Jerwood Hall
What is Jazz?
Gresham College Lecture Series
LSO St Luke's
Wednesday 21 April 2027 • 6pm
Book TicketsProfessor Milton Mermikides speaker
Tickets
Tickets free, advance booking necessary.
Visit gresham.ac.uk to register
Seats are allocated on a first come first serve basis. Doors open 30 minutes before the lecture begins, so we recommend arriving early. Any unclaimed seats will be given away to attendees without tickets 10 minutes before the lecture begins. Guest reserved seating is given away 5 minutes before the lecture begins. A ticket does not guarantee a seat, so we recommend arriving early.
Jazz is often considered ‘free’ and ‘spontaneous’, and yet it takes a lifetime of dedication to achieve such freedom. What is really happening when musicians improvise? Is it pure invention, or a highly structured language learned over time?
This lecture explores jazz as both a musical style and a way of thinking, revealing the hidden frameworks behind improvisation. Through examples and insights, we uncover how musicians create coherence, surprise and meaning in real time, and why improvisation remains one of music’s most compelling skills and mysteries.
Watch online or attend in person.
Your Visit and Access
Getting to LSO St Luke's
The main entrance to LSO St Luke’s is through the gates from Old Street. Please check the doors open time for your chosen concert.
What to Expect
From the concert experience to venue facilities and the Hawksmoor Space, find out what to expect at LSO St Luke’s.
Accessibility
At LSO St Luke’s we are fully committed to making the venue as accessible as possible.
