Live Music
Back then, the pub’s then-owner Albert Tolley, a Modern Jazz aficionado, decided to bring Modern Jazz to South London, just weeks after Ronnie Scott opened his (now world-famous) Jazz club. The Bull’s Head made its name as a Modern Jazz venue in what was to become a seminal year for Modern Jazz, with such astounding albums as ‘A Kind of Blue’ by Miles Davis, Duke Ellington’s ‘Jazz Party’ featuring a gallery of jazz starts including Dizzy Gillespie, and Dave Brubeck’s ‘the Riddle’.
Since the Jazz Room’s inception, the pub has been visited by many of the world’s greatest Jazz musicians including Dick Morrissey Ben Webster Maynard Ferguson, Digby Fairweather, Conti Condoli, Shorty Rogers, Pepper Adams, Nat Adderly, Al Cohn, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Herb Geller, Don Menza, Billy Mitchell, Lanny Morgan, Charlie Rouse, Humphrey Lytellton, Ronnie Scott, Stan Tracey Peter King Martin Taylor and Don Weller. Vocalists have included Jimmy Witherspoon, Mark Murphy, Alan Price, Elaine Delmar, Georgie Fame, Tony Bennett and Sheila Jordan.
Residencies have included Manfred Mann, Harry South, Tubby Hayes, Dudley Moore, Roy Budd, Bill Le Sage and Tony Lee.
For the many supporters of Jazz at ‘The Bull’, as well as the multitude of artists who have appeared over the years, much of the appeal of the venue lies in its’ intimacy. The Yamaha Music Room brings audiences together with the musicians, the stage being relatively low and inches from the seating. The resulting atmosphere means that audiences enjoy an up-close-and-personal experience with Bands and Artists. The Yamaha Music Room has excellent acoustics and fantastic facilities, and its' understated feel allows the talent of the musicians to come to the fore.
‘The Bull’ is regularly featured on BBC outside broadcasts and we were also seen on Martin Scorsese's magnificent "History of the Blues" series. One of the best things about the Yamaha Music Room is that you never know who will be appearing. Our history is dotted with impromptu appearances from the likes of Jools Holland, Charlie Watts and even Sir Mick Jagger!
Over the past twenty-seven years we have been committed to presenting some of the world’s greatest Vocalists and Modern, Mainstream, and Traditional Jazz, Blues and Funk artists. At the same time, we’ve always known that it’s vital to encourage the fresh young talent who will be the musical greats of the future. Since the mid-eighties we’ve had a policy of introducing several new bands each year, giving them a regular spot on the monthly programme, to allow them to build up a following. ‘The Bull’ has showcased and helped launch the careers of many young bands and musicians including Guy Barker, Gerard Presencer and Jamie Cullum, amongst others.
Jazz at ‘The Bull’
Since November 1959, Modern Jazz has been an integral part of The Bull’s Head. We believe we are unique in that Jazz concerts have been performed seven nights a week and on Sunday lunchtimes, come rain or shine, for 50 years.
Shorty Rogers
Tubby Hayes & Spike Heatley
Chris & Mick Jagger
Dick Morrissey
