EFG London Jazz Festival 2022

Red Kite

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Tuesday 15 th November 2022

PizzaExpress Live (Holborn)

Mixing elements of electronic, jazz and classical music, Red Kite is a sextet led by Danish pianist Esben Tjalve, featuring some of the best musicians playing on the London and European jazz scene today. 

“Pleasingly melodic but also deeply rhythmic, easily digestible yet subtly challenging, and just full of good ideas allied to exemplary playing.”

The Jazz Mann

Mixing elements of electronic, jazz and classical music Red Kite is a sextet led by Danish pianist Esben Tjalve. The band features some if the best musicians playing on the London and European Jazz Scene; Phronesis' Jasper Høiby on bass, Jellymould artist and London scene-maker Hannes Riepler on guitar, Italian trumpeter Fulvio Sigurta and Marc Michel on drums.

“Every Track contains an abundance of beauty and originality, with serene melodies and subtle melodies which give plenty of scope for improvisation” - London Jazz News 

Their latest album “Theory of Colours” is an experiment with different colours in a musical sense, combining a composed score and improvised sections with synthesizers and various effects on acoustic instruments that can all be realised live on the bandstand. From cinematic meditative soundscapes to groovy noir tunes the structure of the music allows for the improvised parts to interact and co-exist with the written material and leave the individual musician space to create their own sound within the band.

The music cannot really be defined by genre.

This is fresh, clever, well composed and beautifully performed music.

Red Kite was selected to perform a showcase gig at Jazzahead 2021. Red Kite has recently recorded a new album which is due for release in June 2023.

Band Line Up

Esben Tjalve (piano)

Jasper Høiby (bass)

Hannes Riepler (guitar)

Fulvio Sigurta (trumpet)

Marc Michel (drums)