SERIOUS Announces 2025 London Summer Jazz Series.

Monday, March 10, 2025

Serious has announced their Summer Jazz Series, in which a handpicked collection of global jazz stars, inc. Herbie Hancock, will take to the stage at the Barbican and Cadogan Hall across June & July.

We have received the following press release;

Herbie Hancock announces 3-day residency at Barbican as part of Summer Jazz Series with Tigran Hamasyan, Brad Mehldau Trio and Madeleine Peyroux

ERIOUS Announce 2025 Summer Jazz Series

Herbie Hancock leads the way with 3 night Barbican residency

Brad Mehldau Trio, Madeleine Peyroux, Tigran Hamasyan and more also announced

June and July between the Barbican and Cadogan Hall

TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
https://serious.org.uk/summer-jazz-series-2025

Serious are announcing their Summer Jazz Series, in which a handpicked collection of global jazz stars will take to the stage at the Barbican and Cadogan Hall across June and July. This news is led by a very special three night stint from legendary keyboardist and composer Herbie Hancock whose last performance at the Barbican in 2023 was described as “completely engrossing” by The Guardian.

Herbie Hancock returns to the Barbican Hall with a 3-night UK exclusive residency to celebrate his 85th birthday and over 50 years since his first ever London show, at the historic Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park. Herbie Hancock is a true icon of modern music. Throughout his explorations, he has transcended limitations and genres while maintaining his unmistakable voice. With an illustrious career spanning five decades and 14 Grammy Awards, he continues to amaze audiences across the globe.

There are few artists in the music industry who have had more influence on acoustic and electronic jazz and R&B than Herbie Hancock. As the immortal Miles Davis said in his autobiography, “Herbie was the step after Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, and I haven’t heard anybody yet who has come after him.”

Now in the sixth decade of his professional life, Herbie Hancock remains where he has always been: in the forefront of world culture, technology, business and music. Though one can’t track exactly where he will go next, he is sure to leave his inimitable imprint wherever he lands. This exclusive residency is promoted alongside Marshall Arts.

Tigran Hamasyan is considered one of the most remarkable and distinctive pianists and composers of his generation seamlessly fusing potent jazz improvisation and progressive rock with the rich folkloric music of his native Armenia. On 16 June, Hamasyan returns to the Barbican Hall to perform a special concert in which he brings his latest album, The Bird of a Thousand Voices to life, live with a quartet. This follows his Sold Out performance at Cadogan Hall as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival last year. Opening for Hamasyan is singer, violinist and composer Alice Zawadzki who has established herself in the peripheries and crossovers of the classical, folk, jazz and art-pop worlds. The award-winning singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer has released three albums of her solo work, the latest her highly lauded Za Górami, released on the iconic ECM Records in 2024.

One of the most lyrical and intimate voices of contemporary jazz piano, Brad Mehldau has forged a unique path, which embodies the essence of jazz exploration, classical romanticism and pop allure. Performing at the Barbican as a trio including Felix Moseholm and Jorge Rossy on 24 June as part of the Summer Jazz Series, Mehldau continues to garner numerous awards and admiration from both jazz purists and music enthusiasts alike. With his self-proclaimed affection for popular music and classical training, “Mehldau is the most influential jazz pianist of the last 20 years” (The New York Times).

Described as “the finest banjo player on the planet” by the Guardian, Béla Fleck’s new all-star trio completed by harpist Edmar Castañeda, and drummer Antonio Sanchez who composed the soundtrack to Oscar winning film Birdman (2014), and received a Grammy award in the same year for the soundtrack. Playing original repertoire, much of it collaboratively written, this trio embarks nightly on fearless explorations that audiences will find irresistible — rich with strong melodies, gorgeous harmony and grooves that twist and turn while feeling fantastic. Catch them at Cadogan Hall on both 9 & 10 July.

Following their successful show at EFG London Jazz Festival last year, which The Telegraph described as “a joyous evening” Take Me to the River All-Stars Memphis Soul Revue is a collection of some of the legendary Memphis musical talents who created countless classic hits that have stood the test of time! Featuring the Queen of Memphis Soul STAX legend and GRAMMY Nominee Carla Thomas who collaborated with R&B star Otis Redding, the legendary Hi Rhythm Section (the band behind 27 Gold and Platinum Records in a row, including all of Al Green’s classics, along with classics from Ann Peebles, Otis Clay, and many others) along with BBKing’s All-Stars vocalist Jerome Chism, GRAMMY winner Boo Mitchell (son of Willie Mitchell) and GRAMMY winner Martin Shore. Taking place the night is guaranteed to keep everyone dancing, shaking, and smiling! As if transported to Memphis itself. Expect to hear the best of Al Green, BB King, Otis Clay, along with classic songs Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes), B-A-B-Y, and the greatest hits from STAX and Hi Records.

And while celebrating the musical treasures of Mississippi, expect a stop over in Berclair, the birth place of BB King. On the occasion of the legend’s centenary, his musical collaborators will pay homage to his great legacy as well.

Fresh from two sold-out events at Saffron Hall and Cadogan Hall this month, Madeleine Peyroux is performing another London show at Cadogan Hall on 15 July for the Summer Jazz Series following her captivating ninth album, Let’s Walk, which came out last year to critical acclaim.

SUMMER SERIOUS DATES

16 June - Tigran Hamasyan + Alice Zawadzki, Barbican

24 June - Brad Mehldau Trio, Barbican

9 July - Béla Fleck, Antonio Sanchez, Edmar Castañeda, Cadogan Hall

10 July - Béla Fleck, Antonio Sanchez, Edmar Castañeda, Cadogan Hall

12 July - Take Me to the River All-Stars Memphis Soul Revue, Barbican

15 July - Madeleine Peyroux Cadogan Hall

24 July - Herbie Hancock, Barbican *

25 July - Herbie Hancock, Barbican *

26 July - Herbie Hancock, Barbican *

Serious is one of the UK’s leading producers of live jazz, international and new music through concerts, festivals, tours, digital shows, talent development schemes, learning and participation programmes, and bespoke events for all.

* co-promoted with Marshall Arts