Tara Minton and Emma Rawicz for National Jazz Archive ‘Swinging On A Harp String’ fundraiser

The National Jazz Archive presents a special fundraising concert on 2 December at Loughton Baptist Church at 1pm, to celebrate the rich history of the harp in jazz with leading UK-based harpist Tara Minton and her talented Quartet that includes sax star Emma Rawicz.

Pioneers of the harp in jazz and improvised music include Dorothy Ashby and Alice Coltrane, Corgi Hale, Mariano Gonzales and the UK's own David Snell, to contemporary trail blazers Park Stickney, Edmar Castaneda, Brandee Younger, Julie Campiche and Alina Bzhezhinska and a whole host of modem day jazz musicians who play the harp. Tara Minton and her quartet will lead audiences through the sounds of Detroit, New York, California, Latin America, Europe and Asia - from bebop to the avant garde and everything in between.

Australian born harpist, vocalist and composer Tara Minton has worked with Björk, ESKA, Stan Sulzmann, Geoff Gascoyne, The Australian World Orchestra and The Ronnie Scott's All Stars among many others. In 2020 she released her critically acclaimed album Please Do Not Ignore The Mermaid exploring themes of climate change and mer-myth. She’s joined by rising star saxophonist Emma Rawicz, a multi-award-winning young bandleader and composer, who’s already making waves on the UK jazz scene and increasing winning fans across Europe following her signing to prestigious German jazz label ACT Music who have released her acclaimed second album, Chroma. They are backed by a top rhythm section of bassist Ed Babar and drummer David lngamells.

The National Jazz Archive holds the UK's finest collection of written, printed visual material on jazz, blues and related music, from the1920s to the present day. Since the Archive was founded in1988, its vision has been to ensure the rich cultural heritage of jazz is safeguarded for future generations of enthusiasts, professionals and researchers. The NJA collections include 4,000 books, 700 periodicals, photos, letters, memorabilia and personal papers donated by musicians, writers journalists and collectors.

For full details visit www.natlonaljazzarchlve.org.uk