Welcome to our latest episode of ‘In Conversation With’ with host and producer Hannah Horton, with our theme tune Surfing Thermals from our host, Hannah too! In this episode, host Hannah Horton welcomes Laura Impallomeni!
Laura Impallomeni is a jazz trombonist, composer and musical director of various projects. In 2020 she graduated from her MMus in Jazz Trombone from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where she studied improvisation and composition under world famous musicians. She went on to receive the Arts Council England ‘Develop Your Creative Practice Fund’ to compose a collection of original contemporary jazz compositions under skilled mentorship, featuring trombone as the lead instrument.
In November 2020, she debuted this body of work at a sold out concert at London Jazz Festival 2022 with her contemporary jazz quintet . She has just been awarded the “record and Release’ grant from Help Musicians,. She expects to release her debut jazz album in 2024. Laura has performed and toured with various renowned artists such as First Aid Kit, The Dualers, Giffords Circus, Janet Kay and Ken Boothe. She is the musical director, composer and trombonist of an original 11 piece afro jazz band called ‘Yamäya’, who have just released their debut album ‘Senegal’ on Funkiwala Records. She is also the trombonist for Rootsgarden Dub Soundsytem, The Voodoo Love Orchestra (cambia and salsa) and Barnacles (experimental jazz) and works for London music charity ‘Play for Progress’ as a therapeutic music teacher/workshop leader with young asylum seekers and refugees.
On the 25th of April she will perform a mixture of some of her original compositions and her favourite standards alongside members of her quintet: Tickets available here
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.
Welcome to our latest 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.
Our next event is trombonist and composer Laura Impallomeni at Karamel Club, London and you can find out more and buy tickets here
We are all very excited about the launch of Paulette Jackson’s new book! ‘My fourth book, “Heaven’s Choir ~ Part 1”, is my personal tribute to R&B, Jazz and Soul artists who are no longer with us. This book was released as an ebook on March 18, 2024. Since that time I’ve had my press release written and distributed over 200 media platforms across the country including Canada!’
These are some of the artists I have admired, grew up listening to and sang along with on the radio. Being a lover of music, I hold a deep appreciation for the artists that have shared their gifts with the world. “Heaven’s Choir – Part 1”, is exclusively a tribute book in which I share my memories and feelings about each artist, from my heart and soul. I wanted to pay homage to these artists who left us too soon and contribute towards keeping their music and legacies alive. My hope is that you, my dear readers, enjoy this book and that it brings back fond memories of their music and how it made you feel then and now reminding us all that indeed, music is forever’
Isabel Marquez has been living the dream in New York and shares ‘Just got back to London after spending 2 months in New York City working with the Women in Jazz Organisation and helping organise their event for IWD! Had the most incredible time immersing myself in the New York jazz scene and learning so much about what needs to be done next to ensure the scene continues to evolve and improve for women, young people and people of colour.’
‘Recorded at the iconic Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho in front of a sold-out audience, Live in Soho is full of energy, intoxicating excitement, with a beautiful flow of tracks. It features a selection of Hannah’s own compositions alongside her interpretation of songs that she holds close to her heart. Hannah’s baritone playing is both cheeky and lyrical. Listen to Las Vegas Tango to be transported to a smoky club in sin city, or the Horn Dance if you want to experience how a Morris Man on speed would feel, then cheer yourself up by soaring with the birds on Surfing Thermals.
Hannah Horton’s band is a vibrant and energised quartet. As well as Hannah on baritone and tenor saxophone, it features Tim Lapthorn on piano, Rob Statham on electric bass and Nic France on drums. The synergy between these razor-sharp musicians is apparent on first listen.
