London Latin Jazz Fest 2024: A Celebration of Global Rhythms
Returning for its 11th year, the London Latin Jazz Festival promises a week of exceptional music, set in the intimate surroundings of PizzaExpress Jazz Club in Soho. Running from the 8th to the 12th of October, this event showcases world-class Latin and Latin jazz performances, with a blend of traditional and contemporary sounds from a diverse line-up of international artists.
Opening Night – A Venezuelan Jazz Journey
Kicking off on Tuesday, 8th October, the festival opens with a performance from Venezuelan guitar virtuoso Aleph Aguiar and his septet. Known for weaving together various influences, Aguiar’s music blends the classic styles of jazz with the rich textures of Venezuelan Joropo and Tambor de Barlovento, as well as nods to 70s bop organ, samba, and boogaloo. This sophisticated performance promises to be a highlight for fans of contemporary jazz.
Brazilian Beats on Wednesday
Wednesday’s line-up features Brazilian-British drummer Fabio de Oliveira and his exciting new project, Babo Moreno. With debut singles already making waves in both the Brazilian music scene and amongst jazz enthusiasts, de Oliveira’s performance is highly anticipated. Expect an evening of rhythmic mastery and rich musical influences from both Brazil and beyond.
Flamenco Fusion on Thursday
The festival continues on Thursday, 10th October, with the UK premiere of Háblame, an all-female quartet led by flamenco jazz pianist Mélodie Gimard and Latin Grammy nominee, flamenco vocalist Naike Ponce. Bringing together their distinct artistic visions, this ensemble presents a fresh take on flamenco, featuring original compositions as well as reimagined classics from flamenco legends such as Paco de Lucía. This performance promises to be an evocative exploration of flamenco’s emotional and rhythmic depth.
A Cuban Weekend Spectacle
The weekend is all about Cuban music, kicking off on Friday, 11th October at 7pm with a solo piano performance by New York-based Afro-Cuban jazz star, Dayramir González. His show, The Art of Cuban Piano, is a masterful journey through the evolution of Cuban piano styles over the past century, infused with his own virtuosic flair.
Later that evening at 10pm, festival curator Eliane Correa returns to the stage with her high-energy, female-led 12-piece orchestra, La Evolución. Known for its unique fusion of Cuban timba and jazz, the orchestra’s 2022 album Signo de Fuego was lauded by critics from Jazzwise and Songlines. This electrifying performance is sure to keep the audience dancing into the night.
Closing Night – A Unique Afro-Cuban Collaboration
The festival draws to a close on Saturday, 12th October, with the fifth edition of AfroCuba: Jazz Sessions. This exclusive collaboration sees Cuban percussionist Hammadi Valdés and his Afro-Cuban percussion trio join forces with UK jazz talents Tamar Osborn (saxophone), Al MacSween (piano), and Ruth Goller (bass). After just one day of rehearsals, the musicians will take to the stage to deliver a dynamic and spontaneous fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms and British jazz, creating a truly unmissable performance.
For fans of Latin jazz and those looking to experience the vibrant diversity of global music, the London Latin Jazz Fest 2024 is set to be an unforgettable celebration of rhythm, culture, and collaboration.
London Latin Jazz Fest 2024: A Celebration of Global Rhythms
Returning for its 11th year, the London Latin Jazz Festival promises a week of exceptional music, set in the intimate surroundings of PizzaExpress Jazz Club in Soho. Running from the 8th to the 12th of October, this event showcases world-class Latin and Latin jazz performances, with a blend of traditional and contemporary sounds from a diverse line-up of international artists.
Opening Night – A Venezuelan Jazz Journey
Kicking off on Tuesday, 8th October, the festival opens with a performance from Venezuelan guitar virtuoso Aleph Aguiar and his septet. Known for weaving together various influences, Aguiar’s music blends the classic styles of jazz with the rich textures of Venezuelan Joropo and Tambor de Barlovento, as well as nods to 70s bop organ, samba, and boogaloo. This sophisticated performance promises to be a highlight for fans of contemporary jazz.
Brazilian Beats on Wednesday
Wednesday’s line-up features Brazilian-British drummer Fabio de Oliveira and his exciting new project, Babo Moreno. With debut singles already making waves in both the Brazilian music scene and amongst jazz enthusiasts, de Oliveira’s performance is highly anticipated. Expect an evening of rhythmic mastery and rich musical influences from both Brazil and beyond.
Flamenco Fusion on Thursday
The festival continues on Thursday, 10th October, with the UK premiere of Háblame, an all-female quartet led by flamenco jazz pianist Mélodie Gimard and Latin Grammy nominee, flamenco vocalist Naike Ponce. Bringing together their distinct artistic visions, this ensemble presents a fresh take on flamenco, featuring original compositions as well as reimagined classics from flamenco legends such as Paco de Lucía. This performance promises to be an evocative exploration of flamenco’s emotional and rhythmic depth.
A Cuban Weekend Spectacle
The weekend is all about Cuban music, kicking off on Friday, 11th October at 7pm with a solo piano performance by New York-based Afro-Cuban jazz star, Dayramir González. His show, The Art of Cuban Piano, is a masterful journey through the evolution of Cuban piano styles over the past century, infused with his own virtuosic flair.
Later that evening at 10pm, festival curator Eliane Correa returns to the stage with her high-energy, female-led 12-piece orchestra, La Evolución. Known for its unique fusion of Cuban timba and jazz, the orchestra’s 2022 album Signo de Fuego was lauded by critics from Jazzwise and Songlines. This electrifying performance is sure to keep the audience dancing into the night.
Closing Night – A Unique Afro-Cuban Collaboration
The festival draws to a close on Saturday, 12th October, with the fifth edition of AfroCuba: Jazz Sessions. This exclusive collaboration sees Cuban percussionist Hammadi Valdés and his Afro-Cuban percussion trio join forces with UK jazz talents Tamar Osborn (saxophone), Al MacSween (piano), and Ruth Goller (bass). After just one day of rehearsals, the musicians will take to the stage to deliver a dynamic and spontaneous fusion of Afro-Cuban rhythms and British jazz, creating a truly unmissable performance.
For fans of Latin jazz and those looking to experience the vibrant diversity of global music, the London Latin Jazz Fest 2024 is set to be an unforgettable celebration of rhythm, culture, and collaboration.
