ConnectsVideo – London Catalan Festival

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The London Catalan Festival returns to PizzaExpress Jazz Club in Soho for its second edition. The 2019 programme continues to celebrate diversity of music coming out of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, particularly where they interconnect with jazz – flamenco, bossa nova, classical music and electronica will be represented in this exiting festival over the first weekend of June!

Catalonia and the Balearic Islands have been a welcoming land for centuries. This can be seen in its music with the integration of flamenco, traditionally from the south of Spain, classical music coming from across Europe, bossa nova from Brazil, fado from Portugal. The Catalan Countries are a melting pot of cultures that we wanted to represent in this year’s festival, showcasing 5 incredible projects that connect jazz with other genres and cultures.

The festival was born with the aim of promoting both established and up-and-coming Catalan artists outside of the Catalan Countries. It offers a unique opportunity for UK audiences to hear the best in contemporary Catalan music.

Continuing with last year’s commitment, we want to ensure an equal representation of bands led by men and women.

The London Catalan Festival is a Saurus Management production directed by Nora Jorba Soler, in collaboration with Institut Ramon Llull and PizzaExpress Jazz Club, with the support of Jamboree Jazz Club.

THE SHOWS:

CLARA PEYA ‘ESTÓMAC’ – Saturday 1st June. Lunch show. £15
Pianist and composer Clara Peya is considered one of the most original and unique musicians on the Catalan and Spanish scene. Peya will be presenting her latest album Estómac, awarded Best Album of 2018 by music magazine Enderrock. In an album where she combines sounds of jazz, rap, pop and electronics, Peya conveys a feminist message that tries to deconstruct the idea of ‘romantic love’.
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/clara-peya-estomac

PERE NAVARRO QUINTET – Saturday 1st June. Early show. Evening. £18
Pere Navarro, trumpet player, pianist, composer and producer, is one of the brightest young talents on the Balearic and Spanish jazz scene. Inspired by New York contemporary jazz, funk and R&B, he is visiting London with his quintet, with whom he has released two albums. They will be performing music from his latest release “Pere Navarro Quintet Live in Madrid”. Expect lush harmony, steady backbeats and fluid trumpet solos.
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/pere-navarro-quintet

MEL GIMARD ‘NUMEN’ – Saturday 1st June. Late show. Evening. £15
Mélodie Gimard is a French pianist, composer and arranger living and working in Barcelona. She will be presenting Numen, her debut album. Gimard will be transforming the atmosphere of the club into a flamenco bar, telling her own story whilst drawing from the flamenco tradition and its language seen from a new angle. Feat. Yelfris Valdés.
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/mlodie-gimard-numen

RITA PAYÉS & ELISABETH ROMA ‘IMAGINA’ – Sunday 2nd June. Lunch show. £15
The young Catalan trombonist and singer Rita Payés joins forces with her mother Elisabeth Roma, an exceptional classical guitarist. They will be launching their debut album Imagina giving their most personal view on the music that has accompanied them all their lives, from traditional Catalan lullabies to Latin American music including bossa nova, fado, boleros…  They will be joined by bassist Magali Datzira and percussionist Juan Berbín.
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/rita-payes-elisabeth-roma-imagina

MARCO MEZQUIDA ‘RAVEL’S DREAMS’ – Sunday 2nd June. Evening show. £20
The versatile pianist, improviser and composer Marco Mezquida takes us on an oneiric journey through Maurice Ravel’s musical and personal imagery. Along with percussionist Aleix Tobias and cellist Martín Meléndez, Marco Mezquida offers a unique take on Ravel’s genius: he permeates it with groove, expands it through improvisation, and creates something entirely new and personal.
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/marco-mezquida-ravels-dreams

about Pizza Express Live

PizzaExpress Live presents more than 2000 shows each year across a number of venues, including their brand new venue PizzaExpress Live Holborn, the historic PizzaExpress Jazz Club in Soho, The Pheasantry in Chelsea, and their PizzaExpress Live venues in Maidstone and their newest venue Birmingham. There are over 20 restaurants hosting regular music every Thursday from Abbey Road to Manchester, go to The Live Playlist for all venues.

Live music has always been an important part of PizzaExpress. Founder Peter Boizot was a jazz lover and constantly sought ways to include music in his restaurants, whether at PizzaExpress branches from the late 1960s, and at his other ventures Pizza on the Park and Kettner’s from the 1970s. The flagship venue at 10 Dean Street, London has hosted internationally acclaimed music since its first ticketed shows in May 1976.

A selective list of artists they have worked with over the years includes Gregory Porter, Benny Carter, Amy Winehouse, Brad Mehldau, Bill Wyman, Bud Freeman, Monty Alexander, Jamie Cullum, Brian May, Rick Wakeman, Milt Hinton, Van Morrison, Barry Harris, Cybill Shepherd, Melody Gardot, Steve Ross, Art Farmer, Diana Krall, e.s.t., Larry Carlton, Buddy Tate, George Shearing, Adelaide Hall, Benny Waters, Charlie Watts, Mose Allison, Anita O’Day, Doc Cheatham, GoGo Penguin, and many more

PizzaExpress Live is made up of a small team of experienced music industry professionals, always seeking to present the highest quality music in intimate venues – all topped off with great pizza!