Cambridge University Jazz Society (JazzSoc) was founded in November 2021, to serve as a new hub for Cambridge jazz, and to centralise student jazz within the university.
JazzSoc is the central hub for jazz music within the University of Cambridge. JazzSoc exists to create a thriving, diverse, and loving jazz community in Cambridge which aims to provide a space for all lovers of jazz music: highly talented performers, listeners, beginners to jazz, those who want a good night out with great music, musicians wishing to expand their tastes and learn new music, and those looking for a place to express themselves through jazz performance. JazzSoc exists to provide high-profile performance opportunities for students, enable a space for students to ‘jam’ together and form connections (both on and off-stage), provide an alternative live music night out to clubbing, and to enrich the jazz community in Cambridge.
Central to the mission of JazzSoc is working to make our events an inclusive and welcoming space for all students in Cambridge, regardless of background, gender and sexuality, ethnicity, socio-economic background, religion, age, or any other protected characteristic. For example, we are highly aware of the historic and contemporary underrepresentation of people of marginalised genders in jazz performance. We are committed to doing what we can to make jazz in Cambridge as inclusive as possible, and open to people of all genders and backgrounds.
Alongside our commitment to inclusion is our commitment to excellence. JazzSoc aims to host some of the best jazz in Cambridge. Each term we bring in at least one professional band from the UK jazz scene, with recent highlights including Emma Rawicz and her quintet, and Wandering Wires. As JazzSoc grows we hope to bring in a greater variety of professional artists at increasing frequency. Alongside professional bands our events showcase some of the best jazz in Cambridge and from the student jazz scene in the south of England. As part of our commitment to excellence and inclusion, alongside our ‘gig night’ events, we host masterclasses and workshops for jazz musicians of all calibres, as well as social events for our members. We hope to see you at our events this year.
Most of our events take place at Hidden Rooms on Jesus Lane. We are extremely grateful for the partnership and support from Marcus, Julie and the whole team at Hidden Rooms who enable JazzSoc to flourish in its current form. Hidden Rooms is open for a drink on other evenings of the week, and we highly recommend their fantastic cocktails.
For the 2023–24 season, JazzSoc is seeking people to fulfil roles in our Executive Committee (Secretary, Vice President for Events and Vice President for Social Media and Publicity). We are also looking for general committee members who would take on the roles of Events Officer, Social Media Officer, Print Media & Design Officer, Web Design Officer, Inclusions Officer and Stage Manager. All of these roles can be taken up by more than one person. We are also looking for experienced and confident jazz gigging musicians who would want to take part in our Open Jams.
An application form released in Michaelmas 2023. If you are keen and cannot find the form please email camjazzsoc@gmail.com or email our President, Didi Robinson (dr557).
To find out more, visit our website or our linktree. You can also follow JazzSoc on Facebook and Instagram.
