PizzaExpress Live packs in festival 50
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
PizzaExpress Live will present 50 shows in 10 days at their three London venues in Soho, Holborn and at the Pheasantry in Chelsea as part of this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival
Highlights include gigs from US vocal legends Take 6, who perform at Holborn (16-17 Nov);
the revered 93-year-old vocalist Sheila Jordan with the Ray Gallon Trio on the festival’s
opening night (11 Nov), plus a rare UK show from the 84-year-old jazz star, pianist Steve
Kuhn, who is known for his work with the likes of John Coltrane and Stan Getz (18 Nov).
There are also appearances from Spanish singer/trumpeter Andrea Motis, virtuosic US pianist
Connie Han and her Trio, and top jazz bassist Linda May Han Oh. Emerging European jazz
acts also feature across the week with concerts from saxophonist Mihály Dresch and the
Hungarian Jazz Quartet in Soho; a double header of chamber jazz from Vertigo (Czech
Republic) and Hi-5 (Austria) both at Holborn on 14 Nov, while there are cutting-edge sounds
from Red Kite, led by Danish pianist Esben Tjalve, featuring Austrian guitarist Hannes
Riepler, Italian trumpeter Fulvio Sigurta, French drummer Marc Michel, and London-based
Danish bassist Jasper Høiby (15 Nov, Holborn).
Plenty of Brit Jazz names also appear with the barnstorming Simon Spillett Big Band saluting
Tubby Hayes (lunchtime, Soho, 13 Nov) as well as shows from Dave O’Higgins with Rob
Luft (15 Nov); acclaimed bassists Daniel Casimir (17 Nov) and Matt Ridley (19 Nov) while
gifted trumpeter Alexandra Ridout leads her Trio (20 Nov). And closing out the week at
Holborn will be two nights from singer Ian Shaw with altoist Tony Kofi plus jazz vocal
veteran Elaine Delmar and the Mark Nightingale Big Band.
The Heads Up series threads rising stars through the programme with free entry lunchtime
shows from French bassist/vocalist Amy Gadiaga; electronica-jazz from Gearbox-signed
drummer/producer Chiminyo; the sax-led Allexa Nava Quartet; and Chinese-Welsh drummer
Andee Liu, who’s currently studying at Berklee College of Music, and performs here with
fellow Berklee undergrad, Gloucestershire-raised composer/instrumentalist Roella Oloro.
For full dates and details on all these shows visit www.pizzaexpresslive.com/live-playlist
