Aaron is a jazz vocalist & former singer with the three-time Grammy Award winning group The Sounds of Blackness. He is the former personal assistant to Morris Hayes (Prince’s music director/keyboardist & band leader of The New Power Generation).
Winner of a 2012 NAACP Image Award, Aaron is the Chair of Jazz North; former Vice-Chair of Leeds Conservatoire; Trustee at Manchester Jazz Festival; Non-Executive Director at Come Play With Me & Trustee at Showroom Cinema.
He is also a PRS Foundation Advisor; Music: Leeds Advisor; Launchpad Advisor; Founder/Lead of Paradise Hill Productions and former City Commissioner/Mayor of Parsons, Kansas.
Currently he works as the Programme & Academy Director for The Piece Hall in Halifax, England; Vice President for Ultrasound Entertainment based in Los Angeles & is the manager for Dr Dre’s lead producer at Aftermath, Erik “Blu2th” Griggs.
André Marmot Active professionally in music since 2007 as an agent, musician, promoter and label owner, he specialises in the common ground between African, jazz and global electronic music. He has recently published his debut book Unapologetic Expression.
Arusa Qureshi is a writer and editor based in Edinburgh, and the Music Programme Manager at Summerhall. She is the current Editor of Fest and the former Editor of The List and writes mostly about music, most recently Flip the Script – a book about women in UK hip hop, published by 404 Ink.
Her work has appeared in the Scotsman, Clash, the Guardian, GoldFlakePaint, Time Out, the Quietus, NME and more. She chairs the board of the Scottish Music Centre, sits on the board of the Music Venue Trust and is the co-curator of the award-winning Amplifi series at Edinburgh’s Queens Hall.
As one of the freshest and most driving forces on the Scottish Jazz scene today, Brodie has shown his strengths as a bass player, bandleader and a composer on multiple occasions. Through the years he has worked and recorded with many esteemed musicians including Tommy Smith, The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, Texas and his own projects (Quintet, Trio, Septet). Whilst gaining his masters degree at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Brodie was able to work with and learn from some of the leading European jazz musicians around today including, but not limited to Jasper Blom, Reinier Baas, Ben van Gelder, Joris Roelofs and Ernst Glerum. It was here that he was able to perform constantly in some of The Netherlands many jazz festivals (North Sea Jazz Festival, Amsterdam Jazz Fest, Amersfoort Jazz Festival) and was involved in two separate groups who made it to the final of the prestigious competition, ‘Keep and Eye’ which is held in The Bimhuis, Amsterdam every year.
He is a permanent member of the Brian Molley Quartet who have been selected for the prestigious ‘Made in Scotland’ program at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and last year (2019) travelled to India to perform at Jazz festivals in Jodhpur and Madras. He is also a resident member of pianist Paul Harrison’s band ‘Act Shy’. Brodie also co-curates a monthly series of Jazz and Improvised music concerts at The Glad Cafe in Glasgow with fellow musician, Emilie Boyd. As a composer, Brodie has been recently commissioned by Symphony Hall, Birmingham as part of their Jazzlines talent development opportunity which premiered on 30th October 2022.
Conor McAuley is a drummer, composer, and improviser from Belfast, performing with the avant-garde, free-form Irish traditional group Córas Trio. Described by Soweto Kinch as ‘explosive’, his playing is guided by concepts of listening (feeling), unthought, eternity, and nothingness. In 2023, Conor was selected for the Take-Five Jazz Talent Development Programme through Serious and was named the Improvised Music Company Navigator Artist in Residence. He also co-directs the experimental QUBe Ensemble at Queen’s University Belfast, where he is completing a PhD in improvisation.
Almass Badat is a producer at British Underground, who showcase outstanding UK music, art and immersive technology to international industry audiences.
Almass has programmed and curated live music, film and educational programmes across platforms including SXSW, BBC, AmericanaFest, the ICA, Glastonbury and Southbank Centre and more, and is a member of the BRITS Voting Academy.
