Pianist Eddie Gripper has played here before with his band – he's a very impressive and entertaining musician.
This pairing with singer Elijah Jeffery looks unusual, and promises something a bit different. The show brings their album Dido’s Lament* to life.

Blending progressive pop, indie folk, and alternative jazz, their show features original songs and a bold reimagining of Dido’s Lament, offering a captivating journey through storytelling and genre-defying music.
Experience the electrifying collaboration of Elijah Jeffery & Eddie Gripper as they bring their critically acclaimed album to the stage. Written and recorded in just eight weeks, this collection of original songs and a bold reimagining of a 17th-century aria has been praised as “eagerly awaited” (The Jazz Mann). Their live performance seamlessly blends progressive pop, indie folk, and alternative jazz, offering a genre-defying journey that showcases their diverse musical influences.

From the folk-inspired Shifting Seasons to the introspective jazz ballad Because of You, the art-pop energy of Close Your Eyes, and a fresh take on Dido’s Lament, this show is a celebration of storytelling through innovative composition and captivating performances. With a shared passion for pushing musical boundaries, Elijah and Eddie create an immersive experience that resonates with audiences across genres.


Elijah Jeffery is a Hampshire-born vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. From an early age, Elijah developed a passion for musical theatre and the Great American Songbook, taking inspiration from many of the great vocalists and lyricists of the 20th Century. A Jazz graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Elijah has established himself as an up-and-coming artist in Wales and the South West, collaborating with the likes of Claire Martin OBE, Ian Shaw, and big bands such as Capital City Jazz Orchestra. Elijah released his debut EP, ‘One of Her Clowns’ in June 2023, marking his first foray into writing original music. Fusing a lifelong love of jazz with singer-songwriter and folk sensibilities, ‘One of Her Clowns’ weaves bittersweet tales of love lost and found through “poetic and intelligent lyricis[m]” (The Jazz Mann).

Having “already garnered comparisons with the greats” (Jazzwise) after the release of his debut album ‘Home’, pianist Eddie Gripper has rapidly established himself as a young contender on the national jazz circuit. He has worked as a performer, promoter and producer alongside top musicians in his field such as Nigel Price, Simon Spillet and Pete Long. Outside of Jazz, he has collaborated with Welsh folk artist Angharad Jenkins, writing and performing music that explores the various aspects of folk, jazz and contemporary classical traditions. In 2024, Gripper embarked on a 29-date tour across the four nations of the UK and Republic of Ireland, and remains active on the national and international scene (having played at venues such as Crazy Coqs, Pizza Express and various festivals, both under his own name and with other projects).

* Dido's Lament is an icon of English music, written by Henry Purcell sometime between 1683 and 1688 when he was organist at Westminster Abbey is the closing aria from the opera Dido and Aeneas (libretto by Nahum Tate).

“[An] exposed setting revealing Jeffery to be a poetic and intelligent lyricist who has learnt well from the ‘Songbook’ tradition.” (Ian Mann, TheJazzMann)

“These are songs that convince both musically and lyrically, there is real musical and emotional intelligence at work here.” (Ian Mann, TheJazzMann)

“Both halves of the duo excel on this recording, both in their quality and restraint, but it is their joint passion for songwriting that shines brightest.” (Neil Duggan, All About Jazz)

“Gripper’s melodic compositions have an easy charm about them that demand repeated listening.” (Nick Lea, Jazz Views)

“A brand-new album by two young titans who have collaborated in a focused project which reflects both their passion for music, and the strong desire to create. Written and recorded within 8 weeks, pianist Eddie Gripper and vocalist Elijah Jeffery capture stories invented by two young men not afraid to explore themes of darkness and danger, balanced by hope and love in some of its many guises…

…I feel enthused after listening to this recording. I am excited for the future of both musicians and their desire to conceive projects that take them beyond the genres they have been brought up in. This is a journey that we are all invited to be a part of…” (CD Physical Release Liner Notes, by Dr Linley Hamilton OBE)

“this is a promising early career effort that would encourage anyone who hears it to go hear the duo in person”
(Stephen Graham, Marlbank)



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