15 recurring jazz jam sessions in London, sorted by night. We checked each one against the venue’s own website, calendar or ticket page on October 8, 2026. Jam nights move, so open the venue’s listing before you head out. New to jams? Read how to sit in. Another city? Search the whole map.
Monday jazz jams in London
Most Mondays
The Big Jam Session
8:30pm
Oliver's Jazz Bar · 9 Nevada St, Greenwich
- Host: Varies (the Tom Shooter trio has hosted)
- How it runs: All musicians welcome. Some Mondays are a band set followed by a jam instead.
- Cover: £10, £5 for jammers and students
- Good to know: Check the calendar before you go: 21 Sep 2026 was a gig with no jam. Cash only.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Every Monday
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Jam
Check the venue for the time
Ronnie Scott's · 47 Frith St, Soho
- Host: Andy Davies (trumpet)
- How it runs: A different house band of British jazz players each week, playing tunes from the bebop and hard bop canon. If advance tickets sell out, there are still tickets on the door.
- Cover: £10, £6 students with ID, free for musicians, MU members and club Members plus a guest
- For bass players: The house bass chair rotates between Daniel Casimir and Mirko Scarcia.
- Good to know: The start alternates: 10:15pm to 12:15am one Monday, midnight to 2am the next (so really the early hours of Tuesday). No jam is listed for Mon 26 Oct 2026, so check the club's times for your date.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Tuesday jazz jams in London
Second Tuesday of the month
Latin Jam Session
7:30pm, jam from 8:45pm
Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club · 140 Newington Butts, Kennington
- Host: RLB (Rhythm Latin Beat)
- How it runs: RLB play a set, then it opens up to the jam, and beginners are welcome. Keep solos short; suggested tunes include Oye Como Va, El Cuarto de Tula, Manteca and Besame Mucho.
- Style: Latin jazz
- Cover: £12, free for musicians (just buy a drink)
- For bass players: Bass amp provided, and RLB's bassist is Ruben Ramos.
- Good to know: Get a Musician ticket online or on the door, then sign up with the host with your instrument, tunes and keys.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
First Tuesday of the month
New Orleans Jam Session
7:30pm, jam from 8:45pm
Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club · 140 Newington Butts, Kennington
- Host: Dom Pipkin
- How it runs: The house band plays a short opening set, then the floor opens to guests, all levels welcome. Expect blues, early jazz standards, spirituals, Mardi Gras grooves and second-line feels.
- Style: New Orleans jazz
- Cover: £12, free for musicians (just buy a drink)
- For bass players: Bass amp provided.
- Good to know: Get a Musician ticket online or on the door, then sign up with the host with your instrument, tunes and keys.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Second and last Tuesday of the month
Hammersmith Jazz Jam
7:30pm to 10pm
The Distillers · 64 Fulham Palace Rd, Hammersmith
- Host: Distillers House Trio with Marcus James (piano) and Alex Ellerington (drums)
- How it runs: Bring your instrument and join the house trio, or just come to listen. Open to instrumentalists and singers, in the upstairs function room.
- Cover: No cover
- For bass players: Jamie Royan plays bass in the house trio.
- Good to know: Over 18 only.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Every Tuesday and Wednesday, most Thursdays
Oliver's Trio and Jam Session
8:30pm
Oliver's Jazz Bar · 9 Nevada St, Greenwich
- Host: A featured trio that changes; regulars include the Tom Shooter trio (Tue), Louis North trio (Wed) and Raf Elliott trio (Thu)
- How it runs: The featured trio plays, then the jam opens.
- Cover: £10, £5 for jammers and students
- Good to know: Cash only. Check in with the host at the bar when you arrive; table bookings are released after 9:15pm. Some Thursdays are a student night with no jam, and the calendar only runs to 10 Oct 2026, so check it for your date.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Wednesday jazz jams in London
Every Tuesday and Wednesday, most Thursdays
Oliver's Trio and Jam Session
8:30pm
Oliver's Jazz Bar · 9 Nevada St, Greenwich
- Host: A featured trio that changes; regulars include the Tom Shooter trio (Tue), Louis North trio (Wed) and Raf Elliott trio (Thu)
- How it runs: The featured trio plays, then the jam opens.
- Cover: £10, £5 for jammers and students
- Good to know: Cash only. Check in with the host at the bar when you arrive; table bookings are released after 9:15pm. Some Thursdays are a student night with no jam, and the calendar only runs to 10 Oct 2026, so check it for your date.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Thursday jazz jams in London
Every Thursday
Jazz Jam with Stratos
7pm to 11pm
Grow Hackney · 98c Wallis Rd, Hackney Wick
- Host: Stratos, led by Rio Kai, with Dom Pusey (sax), Mike De Souza (guitar) and Zoe Pascal (drums)
- How it runs: Stratos play the first set, then open it up to the jam. The first set is outdoors; in bad weather the tables move inside.
- Cover: Free for jammers, audience tickets via DICE
- For bass players: Rio Kai plays bass in the house band.
- Good to know: To sit in, message Stratos on Instagram (@stratostheband) before you go.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Every other Thursday
Ellie Harris Trio Jam
7:30pm
135 Bar & Lounge · 135 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green
- Host: Ellie Harris, in a trio
- How it runs: Everyone's welcome to bring an instrument and join in.
