Billy Marrows’ Grande Familia Sextet

Event information

A dynamic, compact version of Billy Marrows' critically acclaimed 12-piece chamber-jazz ensemble, the Grande Família Sextet features a powerful combination of three horns, guitar and an explosive rhythm section.

This gig is part of Grande Família's spring 2025 tour, celebrating the release of their second album 'The Penelope Album Live', out on Discus Music on 28th March (https://discus-music.org/). The record captures their emotionally charged 2024 performance at Pizza Express Jazz Club in London, which sold out two months in advance and received a full standing ovation.

Grande Família was formed to record Billy's debut album, ‘Penelope', as a surprise for his mum during her struggle with pancreatic cancer. Released in her memory in early 2024, it has raised over £5,450 for World Child Cancer. This gig will also feature lots of new music, inspired by the likes of Weather Report, Gil Evans and Loose Tubes.

Billy Marrows is an award-winning guitarist and composer, receiving both the small and large ensemble categories of the Dankworth Prize for Jazz Composition. An alumnus of the Royal Academy of Music, he also studied on the Metropole Orkest Arrangers Workshop with Vince Mendoza. The Grande Família Sextet features highly creative outstanding musicians who have worked with artists such as Mark Lockheart, Chelsea Carmichael, Ben van Gelder Corey Wong and Jordan Rakei.

Grande Família Sextet’s recent EP,’ Mount Tibidabo’ received ★★★★ Jazzwise, praising Marrows for playing “with such lyrical melodicism...you can't help but be seduced into his charmed word”.

“A triumph...Marrows has created a spectacular new ensemble” Jazz Views

“An exhilaratingly original sound, at once intimate and expansive” ★★★★ Editor's Choice, Jazzwise (Penelope album)

“Melodic and distinctive” ★★★★ All About Jazz