Grazina Pukaite Quartet 'My Favorite Things'
Grazina Pukaite
Entry Requirements: Under 16s are not permitted in the venue. Under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
Internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist Grazina Pukaite originally from Lithuania, emerged into the Irish jazz scene in 2014 before settling in London in 2018. Her influences cross genres, but what truly sets her apart is her deep connection with traditional jazz and her unique and fearless exploration of vocal improvisation and storytelling.
Grazina will present an intimate evening featuring Julian Woods on double bass, Chris Davis on drums, and Lior Solomons-Wise on piano. She will perform arrangements of jazz standards, Brazilian tunes, contemporary jazz compositions, and some of her original songs from her recent EP 'Small Sessions I'.
Line up: Grazina Pukaite - Vocals Julian Woods – Double Bass Chris Davis - Drums Lior Solomons-Wise - Piano
Chris is a highly motivated and dedicated upcoming musician on the London scene. His passion to pursue music has already led him to several brilliant opportunities including with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, Brubeck Jazz Summit 2022 (USA, Lake Tahoe, Nevada) and where he is currently studying for a degree in jazz performance, at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Chris has been studying under both UK and International class drum teachers including Eric Harland, Ralph Salmins, James Maddren, Sebastiaan De Krom, Will Glaser and others. Once Chris completes his time at GSMD in 2025, he plans to continue working in the music industry, continuing his interests in playing for sessions, composition (film and video games), and touring and playing jazz in London and the USA.
Julian Woods is a bassist and guitarist based in London and studying at the Guildhall School of Music. His interests include free improvisation, microtonality, polystylism and serialism. He frequently collaborates with Steve Beresford, Maggie Nicols, Phil Minton and others.
Lior Solomons-Wise is a 21-year-old pianist and composer based in London. An undergraduate student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Lior has performed at jazz venues across London, including Pizza Express Dean Street and the Vortex and debuted his quintet at the EFG Jazz Festival 2023. Lior is the Winner of the Dankworth Prize for Jazz Composition 2023.
Line Up
Grazina Pukaite
Grazina Pukaite, a contemporary vocalist from Lithuania who is currently based in London, draws upon a diverse range of influences in her music.
Rooted in the jazz and bebop tradition, her singing style exhibits an instrumentalist-like approach to phrasing while incorporating elements from European and Scandinavian jazz idioms. Inspired by Eastern European and Scandinavian music, Grazina’s musical influences range from Jon Hendricks to vocalist Norma Winstone.
A most recent highlight was her performance of ‘The Anatomy of Being’ at the Guildhall Jazz Festival, held at the Milton Concert Hall as part of the EFG London Festival - featuring Sam Leak on piano, Finn Genockey on drums/vibes, Jack Ross on trumpet, and Julian Woods on guitar. ‘The Anatomy of Being’ – a project which explores various musical influences and genres, such as Eastern European folk and jazz, combined with fearless improvisation elements, contemporary harmony, lush melodies, free jazz elements, and spoken word. Compositions include ‘Ode to my soles, ‘Ode to my backbone’, and ‘Ode to my fingers’, to name a few.
Her rich sound and compelling stage presence have continuously enchanted audiences in London, Dublin, and Lithuania.
Grazina's introduction to jazz occurred when she first heard the legendary Carmen McRae, whose records deeply resonated with Grazina. Captivated by McRae’s expressive and personal approach to song interpretation and phrasing, Grazina admired the hard-swinging, conversational storytelling style that included listeners in the journey of the performance.
Grazina’s performance highlights include a Jazz Festival in Lithuania, a national tour through Ireland, singing music from the “Great American Songbook,”, and a sold-out concert at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland featuring renowned Irish jazz guitarist Louis Stewart, and a performance at the Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin.
In 2018, Grazina moved to London to pursue her jazz career. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz with distinction at Middlesex University. She continued her academic journey and received a Master’s in Jazz Performance from the Guildhall School of Music in 2023.
In late October 2023, Grazina recorded her debut EP, ‘Small Sessions I,’ which will be released on January 8, 2024, on all platforms worldwide. This forthcoming EP contains six tunes – a ‘drum-less’ captivating exploration of original compositions, Brazilian songs, and vocalese with a twist. The EP features the talents of Chris Bland on Rhodes/Hammond/Piano, Harry Brunt on tenor sax, and Julian Woods on microtonal guitar (‘Ode to My Fingers’ and ‘On Connection’). ‘Small Sessions I’ is set for release on January 8, 2024, on all platforms.
