Bringing the best in live jazz to Guildford
WHO ARE GUILDFORD JAZZ?
Guildford Jazz is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (company number 11587522) whose aim is to bring some of Britain’s finest musicians to a local audience, in an intimate and welcoming “jazz club” environment.
Everyone is welcome, young and old. You do not need to be a jazz fanatic or expert or to join as a Member to come to any gig, although there are benefits to becoming a Member if you come regularly (click here for details). We aim to keep ticket prices affordable and offer half price tickets for students. If you’re a regular or occasional attendee at our events we’d love to hear your feedback – you can contact us here.
The Christmas Project and Clare Wheeler
Friday 12 December 2025
20:00
St John’s Church St John's St Godalming GU7 3EJ
The Christmas Project is an exciting international band led by recording artist and an internationally touring Dutch jazz vocalist, Henk Kraaijeveld , and pianist Jan Willem van Delft, recording artist and well established in the gospel and jazz scene in the Netherlands.
Featuring many well known Christmas tunes , the arrangements also combine musical styles from all over the world, and brings together Henk and Jan’s love for jazz, gospel, vocal polyphony and Christmas music!
The band also features UK vocalist Clare Wheeler, a renowned composer, arranger, singer, and educator who has toured with the five-time Grammy-winning vocal group The Swingles and whose impressive performing career includes collaborations with artists like Jamie Cullum, Labrinth, and Jacob Collier, and appearances on TV and radio programs such as Pitch Battle and The Choir.
Following the success of Comfort & Joy, The Christmas Project’s debut album, Henk Kraaijeveld and Jan Willem van Delft joined forces with Clare Wheeler to present a moving new arrangement of the 16th-century English song The Coventry Carol. Telling the story of the Massacre of the Innocents from Matthew’s gospel, it reflects the mothers’ grief at King Herod’s decree to kill all boys under two – a tragedy that still resonates today. This haunting yet bittersweet reimagining blends English and Arabic lyrics in a tender lullaby, featuring the intricate vocals of London-based Egyptian singer Amena Elabd and a global virtual choir whose participants donated to Save the Children, raising over £2000 in just a few weeks. The track will be released in early November 2025 and their performance at our Christmas Concert will be the premiere of this release!
Also featuring one of the UK’s most in-demand jazz drummers, Steve Brown, with local jazz anchor Marianne Windham completing the line-up on double bass.
We aim to run:
two regular mid-week gigs each month, both featuring some of the country’s top jazz musicians
monthly jam sessions at the Merry Harriers pub on the second Sunday of the month
occasional workshops before gigs
summer charity events including a “Jazz in the Park” in the beautiful walled garden at Loseley Park in aid of GUTS, who aim to improve the survival rates of people with bowel cancer by funding better screening, detection, treatment and facilities, as well as research into the disease (see a short video from 2019 here) and an afternoon Jazz Festival on Wood Street Village Green in support of Challengers , who provide vital play and leisure opportunities and parental support for local disabled children and young people (read Peter Vacher’s review from 2019 here)
an annual Christmas gig at St John’s Church, Farncombe
occasional pop-up jazz events with organisations and venues in and around Guildford