SAXOPHONE AND CLARINET
Alvorada’s first shows of 2020 are just around the corner.
We play three dates in Dorset on January 23rd – 25th, as part of the Artsreach Rural Touring programme. We’ll be performing at venues in Wootton Fitzpaine, Portesham and Chetnole. Info and booking here: artsreach.co.uk/event/alvorada
Then on February 1st we’re back in London at one of our favourite venues, The Harrison. Book tickets here: www.wegottickets.com/event/493042
My last gig of the year was one to remember, with London Vocal Project at Pizza Express Jazz Club in Soho. We performed a mixture of our re-worked Christmas classics, many which are staples of our repertoire for this time of year, alongside some brand new material, which is the basis for our newest project – the James Taylor Songbook. Some brilliant arrangements by director Pete Churchill as well as other members of the choir.
We’d been working towards this show for a few months (actually two shows – we did an early and a late show on the same night, to two sold out crowds), and it was great to get this music out there. I’ve been part of LVP since it began eleven years ago, and this night ranks among the most memorable I’ve enjoyed with this special community.
The good news is we’ll have an ongoing residency at Pizza Express in 2020, so look out for more dates!
A few years ago, we filmed some of our Christmas repertoire. Here’s our version of ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’. You can find more Christmas videos on LVP’s Youtube channel.
Here are some photos from a couple of recent gigs with singer Gabi Kozyra. We were performing music again from her amazing album, Noites Brasileiras, which focuses on previously unpublished and unrecorded Brazilian songs.
We played in a trio with Walter Lopes at the Sands Film Studios (a unique and tucked away little gem of a place in Rotherhithe), and then travelled to Poland to play at the Raciborski Cultural Centre, with Walter, Andres Ticino and Sam Watts. Also enjoyed some excellent Polish food and drink while we were over there!
Alvorada’s performance in the London Jazz Festival was a great evening. We played to a sold out crowd at the Elgar Room in the Royal Albert Hall, playing music from ‘First Light’ alongside new material that we’ve been working on this year. We also had the special pleasure of inviting the amazing pianist, John Turville, to join us for a few tunes. He brought something very different to the music, and it was a delight to have him with us.
Photos: Captured by Liz
© Liza Heinrichs
Just a few more gigs left this year before we enter the ’20s!
This Saturday, November 16th, Alvorada play at the Elgar Room in the Royal Albert Hall, as part of the London Jazz Festival. A couple of days after, on November 18th, I’ll be playing in Showstopper: The Improvised Musical at the Lyric Theatre.
At the end of the month I have two gigs with Gabriela Kozyra, playing repertoire from her sumptuous album ‘Noites Brasileiras’. First on November 27th alongside Walter Lopes at Sands Films Studio, and then we travel to Poland to play at Raciborskie Cultural Centre on November 30th, also with Sam Watts and Andres Ticino.
Last up, on December 14th, I’ll be with London Vocal Project at Pizza Express Jazz Club, Soho. We’ll be performing a mixture of our unique arrangements of Christmas songs, alongside tunes from a new project – the James Taylor Songbook.
See the gigs page for links to more info.
Alvorada were delighted to be announced as winners of both the Latin UK Awards (Brazilian Act of the Year) and the Focus Brasil Awards (Best Musical Group). We had a fun time recently attending the LUKAS award ceremony to collect our prize.
We’re unable to attend the FOCUS Brasil ceremony this year, because we’re already playing that night! Our upcoming gig in the London Jazz Festival has just sold out. We’ve also played some great gigs to new audiences recently in Cambridge, Ipswich and Brighton, and are looking forward to travelling more around the UK.
If you haven’t had a chance to catch any of our live gigs, you can listen back to some recent radio broadcasts – we appeared on In Tune on BBC Radio 3 with Katie Derham and on A World In London with DJ Ritu on SOAS Radio.
Alvorada has been nominated for two awards this autumn. In the Latin UK Awards we have been shortlisted for Brazilian Act of the Year; and in the Focus Brasil awards, we’re nominated for best Musical Group.
Both awards take into account a popular vote! To vote for us, please click on the images.