British Underground manages the HORIZONS UK and Ireland pavilion at WOMEX and since 2017 has co-produced the Jazz re:freshed Outernational showcases at SXSW (and beyond).
Catherine Allison is a promoter and events producer based in Glasgow. Her work centres community-led music and art projects, ensuring accessibility and visibility for artists, audiences and venues. Her passion for creativity drives her to create platforms that encourage artist growth and community connection.
She is the co-founder of Flos Collective CIC, an arts organisation dedicated to championing women and non-binary artists and works with LayLow Glasgow, where she assists in the curation of regular intimate music events. Both of these projects happen in collaboration with grassroots venues and work to connect emerging and established artists with new audiences and collaborators. Committed to supporting Scotland’s creative community, she is a key figure in nurturing independent and local talent across the scene.
Clare Hewitt is a Music Officer at Creative Scotland. Her work involves supporting and developing the country’s jazz and western classical music sectors by helping artists to realise their ideas, projects and careers with funding and advice. She also works with jazz organisations as they develop their public programmes, talent development initiatives and strategic roles within Scotland’s jazz scene. Clare works with artists and organisations in the sector to coordinate Scotland’s presence at jazzahead! each year.
Coralie Usmani is a violinist from New Zealand and Singapore, settled in Scotland since 2015. She is the Chief Executive of Jazz Scotland, a charity that promotes three jazz festivals (Aberdeen, Islay, Dundee) in Scotland – all delivered with an increasing focus on integrating and interweaving strands in education, community, and artist development. She has worked extensively as a performer and music educator, including with the socially focused orchestral music education charity Sistema Scotland. She is passionate about the relevance of improvisation in music education, championing jazz music as a natural vehicle for such exploration.
Conor McAuley is a drummer, composer, and improviser from Belfast, performing with the avant-garde, free-form Irish traditional group Córas Trio. Described by Soweto Kinch as ‘explosive’, his playing is guided by concepts of listening (feeling), unthought, eternity, and nothingness. In 2023, Conor was selected for the Take-Five Jazz Talent Development Programme through Serious and was named the Improvised Music Company Navigator Artist in Residence. He also co-directs the experimental QUBe Ensemble at Queen’s University Belfast, where he is completing a PhD in improvisation.
Dionne Bennett is an award-winning artist, educator, and activist, recognised with the prestigious 2024 Black History Cymru 365 award for her contributions to race equality, inclusion, and music. As the Director and co-founder of Tân Cerdd, a Black-led music organisation, Dionne is a dynamic force in promoting Black Welsh culture. She is also a vocal and performance lecturer at Hereford College of Arts, mentoring the next generation of musicians. In addition to her educational work, Dionne is a professional vocalist, composer, and curator, dedicated to advancing Black music and decolonisation in the arts.
Eric Karsenty is a music obsessed and former music exec with 20 years’ experience delivering global campaigns for multinationals in music.
In 2020, he founded Bridge The Gap is an artist management and Label Services company Bridge The Gap help independent musicians release their music with a clear understanding of the market and their audiences, giving them the tools to tell their story efficiently to as many people as possible. We get the music heard, convey the story well and build compelling marketing plans leveraging own, earned and paid media via all the channels at the artists’ disposal.
They guide them through every step of the way from A&R to playlisting pitching, though to PR, content creation and campaign management, allowing them to be as creative in the way they promote your music as they are making and producing it.
Recently shortlisted for the Mercury Prize with corto.alto’s ‘Bad With Names’, Bridge The Gap has accumulated over 40m streams to date, booked and managed 600+ shows, as well as 3000+ national and international radio plays.www.bridgethegapmgt.com
Fred Bolza founded and launched New Soil in partnership with Marathon Music Group in the Summer of 2020. The founding principle was to consider each artist as unique and to offer each a bespoke blend of strategy, management and label services with a view to constructing the foundations for a sustainable career. Since then the label has seen successful campaigns for Theon Cross, Ill Considered, corto.alto, Balimaya Project and forged innovative partnerships with other independent labels including Jazz re:Freshed, Total Refreshment Centre, Bridge The Gap, Women in Jazz and Mushroom Half Hour in South Africa rapidly positioning itself as a key player in the UK’s jazz and jazz adjacent space. Most recently corto.alto’s Bad With Names was shortlisted for the 2024 Mercury Music Prize. Prior to that he spent over a decade as VP Strategy at Sony Music.
