Welcome to our end of year team news! We like to share some of the work the team have been doing both inside and outside of their Women in Jazz Media work and we have all been very busy as always.

We recently celebrated our 3 year anniversary! Thank you to everyone for their support and you can see a selection of the work over those three years here

We are busy working on our final magazine of the year which is coming out soon! You will find articles from our writing team including Isabel Marquez, Diana Torti, Kim Cypher, Germana Stella La Sorsa, Paulette Jackson as well as photography from Monika S Jakubowska and Tatiana Gorilovksy.

You can catch up on all our recent podcasts including Hannah Horton’s ‘In Conversation With…’ Lara Eidi’s ‘The Notes Between’ and our ‘On The Bookcase’ show. Spotify tells us in the #SpotifyWrapped initiative that Hannah’s episode with J Steps is our most listened podcast and that our audience is continually to grow.

We recently finished our EFG London Jazz Festival events and we will share more about this in our upcoming magazine. For now, here are a few photos from Monika S Jakubowska and Tatiana Gorilovsky

We are very excited for Germana Stella La Sorsa who proudly announces the release of her second studio album, Primary Colours, January 26th 2024! Having previously released three singles from the album 'Black' in October 2023, 'Blue' in November 2023 and the title track 'Primary Colours' in December 2023, the album features long-time collaborators Sam Leak on Hammond Organ and Jay Davis on drums, with the addition of guitarist Tom Ollendorff and special guest Australian harpist Tara Minton. You can read more about it on our new releases page here

Esther Bennett shares: Prior to my annual trip to Andalusia and since my return (excluding the period during the wonderful EFG London Jazz Festival 2023!) I have been researching, sourcing, booking and organising gigs and possible mini tours on the regional grass roots jazz scene, for 2024. I've nine booked in so far, with more to be confirmed, for March, April and May. These gigs will take me once again, to the West Country, to the Midlands and to the North East, where working for Scarborough Jazz at The Cask will be extra special for me, as it was the birthplace of my mother

Working in regional areas over the last few years has taught me how to travel and work economically and made me realise just how many great jazz musicians there are residing outside of London as I always book musicians local to each area.These musicians have included our very own Wendy Kirkland and the Leeds based drummer Caroline (Caz) Boaden and I will be writing more about regional gigs and the grass roots jazz scene for the next WIJM Magazine 

Meanwhile, here are the gigs so far: -

MARCH 5th: ST IVES JAZZ CLUB

MARCH 7th: FOUGOU JAZZ TORQUAY 

MARCH 13th: BEDFORD ST JAZZ JAM WEDNESDAYS - LEAMINGTON SPA

MARCH 19th : CORNER POCKET JAZZ & BLUES CLUB COVENTRY

MARCH 16th: THE JAZZ CENTRE UK - SOUTHEND

APRIL 19th: SPEAKEASY JAZZ AT CLARENCE HOUSE - PORTISHEAD

MAY 8th: SCARBOROUGH JAZZ AT THE CASK

MAY12th: THE GLOBE NEWCASTLE

MAY 19th: WATFORD JAZZ FESTIVAL FINALE 

Stunning photo of Esther by Monika S Jakubowska taken during the London Jazz Festival at Toulouse Lautrec.

Hannah Horton’s big news is that the first single from her forthcoming live album is being released on 15th December!

Upcoming gigs coming up:

December 6th – Hannah Horton Quartet. Twickenham Jazz Club

December 17th – Hannah Horton + Tim Lapthorn. Christmas online live jazz show from Jazz at the Cottage

January 6th – Hannah Horton Quartet + Ian Shaw. ‘The Swinging Cat’ Jazz Club, Haverhill Arts Centre.

January 27th – Hannah Horton Quartet. Crazy Coqs, London

If you are looking for Christmas present ideas, Hannah has 2 albums and a limited edition album mug available here

Kim Cypher’s BRIGHTER TOMORROW – The Album. Coming 2024!

