Undoubtedly one of the leading harpists in the world today, Alina Bzhezhinska (a.k.a. AlinaHipHarp) is a one-woman powerhouse on a mission to bring harp to the forefront of contemporary sound.
Bzhezhinska is the creator of HipHarpCollective, who recently won the Parliamentary Jazz Award's Best Ensemble of the Year 2024. The group's double LP "Reflections" (BBE Music) won best album of the year 2023 by Preston Music and Alina Bzhezhinska's Quartet was nominated for Best Live Act of the Year at JazzFM Awards 2017.
Tony Kofi is a multi award winning saxophonists, a recording career that has seen collaborations with Donald Byrd, Cymande, Eddie Henderson, Abdullah Ibrahim and Ornette Coleman to name a few.
Kofi's solo work, in particular his 2020 album 'A Different Kind Of Soul' and his recently reissued 'Plays Monk' cement his reputation as one of the UK's most accomplished saxophonists.
This band brings together ideas and people in an attempt to speak with one voice through the language of improvisation, in all its expressions. A collective mind that hears overlapping rhythms and melodies.
Influenced by the coloured patchwork of William Parker, the earthly lyricism of Victor Jara, the dark clouds of Morphine and the gentle brilliance of Bill Frisell.
Colin Somervell grew up in Chile and studied jazz in Birmingham and London. He has played music from Greece and Turkey, prog-math-rock as well as freely improvised music.
Chris Williams: alto sax Mike Soper: trumpet Colin Somervell: double Bass Jay Davis: drums
Kevin Davy has been at the forefront of Modern UK jazz leaning towards the modal approach to jazz and improvised music. Citing influences such as trumpeters; Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Hannibal Lokumbe, Lester Bowie, and Don Cherry.
He is best known for international touring and recording with Lamb, Adam F, Two Banks of Four, Lemn Sissay (Secret Society), Afrika Afrika , Finley Quaye and Cymande as well as his own groups, KDQ and D'semble.
Kevin has performed all over the world on legendary jazz festivals such as; Montreux, North Sea, Ealing Jazz, New York's revered Summerstage, Central Park, Manhattan as well as prestigious venues.
CDavy's composition employs strong melodic content, an urban edge, and elements from Nu Jazz, harmony from blues, gospel, and the Near-East.Kevin Davy, on trumpet/flugelhorn and effects, leader compositions
Jason Simpson on double bass and Moog Bass
Sheldon Agwu on guitar
Brian Hedemann on drums
Chris Jerome on piano
The Maydan Ensemble of the North London Jazz Collective is a quintet that blends modern jazz with Arabic, Anatolian and Persian folk music.
Having formed at the start of 2025, they have wowed audiences, selling out multiple venues across UK and beyond, including Palestine House and the Green Note, as well as recently headlining Zoot Fest in Pairs, and Zeman World Music Festival in Serbia.
They are a fully international group comprising some of London’s busiest jazz musicians in a unique setting:
• From Egypt, the rising-star vocalist Amena
• Acclaimed Irish-Iranian jazz guitarist Kourosh Kanani
• Italian-English bassist and stalwart of the London jazz scene Lorenzo Morabito (Giacomo Smith, Peter Horsfall, Mark Kavuma etc);
• Londoner and co-founder of the NLJC, Robbie Ellison on drums.
The group explores the intersection of jazz and a bricolage of Middle Eastern musical traditions from two perspectives: that of material from the jazz canon inspired by West Asia; and that of the group's own jazz-flavoured arrangements and renditions of Arabic, Anatolian and Persian folk tunes.’Maydan’ means ‘town square’ or ‘public meeting-place’. Originating in Farsi, the word now finds usage in Arabic, Turkish, Urdu, Georgian and Ukrainian. In taking this name, the group recognises first and foremost that diverse musical traditions find commonality by their grounding in communal life and social practice, while embracing the subversive political potential of music as a collective, convivial act.
On SATURDAY 14th November we present Daense
Having formed at the start of 2025, they have wowed audiences, selliDaense is a Brussels based band exploring the density of colours and sounds found in music while focusing on the dancing desires encountered when hearing a good groove, bass line or guitar riff.
Although the five musicians of the band have different musical backgrounds they share a love in common for funk, soul, rnb, jazz and jazz fusion. The compositions they play reflect those influences while bringing a contemporary touch.
With Olivier Penu on drums, Federico Pecoraro on bass, Lorenzo Kobina. on keys, Florent Jeunieaux on guitar and Arnaud Guichard on tenor sax.
We are pleased to welcome back Arnaud Guichard who will be familiar to Crypt regulars. When resident in London Arnaud led our monthly jam session, dazzled us on many occasions with bands that featured his own compositions, and has continued to bring outstanding ensemble to the Crypt since moving back to Belgium. We are glad to have him back, and his group, for this special concert.
On Thursday 19th November we present - Echoes of Naná.
‘The first instrument is the voice; the best instrument is the body.’Adriano Adewale Itaúna is an Afro-Brazilian percussionist and composer who has been deeply inspired by Naná's musical language and his profound relationship with nature. Ten years after Naná Vasconcelos' passing, his artistic vision continues to inspire musicians around the world.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential percussionists of the twentieth century, Naná transformed the role of percussion in contemporary music, bringing voice, body and percussion together. Drawing on Afro-Brazilian traditions, improvisation and contemporary jazz, he collaborated with Pat Metheny, Jan Garbarek and Egberto Gismonti.
Rather than recreating Naná Vasconcelos' music, Adriano explores the artistic philosophy that shaped his work - where voice, body, rhythm and improvisation become one expressive instrument.
Rooted in improvisation, the performance unfolds each time differently, creating a unique encounter between musicians, audience and the living legacy of Naná Vasconcelos.
Features
Guitar: Luca Boscagin
Cello: Phoebe Harty
Vocals: Carolina Lelis
Percussion: Andres Ticino
Percussion: Adriano Adewale
Smiodair — Irish for fragments or small broken pieces — is an international quartet playing original music that moves constantly between composition and improvisation. Thunderous grooves collide with dreamlike sonic landscapes; without a harmony instrument, the music is raw and direct, rich in melody and rhythm. The name also reflects the musicians’ paths, diverging and reconnecting across London, Paris, Dublin, New York and Berlin.
Saxophonist Robin Fincker and drummer Dave Smith have collaborated for over twenty years, from the Loop Collective to Outhouse, Ruhabi and Splice. Bassist Simon Jermyn first crossed paths with them through Dublin’s Bottlenote Collective and the Loop Collective in 2006, before spending a decade in New York and later moving to Berlin. Celebrated trumpeter Laura Jurd joined the group for their 2026 UK tour, expanding Smiodair to a quartet.
Their debut album is planned for release in 2027.
