Musicians in attendance at the London Jazz Festival launch held in the Crystal Room of the May Fair hotel, where Ambrose was in residence in the 1920s, included Orphy Robinson, Denys Baptiste, Gwyneth Herbert, Guy Barker, Cath Roberts, Natalie Williams, Ian Shaw, Kandace Springs, Cleveland Watkiss, Camilla George, Florence Joelle, Matthew Bourne and Scott Flanigan.

Media included Jazzwise editor-in-chief Jon Newey, the FT’s Mike Hobart, Songlines publisher Paul Geoghegan, Jazz FM presenter Ruth Fisher, and Somethin’ Else radio producer Peggy Sutton. Record biz folk included a phalanx from Universal including head of press Caroline Crick and ECM UK label manager for Proper distribution, David Fraser. Revered jazzman Adam Sieff, and leading jazz club promoter Ross Dines of the Pizza Express chain, were also in attendance. Tina Edwards was the dj and the night was hosted by BBC Radio 3 presenter Jumoké Fashola.

Very legendary jazz promoter John Cumming celebrated his birthday with cake and was serenaded not by free-form scat caterwauling delivered in an Ivor Cutler style, which he may well have appreciated, but instead the traditional strains of ‘Happy Birthday’ delivered as if pneumatically from the gathered throng. The good news announced was that EFG are staying on board as a sponsor, a hoşgeldiniz to new director Pelin Opcin in from Istanbul. pic + story marlbank
Lush life in the Crystal Room. Jumoké Fashola, at the microphone, hosted.