Fiona Alexander Executive (Producer Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival and Edinburgh Festival Carnival) After graduating from Edinburgh University, Fiona Alexander worked with The Edinburgh International Film Festival and with the London international Festival of Theatre, before joining Assembly Theatre as General Manager in 1988. In 1990 she and Roger Spence set up Assembly Direct, working as Festival consultants and Music Promoters. They ran general arts Festivals; and folk, jazz, country and classical music events. By 1993, the concentration was on jazz and they promoted concert and club series throughout Scotland, and were for three or four years the main promoter of large scale jazz concerts in Britain.
In 1996 they were approached to co-promote the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival and began to evolve the Festival from it’s trad jazz base. In 1999, they became publishers of a monthly magazine, Jazz Review, with the re-eminent and world renowned jazz critic, Richard Cook, as its editor. This continued for ten years, until the magazine closed after Richard’s tragic death. In October 2000, they took over the Edinburgh jazz club, Henry’s, and by 2003 were running over 550 concerts in Scotland. In 2007, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival asked Fiona and Roger to help with their difficulties and in 2008 they were appointed Producers of the Festival, on a part time basis, whilst continuing to work for Assembly Direct promoting concerts and Festivals. In 2010 Assembly Direct merged with Jazz Aberdeen to create Jazz Scotland. Fiona is currently a director of Jazz Scotland which promotes Jazz Festivals and concerts throughout the year – notably in Aberdeen,Dundee and Islay Festival.
In 2012 The Edinburgh Festival Carnival was established as part of EJBF. And has grown to become the largest multi-cultural event in Edinburgh. In 2019 the company expanded into delivering year round work with mini-Festivals, workshops, music schools etc. In 2020 Fiona became sole producer of Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival and stepped back from work with Jazz Scotland. Today the Festival comprises c 120 concerts with a focus on Scottish creativity and international showcasing.
Fish Krish has been part of Tomorrow’s Warrior for 13 years and has been instrumental in the charity’s growth over that period. As Head of Special Projects, she has overseen the development of Tomorrow’s Warriors Partnership Network and Emerging Artist programme, providing much needed performances for new jazz talent across London and the rest of the UK.
Fish is also lead Creative Producer for TW’s professional ensemble Nu Civilisation Orchestra and has been central to the Orchestra’s development including national tours of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, Joni Mitchell’s Hejira and the Orchestra’s headline performances with Chaka Khan at Royal FestivalHall and Brazilian maestro Arthur Verocai at the Barbican in 2024.
Grace Pitkin is part of the team at Serious – one of the UK’s leading producers and promoters of Jazz, contemporary and traditional music, as their programming and talent development manager. As well as managing their talent development programme Take Five, she also contributes to their artistic programming across the year including for the EFG London Jazz Festival.
Previously, Grace worked in the music team at the British Council, worked for the Leeds based record label Leaf, and before this set up an events platform in Leeds called Madame Jazz as a space to celebrate female-led jazz in the city.
Holly Payton-Lombardo has worked in creative industries at a senior level since 2001. She founded the Brighton Fringe in 2004, managing it to become the 3rd largest Arts Fringe Festival in the world. She was a senior manager at the Edinburgh Fringe Society and Director of an Edinburgh Fringe venue. Known for working within some of the UK’s largest international Festivals, in 2007 Holly pooled her knowledge of the cultural sector and founded the World Fringe Network, which links nearly 300 Fringe Festivals across the globe. Holly has lectured at Universities on event & business management, was an assessor for the Arts Council England, where she assessed the NRTF, and has been an Executive Trustee of the British Arts Festival Association for 8 years. More recently she was the Project Director for Wooden O Theatres and left her position as the Artistic Director of Fusion Arts Oxford to join the NRTF.
