Best known as a radio presenter on Saturday afternoons on BBC 6Music and as an international club DJ, Gilles Peterson is also an avid record collector, a curator, a music producer and record label boss. For the latest edition of our Selected series, Gilles has chosen six acts that have attracted his attention over the last year or so - several making their debut appearances at a PizzaExpress Live venue.
Snowboy and the Latin Section are among Europe’s leading Afro-Cuban Jazz performers and recording artists, led by multi-percussionist Mark ‘Snowboy’ Cotgrove. In addition to being an in-demand musician and band leader, Snowboy is a renowned DJ, broadcaster and promoter. For his Selected series, he presents three nights of some of his favourite UK performers, as well as bringing his own band back to Holborn, following their recent sold out debut at the venue.
Pete Brown, lyricist for 60s super group Cream, has been a poet, singer, percussionist, record producer and screenwriter. His Selected series will bring together influential music figures like Bernie Marsden and Arthur Brown, as well as up-and-coming artists, who have impressed him in recent years.
23rd - 25th January 2020
Folk singer-songwriter, humanitarian and environmentalist, Julie Felix joined us for the eighth edition of SELECTED, presenting three nights filled with great names including Mike d'Abo, Josh Burnell and Linda Moylan.
5th to 7th September 2019
British soul pioneer Omar joined us for the seventh edition of SELECTED series.
21st to 23rd August 2019
For the fifth SELECTED series, we were joined by British broadcasters and writer Bob Harris. An intimate evening of story and song from Bob's 50 years in broadcasting and music. Bob presented some of his favourite artists including Robert Vincent, Robert J Hunter Band, Howard Rose, Mollie Marriott and Liv Austen.
29th November to 1st December 2018
Jordan Rakei’s take on the SELECTED series brought together 5 of London’s finest current jazz and alternative soul acts including Waaju, Sarah Meth, James Chatburn, Richard Spaven, Kaya Thomas-Dyke and a guest appearance from Alfa Mist.
15th to 17th November 2018
For the fourth SELECTED series, we were joined by celebrated singer Natacha Atlas, best known for fronting Transglobal Underground, as he presented artists who have impressed her over the course of her fascinating career. On the first night, award-winning singer/songwriter Julia Biel and Egyptian violin virtuoso Samy Bishai made their debut at PizzaExpress Live Holborn. Seven Eyes - guitarist Paulo Vinicius from Brazil and UK vocalist Tanya Wells - headlined the Friday night, along with renowned jazz vocalist/songwriter/beatboxer Randolph Matthews, while Atlas herself brought her sextet to the venue on Saturday 17th November.
11th to 13th January 2018
For the third SELECTED series, we were joined by celebrated songwriter/producer Guy Chambers as he presents artists who have impressed him over the course of his glittering career. On the first night, Hannah Williams & The Affirmations made their debut at PizzaExpress Live Holborn, having sold out a number of shows at the jazz club in Soho. US singer-songwriter Will Stratton, and The Crate Diggers made their debut appearances with us on 12th January, while Chambers himself hosted a special night of classic covers and his own great songs on Saturday 13th January.
16th to 18th November 2017
For the second SELECTED series, Laura Mvula picked three acts that have "inspired her in many different ways" including House of EL, theia the planet and Iona Thomas.
25th to 27th October 2017
Celebrated singer-songwriter, NAO, took the reigns of the first-ever SELECTED series, presenting four up-and-coming artists who she thinks are destined for greatness, in two doubleheaders: Sipprell + Native Dancer on 25th October, then Naala + Bellatrix on 26th October, followed by a rare intimate show from NAO herself on 27th.