ABOUT US
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ABOUT US *
nurturing the queer jazz scene
Queer Jazz's mission is to showcase and celebrate queer jazz artists and to nurture the emerging queer jazz scene. Founded by international DJ, broadcaster, curator and music journalist Tina Edwards and award-winning jazz musician Arowah (bandleader of Jelly Cleaver, B.H.A.M., All Day Breakfast Cafe, Musical Meditation), they launched for Pride 2023 with a series at Woolwich Works, london. They have since partnered with the likes of SXSW, The Barbican, London Jazz Festival and Brick Lane Jazz Festival, and in 2025 received funding from Arts Council England to launch a monthly residency at Vortex Jazz Club alongside several special showcases across the UK to celebrate Pride. Their innovative approach has led to supportive coverage by Clash Magazine, Jazzwise and Jazz FM and a nomination for the 2025 jazz FM awards. Community is at the heart of what Queer Jazz does and they create a safe space for queer artists to be seen and celebrated as well as for queer audiences to see themselves represented in jazz. while based in the uk They aim to be a global advocate for LGBTQIA+ jazz musicians around the world, and have already welcomed international artists from Australia to Switzerland.
a global advocate for LGBTQIA+ jazz musicians, with community at the heart
Advocacy
Queer Jazz is fully committed to speaking out for community, diversity and inclusion. Our ethos is grounded in serving and nurturing our community and creating a fairer music industry. We Have previously Been invited to speak at Rataplan, Belgium, for a panel on Diversity and Inclusion Beyond Box Ticking, have interviewed queer artist Knobil for Montreux Jazz Festival, and organised a panel discussion at Woolwich Works in London about the need for a queer jazz community. If you are looking for speakers, panelists and co-curators on these topics for artist mentoring, conferences and events, please reach out.
Past partners
