Ipswich Jazz and Blues

Ipswich Jazz and Blues Ipswich Jazz and Blues @ Venue 16 is dedicated to bringing the best possible modern and mainstream jazz and blues to Ipswich, every second Sunday of the month.

Welcome to the Ipswich Jazz And Blues Club’s page. We hold monthly gigs in the spacious Willow suite at Venue 16, Tuddenham Road, Ipswich. The IJBC is a not-for-profit organisation run by jazz and blues enthusiasts whose sole aim is to bring the very best acts to Suffolk’s county town. On the afternoon of usually the second Sunday of the month we play host to some of the finest musicians

from both sides of the Atlantic. Our intention is to make our sessions as affordable as we can and we also give local acts the chance to open proceedings before the main act takes to the stage. Previously known as the Ipswich Jazz Club, we have incorporated more blues into our programming following the ongoing success of our annual blues night, many of which were sell-outs. We very much hope to see you soon and don’t forget before the gig you can enjoy a delicious Sunday lunch in the acclaimed Venue 16 restaurant. IJBC ticket holders get a 10% discount off their food bill but do book beforehand as the restaurant gets very busy.

A Stunning Second Half to 2026 — Paul Jones Headlines, Jive Aces for Christmas!With the first half of the season behind ...
14/06/2026

A Stunning Second Half to 2026 — Paul Jones Headlines, Jive Aces for Christmas!

With the first half of the season behind us, we're delighted to reveal what's in store from July through to December — and it's our most exciting second half yet!

July 19th - Paul Jones and Friends
The highlight of the summer is without doubt the legendary Paul Jones. Lead singer of Manfred Mann, frontman of The Blues Band and the voice behind worldwide hits 'Do Wah Diddy Diddy', '5-4-3-2-1' and 'Pretty Flamingo', Paul has been a household name since the 1960s. For this very special Ipswich appearance he's joined by an all-star band — guitarist Denny Ilett (a regular at Ronnie Scott's), saxophonist Harry Greene, organist Jim Watson and drummer George Double — for an afternoon of rhythm and blues classics alongside gems from the Manfred Mann and Blues Band back catalogues. Unmissable. Tickets are £22.

August 9th - QCBA Play Blue Note
An explosive celebration of the legendary Blue Note Records label from trumpeter Quentin Collins and saxophonist Brandon Allen. Expect high-energy jazz from Art Blakey, Jimmy Smith, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock and more.

September 13th - Horn Factory
East Anglia's finest 18-piece big band return with a thunderous programme of contemporary jazz from composers including Buddy Rich, Bob Mintzer and Quincy Jones. There's nothing quite like a big band close up.

October 11th - Michael Messer & Chaz Jankel
Two guitar greats team up for an afternoon of breathtaking playing. Michael Messer is widely regarded as one of the finest slide guitarists in the world; Chaz Jankel is best known as Ian Dury's songwriting partner and co-writer of the worldwide hit 'Ai No Corrida'. A jaw-dropping combination.

November 8th - Mark Crooks Organ Quartet
Tenor sax star Mark Crooks — who has performed with everyone from Tony Bennett to Lady Gaga at venues from Ronnie Scott's to the Lincoln Center — brings his organ quartet for an afternoon of jazz, latin and soul rinsed in the blues.

December 13th - The Jive Aces' Christmas Show
We've saved the best for last! We are absolutely thrilled to bring the UK's number one jive and swing band The Jive Aces to town for our Christmas extravaganza. They've played for the Queen, packed out the Royal Albert Hall and made history as the first band to reach the Britain's Got Talent finals. Expect smooth ballads, rip-roaring rhythm and blues, festive favourites, and our legendary bumper Christmas raffle with a hamper as first prize. Doors open 2pm, music starts 3pm. Tickets are £22.

Tickets for all shows are on sale now. Don't miss a single one!

The music of David 'Fathead' NewmanBrandon Allen presents 'Some Kinda Mean'Sunday June 14thDoors 2pm, music 2:30pmTwo se...
11/06/2026

The music of David 'Fathead' Newman
Brandon Allen presents 'Some Kinda Mean'
Sunday June 14th
Doors 2pm, music 2:30pm
Two sets, no support

https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20260614

A journey into the musical life of David 'Fathead' Newman. The project will explore Newman's work with Ray Charles, his straight ahead albums with saxophonists Stanley Turrentine and James Clay, his collaborations with Hammond organists Jimmy McGriff and Lonnie Smith and his soul jazz/funk releases on Atlantic and Prestige.

Saxophonist and flautist Brandon Allen will be joined by Nick Costley White on guitar, Hamish Balfour on keys, Mirko Scarcia on bass and Rod Youngs on drums.

Doors open at 2pm with musicians on stage at 2:30pm to perform 2 sets until 5pm. Tickets are £15 from our website https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20260614 or you can buy them for £17 on the door.

Don't forget that our good friends at Venue16 are offering a 10 per cent discount on Sunday lunch for all those attending our monthly sessions. Check out their menus here: https://venue16.co.uk/16steakhouse/menus/

22/04/2026

Mark your calendars — we've got an absolutely cracking line-up for the rest of 2026, and it might just be our best yet. World-class guitarists, jazz legends, a towering 18-piece big band, an Ian Dury icon, the UK's favourite jive and swing band, and a blues icon who needs no introduction — all coming to The Willow Suite, Venue 16, Ipswich. Sunday afternoons, fully seated, bar open. This is what we live for.

