2023 Line-up

OCTOBER 20TH: 2 SHOWS

*UK exclusive*

Cuban pianist Ramón Valle is a seasoned veteran with the explosive energy of a racehorse straight out of the
gate. Ramón’s stage presence is commanding, whetever within the ranks of an orchestra or leading a trio. His performances and stage presence are charismatic, his music – intoxicating.
Valle’s "Levitando" (1993), is a well-known Cuban jazz anthem around the world. Valle has been featured on the stages of jazz festivals around the world including London, Havana, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux and more. He has shared the stage with musicians as Roy Hargrove, Marcus Miller, Chucho Valdes among others.
Ramón Valle is an official Steinway Artist. He has recorded and internationally released 13 albums on a range of labels.
In May 2019 Ramón Valle received the honorary Cubadisco award for his outstanding work as an artist, composer and teacher. For his achievements as a composer with a repertoire that synthesizes the tendencies of contemporary jazz, he is considered one of the best Cuban jazz pianists around the world.

Maite Hontelé is a Dutch trumpet player and cultural figure best known for her presence in the salsa and Latin music scene over the last decade or so; having toured and/or recorded with the greatest contemporary names of salsa, such as Oscar d'León, Rubén Blades and Yuri Buenaventura, Maite Hontelé has also released a string of successful albums under her own name, including the album Déjame Así which was nominated to a Latin Grammy in 2014. Maite Hontelé returns to the stages after a 4-year hiatus, and will be performing in the UK for the first time since her return to playing the trumpet.

OCTOBER 21ST: TWO SHOWS

*Festival exclusive*

The AfroCuba:Jazz Sessions are a unique staple of the festival, now in their 4th volume. This night aims to provide a bridge between (Afro-)Latin musical traditions and the unique, evolving London jazz sound. The festival brings to you an exclusive collaboration directed by Grammy-award winning Cuban percussion virtuoso Hammadi Valdés (Chucho Valdés), where him and his team of world-renowned Afrocuban folklore percussionists share their musical tradition with, on this edition, UK-Bajan bassist, vocalist and composer Isobella Burnham and her quartet.

Isobella Burnham is one of the most sought-after, innovative creators of the London Jazz scene; her trademark sound brings together the rhythms of Barbados, St. Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago with a strong London foundation. At times contemplative and at times political, her radically honest lyrics and stage presence complement her tasteful, unique composition style. Also known for touring with Steam Down and Oscar Jerome, Isobella has established herself as one of the key members of the UK jazz scene. She will be performing material from her freshly released solo EP, Foam Under The Bridge, as well as her previous EP Dancin' Garuda and an array of original material – all re-arranged for her exclusive collaboration with Hammadi Valdés's trio. Expect raw, powerful vocals, sophisticated bass lines and lush harmonies fused with Afro-Cuban percussion at its finest.

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OCTOBER 18TH

*Featuring exclusive guest Elizabeth Fadel on piano*

Award-winning Brazilian instrumental quintet Alvorada will be joined by pianist Elizabeth Fadel for a unique show at Pizza Express as part of London Latin Jazz Festival. The evening will provide a panorama of lively and soulful choro tunes from throughout the ages: from late 19th century pianists Chiquinha Gonzaga and Ernesto Nazareth to the master composers of the 20th century Pixinguinha and Jacob do Bandolim, plus compositions of Alvorada members and Fadel. Expect an evening of infectious Brazilian grooves and playful virtuosic interaction!

Alvorada's 2019 debut album First Light, featuring traditional choros and original compositions, was received with much critical acclaim (5* Songlines magazine), leading to BBC Radio 3 and Jazz FM appearances. Alvorada also won the LUKAS and Focus Brasil awards for ‘Best Brazilian Band’. Alvorada’s second album is on the way, a bold and rich work with intricate arrangements of original compositions and Brazilian rhythms such as choro, samba, bossa nova and baião.

Elizabeth Fadel is a genre-defying pianist from Curitiba, Brazil. After studying classical piano, she went to The Netherlands to specialise in baroque harpsichord at the Royal Conservatory in Hague. Fadel has always been passionate about music from her native Brazil, excelling in genres such as choro, samba, forro, and Brazilian jazz as well as tango, Latin music and rock. She has toured and recorded extensively in Europe and Brazil with musicians such as Hamilton de Holanda, Yamandu Costa and Paulo Mora. Her latest album  ‘Blue in Choro’ features her own choro and Brazilian jazz compositions as well as choro-infused reworks of Bach classics.

OCTOBER 19TH

*Exclusive EP debut*

Bonita House Band brings to the festival an exclusive debut performance of their recently released and critically acclaimed EP, From Here, From There (Total Refreshment Centre, 2023). Bonita consists of an all-star line-up of the new generation of London jazz musicians, including the likes of Richie Sweet (Oscar Jerome, Incognito, Balimaya Project, Juanita Euka) and Keahnne Carlita (Raye,  Silhouettes Project) playing a unique combination of latin jazz, cumbia, South American folklore and psychedelia. Their influences reach far and wide, as some of the musicians come from a Latin music background while others approach the material from an experimental jazz standpoint. Run and directed by Colombian percussionist and producer Santiago Morales (Silhouettes Project, Alma de la Selva) and Ecuadorian-British bassist Lennyn Sampedro (Desta French), their vision is to push the boundaries of Latin musical identity and create a space for a unique UK-Latin fusion that represents the new generations.