Celebrating the Melbourne International Jazz Festival in London

Alongside the Zela Margossian Trio, I caught Brekky Boy at the Barbican on day two of the EFG London Jazz Festival.

Zela Margossian (c) Sahil Kotwani @sahilkotwani_

Zela Margossian is an extraordinary pianist and her trio showed world class jazz that was both lyrical and frenetic. Clearly, these three musicians are used to performing together and exchanging non verbal signals across the stage to extend solos.

Brekky Boy (including Sahil Kotwani on camera)

Another trio - but completely different in approach - was the inventive, electric and exciting Brekky Boy. There’s a humour in their jazz and an energy that’s takes dynamics and punctuation to effortlessly engage their audience  

Both bands were brought from Australia as part of a collaboration between the LJF and the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. The Barbican foyer is a lovely venue and allows the music of these very different jazz outfits to resonate all around the walls of three floors of space.

Hadley Agrez, CEO and Program Director of MIJF spoke movingly about the collaboration with London and the multicultural music scene that is thriving in Melbourne today.

As the LJF continues for the next ten days, there is lots to experience and so many different venues offering music to delight and transport.

Watch this space for more reviews to come