A stunning eclectic collection of original compositions and arrangements, marking an era of time and celebrating those who continue to contribute to a brighter tomorrow for The Arts. FEATURING: KIM CYPHER on tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, vocals and clarinet. With SPECIAL GUESTS: LIANE CARROLL on piano and vocals, RAY GELATO on tenor saxophone and vocals, ASHLEY SLATER on trombone, vocals and brass, ANTONIO FORCIONE on guitar, together with an ALL-STAR lineup including: KARL VANDEN-BOSSCHE | GEORGE COOPER | ANDERS OLINDER | TOM BERGE |  JONNY BRUCE | IAN BATEMAN | ALAN BATEMAN | RAPH MIZRAKI | CHRIS COBBSON |  MIKE CYPHER. Produced by Kim Cypher.Sound Recording by Juanjo Lopez Vidal.

Search or post #brightertomorrowforthearts on socials to join the celebration!

Singer, songwriter, writer Lara Eidi will debut a live video of her next single, 'Maybe Then' on December the 14th on Youtube from her critically acclaimed album 'Sun'. 'Maybe Then', originally written as a kind of self- mantra, was inspired by the need to search for the light in the darkest of times. The live video, performed in one take alongside long time collaborator cellist Stavros Parginos, is recorded live in Immitos Mountain, amidst the sonic nature background of wind, birds, and more. She is returning to London for a special, solo one off performance to launch her her album London , on the 14th of January at the Green Note, followed by a special performance as part of a specially commissioned programme on the 15th of January at the Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room , celebrating the poetry of Ancient Greece and the MIddle East

Her album 'Sun' is now available in physical and online format, thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, on her bandcamp page. Check out the full album at Lara Eidi Music

And last but not least, if you are thinking about exciting holiday time presents.....do have a look at our new releases page and our on the bookcase page, where you will find plenty of inspiration!

Welcome to our latest episode of ‘In Conversation With’ featuring music from Hannah Horton! You can find our podcasts at number 9 in the top 60 Best Jazz Podcasts in FeedSpot! In this episode, host Hannah Horton welcomes the Dr Catherine Tackley! 

You can listen on Spotify here

You can listen on Google podcasts here

You can listen on Apple Podcasts here

Professor Catherine Tackley (née Parsonage) was appointed at the University of Liverpool in August 2016 as Head of the Department of Music, a position she held for six years. During this time, she oversaw the expansion of the Department including the development of new facilities, most notably the Tung Auditorium in the Yoko Ono Lennon Centre which opened in 2022. She was winner of Inspirational Leader of the Year at the University of Liverpool Staff Awards in 2022. She currently holds a Major Research Fellowship from the Leverhulme Trust for the project ‘The British Dance Band: Music and Musicians in the Mainstream’ and is on research leave until Autumn 2025.

Catherine completed a PhD on early jazz in Britain at City University London and began her academic career at Leeds College of Music, latterly in the role of Head of the Centre for Jazz Studies UK. Catherine joined The Open University as Lecturer in Music in July 2008, was appointed Senior Lecturer in February 2011 and Professor in April 2016. Catherine was Head of the Music Department at the OU in 2014-2016, following several years as Director of Research for Music. She also served as Interim Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Arts. She is now a Visiting Professor at the OU. Catherine is the supervisor of PhD students in the areas of jazz, popular and improvised musics and musical theatre, particularly focussing on history and performance practice. She welcomes enquiries from prospective doctoral students with interests in these and related areas.

