12 November 2022
Concert included in the official program of EFG London Jazz Festival 2022
This creative duo merges together regularly for a special programme presenting jazz music in a classical context and classical music in a jazz context.
This programme consists of favourite American classics such as George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein and Andre Previn to name a few.
All these composers had a serious love affair with jazz and their compositions became iconic not just in that realm, but across genres.
This programme presents those compositions that proved to be most flexible and maleable to accommodate a violin and piano recital.
From Summertime to West Side Story and beautiful jazz experiments by Andre Previn, the duo takes us on a journey through time across America.
Alicja Śmietana is a primarily classical violinist with a busy career both as a soloist and chamber musician and an arranger, but being brought up in the jazz world by her father – the great guitarist Jarek Śmietana – it was only a matter of time before she turned and started experimenting with jazz herself both playing, writing, and arranging for jazz violin.
James Pearson is a pianist, composer, and creative tour de force. He is one of the country’s most respected musicians. His work covers all genres of music, especially contemporary music, jazz and classical. He is the Artistic Director at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club where his trio are the house band. James is equally at home as a concert pianist which makes this duo really unique.
“Śmietana is a powerful player with bagfuls of personality and takes admirable risks” (BBC Music Magazine)
Alicja Śmietana: violin
James Pearson: piano
Tickets £15 on the door and Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/3cgTELQ
Lecture – An Introduction to Polish Japonisme
Applications Open – The “Ambassador of Polish
