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Jan 27

JITR Jan: Empirical, Pedro Velasco + Emily Tran

January 27, 2025 @ 8:00 PM - 10:30 PM

£15

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London Jazz Bands

EMPIRICAL @empiricalmusic

Featuring Nathaniel Facey (alto sax), Tom Farmer (double bass), Lewis Wright (vibraphone) and Shaney Forbes (drums), the quartet bonded through a sense of common purpose: “I’d never met guys who took it so seriously. The process of studying together is really what brought us together, and we just carried on doing it” recalls Tom Farmer. Collective study and exploration have remained the bedrock of Empirical’s creative process and have seen the band assimilate influences from right across the rich history of jazz. While oblique harmonies, translucent textures and jagged, quick-shifting rhythms are the signposts of Empirical’s musical territory, the band has not been afraid to explore other musical realms. Alongside their ceaselessly fearless creative fervour, Empirical has established an instantly recognisable group sound rife with raw energy and roiling emotion. Despite the intellectualism often ascribed to jazz, for Empirical, it’s ultimately all about moving, rather than impressing, their audience.

PEDRO VELASCO @pedrovelascomusic

Pedro Velasco is a London-based guitarist who specialises in improvised music. Born in Lisbon, Portugal, he began playing piano at age nine. Inspired by the Brazilian music he was surrounded by at home, he picked up a guitar at age 12. Under the tutelage of renowned Portuguese guitarist Mario Delgado, he began turning to the sounds of jazz and improvised music. He moved to London in 2003 to study at Middlesex University with Nikki Iles, Chris Batchelor and Stuart Hall and in 2007, he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Music (Jazz Performance). He performs prolifically across the UK and Europe with several projects, including Harry Christelis and Pedro Velasco duo, who recently released their debut album Scribbling to critical acclaim. He composes original material for his ensembles, Pedro Velasco Trio, Akimbo and Machimbombo and continues to explore other styles of music that champion interaction and personal expression.

EMILY TRAN @emireallyhere

Emily Tran is a pianist from South-East London who was inspired by the likes of Bud Powell, Oscar Peterson, Monk, and Herbie Hancock. Developing her playing with Tomorrow’s Warriors, she has played at many venues in London, such as The Queen Elizabeth Hall, Ronnie Scott’s and Brick Lane Jazz Festival. Influenced by many different genres of music, she is currently at the Royal Academy of Music studying composition and will be debuting some new compositions for this performance.

Jazz Bands London

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