“Throughout my career, one thread has been consistent; my passion for networking and generating platforms for creative development. I am responsible for linking up and facilitating opportunities for cultural leaders, artists, and audiences. I can see the wider picture of national and international cultural trends and I am ambitious with how I interpret that into initiatives and policy.”
Ian Storror and ‘Jazzata’ are celebrating the 40th Anniversary of promoting high quality Jazz & Acoustic music in Bristol. Starting in a local pub, The Albert Inn in Bedminster, Bristol; Ian began putting on music in the intimate bar, in late 1983. Over the 26 year tenure, Ian established ‘The Albert’ as a landmark pub and a National, European and Internationally renowned venue for Jazz in the UK. It attracted the finest musicians in the country such as Ronnie Scott, Julian Joseph, Andy Sheppard, Stan Tracey OBE, Mike Westbrook OBE and Keith Tippett to name but a few… Touring American and European artists also played the venue as its reputation grew; Fapy Lafertin (Bel), Boulou & Elios Ferré (Fr), Joey Calderazzo, Tal Farlow, Don Byron and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band from the States.
Upon leaving the pub in 2005, Ian continued to promote music under the banner of Jazzata (Jazz at the Albert) at various venues from the Hen & Chicken in Bedminster, Bordeaux Quay eco-restaurant on the docks and established the jazz club at Future Inns in Cabot Circus. A series at the Bristol Old Vic led to gigs at the Bristol Beacon foyer during the venue’s regeneration. Now, Jazzata puts on events at The Lantern Hall at the Beacon.
In all, Ian Storror has overseen over 3,900 gigs in the last 40 years.
Karl Bos is the Senior Producer at Folded Wing, looking after ‘Round Midnight with Soweto Kinch on BBC Radio 3 and The Jazz Show with Jamie Cullum on BBC Radio 2. He also produces projects including ARIA Gold-winning programme For The Love of Hip Hop with Romesh Ranganathan. A DJ, digger and promoter – he hosts Deeper Cuts on Soho Radio, runs an East London live night of the same name and can often be found spinning records across the city.
Kenneth Killeen is the CEO and Artistic Director of Improvised Music Company (IMC), Ireland’s leading promoter of jazz & ethnic music and a dedicated resource organisation for Irish jazz musicians. He is also the Artistic Director of IMC’s flagship festival of European emerging music professionals, 12 Points.
Kenneth has been professionally involved in the music industry since the mid 90’s and has worked across many aspects of its creative practice, as a musician, teacher, promoter, curator, public speaker and producer. He has enjoyed the opportunity to work with many great artists from Ireland and abroad. Prior to joining the IMC team, he studied jazz guitar at Newpark Music Centre in Dublin and ran a successful jazz & contemporary improv venue in Dublin for 5 years before joining IMC in 2005.
His current roles include talent development, mentorship, curating IMC’s programming and commissioning content, its 3 annual festivals, as well as implementing IMC’s resource strategies and development, both in Ireland and abroad. He is a former board member of Europe Jazz Network (EJN) and a former board member of Jazz Promotion Network (JPN). He is also a founding member of the Music Alliance Ireland (MAI) and the Irish Jazz Forum (IJF). When not involved in music he is passionate about technology and innovation, in particular where it intersects with art and culture.
Laurence Collier is a trumpet player, composer, arranger and teacher. His experience lies as a professional session trumpet player, namely for Cardiff based band Afro Cluster, and as lead-trumpet for The Siglo Section, a swing band also based in Cardiff. Further credits include, Sister Act the musical. Glastonbury Festival, and the welsh national Eisteddfod’s.
