NOMINATED for Jazz FM’s breakthrough act for 2016, Nerija is a collective of exciting London-based young musicians formed from a Tomorrow’s Warriors initiative seeking to encourage young women to play jazz.

There are many female vocalists but comparatively few instrumentalists in this genre. Calstock Arts has been lucky to get this much in demand septet to play at its venue on Saturday (October 29).

Their unusual line-up of four horns and guitar gives them their distinctive, fresh and current sound. They have toured alongside top UK jazz musicians, including Nathaniel Facey of Empirical and Zoe Rahman, with their debut CD due for release in Summer 2016.

With influences from jazz, hip hop, Caribbean and afro-beat, Nerija is blazing an exciting trail for women in jazz. They have appeared at a whole range of festivals, including Brecon, Latitude and the 2015 Manchester Jazz Festival where their set was broadcast live on BBC Radio Jazz On Three. Their playing at Latitude was described as ‘bringing to mind …. Miles Davis’ jazz fusion. Nerija were the unexpected treat’. They are certainly making waves across the jazz community with their flowing soulful sound.