Food, Drinks and Live Music in Brick Lane
Brick Lane Jazz Festival returns in 2023, showcasing some of the most exciting new and established acts on the scene today!
Championing the eclectic and genre-defying wealth of artists that represent the London Jazz Scene, the festival is a unique yearly opportunity to immerse yourself in the newest and most culturally rich sounds coming out of the capital today. With all festival venues a minute’s walk of each other, come and discover new music, be part of a diverse community and enjoy the iconic site that is Brick Lane’s Truman Brewery.
Founded in 2008 by Artistic Director, Gary Crosby OBE and led by musical director, Peter Edwards, Nu Civilisation Orchestra is earning a reputation as a shapeshifting, cutting edge ensemble. Refusing to be bound by genre or scale, it metamorphoses into a new format as each new project is unveiled.
NCO has toured and performed extensively across the UK and recent highlights include a BBC Proms debut in 2019, and a national tour in 2021 for a perfectly timed creative exploration and celebration of Marvin Gaye’s seminal masterpiece, What’s Going On, five decades after its release.
At the end of 2022, the Orchestra, featuring ESKA on vocals, embarked on a 6-date tour performing Joni Mitchell’s Hejira and Mingus albums, receiving amazing responses from audiences and reviewers alike.
“Exceeding all hopes, this made Mingus and Mitchell’s visions as vivid as they’ve ever been, and as breathtakingly advanced. An unbelievable experience. If you get the chance to see this, do not miss it.” ~ The Arts Desk: Nu Civilisation Orchestra feat. ESKA presents Mitchell’s Hejira & Mingus (5* review)
Nu Civilisation Orchestra…telling stories that impact our times through the lens of music.
Emma Rawicz
Emma Rawicz is a multi-award-winning young saxophonist and composer making big waves on the UK music scene. She has been described as “An astonishing new talent” (Jamie Cullum – BBC Radio 2), a force to be reckoned with’ (Jazzwise) and ‘a fast-rising star’ (London Jazz News). At the age of 20, she has already recorded and released an eagerly awaited debut album ‘Incantation’ featuring Ant Law, made up entirely of her original compositions. Emma’s second album, recorded in the summer of 2022 features an all-star band of Ivo Neame, Ant Law, Conor Chaplin and Asaf Sirkis, will be released in early 2023.
Emma has also created a name for herself both as a bandleader and a sessional player. For a relatively new arrival on the scene, she has already made an astonishing impact, regularly playing at major London jazz venues with a wide range of established musicians. Emma is a recipient of the 2021 Drake Yolanda Award and winner of ‘Best Newcomer’ at the 2022 Parliamentary Jazz Awards
Emma’s influences range from modern jazz and fusion to folk and soul, key figures in her musical development including Chris Potter, Ari Hoenig, Kenny Jarrett, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea and more.
Ni Maxine
Ni Maxine is a Neo-Jazz Singer-Songwriter; a black woman navigating the modern world and exploring themes of home, identity, self-esteem and belonging. She sings to bring people from all generations together and spark conversations for change, with a real sense of justice and a responsibility ‘to reflect the times’, and the experience that is unique to Black British women.
Ni Maxine surrounds herself with musicians who share her passion for change and for jazz, the truest expression of black voices. Maxine’s childhood was steeped in the deep cultural reference points of black history. She recalls her father’s love of jazz, her mother’s love of funk and rare groove, as well as week-days in front of MTV Base and Sunday mornings in a gospel church, where she first learned to sing.
Her message is clear; “I want to inspire young people who are having (or had) a similar experience to what I had, growing up, and cultivate community. The algorithm divides us, but we are more powerful when we are united.”
Appearing on main stages at festivals with a string of sold-out shows across the North this year with a tour supported by Jazz North in the works and a debut single being supported by BBC Introducing and Jazz FM, Ni Maxine is one to watch!
Charity Partner” Tomorrow’s Warriors
Brick Lane Jazz Festival is joining forces with Tomorrow’s Warriors as our charity
partner for the 2023 edition of the festival. We have worked together to create a unique opportunity to give back to the music community, having an impactful and lasting effect on the emerging UK Jazz talent. Donate now by clicking here.
