The Pheasantry (Chelsea)

Led by composer Barbara Snow and lyricist Tom Hannah, this five-piece band takes a myriad of elements from around the world: samba, salsa, rai, jazz, tango, calypso, hip-hop and cabaret, which they combine to form an eclectic evening of original song and spoken word. Formed in 2010, Chico Chica released their first album ‘Mélangerie’ in 2011, and toured the UK and Ireland several times. The band are regulars at festivals (including Porthcawl Jazz Festival, Canterbury Arts Festival, Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival, Teignmouth Jazz Festival) as well as jazz clubs in and around London.

. "Truly outstanding compositions" Mark Simms, Radio Cardiff

Mark Simms, Radio Cardiff

Formed in 2010, Chico Chica released their first album Mélangerie in 2011 and toured the UK and Ireland several times. The band are regulars at festivals (including Porthcawl Jazz Festival, Canterbury Arts Festival, Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival, Teignmouth Jazz Festival, Bedford Arts Festival, Upton Jazz Festival, Hampton Court Flower Show and Llanelli Jazz Festival) as well as jazz clubs in and around London (including Map Cafe, St James Theatre, Crazy Coqs, The Crypt St Martins in the Field, Bull's Head, ArtsDepot, Verdi Albert Hall, Southend Jazz Club, Hawth Theatre, Cliffs Pavilion Westcliff and Jagz Ascot, The Pheasentry Chelsea).

In the summer of 2013, singer and trumpeter Barbara Snow heard a BBC Radio 4 item on the work of Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders in the Syrian civil war. In it, a boy called Ali was reported to have said ‘you won’t believe what I have seen’. These words inspired Snow to write and record a song with Chico Chica and donate the proceeds of the sales to the Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders Syria Crisis Appeal. Barbara Snow toured with Paul Weller, Jools Holland, Maxi Priest and The Blow Monkeys before forming Chico Chica. In 2016 the band released 'The Glow of Havana' featuring salsa legend Roberto Pla. It is the first in a series of 45rpm, 10'' vinyl mini-albums.

Band Lineup

Barbara Snow

Tom Hannah

Hilary Cameron

Carlos Srtraatman

Jansen Santana