Max SteventonBlue Note will open its first UK venue in London’s West End on 23 September.
The jazz club, located on St Martin’s Lane in Covent Garden, will launch with performances by five-time Grammy Award winner Robert Glasper on 23 and 24 September before he returns for a further seven shows in November. Glasper has also been appointed as a creative ambassador for the venue.
Blue Note London will operate as a two-room venue. The main performance space will have a capacity of 250 and host two performances per evening. A second, 100-capacity, space named B-Side is due to open later this year and will provide a platform for emerging UK artists.
Among the acts booked to play at Blue Note London during its opening season are Erykah Badu, Jamie Cullum, Nubya Garcia, Yussef Dayes, KOKOROKO and Hak Baker.
The venue’s opening on 23 September will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the birth of jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. It was designed by Julien Legeard of Legeard Studio.
Operators said Blue Note London will launch two membership schemes ahead of opening; The Founding Membership will provide advance ticket access and member benefits, while the Founders Society will be limited to 100 members and offer additional advantages.
Founded in 1939, Blue Note is a US jazz brand best known for its record label, which has released albums by artists including Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock and Art Blakey. The company later expanded into live music venues, opening its first club in New York in 1981 before establishing locations in cities including Tokyo, Milan, Shanghai and Rio de Janeiro.
Blue Note Entertainment was first granted license to open a London venue last year.
“London has been a big supporter in my career from the very beginning, and I’ve always had so much respect for the musical culture of the UK past and present,” said Glasper. “There is a deep love for music that pushes boundaries, and Blue Note has always been a home for that same spirit.”
Blue Note Entertainment Group co-owner Tsion Bensusan said, “London has always been one of the world’s great music capitals, with an extraordinary jazz heritage and an incredibly diverse creative community. Bringing Blue Note to London is something we’ve envisioned for many years, and opening our doors here marks one of the most significant milestones in our company’s history.
“For more than four decades, Blue Note has been dedicated to creating intimate spaces where artists and audiences connect through unforgettable live performances. Our hope is that Blue Note London becomes more than a venue, it becomes a home for musicians, a gathering place for the community, and an integral part of London’s cultural landscape. We are immensely proud and honoured to bring the Blue Note legacy to this remarkable city.”