Jazz Directors Series #3: Nine emerging professional musicians selected to perform with Zoe Rahman

Following an open call for participation and careful selection process, the lineup for the next Inner City Ensemble has been announced, with nine emerging professional UK jazz musicians joining renowned composer and pianist Zoe Rahman for the third edition of the Jazz Directors Series in October 2017.

With shows in Manchester, Warrington, Morecambe and Bradford, the ensemble will play Rahman’s arrangements of pieces from previous trio and quartet albums including her latest solo album ‘Dreamland’, plus additional repertoire by jazz greats Duke Ellington and Abdullah Ibrahim. The group will include piano, bass, drums, flute, clarinet, trumpet, alto and tenor saxophones, trombone, and tuba.

This new ensemble comprises of some of the most promising and exciting emerging musicians working in the UK today, including players from Tomorrow’s Warriors and the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, as well as alumni of the Royal Brussels Conservatoire, Royal Northern College of Music, Royal Academy of Music, Cambridge University and Leeds College of Music.

Upon selecting the musicians, Zoe Rahman said “I am really excited to be working with such a fantastic group of musicians and I can’t wait to share the stage with them. Many thanks to everyone who applied to work on this project, it was great to see such a wealth of talent out there.”

Ensemble lineup:
Zoe Rahman – Piano

Aleksandra Topczewska – Alto Saxophone
Arnaud Guichard – Tenor Saxophone
Daniel Mitchell – Trombone
Faye MacCalman – Clarinet
Hanna Mbuya – Tuba
James Brady – Trumpet
Maria Rehakova – Flute
Roz McDonald – Bass
Yusuf Ahmed – Drums

Described by the Observer as “a remarkable pianist by any standard”, pianist and composer Zoe Rahman has firmly established herself as one of the brightest stars on the contemporary jazz scene. A vibrant and highly individual artist, her style is deeply rooted in jazz yet it reflects her classical background, British/Bengali heritage and her very broad musical taste. Known for her powerful technique, wide-ranging imagination and exuberant performances, she has become a highly sought-after musician, recently working with the likes of George Mraz, Courtney Pine and Jerry Dammers’ Spatial AKA Orchestra. She is a winner of the prestigious UK Parliamentary Jazz Award, and has been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.

Tickets are on sale now.