One of the most memorable releases of 2021 was the debut album of Emma-Jean Thackray: Yellow. The British bandleader, multi-instrumentalist, DJ, composer and producer had already released promising EPs on which she showcased a wonderful combination of jazz and dance. On Yellow, Thackray does the same, but in a much more elaborate way. In 47 minutes, she takes you on a journey across a musical universe that is influenced by 70s jazz, fusion and p-funk, the cosmic invocations of Sun Ra and the fabulous orchestrations of the Beach Boys. Add to this the blazing energy and danceability of the London scene and the picture is complete. Thackray is a pioneering artist who is introducing a new generation of young music lovers to the various hip manifestations of jazz. She has performed at major festivals such as Winter Jazzfest and Glastonbury, and this year she will be performing at NN North Sea Jazz for the first time.
