"Yazz Ahmed is a British Bahraini trumpet and flugelhorn player.

Her music, through which she seeks to blur the lines between jazz, electronic sound design and the music of her mixed heritage, has been described as 'psychedelic Arabic jazz, intoxicating and compelling'.

In recent years she has lead her various ensembles in concerts around the UK and abroad, including in New York, Kuwait, Algiers, Berlin, Paris, Istanbul, Tunis and Amsterdam, and at major festivals such as WOMAD, Molde Jazz, Pori Jazz and Love Supreme.

Yazz has also recorded and performed with Radiohead, Lee Scratch Perry, ABC, Swing Out Sister, Joan as Police Woman, Tarek Yamani, Amel Zen and has toured the world with art-rock band, These New Puritans.

In 2012, Yazz represented Bahrain in London's Cultural Olympiad, joining renowned musicians from the Arabian Gulf in collaboration with Transglobal Underground. This project, In Transit, was supported by the British Council and was performed in Dubai and London.

Yazz was awarded a jazz fellowship from Birmingham Jazzlines in 2014, who supported her during the course of a year in writing a major new suite, Alhaan al Siduri, premiered in October 2015 at the CBSO Centre, Birmingham. One year later the second performance marked Yazz's debut in her paternal homeland at the Bahrain International Music Festival.

In 2015, Yazz was commissioned by the Tomorrow's Warriors, with support from PRS Women Make Music, to write a suite inspired by courageous and influential women. Polyhymnia was premiered at the Purcell Room by a special all female ensemble at the WOW! Festival in March 2015.

During her year as an LSO Soundhub composer in 2016, Yazz explored writing music for her newly developed quarter-tone flugelhorn, which enables her to get closer to the spiritual nature of the 'blue notes' in Arabic music.

2017 saw the release of her second album, La Saboteuse, on Naim Records. The album caused quite a stir, gaining multiple rave reviews and making many 'best of 2017' lists around the world, including Jazz Album of the Year in The Wire magazine and achieving the number 18 spot in Bandcamp's top 100 albums (all genres).

In August 2018 Yazz released an EP of remixes from La Saboteuse, featuring collaborations with Hector Plimmer, DJ Khalab and Blacksea Não Maya which has brought her music to a new audience.

Earlier this year Yazz was commissioned, by the Ligeti Quartet, alongside seven other composers, to write music inspired by modern astronomy, each focusing on a different planet in the solar system. The Planets 2018, created especially for planetariums, features Yazz's composition Saturn and was performed around the UK during October 2018.

Yazz is currently working on completing the recording of her third album, Polyhymnia due for release in 2019."

"From his early acclaim as a prize-winning saxophonist, Paul Booth has continually refined and expanded his talents as a solo artist, composer, arranger and bandleader, whilst establishing an elite reputation as a first-call sideman for major contemporary music artists.

Paul was born in the North East of England, and as a young boy started playing music with his father in the clubs and bars of Southern Spain where the family were temporarily residing. On his return home, he discovered the local jazz scene and fell in love with the music and the art of improvisation. As a homeschooled child he was able to fit all his studies around music, enabling him to sit his GCSE and A-Level exams early. He won a place at the Royal Academy of Music in 1993 at the age of 16, becoming their youngest student on a degree course. That year Paul also won the 'Best Modern Jazz Player' category at the televised Young Jazz Player of the Year.

Over the next four years at the Academy, Paul combined his studies with gigs in London and across the UK, that included a long association with Colombian percussionist Roberto Pla and a partnership with pianist Alex Wilson that's still going strong. During his third year, Paul won the prestigious Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship in Miami USA, and spent a six month exchange in Perth at the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts. Following his graduation in 1997, Paul immersed himself in the world of the professional musician. He eventually joined the European Glenn Miller Orchestra for eight tours, before landing the saxophone chair for the worldwide smash hit show, Riverdance, staying for eighteen months. In 2005 Paul toured the US and Japan with Basia and Matt Bianco, and soon after received the call from Steve Winwood with whom he has been working ever since.

In 2004 Paul released his first solo album 'It's Happening', which was followed by the albums 'No Looking Back' (2007), 'Pathways' (2009) and 'Trilateral' (2011). All of which were extremely well received and are now available through his own Pathways label.

Paul's ability to blend into any musical surrounding coupled with his talents as a multi-instrumentalist has led to him being regularly chosen to perform with many well-known artists. Paul has toured, performed & recorded around the world with Steely Dan, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Van Morrison, The Allman Brothers Band, Bonnie Raitt, Chaka Khan, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Rod Stewart, Kylie Mingoue, Riverdance, Warren Haynes, Marti Pellow, Derek Trucks, Eddie Henderson, Geoffrey Keezer, Clarence Penn and Ingrid Jensen. He has worked with Incognito, Brand New Heavies, The BBC Big Band, Michael Janisch Quintet and the Ryan Quigley Quintet.

