Uprock aim’s to shatter the common misconceptions about what jazz music is, who’s making it and who it’s for. Hence the conception of Jazz Re:freshed.

Most people tend to accept the definitions given to them by the media or popular press which defines jazz music as an easy listening, stuck in the past music form.

Borne out of oppression, revolution and a need to express the black experience, Jazz has always been the most progressive boundary pushing and relevant black music artform, cutting paths for all popular music forms. Jazz refreshed as a music movement, intends to challenge the elitism and prejudice within the jazz community that has kept jazz on the sidelines, and bring the incredibly diverse creative world that is jazz, to the people.
From dance oriented to jazz to various cultural interpretations eg. Latin jazz, Japanese jazz, Afro jazz, Hip hop Jazz etc. – all expressions of jazz music are represented.

Presently, the Jazz Re:freshed weekly live sessions are charge an intentionally low entrance fee, even though the calibre of performers (Azymuth, RAMP, Mark de Clive Lowe, Kaidi Tatham, Bembe Segue, Jason Yarde, Eska, The Rebirth, Fertile Ground, Dwight Trible, Leon Ware, Jade Fox …to name but a few) would justifiably demand a premium door tax when playing the like’s of Barbican or Jazz Cafe.

For Jazz Re:freshed It is important to have a mix of well established musicians and up and coming talent, with the only criteria being the quality they bring to the night. The strength of Jazz Re:freshed is in the support and the enthusiasm of the musicians and performers, not to mention the ever appreciative Jazz Re:freshed audience. Musicians enjoy playing Jazz Re:freshed because of the intimacy of the venue and the appreciation and passionate support of the audience – music is centre stage, no pretensions, no illusions.

When all is said and done, Jazz Refreshed exists simply and wholly for the music… and isn’t that what really counts.