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WHAT IS THE GIFT?

It’s being part of one of the most exciting theatres in London.

It’s access to bold and experimental arts from around the globe.

It’s a meaningful way to support our international artists and their extraordinary work.

It’s discounted tickets and special events year round

WHAT DO YOU GET AS A MEMBER?

Complimentary merchandise, Priority booking Ticket discounts, Savings in our much-loved Piano Bar, Invitations to members-only gatherings that bring them closer to the heart of our artistic community A gift from The Coronet Theatre

HOW DO I GIFT A MEMBERSHIP?

Simply log into your account on our website, select the membership you’d like to give, and click the “Gift Membership” button to send it to the person of your choosing with a personalised message.

ORDER BY DECEMBER 15TH!

JAZZ FESTIVAL 2025

THE PRIMACY OF RHYTHM

The 2025 Coronet Jazz Festival, curated by BBC Jazz Innovation award-winner Byron Wallen, is a deep exploration of the drum’s dynamic, melodic, and storytelling power In a year that has seen the jazz world mourn the profound losses of rhythmic giants Al Foster, Louis Moholo, and Jack DeJohnette, the festival turns its focus to the living masters who carry the rhythm forward

The Coronet Theatre is the perfect festival venue; grab a drink in “the most atmospheric bar in the known universe” (The Telegraph), celebrate with friends or family, and enjoy incredible jazz performed live in one of the most beautiful venues in London

Thu 11 Dec

The Language of Rhythm featuring Tom Skinner Drummer, composer and producer Tom Skinner performs alongside festival curator and trumpet legend Byron Wallen, revolutionary tuba virtuoso Theon Cross and a very special guest to be announced soon.

Fri 12 Dec

Doug Hammond: A Griot’s Journey

Legendary drummer, poet, composer, and singer Doug Hammond presents a singular performance that spans the full spectrum of his artistry, moving effortlessly from intimate solo expression to expansive trio collaboration.

BYRON WALLEN

Byron Wallen (b 1969) was raised in a musical family and as a child studied classical piano, euphonium, trumpet, flute and drums. In the mid 1980’s the trumpet became Wallen’s primary instrument of choice Wallen’s first major work, Tarot Suite, (1994) was inspired by a love of mythology and symbolism, which reflected the archetypal journey of human life through an interdisciplinary pancontinental approach Wallen’s study of cognitive psychology has aided his transition towards conceptualising music as a medium for healing Wallen raises awareness and invokes change by unlocking boundaries through the nature and science of sound Widely recognised as a seminal figure in Jazz, Wallen is an acclaimed writer and producer whose original scores have been commissioned by The London Science Museum; PRS For Music, The BBC, Jerwood Foundation, Southbank Centre, National Theatre, Arts Council, FIFA and Sage Gateshead. He has also composed soundscapes for Universal Pictures, Warner Bros and Game of Thrones Wallen’s current PRS commission ‘Anthem for Woolwich’ forges new links between schools, venues, musicians and residents to strengthen the resilience and promote the cohesion of the community. Wallen has received the BBC Jazz Innovation award (2003) and has been nominated several times for the MOBO award

THE LANGUAGE OF RHYTHM

FEATURING TOM SKINNER

This unique performance is a celebration of Skinner’s profound musicality – his fluid, melodic, and propulsive drumming that has defined eras from the London jazz renaissance to the art-rock of The Smile

Tom Skinner is known, among others, as an original member of award winning band Sons Of Kemet alongside band-leader and frequent collaborator Shabaka Hutchings. He is also one third of The Smile, alongside Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood.