Paul currently performs with a number of different groups:

The critically acclaimed Patchwork Project, featuring the singer Jacqui Dankworth, Giorgio Serci (guitar), Rod Youngs (drums), Davide Mantovani (bass) & Satin Singh (percussion). Their first album was released in 2015, with Volume 2 to follow in 2019.

The world music big band Bansangu Orchestra, for whom Paul is co-founder and musical director. Their eponymous debut album was released August 2018.

A newly-formed quartet with Steve Hamilton (keyboards), Dave Whitford (double bass) and Andrew Bain (drums).

And finally, Paul leads an organ trio with Ross Stanley (organ) and Andrew Bain (drums)."

"Josephine Davies is a solo artist at the forefront of the UK contemporary music scene, pushing the boundaries of jazz with her current main artistic project Satori - a sax/bass/drums trio with an emphasis on extended and collaborative improvisation. It is a project that combines her seeking of freedom of expression with her interest in Japanese philosophy and lifestyle.

Originally from the Shetland Islands and now based in London, UK, Josephine's writing and playing continues to be infused with a Nordic quality, notably in her use of traditional folk music elements, and her haunting tone reminiscent of the late great tenorist Bobby Wellins.

As a saxophonist she is known for her melodic focus, versatility and unique style which has been described as "consistently inventive" (Jazzwise Magazine), "strong and authoritative" (The JazzMann) and "gifted and imaginative" (All About Jazz).

Deeply influenced by the American composer Maria Schneider, Josephine has been resident composer and tenor player for the London Jazz Orchestra since 2011 and is now embarking on a big band project of her own.

In 2016 Josephine was privileged to be a featured soloist on veteran saxophonist and composer Pete Hurt's jazz orchestra recording A New Start, which was released to wide acclaim and came second in the British Jazz Awards Best New Album."

"Sam Eastmond is a composer, arranger, bandleader, trumpet player and producer creating music incorporating a variety of genres including jazz, klezmer, cartoon, rock, surf, world, jewish and Downtown influences and composed and improvised sections into music that he identifies as avant-garde or Radical Jewish Culture.

He co-founded and leads the Spike Orchestra, a large ensemble who have recorded three studio albums since 2014, their debut Ghetto (Spike Records) and two collaborations with New York legend John Zorn as part of his Masada Book on Tzadik Label, Cerberus: The Spike Orchestra Play Masada Book Two and Binah from the forthcoming Masada Book Three series.

Other current projects include TORU a free improvisation group releasing an album a month, and Gulgoleth, a quartet comprised of the Spike Orchestra rhythm section playing a new Book of music composed for this outrageous group of players, album being recorded this year."

"Moss Freed is a composer, guitarist and improviser. He studied music at the University of Edinburgh and Berklee College of Music (Boston), before completing a masters in composition at Goldsmiths College. He has received scholarships from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, the Bucher/Fraser Trust and the Berklee World Scholarship Tour. Moss has composed for Aisha Orazbayeva, Joseph Houston, Joshua Hyde, Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, DriftEnsemble, Via Nova and several of his own projects, with broadcasts including BBC Radio 3, Jazz FM and BBC 6Music, and TV credits including BBC 1's The One Show.

Moss founded and runs Let Spin ('an electrifying live band whose grooves could wake the dead' Guardian) and Moss Project ('nothing short of breathtaking' All About Jazz), also performing as a guitarist with Counter's Creek, Arun Ghosh, and the Spike Orchestra, whose albums of John Zorn's music have been released on Tzadik. Performances include HCMF, the Barbican Centre, the Southbank Centre, Ronnie Scott's, Pizza Express Soho, and various European festivals.

Moss works as a teacher, examiner and workshop leader, and presents his research regularly. He is currently researching composition at the Universities of Hull and Huddersfield as a NECAH PhD scholar and lives in London."

"Elliot Galvin is one of the groundbreaking new talents in UK jazz, who blends colorful piano and keyboard playing with excursions to toy instruments, cassette deck and microtonal melodica. His compositions reveal influences from many different directions, from jazz to Stravinsky and Ligeti and from indie rock to films by David Lynch, the Dada movement and literature by James Joyce."

"Will Glaser is a Nottingham born Drummer and Percussionist. An emerging talent on the British Jazz scene Will has had the pleasure of working with British Jazz luminaries such as Dame Cleo Lane, The London Jazz Orchestra, Ian Shaw and Julian Joseph.

He is a member of Tom Mcreddie's Inkine, The Ben Cox Band and leads his own trio, 40 Ton Parachute, with saxophonist Sam Rapley and guitarist Nick Costly-White. With a broad range of influences Will can be seen performing regularly in various contexts throughout the capital."

"Ben Greenslade-Stanton is a Trombonist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer. Grandson of Arthur Greenslade (Pianist, Conductor, MD, Arranger, Composer), and is also known as BGS, Sven. He is in the groups Pressure75, The Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band, The Beta Club, The Brothers Nylon, The Getup, The Mighty Mocambos, The Snitch, The Spike Orchestra."

