Spanish Accents, Latin Ensemble and Brilliant Brazil at PizzaExpress Jazz Club, Soho

Alec Dankworth’s Spanish Accents

Friday 26th July Doors at 7pm – Performance 9pm
Tickets £24    Tel: 020 7439 4962

Following their memorable concert last year at Dean Street, then with many concerts up and down the U.K., this formidable ensemble returns for another inspiring evening of castanets, hand clapping, evocative singing, flamenco dancing and captivating ensembles and solos from Spanish Accents.

Led by the multi British Jazz Award winner Alec Dankworth, whose long-standing love of all things Spanish provided the inspiration for this group, the music of Metheny, Corea, even Rodrigo are reinvented alongside traditional folk songs and originals in flamenco rhythms creating a wonderful and genuinely Spanish world.

The 7-piece band features the authentic Spanish voice of Graciella Rodriguez, lead singer with J-Sonics and the salsa inspired Roberto Pla Latin Ensemble, together with the flamenco dancing and palmas of Jesus Olmedo.

They, along with a heady mix of top British musicians – saxophonist Mark Lockheart, Chris Garrick’s gorgeous violin, and Alec Dankworth’s bass interweaving with the genuinely Spanish drumwork of Demi Garcia and guitar of Chris Allard, promise a distinctive evening in this JBGB Events presentation.

Alec Dankworth — Bass
Graciela Rodriguez — Vocals
Jesus Olmedo – Dance/palmas
Rowland Sutherland — Flutes
Tori Freestone — Saxes
Chris Allard – Guitars
Demi Garcia-Sabat – Percussion

Spanish tinged jazz full of colourful and imaginative arrangements plus sparkling playing from all concerned. A triumph for Dankworth and his highly talented team.” – The Jazz Mann

For an in advance taste of the delights in store here.

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The Roberto Pla Latin Ensemble

Saturday 27th July Doors open 6.30pm – Performance 8.30pm.
Tickets: £25 Tel: 020 7439 4962

After their stunning sold out show in February earlier this year, The Roberto Pla Latin Ensemble return, following popular acclaim, for the second of their three shows this year and a Saturday salsa infused party night.

Enjoy an evening of stunning South American infused music, with the world famous Roberto Pla and his 12-piece band of saxophones, trumpets, trombones plus a mighty layered percussion section – with Roberto on timbales and featuring the compelling personality and voice of Graciela Rodriguez.

Expect a night of sizzling Salsa and Latin infused rhythms, guaranteed to have the audience on their feet.

Roberto Pla is the Colombian percussionist best known as the ‘God-Father of Latin Music in the UK, for his contribution to live music particularly in Afro- influenced rhythms. His Latin Ensemble is a regular presence on the European Festival and TV scene.

In 1979 Roberto left Colombia for New York, where he became a busy salsa session percussionist. A year later the attractions of the European pop scene drew him to London, where he joined a jazz fusion band Cayenne and by 1982 he was touring the world with pop megastars Boney M. In 1984, he was one of the earliest members of the London School of Samba, the first samba school to be set up in the UK.

In 2017 the band celebrated their 30th anniversary, winning their first LUKAS award for ‘Lifetime Achievement and contribution to the Latino Community in the UK’. They have headlined the ‘Glasto Latino Stage at Glastonbury Festival and subsequently won their second LUKAS for ‘Concert of the year’.

Recent major live highlights for Roberto Pla and the Latin Ensemble have been Brecon Jazz Festival, Expo Festival Lisbon, The Edinburgh Fringe, Canada Square Festival, Under the Stars Festival, Jazz at Boisdale & Ronnie Scotts Club.

Get a taste of the wonderful Roberto Pla here:

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Brilliant BRAZIL – Luiz Morais Sextet

Wednesday 31st July Doors open 7pm – Performance 8.30pm
Tickets £23 Tel: 020 7439 4962

They are back! Sold out notices in February at Dean Street and the audience yelling for more and more, makes this summer night return of the band Brilliant Brazil, a must get to concert,

The Luiz Morais Sextet are one of the most talked about and consistently sold out Brazillian performers in London at top venues including Crazy Coqs, Pizza Express Live Holborn and The Other Palace Studio.

They entertain with the classic music of Urban Rio.

Brilliant Brazil perform classic melodies from Villa-Lobos & Antonio Carlos Jobim, including well know favourites “One Note Samba”and “The Girl from Ipanema” and more, plus compelling music from many other South American music masters, together with their original compositions.

The Luiz Morais Sextet, with the voice of Gabrielle Kozyra – “the best Brazillian Music singer in London” -The Hoste Of Jazz, embrace seductive vocals, supported by Luiz on 7-string guitar with the rhythmic Rachel Hayter on flutes, with, piano, bass and percussion.

Born in the North East of Brazil, guitar player, arranger and composer Luiz Morais has been playing the guitar from a young age. Immersed in the vibrant Brazilian musical culture, he built his strong musical foundations playing rhythms such as Samba, Choro and Bossa Nova as well as the iconic North Eastern rhythm of Forró.

Luiz graduated in Popular Music from the University of Rio de Janeiro and can count among his teachers great masters of Brazilian guitar such as Carrilho, Braga & Gnattali

Brilliant Brazil return to Dean Street for another party of toe tapping, hip swaying, finger popping samba, bossa nova and choro music.

For a taste of Brilliant Brazil see here.

A unique and truly exciting performance experience” – Gilberto Gil