Georgia Mancio is a presence on the UK jazz scene and further afield. A multi-award-winning vocalist, lyricist, and producer, Mancio has worked with stellar musicians and has a graceful stage presence, her voice is quite beautiful and her musicality adds authenticity to her vocals as she engages with the musicians she shares the stage with. Mancio understands jazz music and the jazz community. Her concerts are great occasions but she is also mindful of her audience and interacts with those who have come to watch her and her band perform. She will also go that extra bit – I have been to a gig where she came and found me and introduced me to an artist and chatted to others in the audience, making introductions between people she felt could benefit from connecting. She does this both at concerts and in her social media interactions.
A couple of years back, over a shared drink or two, Mancio told me about her Hang events and the ReVoiced Festival and how she has organised concerts and brought musicians together from across the globe. She explains the events' success with grace and humility which is engaging. Musicians such as Mancio understand the connecting side of jazz music and how the community of musicians, audiences, writers, and artists work together.
So it would seem fitting that Mancio, together with her partner, renowned drummer Dave Ohm has now taken on the curatorship of a much-respected jazz club. For decades both musicians have played with a range of artists, including Alan Broadbent, Kate Williams, Ian Shaw, Benny Golson, and Claire Martin, so it seems right they now will be bringing a wealth of top jazz musicians to their own club. They have taken on stewardship of the long-standing Eltham Jazz Club, now also known as Hugh & Marion’s, in tribute to its original founders, Hugh and Marion Ockendon.
For 28 years, the Ockendons regularly promoted jazz in Eltham, where Hugh was the resident pianist. Top quality musicians including Tina May, Alan Barnes, Byron Wallen, Tony Kofi, Jim Mullen, Roger Beaujolais, Charlotte Glasson, Art Themen, and Ben Holder played at the club.
Hugh died in 2020 but Marion determined to continue until her own death in October 2022. On the recommendation of club regular, vocalist Jacqui Hicks, Mancio and Ohm stepped in. They will continue the Ockendon’s legacy of presenting bi-monthly Thursday concerts at Eltham Warren Golf Club, which has been the home of Eltham Jazz since 2014. The final booking Marion made falls this Thursday 15 December with Shireen Francis and Sarah Moule's Xmas Special. Moule is another outstanding musician, well known on the UK scene.
On 12th January 2023, the new era for the club will be heralded by the Georgia Mancio Quartet, featuring flautist/pianist Gareth Lockrane, Ohm on drums, and bassist Andrew Cleyndert.
In a testament to the club’s and Ohm and Mancio’s respect on the UK jazz scene, Hugh and Marion’s has already secured top calibre musicians well into 2023 with upcoming events including alto saxophonist Allison Neale (26 January), vocalist Elaine Delmar (9 February), saxophonist Denys Baptiste (23 February), vocalist/pianist Liane Carroll (9 March) and saxophonist Stan Sulzmann (23 March).
The pair acknowledge the legacy they are taking on and intend to ensure the club continues in the same vein. They say, “As we learn more about the work Hugh and Marion did to keep the club going: so many gigs for so many musicians over so many years, we are truly humbled and grateful for this opportunity. Thank you to Hugh and Marion’s family and the loyal regulars for giving us your trust and support. We will do our best to nurture the club and make it thrive for as long as possible, knowing how precious and essential music, art, creativity, community and connection are for us all.”
With everything in place – stellar acts booked, a pair of much respected renowned musicians taking stewardship and jazz music, what more could you want from a club? For Hugh and Marion’s the future looks jazz, and the future looks great under Mancio and Ohm’s care.
About your hosts
Georgia Mancio is the recipient of two Parliamentary Jazz Awards: Best Vocalist (2021) and Best Album (2020), alongside multiple nominations at the Jazz FM, British Jazz and Urban Music Awards. Her collaboration with Grammy[1]winning pianist/composer, Alan Broadbent, has yielded two albums (‘Quiet Is The Star’, ‘Songbook’), a book of songs and performances across Europe and the US. Other credits include: BBC Proms, Kate Williams, Liane Carroll, Ian Shaw, Pat Metheny (lyric approval) and Bobby McFerrin. She also produced ReVoice! – the revered international voice festival in association with the Pizza Express Jazz Club that ran over 5 years and 4 venues, involving 162 artists including Gregory Porter’s first UK booking – and its follow up, Hang.
Dave Ohm has been a leading player on the UK and international scene for 35 years, with credits including: Ian Shaw, Alan Broadbent, Liane Carroll, Benny Golson, Gregory Porter, Claire Martin, Karin Krog, Rebecca Parris and Anthony Strong. He has also fronted his own bands with members including Dave Newton, Steve Watts, Paul Stacey, Rob Townsend, Nikki Iles, Laurence Cottle and Mornington Lockett. He has collaborated with Georgia for over 20 years: as the drummer in her regular quartet, and co-producing/playing on her albums ‘Trapeze’ (2008), ‘Silhouette’ (2010) and ‘Songbook’ (2017).
Club Address: Eltham Warren Golf Club, Bexley Road, London SE9 2PE
Website: www.georgiamancio.com/elthamjazzclub
Socials: Twitter / Instagram @elthamjazzclub:
Tickets £18 (advance) / £20 (door) / £17 Golf Club Members / £12 Students Times: 8 – 10.30pm (doors 7pm)
For more information & interviews contact: georgiamancio@hotmail.com
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