Hannah Horton is an artist who goes her own way. Her strong, clear tone, powerful rhythmic sense and compelling sense of melody make her an unmistakable voice on the scene. As a bandleader, she has been working with the same group of talented musicians for fifteen years: as composer, she released her second album Inside Out in 2021 to overwhelmingly positive reviews, receiving a Parliamentary Jazz Award nomination for Best Newcomer: as a performer, she’s played at all of the UK’s most prominent jazz venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, The Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican, and the 606 Jazz Club, selling out her London Jazz Festival shows. Recognition from the musical establishment has come in the form of awards, endorsements and diplomas, but it’s the way that audiences respond to her unashamedly positive, uninhibitedly personal music, and the emotional honesty of her accessible, engaging take on jazz that delivers the definitive accolade. Hannah’s music always prioritises melody and a sense of playfulness to create a very personal take on jazz that is informed equally by a strong affinity to groove. There are echoes of some of her favourites like Mark Lockheart and Keith Jarrett, and classical composers like Gerald Finzi - but ultimately there’s no-one else who sounds quite like her - a Melodic Maverick. ‘
And talking of saxophones…
Kim Cypher is so thrilled to be returning to world-renowned Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club on Sunday 16th June to perform a lunchtime special on Father's Day, showcasing new original music from her forthcoming album ‘Catching Moments’. Kim will perform with her ALL-STAR band featuring Chris Cobbson on guitar, Alex Steele on piano, Mike Green on bass and her husband Mike Cypher on drums.
Expect an eclectic, lively mix of jazz, Latin and swing together with some well-known favourites. To celebrate Father’s Day, Kim will also unveil a special track from her album 'dedicated to my dear late father and to all fathers everywhere'.
A few other forthcoming live dates are:
Sat 20th April - Swindon Jazz & Soul Festival
Fri 26th April - Ben & Soph's Jazz at Market Bosworth
Thurs 2nd May - Dunkerton's Jazz Sessions
Sat 1st June - Highworth Jazz Festival
Thurs 6th June - Dunkerton's Jazz Sessions
Sun 9th June - Colchester Arts
All booking links can be found via Kim's website at: www.kimcypher.com
And last but certainly not least, Germana Stella La Sorsa has been sharing some brilliant videos shining a light on some of the tracks from her new album. Head over to her You Tube page here New live dates will be announced soon, starting with Off the Rails on the 9th of June!
Hannah Horton in conversation with...Helena Summerfield
4th April 2024
Welcome to our latest episode of ‘In Conversation With’ with host and producer Hannah Horton, with our theme tune Surfing Thermals from our host, Hannah too! In this episode, host Hannah Horton welcomes Helena Jane Summerfield!
Helena Summerfield is the Learning and Participation project manager at Jazz North the jazz talent development agency for the North of England. After graduating from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 1997, saxophonist Helena has worked in a variety of mainstream and inclusive music education settings. She was the lead jazz tutor at Trafford Music Service when they received the 2021 ‘Will Michael Jazz Education Award’ and awarded 'Jazz Educator of the Year' at the 2022 ‘Parliamentary Jazz Awards’ in recognition of her work on ‘Jazz Camp for Girls’. Helena has also worked as the interim programme manager for the National Youth Jazz Collective (NYJC) In her role as Learning and Participation project manager for Jazz North Helena is currently working to create new teaching resources to encourage beginner pupils (and their teachers!) to engage with jazz and improvisation. As a performer Helena plays saxophone and flute in a number of Manchester based bands. She has co-created 3 interactive children’s shows that have been successfully performed around the Northwest of England. Upcoming performances – ‘Animal Fantasia’ for ‘Make Create Feel Great’ at St. Benedict’s School, Ealing on 11th April 2024 ‘There once was a bird’ and ‘HMS Syncopation’ interactive children’s shows at Manchester Jazz Festival – 18th May 2024
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
Our new Women in Jazz Media Playlist is now out: Volume 32!
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! We keep it to 15 artists per playlist to give you time to discover, listen and share these incredible women. You can listen to this month's playlist on Spotify or Youtube.
Do please get in touch if you have music you would like us to include - either your own or recommendations. We are especially keen to share music from female instrumentalists and composers. If you have been in touch and you are not on a playlist yet, please don't worry, you will be on soon! We appreciate you sharing your music with us.
As always we would encourage you to buy directly from the artist where possible, and all the links are on our site here:
Welcome to the next episode of our podcast series’ The Notes Between’ with Lara Eidi. Conversations exploring everything behind and about the world of songwriting! Our theme music ‘Breathe Love’ is from Lara Eidi herself available here
In this episode, Lara talks to songwriter Evie Asio
Available on SpotifyApple and all major podcast platforms
Evie Asio describes her sound as “musical storytelling”, as a result of her desire to provoke emotions and narrative throughout every layer of her music. Evie grew up in South-East London, where she used the range of musical styles around her to begin writing songs at the age of 15. After graduating with a BA in Music, Evie began her music career through releasing a series of experimental projects on Soundcloud and YouTube.
