PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Join accomplished jazz singer Laura Zakian and her great quintet for an assured and inspired tour of her own original compositions and classic standards from her back catalogue. Mixing in jazz arrangements of pop melodies and new twist to the repertoire of Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and her favourite Carmen McRea, with self-penned songs from her well-received 2019 EP Minor Moments, Laura effortlessly ranges from elastic swing to atmospheric Ballads. Expect a relaxed and uplifting session that’s by turns familiar and intriguing, but always fresh.

“ Emotive introspection and tender beauty….The artistic alliance of Zakian and Pyne intrigues as to what else they may create together, as there is evident empathy in such poignant, meaningful songwriting delivered with gently uplifting grace.”

London Jazz News

Laura Zakian and her quintet return to the Pizza Express with an expansive journey through material from each period of her critically acclaimed career. For this Soho visit, London-based Laura draws on all four albums in her back catalogue, covering the Great American Songbook - in particular Frank Sinatra’s Songs for Swingin’ Lovers - but also jazz-flavoured arrangements of great melodies from other genres such as the work of Tom Waites and Laura Nyro. She’ll also reprise some of her most recent EP release “Minor Moments,” an original project launched at Pizza Express Dean Street last spring. Long recognised for her superbly sensitive and vivid interpretations of lyrics, Laura has at last given voice to her own experience, chronicling her journey back from depression. Lyrics imbued with wry wit and wistfulness as well as melancholy, are wedded to haunting compositions by renowned vibes player Martin Pyne. Martin will join Laura on percussion for this gig, which also sees her reunited with established and talented accompanists Steve Lodder (piano), Paul Bartholomew (baritone), Andy Hamill (bass) and Nic France (drums).

Laura studied in New York with Nancy Marano from the Manhatten School of Music and began her jazz career in Italy. She combines her artistic career with teaching aspiring vocalists at Goldsmiths College and across London.

Band Lineup

Laura Zakian (vocals)

Steve Lodder (keys)

Paul Bartholomew (baritone sax)

Andy Hammill (bass)

Martin Pyne (percussion)

Nic France (drums)