UK Jazz News

Emma Rawicz Jazz Orchestra

Ronnie Scott's, 30 January 2025. First House

Emma Rawicz Jazz Orchestra, Ronnie Scott's. Photo © 2025 Robert Crowley

It has been clear for some time that Emma Rawicz is the rising star of UK jazz, but her jazz orchestra’s performance at Ronnie’s on 30 January 2025 has moved her into a new league. We knew that she is a terrific saxophonist, that she writes good tunes and makes fine albums, that she can more than hold her own in small groups with the likes of Gwilym Simcock, Ant Law and Asaf Sirkis, and that she is a strong stage presence with excellent communication skills. At Ronnie’s we discovered how well she writes for jazz orchestra, with total command of  the players and the music in live performance. What’s more – and this is not always true of jazz musicians, especially young ones – it was clear that she and the band were having a great time.  I have never seen such a smiley big band or a leader who was so clearly revelling in the moment while directing the band with total discipline and precision.

The quality and diversity of her writing and arrangements were remarkable. Kenny Wheeler is clearly an influence, as would be expected of a recent graduate of the RAM, but Emma’s personal voice came through loud and clear, notably in some original and striking guitar voicings which David Preston handled sensitively and tastefully.  One of my party, a trombonist, was particularly impressed by a workout for bass trombone; we were all knocked out by Emma’s use of Immy Churchill’s lovely voice as an integral part of the orchestral textures. With one exception – Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock – all the pieces were Emma originals; this can be a risky strategy for a young musician, but here it paid off 100%,  every number fully deserving its place on the gig. Having said that, ‘Woodstock’ was a standout, partly because it gave Immy Churchill a chance to be a lead vocalist rather than an instrument. To my ears she was a little down in the mix, but it was still a great arrangement.  

Among a mostly young band made up mainly of Emma’s friends from RAM and NYJO, two senior players stood out – Mark Lockheart on tenor and Nick Smart on trumpet, both featured on gorgeous solos. It was good to hear Emma thanking both for their influence on her playing, and also Ant Law who was watching from a stool at the bar – uncomfortable but the best listening spot in the Club. Given my NYJO background, it’s no surprise that I enjoyed seeing an all-NYJO-alumni tenor trombone section, James Copus among the trumpets and Tom Smith in the baritone chair, including a bass clarinet part which made full use of that instrument’s unique texture, unusual in big band arrangements. Emma’s own playing had complete technical mastery but always with a very musical objective and a precise creation of the desired mood. The ease with which she switched from soloing to directing the band was remarkable, and the smile with which she did it lit up the room.

All credit to Ronnie’s for booking the Emma Rawicz Jazz Orchestra and giving them two separate houses; both were sold out, and (at the first house at least) to an attentive audience which clearly appreciated  the quality of what they were listening to.  Memo to the Club: please make this an annual feature.

First show

Particles of Change
A Portrait of Today
La Madrugada
Woodstock
Rangwali
Voodoo
Middle Ground
Vera

Second show

Anima Rising
A Portrait of Today
Woodstock
Waldeinsamkeit
Rangwali
Middle Ground
La Madrugada
Particles of Change

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One Response

  1. I was there for that first house, and I couldn’t agree more with Nigel’s comments. It was an outstanding performance of orchestra and leader. I’m an old geezer who’s been listening to jazz since the 1950s, and the one extra element for me in Emma’s approach is her youth, and the refreshingly youthful feel of her sounds. I saw her with her quintet at the LJF, and her trio a couple of weeks ago and am also highly impressed at her easy ability to move between formats.

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