Laka D singer, piano player, composer, choir arranger and director whose soulful voice was featured with The Guest Stars and Emma Peel Fan Club. The gig will draw on personal reworkings of a wide range of material from Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday and Chet Baker to her own songs from the recent album, Old Life, New Shoes (F-IRE Collective record label). She is joined by long time collaborators Deirdre Cartwright guitar, Alison Rayner bass and Simon Pearson drums.

In the 80?s she was a member of all women jazz and latin group ?The Guest Stars?, touring many parts of the world and releasing three independent albums. Out of the melee of fantastic women musicians active at that time came ?The Lydia D?Ustebyn Swing Orchestra?, a remarkable 13 piece ensemble, also? The Hipscats?, a 5 part jazz vocal group.

“The first jazz I ever heard was a recording of the pianist/singer Mose Allison. I loved his rhythmic inventiveness, his bluesy style and the seamless connection between singer and piano. That was a big influence on me. My Dad was an Ella fan ? so her music was very much in the house and was my first introduction to jazz vocals, as they should be for everyone! I went on to discover Sarah Vaughan and Lena Horne. So I?m a paid-up fan of the Jazz Greats, and also the great Soul icons like Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. But I also love Tom Lehrer ? musical wit really appeals to me. I like my music to be relatively unsentimental ? I?m not a big fan of the torch song. My favourite vocal jazz album is Dianne Reeves ?Quiet After The Storm?. One of my favourite bands is ?Little Feat?. I?m a fan of Steely Dan and Lambert Hendricks & Ross ? but I can also enjoy the melodic gorgeousness in a tune like Ivor Novello?s We?ll Gather Lilacs.” Interviewed by Tamsin Collister London Jazz News

The Vortex Jazz Club 11 Gillett Street, London N16 8JH
Doors 8pm First set 8.45 pm £12 door
Advance ticket £10 http://www.wegottickets.com/event/328999