"Mike Guy is a UK accordionist and keyboardist, a member of Spike Orchestra."

"After moving to London in 2005, George Hogg has quickly become a highly in demand lead and jazz trumpet player.

Since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music, he's performed throughout the UK and worldwide with many established artists and ensembles, such as Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Gloria Estefan, Tito Puente Junior, Kid Creole & the Coconuts, the Stan Sulzmann Big Band and the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Orchestra, and is also a member of the Ronnie Scott's Blues Explosion.

He's also recorded for numerous artists, including Little Mix, Olly Murs and Ella Eyre, been featured on TV soundtracks for Downton Abbey and Mr Selfridge and plays regularly in theatres throughout London's West End.

As well as this, he teaches trumpet at the Purcell School in Watford, one of the UKs leading music schools."

"Noel Langley has been at the forefront of the British Music scene for nearly thirty years, enjoying a multi-faceted career as a performer, educator, composer, arranger, producer and bandleader.

Renowned for his ability to cross artistic boundaries, Noel has performed and recorded with many of the world's finest symphony orchestras, big bands and recording artists. He also appears on many film and television sound tracks and has played in over sixty West End productions.

Following in the family tradition, Noel began playing cornet in his local Salvation Army brass band at the age of four. During his school years, his love of music grew to occupy more and more of his time, until it became clear that this would be his chosen path in life.

Identified as an exceptional talent by Leonard Bernstein, whilst completing his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1986, he quickly went on to establish himself in the profession. Today he is has been described as one of the finest cross-over trumpet players in Europe, equally at home in the recording studio, on the concert platform, as a jazz soloist or leading a horn section for major rock bands.

He has led the trumpet section of every major British big band of the last 20 years including those fronted by Sir John Dankworth, Stan Tracey, Tim Garland, Guy Barker, Julian Joseph and Gwilym Simcock. Noel has also toured with international jazz stars, including Harry Connick Junior, Hermeto Pascoal, Andrew Hill, Billy Cobham and Georgie Fame."

"New York City based Bassist Mark Lewandowski originally hails from Nottingham, England. His interest in the bass took him to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Whilst studying at the school Mark was rapidly producing a strong name for himself on the London scene; playing regularly at the world famous Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club by only his second year in the capital. He was also awarded the Yamaha Jazz award, and is now continuing his studies in New York City as part of the celebrated Artist Diploma programme at the prestigious Juilliard School. He has been lucky to perform with a diverse range of musicians including such names as John Surman, Wynton Marsalis, Buddy Greco, Sheila Jordan, Henry Grimes, Steve Wilson, Paul Dunmall, Vic Juris, Martin Carthy, Jean Toussaint, Tcha Limberger, Julian Joseph, Bobby Wellins, Peter King, Soweto Kinch, Zoe Rahman."

"Oren Marshall is a pioneering player of acoustic tuba and electric tuba who, crossing between classical, jazz, improvised and world music, has collaborated with the likes of Derek Bailey, Charlie Haden, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Moondog, Radiohead, Hermeto Pascoal, The Pan-African Orchestra and the London Philharmonic.

He has played with every major orchestra in London as well as with the Bolshoi Theatre Soloists, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Canadian Ballet. As a member of London Brass (whom he joined in 1987) he has made numerous recordings, toured worldwide several times, played 6 Proms concerts and performed for The Queen, Prince Charles, the German Chancellor, the President of China and The Pope.

Amongst the many Duos Oren has played are performances with Jazz pianist John Taylor, New York Beatboxer Adam Matta, UK Beatboxers Shlomo and Hobbit, Prepared-Piano player Hauschka, Percussionist Evelyn Glennie and multi award-winning vocalist, Bobby Mcferrin.

As a solo artist, Oren has played all over the world and his ground-breaking solo work lead to multiple nominations for the BBC Innovation in Jazz Award.He has also shared the stage with artists such as Gil Scott Heron, Roy Ayers, Moby, Vinicio Caposella, Murcoff, Tomasz Stanko and Sleepytime Gorilla Museum.

He leads and writes for the Charming Transport Band, bringing together master musicians from Ghana and Nigeria and innovators from London's jazz and improvised music scenes.

Oren is currently Head of Brass Studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, London and teaches on the Leadership course at the Guildhall School of Music and on the Jazz course at the Royal Academy of Music."

"Gemma Moore studied Jazz saxophone at Trinity College of Music and since graduating she has become one of the most in-demand Baritone Saxophonists on the scene working regularly with the BBC Big Band, Ronnie Scotts Jazz Orchestra, Bad Ass Brass, Guy Barker Big Band and the Colin Towns Mask Orchestra."

"Timothy Smart is aBritish trombonist. A.o. member of the "Afro Horns" = Jamie M. Harris (saxophones & flute), Tim Smart (trombone) and Ben Searle (trumpet). Also member of group "Afro Elements"."

Mike Wilkins is a UK saxophonist known for the Spike Orchestra and the McInroi Wilkins Quartet.