What We Do
We present world-class jazz concerts, two Thursdays a month, throughout the year, right in the heart of Eltham!
We are based in the comfortable and very reasonably priced lounge bar at Eltham Warren Golf Club (walking distance from Eltham High Street), with its own free car park.
Our concerts are open to all, no membership required.
Our audience is made up of loyal regulars and newcomers, of all ages, who share a love for live music. They are deeply respectful of our musicians, listening in rapt silence, but are friendly and welcoming, socialising before the show and during the interval.
We are keen to encourage audiences of all musical tastes: our artists are highly skilled musicians but also great performers and communicators, making our nights accessible to all.
Our Story
We are named after the formidable Hugh and Marion Ockendon, who promoted live jazz in Eltham for over 32 years!
Marion was a cabaret artist and band vocalist, who ran her first jazz club in the ‘60s in New Cross and later her own stage school. On meeting Hugh Ockendon, a classically trained pianist with a deep love of jazz, they opened their first incarnation of Eltham Jazz Club, eventually settling into our current home, Eltham Warren Golf Club, in 2014.
With Hugh as resident pianist, they hosted countless high calibre musicians including Tina May, Alan Barnes, Byron Wallen, Tony Kofi, Jim Mullen, Roger Beaujolais, Charlotte Glasson, Art Themen and Ben Holder.
When Hugh died in 2020, Marion continued the club alone, renaming it Hugh’s Place, until her own untimely death in October 2022.
With a little serendipity, and thanks to the recommendation of club regular, vocalist Jacqui Hicks, Hugh & Marion’s legacy now continues under the stewardship of multi-award-winning vocalist, lyricist and producer Georgia Mancio (Alan Broadbent, ReVoice! Festival, Bobby McFerrin), and acclaimed drummer Dave Ohm (Ian Shaw, Benny Golson, Gregory Porter).
“We are in awe of the amount of work Marion & Hugh generated for their fellow musicians over the years. Their tireless efforts to sustain the club for so long is reflected in how loved and sorely missed they both are. We would like to thank both their 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.” Georgia & Dave