Sunday 10 May — Chris Corcoran and his Band
One of the UK's finest blues guitarists makes his Ipswich debut, joined by a stellar band including two tenor saxes, trumpet, bass and drums. Two sets of tour-de-force blues.
Book: https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20260510

Sunday 14 June — Brandon Allen presents 'Some Kinda Mean'
A journey into the musical life of David 'Fathead' Newman — his work with Ray Charles, Hammond organ greats, and soul jazz classics on Atlantic and Prestige.
Book: https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20260614

Sunday 19 July — Paul Jones and Friends
A true legend. The voice of Do Wah Diddy Diddy, Pretty Flamingo and lead singer of Manfred Mann, joined by an all-star band for an afternoon of rhythm and blues classics.
Book: https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20260719

Sunday 9 August — QCBA Play Blue Note
Trumpeter Quentin Collins and saxophonist Brandon Allen lead a high-energy tribute to the golden era of Blue Note Records — Blakey, Silver, Herbie Hancock and more.
Book: https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20260809

Sunday 13 September — Horn Factory
An 18-piece big band featuring some of East Anglia's finest players, performing contemporary big band jazz — loud, live and right up close. There's nothing quite like it.
Book: https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20260913

Sunday 11 October — Michael Messer & Chaz Jankel
Two music greats on one stage. Slide guitar master Michael Messer meets Chaz Jankel — Ian Dury's songwriting partner and co-writer of Quincy Jones's worldwide hit Ai No Corrida.
Book: https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20261011

Sunday 8 November — Mark Crooks Organ Quartet
A saxophonist who's shared stages with Tony Bennett, Sir Simon Rattle and Lady Gaga brings his organ quartet to Ipswich for a night of jazz, latin and soul.
Book: https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20261108

Sunday 13 December — The Jive Aces' Christmas Show
The UK's number one jive and swing band close out our year in style. Britain's Got Talent finalists, Royal Albert Hall headliners — plus our legendary Christmas raffle!
Book: https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20261213

Chris Corcoran and his bandSunday May 10thDoors 2pm, music 2:30pmTwo sets, no supporthttps://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tic...
21/04/2026

Chris Corcoran and his band
Sunday May 10th
Doors 2pm, music 2:30pm
Two sets, no support

https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20260510

Chris Corcoran is considered to be one of the finest blues guitarists in the UK. He performs regularly across London, Britain and Europe.

His shows offer tour-de-force performances of blues-based music which has influenced and inspired him over his 30 years of performing.

Joining Chris for his much anticipated Ipswich debut will be tenor saxophonists Lee Badau and Mike Austen, trumpeter Simon Da Silva, bassist Matt Radford and drummer Wez Johnson

Doors open at 2pm with musicians on stage at 2:30pm to perform 2 sets until 5pm. Tickets are £15 from our website https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20260510 or you can buy them for £17 on the door.

Don't forget that our good friends at Venue16 are offering a 10 per cent discount on Sunday lunch for all those attending our monthly sessions. Check out their menus here: https://venue16.co.uk/16steakhouse/menus/

17/04/2026

VIDEO NOW ONLINE: Ben Crosland's All Star Band - The Kinks in Jazz! 🎷🎸

What a Sunday! Last week Ben Crosland brought his incredible All Star Band to Ipswich Jazz & Blues for a jazz reimagining of The Kinks' legendary songbook — and we've now got the video up on YouTube!

The lineup was something else: John Etheridge on guitar, Buster Birch on drums, Steve Lodder on keyboards, and Theo Travis on saxophones. Together they transformed classic Kinks tunes into something genuinely surprising and brilliant.

Watch it now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8aHAwkHFK4

If you missed it on April 12th, let this be the reminder to grab your tickets early next time!

Up next: Chris Corcoran on May 10th — don't miss the Ipswich debut of one of the UK's finest blues guitar virtuosos. Tickets at £15 from our website ipswichjazzandblues.com. See you there!

Ben Crosland's All Star BandSunday April 12thDoors 2pm, music 2:30pmTwo sets, no supporthttps://ipswichjazzandblues.com/...
01/04/2026

Ben Crosland's All Star Band
Sunday April 12th
Doors 2pm, music 2:30pm
Two sets, no support

https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20260412

Leading jazz bassist Ben Crosland is a big admirer of the legendary pop and rock band The Kinks. Ray Davies' songs are rooted in the blues, music hall, popular song, variety and musical theatre, making them perfect vehicles for jazz interpretation.

How about this for Ben's star studded cast? Guitarist John Etheridge, Buster Birch on drums, Steve Lodder on keyboards and Theo Travis on saxophones. Along with Ben they're all well respected men of jazz and they're coming out way.

Doors open at 2pm with musicians on stage at 2:30pm to perform 2 sets until 5pm. Tickets are £15 from our website https://ipswichjazzandblues.com/tickets/?gid=20260412 or you can buy them for £17 on the door.

Don't forget that our good friends at Venue16 are offering a 10 per cent discount on Sunday lunch for all those attending our monthly sessions. Check out their menus here: https://venue16.co.uk/16steakhouse/menus/

Address

The Willow Suite, Venue 16, 312 Tuddenham Road
Ipswich
IP43QJ

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