LONDON: Jazzlive at The Crypt

Friday 25th March, 2022

8:00pm

Event information

Maria Grapsa leads a quintet of young exciting musicians from the thriving UK scene and is set to release her debut studio album later this year. Her music is influenced by cinematic themes; pushing the limits of improvisation within the jazz idiom and beyond. Maria’s classical music background, Greek origins and world, folk, middle-East and Latin influences, all meet the jazz tradition in a unique way. She has performed in prestigious venues and festivals such as Southbank Centre, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Jazz Café, Wilderness and Cheltenham Jazz Festival, while has shared the stage with Gary Crosby OBE, Daniel Rollins and Tim Berne. Maria is a Scholarship Jazz Masters alumna of Royal Conservatoire of Birmingham and a recipient of the Help Musicians Transmission Fund 2021. She won Alternative Act 2019 (LUKAS awards) with her bandmates at the time (colectiva), while they released her tune (Under The) with Movimientos Record Label.

On this occasion Maria invites vocalist Becca Wilkins, a versatile musician with an assured sense of style and a poised approach to vocal musicianship whose own projects have been portrayed as ‘a real energy and joy in their performances – they will always captivate audiences’ (Tony Dudley Evans).

Featuring Joe Thwaites (alto saxophone), Anna Chai (tenor saxophone), Becca Wilkins (vocals), Billy Pod (drums), Sam Ingvorsen (double bass), Maria Grapsa (piano, compositions & arrangements) - this band is already making an impact in prestigious venues such as Soho’s Pizza Express Live, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Birmingham Jazz Festival; their much anticipated album is being released later this year.