There will be a homecoming concert from a trio of Hitchin-bred musicians at JazzUp's final gig of 2022.
JazzUp presents Tsirus at Club 85 in Hitchin on Saturday, November 26 alongside guests Olympia Vitalis and Nick Willsher, plus the Joe English Trio.
Liverpool-based trio Elliot Simpson-Rooke (bass), Joe Keech (drums) and Oli Silva Pinto Collins (keyboards) were all born and raised in Hitchin and return to their hometown for a much-anticipated homecoming gig.
Variously described as nu jazz and psychedelic jazz, Tsirus blend elements of jazz, hip-hop, soul and RnB plus a wide variety of electronic music.
Jazz inspiration includes Yussef Kamaal, BadBadNotGood, Shabaka Hutchings, LTJ Bukem and Photek while on the RnB/soul side the band draws on influences such as Hiatus Kaiyote.
Tsirus have performed a number of headline gigs in Liverpool as well as working as a live backing band for MCs on Liverpool’s vibrant hip hop scene, and are currently producing vinyl recordings as part of this.
A JazzUp spokesperson said: "With their debut EP due for release in 2023, Tsirus are definitely a band to watch and sit firmly at the heart of JazzUp’s philosophy: to showcase the young, evolving contemporary jazz scene in all its richness and eclectic diversity."
Olympia Vitalis is a 22-year-old soul singer from West London. Her unique style incorporates her own takes on scat-singing and vocal improvisation which she developed during her seven years in a gospel choir.
She is inspired by a wide range of musicians such as Aretha Franklin, D’Angelo, Amy Winehouse, Dinah Washington, and Slum Village.
Olympia has been writing new material in 2022, with musical releases coming early next year.
South coast saxophonist and composer Nick Willsher now resides in London, where he studied at the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music.
He works across a broad spectrum of genres and has performed in bands playing everything from swing to neo-soul in venues throughout the UK.
Since moving to the capital, Nick has performed live piano for BBC Radio 4 and reached the semi-finals of BBC’s Young Jazz Musician of the Year on the saxophone.
He has recently enjoyed collaborating with a number of up-and-coming London artists, and composing for an eclectic range of ensembles. Nick plans to perform and release more of his own material in 2023.
Support comes from the Joe English Trio, and Les Jazz Rats, JazzUp's resident DJs Sten King and Eric Ransinangue.
Tickets cost £15 standard price and £12 with JazzUp loyalty card.
Online tickets are available from www.club-85.co.uk and www.jazzupuk.com
Tickets may also be purchased on the door but JazzUp can sometimes be very busy.
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