Mark van Schaik. On behalf of the Dutch copyright society Buma, Mark is a promoter of Dutch composers in jazz, global, and contemporary classical music. As such, he organizes showcases, network meetings and conferences. For Dutch jazz and affiliated genres, inJazz has become the go-to platform, with a dedicated video service, a weekly radio show/podcast, newsletter and social media channels. At the jazzahead! fair in Bremen, Mark coordinates the Dutch inJazz stand, and all connected promotional activities
Mark Reid – Founder, Touch Sensitive Records (Belfast, Ireland)
Touch Sensitive is a Belfast-based record label that has beaten an ad-hoc, pan-genre path over the last decade with contemporary and archival releases from the likes of David Holmes, Elaine Howley, Natalia Beylis, and Adjunct Ensemble.
Mark is also part of the Moving On Music team – heading up their developmental agency, Middle Aisle, and contributing to the organisation’s many other activities; including the annual Brilliant Corners jazz festival.
Martha Cleary runs Music PR and Artist Management company Glow Artist. Glow strives to help artists grow through day-to-day management, campaign planning and press & radio promotions. Martha started Glow in 2023 having spent six years at independent label Tru Thoughts, working across press and radio promotions and campaign management. Since the inception of Glow Artists, she has worked with a number of signed and independent artists, across promo, campaign consultancy, timeline management, network expansion and general industry advice and support. She is part of the Music Managers Forum 2024 Accelerator Programme.
While at Tru Thoughts she worked across campaigns for the likes of the Grammy Award-winning Hot 8 Brass Band, Moonchild (including their Grammy Award-nominated ‘Starfruit’ album), Quantic, Flowdan, Alice Russell, Nostalgia 77, Rebecca Vasmant, Sly5thAve, Bryony Jarman-Pinto, Hidden Orchestra, Steven Bamidele, and many more. She has provided external social media management for Welsh trio The Bug Club during their ‘Rare Birds’ campaign and for the iconic New Orleans Hot 8 Brass Band across their performances at the Brit Awards, Jools Holland’s Hootenanny, on tour with George Ezra, and at the BBC 6Music Festival. Her experience in live artist liaison and event planning extends across events including Boomtown, We Out Here Festival, Love Supreme Festival, London’s Independent Label Market and The Great Escape Festival, as well as tours and international live dates.
As well as her work for Glow, Martha presents the Underlying Oddities radio show on 1BTN (Brighton) and Totally Wired Radio (London). She has sat on/hosted panels at Love Supreme Festival and Brighton Music Conference, online with Somewhere Soul, and has appeared as a guest speaker providing insight on PR tactics and Campaign Management at The New School New York, University of Chichester, Buckinghamshire New University, Waterbear College and BIMM Brighton.
Nathan Worm is a promoter and DJ based in Bristol. Founder of ‘Worm Disco Club’ Nathan has been working at creating DIY club brands and ideas for 17 years now and has recently moved into concerts. An all-round curator and passionate grassroots supporter.
The award-winning British Neo-Jazz Singer-Songwriter, Ni Maxine, Hailed a ‘Black Woman at The Forefront of the UK Jazz Scene’ (Black Ballad), is sparking intergenerational conversations for change through song, exploring themes of home, identity, self-esteem & belonging.
Compared, by audience members, to Billie Holiday, Sade and Erykah Badu, her conscious & political lyricism and timeless vocals have taken her to the main stage at Liverpool’s Africa Oyé, Gilles Peterson’s ‘We Out Here’ & the EFG London Jazz Festival.
With a BBC Introducing ‘highlight’ live session under her belt, her Manchester Jazz Festival performance broadcast on BBC Radio 3’s J to Z, a live appearance on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Front Row’, and a string of sold-out shows in 2024, Ni Maxine has carved a path for her ‘afro-centric and soulful’ sound.
Her award-winning debut single ‘Strange Love’, supported by tastemakers Jamie Cullum (The Jazz Show), YolanDa Brown (Jazz FM), Jamz Supernova and China Moses (Jazz FM), was played across Jazz FM, Radio 1, 1Xtra & Selector Radio (internationally) and subsequent singles have created anticipation for her debut EP, cementing Ni Maxine as one to watch in 2024.