Hannah Horton is a British Female Jazz Saxophonist whose music is rooted in jazz, folk and funk. She has performed with many great jazz artists including Ian Shaw, Amy Winehouse, John Etheridge, Tina May, Georgia Mancio, Polly Gibbons, Natalie Williams, Esther Bennett and Irene Serra; and at venues including Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Dean St, The 606, The Pheasantry, Love Supreme Jazz Festival, Royal Festival Hall and The Barbican. She has also toured in Europe and USA with her own and other groups. Her latest album has been going down a storm across the world. “Hannah makes the big beast of a baritone sax sound like an angel” – Ian Shaw. Hannah Horton website

Welcome to the fifth episode of our podcast series’ The Notes Between’ with Lara Eidi. Conversations exploring everything behind and about the world of songwriting! Our theme music ‘Tide is from Lara Eidi herself available here

In this fifth episode, Lara talks to songwriter Lara De Belder Available on Spotify Apple and Anchor

Originally from North Yorkshire, Actor, Singer & Writer Lara de Belder studied Music at the University of Leeds before training in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music in London. With a musical background spanning choral and classical music, musical theatre, jazz, blues and pop music, Lara has worked as a performer and creator in theatre, film, TV and concert and is the co-writer and creator of new British comedy musical, Bird Brigade, alongside Luka Antony Bjelis, directed by Grace Taylor (SIX) and long-listed for the Stiles and Drewe Mentorship Award 2021. 

Lara's passion for an eclectic range of musical genres has influenced her as a solo artist and writer of original music fusing pop with flavours of jazz, blues, funk, soul, RnB, hip hop, folk and electronic dance styles, first launching in May 2021 with her debut Single, Turn It Over. Describing her music as 'jazzpop', Lara takes inspiration from artists such as Celeste, Jacob Collier, Melody Gardot, Jamie Cullum, Ella Fitzgerald, Erykah Badu, Lizzo, Amy Winehouse, Robyn and Jessie Ware. Her music has been featured on BBC Introducing on BBC Radio Tees with Rianne Thompson and Rachel Teate as well as other radio programmes and podcasts. This November 2023, she will be performing her first headline show as part of the London Jazz Festival in partnership with Women In Jazz Media. 

Lara is the current lead vocalist for 25-year running The Red Stripe Band, performs regularly with the London Gay Big Band (Britain’s Got Talent) and has recorded vocals for the likes of John Owen Jones, Howard Carpendale and Danielle Steers. She’s performed at various festivals and venues including Crazy Coqs, Above The Arts, Talouse Latrec, The Hideaway, Pizza Express Jazz Club, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Derry Jazz Festival, Galway Jazz Festival, Burton Agnes Jazz Festival, Twinwood Festival and Pride festival main stages in London, Berlin, Sitges and the Channel Islands.  Lara is also a writer and vocalist with upcoming Sony-AMG artist EnEyeCee, DWB Music Publishers, Street Level Music and Gift Of Music. 

Lara Eidi:An award -winning self made artist born in Athens to Lebanese Canadian parents. Multi-instrumentalist, storyteller, singer, composer and also a freelance music journalist, workshop leader and educator…the list of Lara’s skills is long, as has been her music career.

Lara discovered music at an early age – playing the piano and singing – and started performing from the age of 11 with the Greek National Opera Productions. She earned a Masters in Jazz Voice Studies with distinction from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and completed a Degree in English Literature at the University of St Andrews. She has performed in some of the most renowned London venues – from St Martins in the Field to the Barbican, as well as Pizza Express Dean Street and the London Jazz Festival, Beirut International Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to name but a few – but also internationally, from her hometown of Athens to the Beirut International Festival. On stage, Lara doesn’t only sing but also plays the piano, the guitar and leads entire bands. Whilst collaborating with some of London’s acclaimed musicians across the jazz and folk scenes, she has self-released two EPs (‘Little People‘ and ‘Tell It Like It Is’) and, during the pandemic, launched and founded her own teaching platform, “Phonica Music Coaching”, through which she shares the important message of healing through music. This is also the essence of her music. All this wealth of experience converges into her album ‘Sun’, which incorporates Lara’s many talents as composer, musicians, singer and arranger, through stories of hope and empowerment.

