Discover the different shapes of jazz at the second edition of the London Catalan Festival! Hosted by Pizza Express Jazz Club Soho during the 1st and 2nd of June, the event will gather 5 different artists from Catalan-speaking territories whose music explores the synergies between jazz and other genres. From flamenco to bossa nova, the show celebrates multiculturalism in the music from Catalonia and the Balearic Islands as perceived through their different influences.
This year’s line-up includes artists from different styles and backdrounds, such as Clara Peya, who has recently been awarded a Premi Nacional de Cultura, one of the most prestigious recognitions in Catalonia. Somewhere between chamber music, jazz, pop and electronic, she defines her music as “romantic-contemporary or punk-romantic”. She will be presenting her album Estómac, which was selected as the Best Album 2018 by the music magazine Enderrock. Tickets and more information here.
Next up, Pere Navarro Quintet, one of the brightest ensembles in the Catalan and Spanish jazz scene. Authors of Perenne and Pere Navarro Quintet Live in Madrid, their concert at Lugo’s Jazz Festival was the only one from a national band to be chosen by the SGAE and Radio 3 to be broadcasted live. Tickets and information here.
The last concert on Saturday will be Mélodie Gimard, who will present her project Numen, which blends jazz, classical music and flamenco. She is also the founding member of Pescaítos Flamenco Quartet and Trio Zuloaga, and has worked as Musical Director for several national and international festivals. Tickets and information here.
On Sunday we will have the chance to see Rita Payés and Elisabeth Roma present their upcoming album Imagina. Mother and daughter join forces to create a moving mix of bossa nova, boleros, Catalan lullabies… all the music that have accompanied them throughout the years. Tickets and information here.
And last but definitely not least, for those of you who cannot make up your mind between classical music or jazz, we have Marco Mezquida‘s Ravel’s Dreams, a record that takes us through the imaginary of French composer Maurice Ravel with a jazzy twist. If that doesn’t sound like something you would want to experience, I don’t know what will. Tickets and more information here.
After a successful first edition, we cannot wait to experience this celebration of music bringing people together.
This event has been organised in collaboration with the Institut Ramon Llull.