At the heart of this exploration is a deep, decades-long creative dialogue with festival curator and trumpet legend Byron Wallen. Having first met when Skinner was 16, their partnership has flourished across countless projects, from Wallen’s Indigo, As Is, and his Octet, to Skinner later bringing Wallen into the studio with The Smile. This event is the culmination of that shared journey: a masterful dialogue between Skinner’s rhythmic essence and Wallen’s luminous melodic voice

Providing the monumental low-end is the revolutionary tuba virtuoso Theon Cross A fellow Sons of Kemet member and a formidable bandleader, Cross has single-handedly reinvented the tuba as an instrument of immense groove, melody, and power. His presence guarantees a performance that is both rhythmically deep and sonically colossal.

Anchoring the rhythm section is the masterful Crispin “Spry” Robinson. A rhythm philosopher and scholar of sacred Afro-Cuban drum music, Spry’s academic rigor is electrified by a legendary career spanning the foundational beats of Soul II Soul and Roni Size, the iconic sounds of Galliano, and the avant-garde landscapes of Brian Eno. A former sponsored skateboarder, he brings a unique, kinetic energy from the street to the sacred.

Tom Skinner is a London-based drummer, composer and producer who has been a key force in the city’s underground music scene for two decades A core member of The Smile, he has toured globally following their acclaimed 2022 debut. That year he also released Voices of Bishara, a hypnotic album built from live ensemble recordings reshaped into a distinctive, looping sound world Skinner has also recorded as Hello Skinny and is a founding member of Sons of Kemet.

Theon Cross is an award-winning tuba player and composer known for redefining the instrument’s role within contemporary jazz His debut EP Aspirations and his acclaimed 2019 album Fyah brought international recognition, chart success and extensive touring Raised in London, Cross began on tenor horn before switching to tuba and developing his craft through Kinetika Bloco, Tomorrow’s Warriors and later the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

Spry is a percussionist whose work bridges tradition, innovation and the sound-world of the Black Atlantic. A core member of Balimaya Project, he first came to prominence with 90s acid-jazz innovators Galliano His decades-long commitment to Afro-diasporic rhythm includes his initiation as an omo Aña and extensive batá work, performing Orisha ceremonies worldwide and contributing to the British Library’s 2024 Black British music exhibition

DOUG HAMMOND: A GRIOT’S

JOURNEY

With a career spanning six decades, Doug Hammond is not just a performer but a foundational influence In the 60s and 70s, he played with greats like Donald Byrd, Sonny Rollins, and Charles Mingus His innovative compositions of the 80s directly inspired the M-Base movement through saxophonist Steve Coleman. For years, he was a revered professor of drums, composition, and improvisation at the Bruckner Conservatory in Linz, shaping new generations of musicians. Hammond has spent a lifetime developing a unique jazz aesthetic drawn from the spirit of his own free verse.

Neil Charles is one of the most indemand musicians on the scene, with a huge array of credits to his name, including Jack DeJohnette, the Sun Ra Arkestra, Mingus Big Band, Jose James, Jerry Dammers, Courtney Pine, and Terence Blanchard. His own projects have included Zed U, with Shabaka Hutchings and Tom Skinner, and the more recent ensemble Dark Days, dealing with the work of James Baldwin. Most recently, he has been heard across the international scene with Gabriels. As well as being known as a bass player with a huge sound and immaculate sense of time, he is equally renowned as a producer, going by the alias Ben Marc

THE ENDLESS RHYTHM: A

TRIBUTE TO JACK DEJOHNETTE

Femi Temowo is a MOBO-nominated guitarist celebrated for his blend of West African musical roots and classic jazz influences. Raised on Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade before discovering Miles Davis and Wes Montgomery, he developed a distinctive, melodic style that led to early success with Soweto Kinch’s Mercury-nominated quartet Known for his versatility and artistry, Temowo has become one of Europe’s most in-demand guitarists.

Drummer Shane Forbes is the co-leader of the extraordinary multi award winning quartet/collective ‘Empirical’. Shane has a driving style that is full of textures and cultural influences from all over the world. He’s toured with Steve Grossman, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jason Marsalis, Soweto Kinch, Jean Toussaint, Groupo Elegua and Robert Mitchell