The liner notes to ‘Sun’ were written by the Award winning jazz artist, writer, Recording Academy Voting member and our very own Women In Jazz Media Chief Fiona Ross. She writes: ”Music is an omnipotent tool. It has the potential to strengthen and empower. To bring light where there is dark. To calm the mind and soothe the soul. But these almost magical moments of connectivity can only be realised if placed in the right hands. Lara Eidi. Is those hands”.’ “Lara Eidi is an artist that thrives on being different, with a voice that’s clearly a gift “( Sandy Brown Jazz)

She’s collaborated with some of London’s finest musicians across the jazz and folk scenes, often switching roles between standing upstage as a versatile and engaging singer, to leading an entire band whilst sitting at the piano and singing.   Recently supported by Hawkwood College and the Francis W Reckitt Arts Trust, and about to release her biggest album to date ‘ Sun’, Lara’s talents and gifts saw her launching her own podcast series focused on songwriting with special guests- “The Notes Between” is supported by Women in Jazz Media.  This came shortly after she took up freelance music journalism during the pandemic, becoming a writer for Women in Jazz Media, London Jazz News, BackseatMafia .  Finally, her passion for music as a life choice has led her to become an in-demand educator, offering workshops at leading music institutions as well as community spaces in Europe. As if that wasn’t enough she launched and founded her own teaching platform “ Phonica Music Coaching “ during the pandemic, leading music sessions across the globe to people who needed an alternative method of healing; after all, it was music that led Lara to engage time and time again, and at the heart of her creativity is a need to make her personal experiences relatable to all, through her music.

 Now residing between Athens and London, and a new album underway, “Sun” has already gained critical global acclaim from award winning journalists and she was just nominated for songwriter of the year by the renowned Orpheus Global Music Awards.

Welcome to the fourth episode of our podcast series’ The Notes Between’ with Lara Eidi. Conversations exploring everything behind and about the world of songwriting! Our theme music ‘Tide is from Lara Eidi herself available here

In this episode, Lara talks to songwriter Ashaine White. Available on Spotify Apple and Anchor

Ashaine White is a rising star in the UK music scene, already nominated for a 2022 Ivors Academy Rising Star award, she is one to watch. With a critically acclaimed project (Fairytales, 2021) under her belt, Ashaine has quickly become a sought-after artist, receiving support from some of the top radio stations in the country (BBC Radio 1 Xtra, BBC Introducing London, Soho Radio, Reprezent Radio, and Voices Radio). Her highly anticipated second project, "Ash," was released in the summer of 2023 and was highlighted in Bandcamp’s New and Notable Spotify’s Fresh Finds and Soundclound’s Fresh Pressed.

Ashaine's uniquely authentic blend of genre and fearless approach to songwriting has garnered praise from music critics and fans, drawing comparisons to Frank Ocean, PJ Harvey and Jeff Buckley. A captivating voice, raw lyrics, and genre-bending soundscapes have set her apart as one of the most exciting new artists in the UK. Live performance is vital to Ashaine’s artistry,  performing at various prestigious venues, including the Roundhouse, Jazz Cafe, Camden Assembly, EFG London Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scotts, Wilderness Festival, and Love Suprme Festival. Her live performances have garnered her a loyal following and are a pillar to Ashaine’s artist brand. “Ashaine White is a fierce and formidable artist making a significant impact in the music industry. she is on a mission to break barriers within UK music, showcasing herself as an Black creator in an alternative space – and breaking them down she absolutely is, not just in the UK but across the world.”

With critical acclaim and support from respected figures in the industry, it's clear that Ashaine White is an artist to watch in the coming years. A unique sound and unwavering dedication to her craft promise to make her a force to be reckoned with in the music world.

“Ash is a bold and intimate statement about being true to oneself from an exciting rising artist carving her own path.” - Khalila Douze (Bandcamp)

An award -winning self made artist born in Athens to Lebanese Canadian parents. Multi-instrumentalist, storyteller, singer, composer and also a freelance music journalist, workshop leader and educator…the list of Lara’s skills is long, as has been her music career.

