HJC PRESENTS AT PIZZAEXPRESS, SOHO - Brian Clemens 'Beneath the Blue' featuring Francesca Confortini

Wednesday 25th October 2023

Tickets: £20 

Doors: 6.30pm

Show: 8.00pm

The Hampstead Jazz Club is pleased to announce a partnership with PizzaExpress Live, to present select shows at PizzaExpress Live in Soho.

The venue for this event is PizzaExpress, 10 Dean St, London W1D 3RW

Hampstead Jazz Club  in partnership with PizzaExpress Live , proudly present Brian Clemens, “Beneath the Blue”. A Los Angeles based pianist/composer, he will make his London premiere at PizzaExpress live with a performance of the album along with other personal arrangements, original music, and exciting surprises. Arranged, performed, and produced by Brian Clemens, and featuring 8 horns, and 4 vocalists, “Beneath the Blue” is a stylistic whirlwind through Brian’s inspirations and passions. From the jaunty Afro-Cuban energy of the original tune “Callout” to the sentimental and moving modulations in “Twilight Time”, the album features a diverse range of sounds and styles. Brian Clemens finds his musical influences and roots in legendary pianists such as Oscar Peterson, Billy Joel, and George Shearing and arranging styles in the work of Billy May and Nelson Riddle.

Brian Clemens finds his musical influences and roots in legendary pianists such as Oscar Peterson, Billy Joel, and George Shearing and arranging styles in the work of Billy May and Nelson Riddle. After obtaining his Master’s Degree in California and studying with Grammy Award-winning pianist/arranger, Bill Cunliffe, Brian has established himself in the vast Southern California music scene as a bandleader and sideman alike, performing at venues such as Herb Albert’s Vibrato Jazz Grill, The Canyon Club, and The Coach House.

Italian-born jazz vocalist Francesca Confortini brings her soulful tone to every performance. With a background in musical theatre and international experience as a singer for the likes of Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), along with work with gypsy-jazz ensembles Trio Manouche and Gypsy Dynamite as well as her own trio Jazz Silhouettes, she exudes sophistication and warmth in everything she does. A versatile vocalist capable of moving from her neo-jazz originals to interpretation of the American Songbook classics Francesca is without doubt “one to watch”!

“Francesca brings such energy, drive and musicianship to the task of bandleader that it all works” – The Arts Desk

LINE-UP:

Brian Clemens (piano)

Francesca Confortini (vocals)

Ferg Ireland (bass)

Pat Illingworth (drums)

Venue

PizzaExpress Live (Soho)
10 Dean St, London, W1D 3RW

020 7439 4962

Showtimes

Doors: 6:30 pm | Show: 8:00 pm