These are the brilliant musicians who performed at our 10th June premiere

Alice Zawadzki, vocals

Vocalist, violinist, songwriter/composer and improviser Alice Zawadzki is a rising star on the UK creative music scene whose music draws together influences from her early exposure to New Orleans soul and gospel, a classical training and an exploration of world and improvised music, with storytelling always at the heart of her performances and compositions.

Alice’s debut album China Lane was released on Whirlwind Recordings in June 2014 to great critical acclaim and features a who’s who of contemporary guiding lights from the European scene in guitarist Alex Roth, bassist Andreas Lang, Hammond organ from Kit Downes, and drummer Jon Scott. After the success of China Lane, Alice was nominated for Best Vocalist at the British Parliamentary Jazz Awards, and again for British Vocalist of the Year at the Jazz FM Awards.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music where she gained an MA in jazz voice and composition, Alice also holds a BMus (hons) in violin from the Royal Northern College of Music. She has won scholarships from Musicians Benevolent Fund, The Hilda Collens Award and was granted the Emerging Artists Residency at Cove Park funded by the Scottish Arts Council and the Jerwood Foundation.

‘She is a genuine original with a pure, pealing voice that can darken into brooding low tones, and twist with the flexibility and harmonic awareness of a jazz singer. She is also a composer of gliding, melodically unorthodox tunes that connect to contemporary classical music as much as jazz or pop, and an expressive lyricist.’ – The Guardian

‘With her glacial, folksy vocals and puckish fiddle, Alice Zawadzki would be notable enough. Add her compositional range and whimsical hyper-creativity and she becomes something of a phenomenon. Displaying a similar otherness as some of our treasured pop eccentrics (Kate Bush, Bjork) Zawadzki comes from a jazzier place.’ – MOJO Magazine

‘…her lustrous vocal range is the real live deal.. a commanding, intense performer.’ – Jazzwise Magazine

James Murray, conductor
Sarah Mason, percussion
Christina McMaster, piano

Celli
Colin Alexander
Gabriella Swallow
Anna Beryl
James Barralet
Lydia Hillerudh
Tom Wraith
Chris Allan
Matthew Sharp