Paula McColl, Creative Producer, Moving On Music the leading not-for-profit promoter of jazz, traditional, folk, contemporary, classical, experimental and ‘other’ music across Northern Ireland. Based in Belfast, our activities include an annual concert programme, NI-wide music touring programme, the annual Brilliant Corners Jazz Festival, Middle Aisle (agency & artist development project), along with outreach and educational work.
Paula is one of the Creative Producers at MOM, overseeing their NI music touring programme since 2014 as well as working across concert programming and logistics, management, finance and strategy.
Each and every one of Glasgow-based Rebecca Vasmant’s DJ sets and productions is the product of a lifetime spent digging for the less-heard, the unknown and unexpected. With a fast-growing reputation for her unparalleled knowledge and appreciation for music in its many forms, Rebecca Vasmant is one of the most exciting artists in the UK scene. Her story started in Glasgow, where she has spent years promoting her own parties, holding a residency and record fairs at the esteemed Sub Club, all the while holding a regular spot on BBC Radio Scotland.
Bringing her sounds further afield, Rebecca has also hosted a monthly radio show on Worldwide FM. When she’s not spinning records, Rebecca regularly brings her creative energies to the studio and stage through composing and producing her own music and live performances. In the live scene, Rebecca has embarked upon a six month tour with eight-strong Ghanaian outfit Kakatsitsi, as well as creating her own live project, which features world class musicians from The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. In the studio, Rebecca has flexed her production skills on her now sold-out debut album ‘With Love, From Glasgow’, released on her own burgeoning record label, Rebecca’s Records. In the near future, Rebecca looks forward to the release of her widely anticipated second album, which will see her further explore her spiritual jazz, soul and electronic roots.
When she’s not busy creating her own music, Rebecca can be found showcasing her skills as a supreme selector at some of the finest clubs and festivals around – including Worldwide Festival Sête FR, We Out Here Festival UK, Globus – Tresor Berlin DE, Brilliant Corners London UK, Shapes Festival CH / GR, Phonox London UK, Printworks London UK, Lost Village Festival UK, Kelburn Garden Party UK, Riverside Festival UK, Djoon Paris FR and Heideglühen Berlin DE – usually bouncing from deeper electronic, house and high energy cuts, all the way to soulful, funky grooves from around the globe.
Rhys Baker is the label manager of Brighton-based independent record label Tru Thoughts (and its publishing company Full Thought Publishing). The award-winning record label – which is celebrating its 25th anniversary – is home to an eclectic array of artists (old and new on the roster), such as Alice Russell, Hot 8 Brass Band, Moonchild, Quantic, Flowdan, Bonobo, Ty, Ebi Soda, Tara Lily and many more.
Having been invited on panels at The Great Escape, Brighton Music Conference, and Sound & Vision, as a DJ, his diverse sets have seen him perform at festivals such as Gilles Peterson’s We Out Here, Love Supreme, and Brick Lane Jazz Festival while hosting radio shows on Threads, Noods and Worldwide FM.
Sarah Weller, Head of Music, Ronnie Scott’s. Sarah has been working at Ronnie’s for 15 years in the music department and was promoted to Head of Music in 2023. Before Ronnie’s her background has always been in music including vocalist, DJ, print publishing, record company and Jazzfm.
Steve Crocker – I’m a Jazz organiser, supporter, broadcaster and musician based in Leeds in Yorkshire. I’ve organised and promoted jazz most of my life, starting at college in London at LSE and then running Sheffield Jazz at the Leadmill and various other venues in that city as well as jazz broadcasting for Radio Hallam.. I moved to Leeds in the 1990’s and rekindled an interest in jazz organising when the new Seven Arts centre – a purpose built centre commercially run was built in Chapel Allerton near where I live. Originally called Seven Jazz we started in a small way in 2007 and in 2016 won the Parliamentary Jazz award for best UK Jazz venue. In 2018 we became a registered charity – run wholly by passionate volunteers – and our aim is to support the development of jazz in Leeds.
