Guildhall Jazz Festival x EFG London Jazz Festival: Giacomo Smith & Mozes Rosenberg

Isaac James drums
Josh Stidwill keyboard/synth/piano
Jon Batchelor bass

A dynamic, exciting, new jazz-fusion band, made up of three friends hailing from the vibrant heart of London. Blending the soulful depth of gospel music, the smooth rhythms of neo-soul, the infectious grooves of funk, and the intricate melodies of 70s jazz fusion, we create a timeless and refreshingly contemporary sound.

Our music celebrates the diverse influences that shaped the musicians we are today, and together, we support each other in the pursuit of musical excellence.

Louis Gascoyne bass and vocals
Baylee Blu vocals
Thomas Sladden piano/keyboard
Alex Astill guitar
Frank Hawkes drums

Led by Baylee Blu and Louis Gascoyne, Beluga are a Jazz infused band based in London. Their influences are Stevie Wonder, Esperanza Spalding, Tom Misch and Miles Davis.

Evie Hill vocals
Diarra Walcott-Ivanhoe piano
Reuben Merry drums
Joe Orme bass
Calum Harrison guitar
Cat Eden trombone
Matt Hill trumpet
Jemima Whyte alto saxophone

Orchard are the newest eight-piece neo-soul group to emerge from the London jazz scene. Having met at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, they have been shaped by their shared love of the jazz tradition, and yet bring their most valuable contributions to the music through individual influences and unique musical backgrounds. Celebrating the interaction between individuality and collective experience is what Orchard’s music is all about - like rows of trees in the orchard, each individual voice grows in conversation with the whole. 

Heavily influenced by artists such as Roy Hargrove, D'Angelo, Robert Glasper and Kokoroko, Orchard’s music synthesises meaningful songwriting with heavy grooves, warm horn lines, and blistering improvisation. Having met on the Artist Masters course, Orchard’s sound is fully grown - they are set to release an EP later this year.

Lucy Joy voice
Alex Allen guitar
Thomas Sladden piano
Louis Gascoyne bass
Luke Brueck Seeley drums

The Lucy Joy Quintet fuses modal jazz and improvisation with modern songwriting performing a combination of modal standards with original vocalese and original music by Lucy Joy. Influences from McCoy Tyner to Billie Holiday are drawn together into a powerful, lyrical sound.

Celebrated clarinettist Giacomo Smith and Dutch Sinti guitarist Mozes Rosenberg join together to bridge culture, tradition and time to create unique concerts drawing on the history of Django Reinhard’s music. Mozes’ virtuosic guitar and Giacomo’s breathtaking range of expression brings a new energy to this timeless music. In this all-star lineup, Giacomo joins forces with Dutch Sinti guitarist Mozes Rosenberg to move Django’s winning instrumental formula into the modern era. With their quartet they perform original compositions, swing era classics, and other songs from outside the typical gypsy swing and Manouche repertoire.