East Side Jazz Club

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This site now constitutes an archive of East Side Jazz Club gigs from May 2008 to October 2019. It will stand as a lasting memorial to Clive Fenner, without whom none of this would have been possible. Thanks for the countless memories Clive - you really did make a difference.

Quotes

"This place is like a Hogarth print!" - Alan Barnes
"Yet another great evening at The East Side Jazz Club, in Leytonstone. Clive Fenner, seems to have an unerring ability to provide top quality British jazz and long may he continue to do so. This has to be, one of the friendliest jazz clubs, I have had the pleasure to attend and one of the best value bars. Thanks to all concerned, for your hard work, behind the scenes, best wishes from Camberwell Green" - Mark Blewer
"Special mention must be made of Clive Fenner, the resident drummer. I can’t imagine the levels of experience, skill and confidence his role, as an accompanist to the weekly changing cast of visitors, must require." - downwithit.info blog
"..this consistently classy east London jazz night.." - Time Out
"..musician-led weekly gig where the feeling of community is very strong. Drummer Clive Fenner’s Leytonstone gig once included one of the legends of jazz – and I heard him for just £5. Trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, originally from Canada, is one of the most original and respected jazz trumpet voices in the world. He recently had a high-profile festival in New York take place in his honour and his compositions are played all over the world" - Sebastian Scotney, LondonJazz
"Resident drummer Fenner kicks in the hard driving swing to make this a 'pick up' band in a class of its own" - Time Out
"A bit of an institution this; The East Side Jazz Club has been taking over the Lord Rookwood since time began almost, and is still regarded as one of the best jazz nights in the East End...A great night in a very friendly little pub!" - Spoonfed.co.uk
"Another inspired off-piste line up for this East London jazz hotspot.." - Time Out
"This excellent east London session returns with a bang" - Time Out
"..and last, but not least, our resident drummer, fixer and M.C., Clive Fenner, how lucky we are to have Clive looking after our musical interests. He provides us with a never ending stream of quality British jazz, in the welcoming environment of The Leytonstone Ex-Servicemen's Club. My thanks to Clive, for his tasteful interjections from the drum chair and all the hard work he does behind the scenes. Talking of which, a shout out to all of those club members, who magically move chairs and tables from one place to another and all the other things that happen, just leaving us to have another great evening in good company. Thanks to you all for all your hard work, it is appreciated." - Mark Blewer, jazz aficionado and club regular

Photographs

Many of the photographs reproduced on this page appear with the kind permission of top photographer Brian O'Connor. His website includes an incredible array of jazz performers caught in the moment and is well worth a visit.
Similar acknowledgement is due to ace snapper Richard Kaby who's superb work frequently appears on this page. Richard's massive archive is here.
Thanks Brian and Richard for your generosity.

For some years our very own resident lensman Brian Browning has been accumulating a considerable body of work, many shot in the old club, a somewhat challenging photographic environment what with the red lights and rather prominent toilet signs.
Sadly, Brian passed away in October 2016. His framed photographs which hang in the club provide a lasting memorial to his enthusiasm and a reminder to his many friends of how much we miss him.

Heard this one?

Saxophone ace Alan Barnes tells this lovely story about being on tour with Glaswegian trumpeter Bruce Adams. As you know, touring conditions are not good, staying at B&Bs of varying quality, and sometimes even sharing a double bed. Alan found out that after the gigs, Bruce would take him drinking until the early hours. This wasn't so much of a problem, but Alan wasn't getting much sleep as the only thing that Bruce did louder than play the trumpet was to snore.

After about a week, Alan decided he needed his sleep. He slipped away early from the drinking, and went to bed. The room was so small that the two single beds were pushed next to each other, but at least it wasn't a double. At about 2am he was briefly woken by Bruce returning, but fell asleep again almost immediately. At about 4am Alan awoke again, to find that somehow he had rolled over and was lying on top of Bruce, nose-to-nose. At this moment Bruce woke up and said ..."Sorry son... I've got a headache".

Previous artists include

Adam Glasser
Alan Barnes & Bruce Adams
Alan Skidmore
Alcyona Mick
Alec Dankworth
Alex Hutton
Alison Rayner Quintet
Andrew McCormack
Annie Whitehead Quintet
Anthony Kerr
Arnie Somogyi
Art Themen
Ben Castle
Ben Hazleton
Benn Clatworthy Quartet
Bill Le Sage
Bob Martin
Bobby Wellins
Byron Wallen
Campbell Burnap
Charlie Wood
Chris Batchelor
Chris Biscoe
Chris Garrick
Chris Laurence Quartet
Chris Storr
Christian Brewer Quartet
Clark Tracey Quintet
Clive Fenner Quintet
Clive Fenner's R & B All Stars
Clive Fenner’s Contraption
Damon Brown
Dave & Judith O'Higgins
Dave Green
Dave Ital
Dave Newton Trio
Dave Storey Trio
Dennis Rollins
Denys Baptiste
Derek Nash
Dick Heckstall-Smith
Dick Pearce
Don Rendell
Don Weller
Duncan Lamont
Empirical
Enrico Tomasso
Frank Griffith Quintet
Frank Ricotti
Gareth Williams Power Trio
Gary Crosby
Gene Calderazzo
Geoff Gascoyne Quintet
George Crowley Trio
Gilad Atzmon Quartet
Graham Read
Guy Barker
Harry Beckett
Henry Lowther's Still Waters
Ian Carr
Ian Thomas
Ingrid Laubrock Quintet
Jason Yarde
Jay Phelps
Jean Toussaint
Jeff Williams Contiguous
Jim Hart
Jim Mullen
Jim Watson
Jimmy Hastings
Joe Armon-Jones
John Altman's All Star Big Band
John Critchinson
John Donaldson
John Etheridge
John Horler
John Parricelli
Julian Arguelles
Julian Siegel Quartet
Karen Sharp
Kenny Wheeler Quintet
Kit Downes
Leon Greening
Lewis Wright
Liam Noble
Liane Carroll
Mark Lockheart
Mark Nightingale
Martin Drew
Martin France
Martin Speake
Martin Zenker
Matt Fishwick
Matt Skelton
Michael Garrick Big Band
Mike Carr Quartet
Mornington Lockett
Nathaniel Facey
Nick Smart
Nigel Price
Omar Puente Cuban Band
Orquestra Mahatma
Pat Crumly Quartet
Paul Clarvis
Pete Cater
Pete Saberton
Pete Wareham
Pete Whittaker
Peter King Quartet
Phil Robson
Pinise Saul
Quentin Collins Quartet
Rob Luft Band
Rob Townsend
Robin Aspland
Rod Youngs
Roger Beaujolais
Ross Stanley
Sax Appeal
Seb Rochford Quartet
Simon Purcell's Red Circle
Simon Spillett Quartet
Stan Sulzmann
Steve Buckley
Steve Fishwick Quintet
Steve Melling Trio
Steve Rubie
Steve Waterman
Theo Travis
Tim Whitehead
Tina May
Tom Cawley
Tomorrow’s Warriors
Tony Coe
Tony Kofi
Tori Freestone Trio
Township Comets
Trinity Laban Jazz Ensemble
Trudy Kerr
Vasilis Xenopoulos
Winston Clifford
Winston Rollins
Yutaka Shiina
Zoe Rahman Trio
Zoot Money's Big Roll Band