Lara discovered music at an early age – playing the piano and singing – and started performing from the age of 11 with the Greek National Opera Productions. She earned a Masters in Jazz Voice Studies with distinction from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and completed a Degree in English Literature at the University of St Andrews. She has performed in some of the most renowned London venues – from St Martins in the Field to the Barbican, as well as Pizza Express Dean Street and the London Jazz Festival, Beirut International Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, to name but a few – but also internationally, from her hometown of Athens to the Beirut International Festival. On stage, Lara doesn’t only sing but also plays the piano, the guitar and leads entire bands. Whilst collaborating with some of London’s acclaimed musicians across the jazz and folk scenes, she has self-released two EPs (‘Little People‘ and ‘Tell It Like It Is’) and, during the pandemic, launched and founded her own teaching platform, “Phonica Music Coaching”, through which she shares the important message of healing through music. This is also the essence of her music. All this wealth of experience converges into her album ‘Sun’, which incorporates Lara’s many talents as composer, musicians, singer and arranger, through stories of hope and empowerment.

The liner notes to ‘Sun’ were written by the Award winning jazz artist, writer, Recording Academy Voting member and our very own Women In Jazz Media Chief Fiona Ross. She writes: ”Music is an omnipotent tool. It has the potential to strengthen and empower. To bring light where there is dark. To calm the mind and soothe the soul. But these almost magical moments of connectivity can only be realised if placed in the right hands. Lara Eidi. Is those hands”.’ “Lara Eidi is an artist that thrives on being different, with a voice that’s clearly a gift “( Sandy Brown Jazz)

She’s collaborated with some of London’s finest musicians across the jazz and folk scenes, often switching roles between standing upstage as a versatile and engaging singer, to leading an entire band whilst sitting at the piano and singing.   Recently supported by Hawkwood College and the Francis W Reckitt Arts Trust, and about to release her biggest album to date ‘ Sun’, Lara’s talents and gifts saw her launching her own podcast series focused on songwriting with special guests- “The Notes Between” is supported by Women in Jazz Media.  This came shortly after she took up freelance music journalism during the pandemic, becoming a writer for Women in Jazz Media, London Jazz News, BackseatMafia .  Finally, her passion for music as a life choice has led her to become an in-demand educator, offering workshops at leading music institutions as well as community spaces in Europe. As if that wasn’t enough she launched and founded her own teaching platform “ Phonica Music Coaching “ during the pandemic, leading music sessions across the globe to people who needed an alternative method of healing; after all, it was music that led Lara to engage time and time again, and at the heart of her creativity is a need to make her personal experiences relatable to all, through her music.

Now residing between Athens and London, and a new album underway, “Sun” has already gained critical global acclaim from award winning journalists and she was just nominated for songwriter of the year by the renowned Orpheus Global Music Awards.

We publish a new playlist each month and try to share a wide range of women from across the world - new releases, legacy artists, new and established artists and also some women we think you should know about but maybe don't! 

This month we have a ‘special edition’ playlist, highlighting the incredible music of the 13 artists playing at our EFG London Jazz Festival events from the 14th- 19th of November!  You can listen on Spotify here or You Tube here - as always we would encourage you to purchase music directly from the artist through the links below.

