Photos above and below ©️ David Godfrey www.davidgodfreyimages.com

About Take Twenty

We are a lively group of around 35 music enthusiasts who meet weekly in Gospel Oak/Hampstead, North London, to sing jazz in four to eight part harmony. The choir has been going for over 40 years, and still retains some of its original members.

We sing original and stylish arrangements of jazz standards, Latin, traditional, and popular tunes. We have an extensive repertoire of over 300 arrangements, mainly created in-house by members of the choir.

The choir has performed in a wide variety of venues and occasions, including theatres, art centres, jazz clubs, weddings, corporate events, private parties, churches and community events. Some of the more unusual situations have included King’s Cross station, Open Mic night at the Vortex Jazz Club and London Zoo.

There are plenty of highlights, including having performed at The Alternative Miss World Contest, a charity gala at The London Palladium, The Queen Elizabeth Hall, a residency on the Barbican foyer stage, The Royal Festival Hall, and The Marlborough Jazz Festival. We also took part in Orlando Gough’s inspiring choral works at the ENO and his multi-choral production for the bi-centenary celebrations at The National Portrait Gallery.

And we were Category Finalists in the 2010 BBC Choir Of The Year competition, held at the Birmingham Symphony Hall (listen to the excerpt on us from Radio 2 programme The Choir).

And why not watch some of our recordings on our YouTube channel (and listen to recordings on our media page), and judge for yourself?

Take Twenty at Regents Park, summer 2019

Take Twenty Winter Warmer Concert –
tickets on sale now!

Thu 12 Dec 2024 7:30pm–9:30pm
Highgate United Reformed Church, Pond Square, Highgate, N6 6BA

Come and join us for our popular annual songs for the season: those jazzy numbers and close harmonies will help keep you warm on a winter evening. Buy your tickets here! 

We’re once again led by our Musical Director Ben Cox, and joined by Jonathan Taylor on keys and Julie Walkington on bass.

A post-show finger buffet is included in the price of your ticket; drinks are available by donation.

This year we’re singing in support of a worthy cause, with 50% of profits from this concert going to The Harington Scheme. Harington provides opportunities for young adults with learning difficulties.

This year we’re singing in support of a worthy cause, with 50% of profits from this concert going to The Harington Scheme. Harington provides opportunities for young adults with learning difficulties.

Jacqui Dankworth and band. Photo © Timothy Kraemer

Take Twenty back ‘jazz royalty’
Take 20 were thrilled a while ago to share the stage with “jazz royalty” when they performed with jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth MBE and the legendary saxophonist Tim Garland.  The occasion was the world première of a new musical work based on the psalms and composed by famous jazz pianist David Gordon. It was performed to launch the new Mosaic synagogue in Stanmore.  In addition to being providing a chorus for the Psalms, Take Twenty also sang a set of their own songs under the baton of their musical director Ben Cox.
Bloomin’ brilliant last night. Well done!. The whole night came together and people had a lovely experience….  your choir totally rose to the occasion
 Jacqui Dankworth
I just wanted to thank you for everything you did for the concert on Sunday. It was so brilliant to work with you and the choir… it was an amazing performance and occasion… and the spirit and attitude of the choir was integral to that… It would be lovely to do a repeat performance…
David Gordon