- Style: Jazz, funk and soul
- Good to know: Next dates: 15 Oct, 29 Oct, 12 Nov and 26 Nov 2026. The listing says over 18 in its terms but over 21 in its header, so bring ID.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Every Tuesday and Wednesday, most Thursdays
Oliver's Trio and Jam Session
8:30pm
Oliver's Jazz Bar · 9 Nevada St, Greenwich
- Host: A featured trio that changes; regulars include the Tom Shooter trio (Tue), Louis North trio (Wed) and Raf Elliott trio (Thu)
- How it runs: The featured trio plays, then the jam opens.
- Cover: £10, £5 for jammers and students
- Good to know: Cash only. Check in with the host at the bar when you arrive; table bookings are released after 9:15pm. Some Thursdays are a student night with no jam, and the calendar only runs to 10 Oct 2026, so check it for your date.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Second Thursday of the month
Simo Lagnawi Jam
8:30pm
The Jago · 440 Kingsland Rd, Dalston
- Host: Simo Lagnawi (guembri)
- How it runs: Musicians are welcome to bring an instrument and join the jam.
- Style: Moroccan gnawa and jazz fusion
- Cover: Free
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Second and last Thursday of the month
Tonic Jazz, Soul and Funk Jam
8:30pm to 11:30pm
Downstairs at Sucre · 47b Great Marlborough St, Soho
- Host: Jazz Soul Funk Collective (JSFC), presented by Different Planet
- How it runs: Instrumentalists and singers are welcome to jam. Seating is first come, first served.
- Style: Jazz, soul and funk
- Cover: Free
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Sunday jazz jams in London
Every Sunday
Jazz Notes Jazz Jam
2pm to 5pm
The Spice of Life · 6 Moor St, Soho
- Host: Presented by Different Planet
- How it runs: An afternoon jam for instrumentalists and singers. Doors at 1pm; seating is first come, first served, and a ticket doesn't guarantee a seat.
- Cover: £10 plus booking fee
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Every Sunday
The Jazz Approach Jam Sessions
3pm to 7pm
Station TEN · 10 Sydenham Station Approach, Sydenham
- How it runs: A live jazz set plus an open jam, with a house rhythm section and in-house instruments available.
- Cover: Free advance tickets online (limited), £5 on the door, free for musicians
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Every four weeks, on a Sunday
Highams Park Jazz Club Jam Session
5pm to 8pm
Highams Park Jazz Club · All Saints Church, Church Ave, Highams Park
- Host: House band of Soner Ersen (piano) and Eric Ford (drums), with a different featured guest each time
- How it runs: The guest plays the first set with the house band, then the second set is the open jam. Doors at 4pm.
- Cover: £10, £5 for musicians who jam
- For bass players: The house bassist changes each session (Jason Simpson on 29 Nov, Andy Cleyndert on 27 Dec 2026).
- Good to know: Next dates: 1 Nov, 29 Nov and 27 Dec 2026, then a break in January and February before it returns in March 2027 (it also breaks in July and August). Under-18s welcome with an adult.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Every Sunday
Oliver's Quartet and Jam Session
8pm
Oliver's Jazz Bar · 9 Nevada St, Greenwich
- Host: A different featured quartet each week
- How it runs: The featured quartet plays, then the jam opens.
- Cover: £10, £5 for jammers and students
- Good to know: Cash only. Check in with the host at the bar when you arrive. The calendar only runs to 10 Oct 2026, so check it for your date.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Every Sunday
Vortex Jam Session
8:15pm
Vortex Jazz Club · 11 Gillett Square, Dalston
- Host: Hosts rotate: Nick Costley-White (guitar), Sean Gibbs (trumpet), Rick Simpson (piano) and Riley Stone-Lonergan (tenor sax)
- How it runs: Instrumentalists sit in with the house band, and you don't need to book if you're playing. Doors open at 7:45pm.
- Cover: £6, free for Vortex members and musicians who play
- Good to know: Sun 11 Oct 2026 is cancelled, so check the Vortex calendar for your week.
Venue listing Checked October 8, 2026
Before you sit in
Jam etiquette
- A1Use the sign-up sheet if there is one, and ask to sit in. If a bassist is already on the stand, ask: “Hey, is it cool if I play?”
- A2Don’t push to the front. In Will’s words: “Don’t try to always be the first one to play. Don’t kick anybody off especially if nobody knows you.”
- A3Time your walk. When Will hears the band “playing the head out of the song,” that’s when he starts making his way up.
From lesson 5 of From Unknown to Unavailable. All five tips
Go deeper
From Unknown to Unavailable
A field manual from NYC bassist Will Lyle for bassists who can play but aren't getting the call, and don't know why.
FAQ
Which nights have jazz jams in London?
As of October 8, 2026, our list has jams on Monday (2), Tuesday (4), Wednesday (1), Thursday (5) and Sunday (5). Check the venue listing on the day you go, since nights change.
How do I sit in at a jazz jam as a bass player?
Put your name on the sign-up sheet if there is one. If a bassist is already playing, ask if you can take a tune. Don’t try to go first every time, and don’t bump anyone. New York bassist Will Lyle starts walking toward the stand when he hears the band play the head out.
Other cities
Browse every city on the Jam Finder
Better Bass Lessons isn’t connected to any venue on this page. Listings checked October 8, 2026.