via SMS: 07968 832414