| Location | Barnes, London |
|---|---|
| Genre(s) | Jazz |
| Opened | 1950s |
The Bull's Head, Barnes, often referred to as "The Bull", is a London jazz club that was one of the first and most important jazz venues in Britain. Moving from the postwar era into the 1960s, under the management of Albert Tolley, and together with the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, it became the main venue for major UK-based and visiting jazz musicians, offering both lunchtime and evening performances.
Located in the London suburb of Barnes and over-looking the Thames, it is known as the "suburban Ronnie Scott's", in contrast to the more downtown - and late-night night club - image of Ronnie Scott's.
Among the many artists who have performed and/or recorded at the venue over the years are Ben Webster, Jimmy Witherspoon, Coleman Hawkins, Shorty Rogers, Charlie Rouse, Billy Mitchell, Bud Shank, Al Cohn, Ronnie Scott, George Coleman, Peter King, Humphrey Lyttelton, Stan Tracey, Dick Morrissey, Tony Lee, Don Weller, Bill Le Sage, Harry South, Tubby Hayes, Spike Robinson, Phil Seamen, and Art Themen.
The premises saw a revival in the 80s as a major venue, and has since attracted major artists such as Alan Price, Digby Fairweather, Stan Sulzmann Quartet, The Humphrey Lyttelton Band, The Peter King Quartet, Willy Garnett Big Band and Zoot Money's Surprise Party.
In 2009 The Bull's Head was named by the Brecon Jazz Festival as one of 12 venues which had made the most important contributions to jazz music in the United Kingdom.[1]