A Latin Dance Party for the London Jazz Festival
Friday 13 November 2026 | The Jazz Social, Citypoint, London | 8pm
Get ready to move! One Jazz returns to the EFG London Jazz Festival with Salsa Select, a celebration of the irresistible rhythms of Latin music, bringing together DJs with a shared passion for the sounds that have kept dance floors moving across generations.
Following last year’s superb party, One Jazz selectors Gerry Lyseight and Henry Hilton, are throwing another opening-night celebration packed with salsa classics and infectious Latin grooves. Expect a musical journey embracing salsa, samba, mambo and Latin jazz, with timeless dance-floor favourites.
The setting is The Jazz Social at Citypoint, the festival’s popular pop-up meeting place near the Barbican. With a great sound system, a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of musical inspiration, it’s the perfect place to kick off ten days of world-class jazz with a party.
Gerry Lyseight: A London Latin music legend
Few DJs have done more to champion Latin music in London than Gerry Lyseight. A DJ, promoter, broadcaster, writer and record compiler, Gerry has spent decades exploring the connections between Latin, African and Brazilian music, jazz, funk, reggae and soul.
He was a co-founder and resident DJ at Brixton’s legendary Mambo Inn, which became a clubland phenomenon during its run from 1987 to 1996. Its musical policy crossed boundaries, bringing Latin and African rhythms together with jazz and beyond, attracting devoted dancers and adventurous music lovers to a club that regularly played to packed rooms.
Gerry also presented Planet Mambo on BBC London 94.9 FM and its predecessor GLR, introducing listeners to an extraordinary range of music and guests. His career has taken him to clubs and festivals across the UK and internationally, while his ongoing radio work and club nights continue to celebrate the richness of global dance music.
Expect a selector with a deep knowledge of the music, an ear for the perfect groove and a record collection built on decades of exploration.
Henry Hilton: A lifelong love of salsa
For Henry Hilton, host of One Jazz’s Salsa Select radio show, the passion for Latin music began early. Growing up with parents who were ballroom and Latin dancers, he was drawn not just to the dancing but to the big bands and the music behind it.
The records of legendary Puerto Rican singer Héctor Lavoe proved a turning point. Determined to understand the lyrics, Henry learnt Spanish, later studying Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies at university. His love of the music has since taken him to South America, including Brazil and Colombia, where he has explored local musical cultures and uncovered records to share with One Jazz listeners.
Henry brings that curiosity and enthusiasm to Salsa Select, weaving together classic salsa, overlooked gems and fresh sounds from across Latin America. For this live edition, he joins forces with Gerry to take that spirit from the radio into the room.
This is a night for seasoned salsa dancers and anyone who simply loves great music played loud. Come for the classics, stay for the discoveries, and prepare to dance.
Event details
One Jazz Presents Salsa Select
- Date: Friday 13 November 2026
- Time: 8pm start
- Venue: The Jazz Social, Citypoint, 1 Ropemaker Street, London EC2Y 9HT
- DJs: Gerry Lyseight & Henry Hilton
- Tickets: £10
- Venue information: The Jazz Social is a pop-up venue with a mixture of standing and seating. Limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis, with no reservations.
- 2 minutes walk from Moorgate tube.
Come and join One Jazz for a night of classic salsa, Latin grooves and irresistible rhythms as the EFG London Jazz Festival gets under way!
Image credit: Sam Walton