SAXOPHONE AND CLARINET
My dear Alvorada buddy Rachel Hayter has set up a new regular roda de choro at The Harrison in Kings Cross, WC1. It’ll be taking place the last Sunday of each month. For this month, on Sunday 27th February, myself and guitarist Jonathan Preiss will be hosting. Free entry, all choro musicians of any level welcome to join and play, and everyone else welcome to listen and enjoy.
LVP’s residency at Pizza Express Jazz Club picks up again on February 27th lunchtime. The last gigs in December sold out very quickly, so don’t delay getting hold of tickets for this one:
https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/the-london-vocal-project-2
Happy New Year! I’m looking forward to my first gig of the year, getting back together with Showstopper! The Improvised Musical on January 24th at The Lyric Theatre.
I’m excited to be getting back with this inspiring and ingenious group. Their monthly residency has been up and running again since the autumn, but for me this will be my first show back. Last time I played with them was just as the announcement came in March 2020 that the West End would close. The show was cancelled half an hour before we were due on stage – so we went ahead anyway in the empty theatre and livestreamed it via mobile phones. Turned out to be a pioneering performance!
Tickets for the next show are available here:
https://showstopperthemusical.com/upcoming-shows/
Sadly having to announce the cancellation of two gigs, as Covid cases rise again…. Neither Afrik Bawantu on December 18th nor Alvorada on December 26th will take place. I was really looking forward to both of these – hopefully not too many other things will be affected.
Last Sunday’s gig was a joy! It was special to have our first LVP gig in two years – new with new members in the choir, old friends in the audience, the please of playing again with Andres Ticino on percussion, and Pete Churchill doing his usual wonderful thing.
This marks the beginning of our (much delayed) residency at Pizza Express Soho. More dates to be announced soon…
Another night of Afrobeat and highlife grooves to look forward to. Back with Afla Sackey and Afrik Bawantu for another Woodburner night at The Jago on Saturday 18th December!
Christmas time – mulled wine, mince pies, mistletoe and…. choro!
Tickets have just gone on sale for Alvorada’s last gig of the year. Join us for some festive cheer on Tuesday 21st December at The Harrison:
https://theharrison.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/alvorada__christmas_special
London Vocal Project have just released a new video – our rendition of James Taylor’s ‘Walking Man’, from our James Taylor Songbook project.
We were delighted and honoured that James Taylor’s representatives, who’ve been following what we’re up to, offered to premiere it on his official Instagram channel! You can watch it here:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CWNBUSggafZ
It’ll also shortly be released on LVP’s own social media pages. Our YouTube channel is here:
https://www.youtube.com/londonvocalproject
This video was previously uploaded to our Patreon channel, a new venture where we’ll be sharing exclusive videos, clips and other content:
https://patreon.com/londonvocalproject
Alvorada have just released a new video. ‘Gina’ is a composition by Jeremy Shaverin. It’s a beautiful choro-inflected waltz, with a very personal meaning – delicate, magical and moving.
We filmed it at Rich Mix as part of a documentary by Latino Life, which explored the impact of the Covid pandemic on London’s Latin American community.
Delighted as ever to be returning with Alvorada to The Harrison, our home from home, on Saturday 6th November. It’s a great venue, but has been very hard hit by the pandemic and are only just managing to keep things going. This’ll be a fun gig as always – we hope to get a great crowd in to support this special place.
ANDREW WOOLF 