Welcome to the third episode of our drummer focused series ‘Sticks and Thrones’ with host Migdalia Van Der Hoven, with our guest Jenny Pearson-Walinetski

Our podcasts are available on all platforms and are currently at number 9 in the top 60 best Jazz podcast on FeedSpot featuring original music from Migdalia Van Der Hoven available here

Listen to episode 3 here on Spotify

Listen to episode 3 here on Apple

Migdalia van der Hoven is an International Award winning Mexican drummer currently touring with SIX the Musical across the UK. She is also a Vater Drumsticks, Bosphorus Cymbals and RTOM Corporation artist and a Berklee College of Music graduate (where she studied and performed with Jackie Santos, Terri Lynn Carrington, Victor Mendoza and Mark Walker). She is known for her groove, sensitivity and versatility across multiple genres such as funk, jazz, fusion, latin jazz, pop and world music. She became the first Mexican Female drummer to ever perform at Ronnie Scott’s and the EFG London Jazz Festival. Migdalia has become “Woman of the year 2022” in Mexico in arts and culture for her contribution in music nationally and internationally.

Follow Migdalia here

Jenny Pearson-Walinetski is a Drummer and Percussionist based in Manchester UK and is a graduate of the RNCM and Chetham’s School of Music. She currently tours with Miles Kane as well as artists including Bryony Jarman Pinto (Jazz), Molly Wharbuton (Pop) and IORA( Electro Pop and Sync) and has enjoyed over the years playing at festivals such as Glastonbury, Kendal Calling and Tramlines.

Jenny is a current deputy on Six The Musical UK tour and has performed on other musicals such as Hamilton, Fantastically Great Women and Unfortunate Musical.

She is involved with her Jazz/DnB duo, j2oh (@j2ohmusic) which has performed at London Jazz Festival, Glasshouse ICM, Royal Albert Hall and in a feature recording with the Halle Orchestra. J2oh look forward to their upcoming album release late 2024.

Aside from gigs, Jenny records from her home studio with her work featured on Spotify Top 100, Netflix film releases UK and USA plus UK and European radio play. She has also featured as a drummer in advertisements for Facebook Meta and one of the Thousands of drummers in a shoot for Ladbrookes!

Find Jenny on Instagram here

Welcome to the latest 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 songwriterGermana Stella La Sorsa

Available on Spotify Apple and all major podcast platforms

Italian London-based singer Germana Stella La Sorsa migrated from Puglia, Italy in 2017 and quickly established herself on the London jazz scene.

"Nudging boundaries as she goes” (The Slow Music Movement) and exploring “the crossroads of many musical components, including story, composition, genre and style as well as instrumentation and effect” (London Jazz News), La Sorsa released her debut album 'Vapour' in 2021 on 33 Jazz Records.

The singer melds her disparate influences in her second studio album, 'Primary Colours', released in January 2024 - once again on 33 Jazz Records - with the support of Help Musicians.

Following the success of 'Vapour', 'Primary Colours' continues to ride the contemporary/avant-garde jazz wave, further exploring the boundaries of improvisation and sound experimentation, drawing upon modern sounds and grooves, from drum’n’bass to Latin music.

Both eclectic and versatile, La Sorsa has performed in the most iconic London jazz venues - such as Ronnie Scott's, The Spice of Life, Vortex Jazz Club, Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club and Oliver's Jazz Bar - but also Internationally, playing at Jazz Festivals such as the Al Bustan International Festival (Lebanon - with Faris Ishaq and Kham Quartet), Taranto Jazz Festival and Ceglie Jazz Open Festival (Italy).

La Sorsa started performing in Italy at an early age, working her way up through the Italian Jazz scene to ultimately perform at the side of one of the most influential European jazz musicians: Franco Cerri (Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan, Django Reinhardt and many more).

Besides her singing career, Germana currently teaches singing technique and jazz singing both privately and at Morley College (London).

Website: Germana Stella La Sorsa

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 Assocation. 

Lara Eidi website

We are very excited about this edition, jam packed with incredible women!

 Click here

We are dedicating this edition to our team member Sandra Booker who sadly passed away a short time ago after losing her battle with cancer. Sandra was a fierce advocate for the unseen and the unheard and was never afraid to question, challenge and speak out. She was fearless. This edition is full of fearless women. Women who are changing the landscape both in front and behind the scenes.

Our magazine is free and available to everyone! It is interactive and you will find links to buy albums, books, visit websites and more! Due to the stunning photography we are honoured to include, the magazine is best viewed on a large screens – ipad/latop etc – rather than a phone, but you can open it on all devices. You can also download as a pdf to read at anytime.

Our team for this magazine is Isabel Marquez, Monika S Jakubowska, Germana Stella La Sorsa, Tatiana Gorilovksy, Kim Cypher, Paulette Jackson, Fiona Ross and Fiona Mctaggart. We are also thrilled to have guest contributors including Dr Bradley Stone, Nick Lea, Vuyo Giba and the award winning Jane Cornwell!

Interviews includes Syreeta Thompson Endea Owens UK Black Female Photographers Community Vidya ****Sally Greene OBE Brigitte Behara Tulani Kowalski Bridgewater Lisa Rich Laura Impallomeni and we introduce a new partner Talent Banq.