Evie’s Jazz-inspired debut single, ‘Beautiful Love’ [2019], was featured on the AStepFWD September 2019 chart, and led Evie to be named a 2020 One to Watch by Premier Gospel. Throughout her journey, Evie has performed at notable venues such as The Spice of Life, Proud Camden and Jazz Live @ The Crypt, as well as supporting BAYLI on her London headline show in 2022. In November 2022, Evie Asio released her debut album ‘Contending and Contention’, a 9- track concept album dealing with the themes of struggle and self-reflection that she has explored in her own personal battles. The album received critical acclaim in various publications, including Something Else! And Jazz in Europe. Songs across the album have received international radio play, with singles ‘Available’ and ‘From Here’ being named as China Moses’ ‘Late Night Track of the Week’ on Jazz FM, and ‘Turning Time’ and ‘Imperfect People’ being featured on BBC6 Music.
Athens born to Lebanese Canadian parents, Lara Eidi is an artist that thrives on being different. As an independent artist, singer and multi- instrumentalist, she has carved a path for herself that continuously aimed at reshaping and developing her voice as a storyteller. An accomplished and reputable singer-songwriter, pianist, recording artist and jazz- folk vocalist of her own accord based in London and Athens. Her music has gained her critical acclaim as a genre bending artist (BBC Artist, 2020), described as “a singer with true gift of a voice, a kind soul, and a captivating presence.” (Jazz UK). At the heart of her being as a multi-disciplinary artist, she is sought after as a composer for vocal film scores, writes as a freelance music journalist, and is in demand as a creative workshop leader. Her music seeks to elevate and heal, and as a result, she creates genre- defying songs with a great emphasis on story telling. Her latest album ‘Sun’, her long awaited debut album, is all about pulling the threads of her folk, acoustic rock and jazz-classical upbringing to her message of hope, empowerment, and freedom. As a soloist, her recent debut performance at the infamous Royal Albert Hall, singing select pieces from Greece and Lebanon form the MedievalByzantine Traditions sees Lara engaging on a series of select and innovative performances with the SAUDHA Indian Classical Music Association.
Judith Tick is professor emerita of music history at Northeastern University. She has published award-winning books and articles about American music and women’s history in music, including Ruth Crawford Seeger: A Composer’s Search for American Music. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.
In this first major biography since Fitzgerald’s death, historian Judith Tick offers a sublime portrait of this ambitious risk-taker whose exceptional musical spontaneity made her a transformational artist. Becoming Ella Fitzgerald clears up long-enduring mysteries. Archival research and in-depth family interviews shed new light on the singer’s difficult childhood in Yonkers, New York, the tragic death of her mother, and the year she spent in a girls’ reformatory school—where she sang in its renowned choir and dreamed of being a dancer. Rarely seen profiles from the Black press offer precious glimpses of Fitzgerald’s tense experiences of racial discrimination and her struggles with constricting models of Black and white femininity at midcentury.
Tick’s compelling narrative depicts Fitzgerald’s complicated career in fresh and original detail, upending the traditional view that segregates vocal jazz from the genre’s mainstream. As she navigated the shifting tides between jazz and pop, she used her originality to pioneer modernist vocal jazz. Interpreting long-lost setlists, reviews from both white and Black newspapers, and newly released footage and recordings, the book explores how Ella’s transcendence as an improvisor produced onstage performances every bit as significant as her historic recorded oeuvre.
From the singer’s first performance at the Apollo Theatre’s famous “Amateur Night” to the Savoy Ballroom, where Fitzgerald broke through with Chick Webb’s big band in the 1930s, Tick evokes the jazz world in riveting detail. She describes how Ella helped shape the bebop movement in the 1940s, as she joined Dizzy Gillespie and her then-husband, Ray Brown, in the world-touring Jazz at the Philharmonic, one of the first moments of high-culture acceptance for the disreputable art form.
Breaking ground as a female bandleader, Fitzgerald refuted expectations of musical Blackness, deftly balancing artistic ambition and market expectations. Her legendary exploration of the Great American Songbook in the 1950s fused a Black vocal aesthetic and jazz improvisation to revolutionize the popular repertoire. This hybridity often confounded critics, yet throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Ella reached audiences around the world, electrifying concert halls, and sold millions of records.
A masterful biography, Becoming Ella Fitzgerald describes a powerful woman who set a standard for American excellence nearly unmatched in the twentieth century.
