The last Saturday night of Watford Jazz Junction Music Festival 2025 was the most amazing world premiere of a jazz suite composed by singer and violinist Alice Zawadzki. I was fortunate enough to be present for the first run-through, when this incredible group of musicians came together and made creative contributions to the form and structure of ‘Invented Folklore’.
This is a truly stellar band. Alongside Zawadzki for the Watford premiere were Xhosa Cole (tenor sax and flute), Jon Scott (drums), Simon Roth ('Magic Box'), Misha Mullov-Abbado (bass) and Pete Lee (piano). With collective experience that encompasses British jazz at its finest, they bring inventive, award-winning creativity.
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| Alice Zawadski and her band |
The evening began with kinetic wonderment from tap dancer Petra Haller and pianist Tom O’Brien in a rendition of jazz standards and free improvisation. A truly unique experience, since no two performance could ever be the same.
Following that, Zawadski and her band were truly entrancing in their creative and collaborative renditions of the violinist and vocalist’s stunning compositions. The compositions allowed each musician the freedom to improvise and come together in ensemble sections that seemed effortless but clearly can only happen when you know and understand both the writing and your fellow players. There were moments when a solo section melted impossibly into the whole band playing rhythms that seemed to come from nowhere but Zawadski’s brilliant writing and the interpretation by these exceptional performers.
In telling stories acquired by Zawadski from walking around Watford, there are influences of fairy tales as well as classical and jazz that collectively make up an impressive suite that stands alone musically as well as being a moment in time for this diverse town, just a few miles north of London.
Cole swapped between sax and flute, incorporating whistles and hand percussion exactly where needed. Lee’s use of piano keys and strings was inspired, while Roth’s Magic Box percussion and Scott’s drums contributed a perfect backdrop and accompaniment. The percussion particularly on I Made My Home in Space: The Astronaut was perfect: it’s no accident that it was composed by Zawadski to celebrate Roth’s birth in Watford as one of the stories in the ‘Invented Folklore’ suite.
Meanwhile, Mullov-Abbado’s consummate bass throughout was encapsulated especially on Cat, following Zawadski’s explanation of the sad but possibly inspirational story behind the song (ask her about it!)
Zawadski’s compositions are truly inspired and inventive and her choice of musicians made this premiere a delightful end to the evenings of Watford Jazz Junction’s 2025 Music Festival. As I write this, the final day of music is being prepared, and watch out for more one-off gigs around Watford in coming months, including Jo Harrop in September and Emily Masser in October.
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