Find out more about each event and get your tickets here: https://womeninjazzmedia.com/events/ 

Lara De Belder   Amy Gadiaga

Monika Herzig   Migdalia Van Der Hoven

Esther Bennett   Big Mama

Ashaine White   Mary Sho

RYBES   Olympia Vitalis

Alexis Cole   London Gay Big Band   Charlotte Keeffe

Welcome to the third episode of our podcast series’ The Notes Between’ with Lara Eidi. Conversations exploring everything behind and about the world of songwriting! Our theme music ‘Opened Eyes’ is from Lara Eidi herself available here

In this third episode, Lara talks to songwriter Kate Smith. Available on Spotify Apple and Anchor

Once declared the “singing madame” of Beijing’s cabaret scene (Global Times), Kate Smith has travelled the globe, crossing borders and musical genres alike, continually defying labels. With experience performing professionally in classical, folk, pop rock, improvisation, musical theatre and more, Kate eventually landed in London, studying classical singing and earning her MMus in Leadership at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she also began developing The Embodied Voice. Since then, Kate has become an in-demand performer and maker in British vocal theatre. She is passionate about transforming our relationship to the body by creating music - and facilitating collective music-making - for voices and bodies in motion.

Kate’s practice draws on many influences including yoga, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method®, Body-Mind Centering®, mindfulness, contact improv, dance, and theatre. She has studied with Meredith Monk, Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen (BMC), Seke Chimutengwende, Robert Sussuma (Vocal Learning Systems), Margaret Pikes (Roy Hart Theatre), Grzegorz Braal (Song of the Goat), Guillermo Horta (VABAS), and more. She is a 200hr Yoga-Alliance certified teacher of Authentic Flow Yoga. She earned her Guildhall Certificate in Coaching & Mentoring, Accredited by the European Mentoring & Coaching Council in 2019.

Kate specialises in projects that bring together movement, voice, and improvisation. She is a cast member of Verity Standen’s acclaimed Undersong and Artistic Director of THAT! Ensemble. She has performed in singer-instrumentalist opera (Re:Sound Music Theatre), choral street theatre (Totally Themes), folk opera (Spitalfields Music) and more. She improvises with The Improvisers’ Choir (TIC), electro-acoustic trio AR|RA, and vocal collective, Anthropos. She is also a founding member of El Parnaso Hyspano, performing early music from Latin America. Kate is currently working on writing a song cycle for voice and movement, Songs from the Body.

Kate has taught workshops on creative music and The Embodied Voice for a range of communities and clients, working with participants in hospitals, mental-health centres, prisons, schools, conservatories and art galleries. Her clients have included BBC Creative Learning, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, The Barbican Creative Learning, CREATE, Harvard University, Whitechapel Gallery, Aldeburgh Young Musicians, Found Sound Nation, and more. She provides voice and movement consultation for dance and theatre companies, and was the director of Hackney One Voice, an inter-generational community choir. As the founder of Curiosa, Kate has led residencies and workshops on cross-arts collaboration in China, Portugal and Malta. 

Lara Eidi is an artist that thrives on being different.  Born in Athens Lebanese- Canadian parents, her entire life and career is that of a singer-songwriter , multidisciplinary artist, educator and writer. Undefined by style, Lara’s music has earned her own unique place in the music world as a storyteller, jazz and folk singer, composer and recording artist heard at venues in London including the Barbican, St Martins in the Fields, Green Note, Edinburgh Festival, Beirut International Festival to name a few. Born in Athens to Lebanese-Canadian parents, her music has gained her critical acclaim as an artist with a truly unique voice (BBC Artist, 2020- 2021), who manages to shift between musical styles and vocations owed to her diverse background as a singer ( Guildhall School of Music and Drama ) ; writer ( English Literature from the University of St. Andrews) and educator. Lara's passion and artistry comes from a pure and authentic drive to connect with audience members as well as students, creating a space where the healing power of music can be felt by all.  Recently supported by Hawkwood College and the Francis W Reckitt Arts Trust, Lara is set to record her new album in Spring 2023, and has just launched her very first podcast on songwriting 'The Notes Between' with Women in Jazz Media.  Finally, her passion for music as a life choice has led her to become an in demand educator, offering workshops at leading music institutions as well as community spaces in Europe. 
"Lara Eidi is one of those singers who connects with the audience as soon as she starts to sing. Perhaps psychologists can explain the gift – and it is a gift "Sandy Brown Jazz- London

Lara Eidi website