Comedy & Jazz

Comedy & Jazz is on at Artista on Thursday 17 September, running from 19:00 to 22:30. It's a night that puts stand-up and jazz on the same stage, and the two don't just take turns — they play off each other throughout the first half.

The whole thing is built on the old link between the two forms. Back in the 1940s, stand-ups used to riff between bebop sets in smoky clubs, and later, house bands would punctuate punchlines on late-night TV. That's the legacy the night brings to the stage: the band sits right there with the comedians, adding musical stings, playful riffs and a live soundtrack to the comedy. It's not just a band playing in the background; they're part of the act.

Once the comedy is done, the musicians take over for a full jazz set that turns the room into a late-night lounge. So you get two distinct halves in one evening — the collaborative comedy first, then the band taking the lead for the rest of the night. It's a Thursday night session at Artista, 42 Brighton Square, BN1 4HD, and it runs from 19:00 to 22:30. A standard ticket is £11.50.