Jazz Notes – Jazz Jam @ Spice Of Life, Soho

The best thing about Jazz Notes is its close-up live music. At The Spice of Life in Soho, the Jazz, Soul, Funk Collective plays a featured set, then opens the floor to singers and instrumentalists who want to join in. You get a real club feel without paying for a grand concert hall.

I like two things right away: the music is the main event, and you can make the afternoon as simple or social as you wish. Stay with the band, listen to new players, order a Sunday roast, or settle in with a drink. The main drawback is access, since the venue is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

I also like the easygoing spirit. Past bookings describe friendly staff, a cosy room, excellent musicians, and a pianist who made a strong impression. At about $13 per person, this is a low-cost way to hear live jazz in Soho, though food and drinks will add to your bill.

Key points at a glance

• Featured set followed by open jams: Hear the collective play, then watch different singers and instrumentalists take part.
• Three hours of live music: The length gives you time to settle in rather than rush through a short set.
• Soho club setting: The Spice of Life offers a more intimate feel than a large performance venue.
• Food is available on site: You can order a Sunday roast or vegan and vegetarian dishes, but meals and drinks cost extra.
• Friendly, relaxed atmosphere: The room suits listeners, regular music fans, and people who enjoy spontaneous performances.
• Bring your voucher to the door: Entry is granted after staff check your booking confirmation.

Jazz, soul and funk in a Soho room

Jazz Notes is built around the Jazz, Soul, Funk Collective, known as JSFC. The format combines a planned live set with an open jam, so the afternoon has both structure and surprise.

You can expect the featured group to play first, with the jam session giving other instrumentalists and singers a chance to join. That change matters. You are not simply watching the same performers for three hours. Different players bring different styles, expressions, and levels of experience to the room.

One booking described a group playing for about an hour before the jams began. The exact running order may vary, but that gives you a useful idea of the shape of the session: a solid performance to start, followed by a more open musical exchange.

I would choose this event if you enjoy seeing musicians work together in real time. Jazz can be polished, but it can also be playful. A jam lets you notice how players listen to one another, respond to a solo, and adjust to a new voice or instrument.

If you prefer a tightly timed concert with a fixed set list, this may feel less predictable than you want. That is part of the point here, but it also means the quality and mood can shift as new players take the floor.

What happens during the three-hour session

The activity lasts three hours, and the ticket covers entry to Jazz Notes at The Spice of Life. You present your voucher to the door staff, then find your place inside the venue.

The first part centers on the JSFC. This gives you a reliable starting point and lets you hear the house musicians before the open section begins. The music draws from jazz, soul, and funk, so you can expect more than one narrow style.

The jam portion is the most distinctive part of the afternoon. Singers and instrumentalists are welcome to take part, while you can simply listen. This creates a different kind of audience experience from a standard club booking. You may see several performers with different stage habits and musical approaches, as one particularly enthusiastic booking described.

I would allow yourself the full three hours if you can. The early set may be the most settled part of the program, while the later jams give the session its local-club character. You do not need to perform to enjoy it, and there is no suggestion that listeners must take part.

The room has received praise for its atmosphere as much as for its music. Descriptions of it as cosy, warm, friendly, and uplifting point to a place where you can listen without the formality of a major concert venue.

Why the jam format is worth your time

A jam session gives you something a recorded album cannot. You hear musicians react to one another in the moment, and you may see the mood change when a new player joins.

That makes Jazz Notes a good choice for curious listeners. You might already know jazz well, or you might simply want a Sunday afternoon with live music. The format does not require a technical understanding of jazz. You can focus on the sound, the room, and the way the performers communicate.

It also gives local musicians and visiting players a place to participate. The open invitation to singers and instrumentalists is important because it keeps the afternoon from feeling like a fixed product made only for an audience.

Still, the open format has a trade-off. Not every jam moment will have the same polish as the featured set. If you want every song to feel carefully rehearsed, focus on the JSFC portion. If you like variation and the chance of an unexpected highlight, stay for the full session.

The strongest praise has focused on the quality of the musicians and the atmosphere. One booking singled out the pianist, while others described the session as excellent and uplifting. That suggests the music is the main reason to book, with the food and Soho location acting as useful extras.

Food and drinks at The Spice of Life

Your entry ticket does not include food or drinks. The venue offers an optional Sunday roast, along with vegan and vegetarian dishes served throughout the day.

That choice makes the event easy to fit into a wider afternoon. You can come mainly for the music and order only a drink, or turn the visit into a meal with live entertainment. A booking from Belgium specifically found the food and drinks reasonably priced, though prices can change, so I would check the menu when you arrive.

The meal option is especially practical for a three-hour session. You will have time to order something without treating the food as a rushed pre-show stop. It also lets you keep the day in one place instead of arranging a separate restaurant booking.