I now organise over 100 evening and sunday afternoon concerts every year in Leeds, with international, national and regional jazz artists. The Jazzleeds organisation also run jazz workshops for people who want to learn to play jazz, a jazz choir, a community “Instant World orchestra”, jam sessions where we encourage people to join in, and curates events as part of the annual Leeds Jazz and the Chapel Allerton Festival. We have recently started supporting jazz education at three Leeds secondary schools. Jazzleeds has a board of trustees and an advisory group of supporters who help with running the events.
I still play music too, on double bass – I’m glad to be part of the ever changing and developing Leeds Jazz Scene!
Pianist Sultan Stevenson is one of the fastest emerging young artists on the London jazz scene. His trio is already established as an outfit to catch when billed to play live and is being tipped for further success on national and international stages.
In March of 2023 Sultan released his debut album ‘Faithful One’ under Whirlwind Recordings, the album helped to earn Sultan a parliamentary jazz award for best newcomer of the year. Sultan launched the album with a sold-out headline show at London’s iconic Jazz Café show.
An alum of acclaimed jazz development organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors, Sultan remains at the heart of the organisation as one of their Music Leaders, helping to nurture and develop the next generation of young jazz talent and continuing their ethos of ‘Each One, Teach One’.
Sultan is currently touring his music in the UK and beyond and is considered as one of the brightest stars of his generation.
Tina Edwards – DJ, broadcaster, music journalist, curator, championing UK Jazz and currently broadcasting on Worldwide FM, Soho Radio, British Airways – with her new music show ‘Next Big Thing’ – and BBC Radios 2, 3 and 4; edits audio brand KEF’s global zine, Listen and is co-founder of Queer Jazz and curatorial organisation, re:sonate.
Tomos, a jazz trumpeter based in Cardiff has performed internationally for over twenty years. He leads the jazz sextet ‘Burum’ (meaning ‘yeast’ in Welsh) which combines Welsh folkMore recently Tomos has established the ‘Cwmwl Tystion’ (cloud of witnesses) project, which explores issues relating to Welsh identity, history and culture through music and live visuals. Cwmwl Tystion have toured Wales three times, and released two acclaimed albums ‘Cwmwl Tystion / Witness’ and ‘Cwmwl Tystion II / Riot!’ with Cwmwl Tystion III / Empathy to be released in the future. Tomos is Chair of Jazz Explorers Cymru, a new body set-up by musicians, educators and volunteers to promote and encourage Welsh jazz in and outside of Wales. Tomos also presents a jazz show on BBC Radio Cymru from time to time.
Trish has a passion for delivering high quality creative work to a range of audiences across genre and style, she has worked for a number of organisations across the UK including Serious, Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Love Supreme, and currently St George’s Bristol as their Operations Director. She was on the board of directors for Bristol Women In Music, on the board of Trustees for Circomedia, Marsden Jazz Festival, Paper Arts and Bricks, and also supported Bristol Cathedral School as a governor. Prior to going on maternity leave she sat on Bristol City Centre BID Advisory Board and was part of the One City Culture Board. She enjoys watching great gigs, playing rugby and also spending time with her young family.
Vikki Maudave is an expert participative arts leader and Head of Programmes at NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra). She joined NYJO in 2021 from Watermans Arts Centre as outgoing Head of Participative Arts, with extensive and wide-ranging sector experience including Brixton House Theatre, Rosetta Life, and in South Africa directing, teaching and developing participative theatre projects.
Joining as NYJO’s Head of Learning, Vikki saw a personal transition from theatre into the world of music. Now as Head of Programmes and currently leading the organisation until our new CEO joins at the end of November, she is helping to spearhead a dramatic organisational transition from one marked by elitism and excellence, towards one led by the young people it exists to serve. In particular, Vikki has led a change from a traditional Head of Music/Artistic Director model to a more open and collaborative organisational structure, where artistic leadership is distributed across a diverse team of Resident Music Directors – four industry-leading musicians, composers and educators on-hand to provide musical guidance and inspiration to staff and members. Through all this work, Vikki is helping to expand what excellence means, looks and sounds like for the next generation of creative musicians.