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 Fini Bearman

Available on Spotify Apple and all major podcast platforms

Fini Bearman  is a London-based singer, songwriter, composer & multi-instrumentalist. Her music melds diverse influences from jazz, folk and contemporary songs into an 'arresting and uniquely personal' sound.  Working both with and without words, incorporating her love of improvised music, Fini’s voice ‘effortlessly moves between a light precision and warm soulfulness is unmistakably her own’.   Her 4th album 'La Loba’ in October 2020 and received glowing reviews and praise from peers and critics including **** from Jazzwise (Editors Choice), allaboutjazz, The Arts Desk (album of the year), and more. This album was an opportunity to explore new songwriting avenues as a solo artist, recording the songs at her home studio in south east London, playing all the instruments (piano, tenor guitar, mandolin, ukulele, charango, tenor saxophone, percussion… all except cello; played by the wonderful Zosia Jagodzinska).

Her fifth studio album, ‘Last Night of The World’ is due for release on Pastiche Records, Autumn 2024, and features a veritable feast of musical brilliance; Tom Cawley, Robin Mullarkey, James Maddren, Matt Calvert, Al Cherry, together with guests Alice Zawadzki, Josia Jagodzinska, Gareth Lockrane, George Crowley & Gwilym Simcock.  

Over the past years Fini has worked as both soloist and collaborator/side-woman, touring festivals & venues  including Ronnie Scotts, The Sage Gateshead, Kings Place, The Barbican, The A-Trane (Berlin), Cafe Mercedes Jazz (Valencia), Manzioli (Izola, Slovenia) and even New York venue Dizzys (Jazz at the Lincoln Center). Festival highlights include the London Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Cambridge Jazz Festival, 'Jazz Voices' in Lithuania and ’Voicingers'  in Poland. Fini has been supported by the Arts Council & Musicians Benevolent Fund and has been nominated for awards including Best Jazz Vocal Album (Deutsche Jazzpreis 2023) & London Jazz Singer of the Year (Global Music Foundation).

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 Assocation. 

Lara Eidi website

Our new Women in Jazz Media Playlist is now out: Volume 3!

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 here on Spotify 

As always we would encourage you to buy directly from the artist where possible, and all the links are on our site here:

Ashaine White   Camille Thurman   Endea Owens   Anita Wardell  

Jo Harrop    Alexa Torres   Emily Francis    

Dottie Dodgion    Kim Cypher  Aya Ishida   Turiya

Valaida Snow     Jihye Lee  Faye Patton   Rosa Brunello

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.

We are delighted to have Tina Carr joining us for our Jazz Sisters: A celebration of vocal jazz, benefit event for Anita Wardell!

What a night it will be with seven brilliant artists performing at this special event to celebrate jazz vocalists and women in the jazz industry to raise money for renowned jazz vocalist Anita Wardell. Vimala Rowe, Lily Dior, Esther Bennett, Diana Torti, Fiona Ross and Tina Carr will bring their unique artistry to a range of jazz standards in an evening full of jazz tradition and elegant atmosphere, accompanied by one of the UK’s most loved pianists, Wendy Kirkland.

Tina Carr is a London-based jazz singer, a newcomer in the jazz scene with a warm authentic vibe. “Tina has a very distinctive voice – a stunning debut… she has leapt into the world of music with both feet  (Jumoke Fashola, Radio London)

‘I sang from childhood, never had any formal music training and chose not to make my working life in music.  But I always knew I had it in me. A few years ago, I began listening again. I listened at work, at home, in the car, in the street, at concerts, gigs, jams, opening my ears to music across every genre. It took me over.  I threw in the day job and - finding my voice - began to sing again. An older voice maybe – but a true one.’

We caught up with Tina to ask her a few questions ahead of the event.

Who are some of the great jazz vocalists you are inspired by?

I have a love of great women singers, from Nellie Lutcher to Carmen Macrae to Annie Ross to Sheila Jordan to Jessye Norman (The latter wasn’t a jazz singer of course – but it was hearing her amazing voice that made me want to sing again)

What can we expect to hear from you tonight and how did you decide on your song?

A kind of dark lullaby...I wanted to sing a song of …comfort. (and one where there's a chance I won't forget the words!)

Have you seen Anita perform – can you tell us a little about her performance

I’ve seen Anita several times – she is a warm and wonderful performer. I love her energy, wit and her vocal dexterity - and how she moves her voice around and around and brings us all in.

What does it mean to you to take part in this event?

I really feel honoured to be part of an occasion which is celebrating the great talent of Anita Wardell, who makes the best music she can and helps many others to do the same.

As a founding Board member of Women in Film and Television, I experienced just how much strength there can be when women support, work, share and are solid together. There’s nothing like it. I’m currently on the advisory Board of the Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network which supports Arab women journalists. We are lucky to have the freedoms we have at a time when women in other countries are losing everything they had gained. We are lucky to have our Voices. In every way.

Click here to find out more about Tina

Tickets for our Jazz Sisters: A celebration of vocal jazz here