I would not buy this ticket purely for the roast or the menu. Food is not included, and the event is fundamentally a jazz session. Think of the meal as a useful addition that can make the afternoon more comfortable, not as part of the ticket value.

If you eat vegan or vegetarian, the all-day options make planning easier. The information does not specify individual dishes, so ask staff about the menu on the day if you have particular dietary needs.

The Soho setting and overall atmosphere

The Spice of Life puts you in central Soho, an area well suited to an afternoon or evening built around music and food. The venue itself is presented as a relaxed jazz club rather than a formal theatre.

That setting affects the experience. You are close to the performers, and the room can feel personal rather than grand. You can watch the musicians’ expressions and reactions, not just hear the finished sound from a distance.

The atmosphere has drawn repeated praise. I would expect a warm, welcoming mood rather than a stiff concert etiquette. Staff have been described as friendly, and the session has been called a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

This will suit you if you enjoy an informal room where music and conversation can share the same space. If you need a silent listening hall or a very spacious venue, you may find the club format less comfortable.

The location also makes this a reasonable pick for a casual Soho plan. You can pair it with other central London activities, but the event itself lasts three hours, so leave enough time in your schedule rather than trying to squeeze it between tightly timed bookings.

Value at about $13 per person

At roughly $13 per person, Jazz Notes offers strong value if your main goal is live music. A three-hour ticket works out as a modest cost for a featured set plus an open jam, particularly in central Soho.

The value is strongest for people who would otherwise pay for a concert or jazz-club performance. You are getting a longer session and a changing lineup, not just a short appearance by one act.

Your final spend will be higher if you order food and drinks. That is not a flaw, but you should treat the ticket as admission only. The venue’s Sunday roast and vegan or vegetarian dishes are optional purchases.

I also see value in the flexible format. You are paying for entry to a live session where you can listen for the full three hours, rather than paying extra for a premium meal package or fixed seating arrangement.

The price is less compelling if you do not enjoy jazz or open-ended live performance. There is no sightseeing component and no guided tour of Soho. You are paying for music, atmosphere, and the chance to see a jam develop in front of you.

Who should book Jazz Notes

I would recommend this for:

• Jazz, soul, funk, and live music fans
• Visitors who enjoy small-club performances
• People looking for a relaxed Sunday afternoon activity
• Musicians and singers who want an open jam opportunity
• Couples, friends, and families with older children who can enjoy live music
• Anyone seeking an inexpensive music-focused plan in Soho

The event also works for someone new to jazz. You can listen without performing, and the friendly atmosphere should make the room approachable.

I would hesitate if you have mobility impairments or use a wheelchair, since the activity is specifically not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. I would also choose another event if your priority is a formal concert, guaranteed seating details, or a meal included in the ticket.

The available feedback is notably consistent about three points: strong musicianship, a welcoming atmosphere, and a good overall afternoon. The pianist has earned special attention, but no performer names are provided, so you should book for the collective and the jam format rather than for a named headliner.

Practical details before you go

You must show your voucher to the door staff before you can enter. Keep it ready on your phone or in the format supplied with your booking.

The session lasts three hours, but the exact starting time depends on availability. Check the date and start time carefully before you reserve, especially if you are arranging dinner, theatre tickets, or transport afterward.

Food and drinks are not included. Budget separately if you want the roast, vegan or vegetarian food, or something from the bar.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option also lets you hold a place without paying immediately, which helps if your Soho plans are still shifting.

The experience provider is Different Planet. The ticket includes admission to Jazz Notes at The Spice of Life, but no transport or meal package is included.

Should you book Jazz Notes?

Book it if you want affordable, close-up live music and like the idea of a planned set opening into a real jam. The combination of JSFC, changing performers, friendly staff, and optional food makes this a flexible way to spend three hours in Soho.

I would especially choose it for a Sunday afternoon when you want something more personal than a large concert. Bring your voucher, allow time for the full session, and decide whether you want to add food or drinks.

Skip it if you need wheelchair access, dislike improvised performance, or want a ticket that includes dinner. For everyone else, the price is modest, the music is the clear focus, and the format gives you a good chance of hearing something spontaneous.

FAQ

How long does Jazz Notes last?

The session lasts three hours.

Where does Jazz Notes take place?

It takes place at The Spice of Life in Soho.

What is included in the ticket?

Your ticket includes entry to the Jazz Notes jazz jam at The Spice of Life.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included in the entry ticket. Optional Sunday roast, vegan dishes, and vegetarian dishes are served all day.

Can singers and instrumentalists join the jam?

Yes. The session welcomes singers and instrumentalists who would like to jam on the day.

Is the activity suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

Can I cancel my booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.