Featuring some of the best musicians currently making major waves in the London jazz scene, the jazz collective Nérija have recently re-released their incredible 2016 debut EP on Domino records.

Led by tenor saxophonist Nubya Garcia, the septet also includes Sheila Maurice-Grey on trumpet, and alto saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi who both also play in KOKOROKO and SEED Ensemble. The band also notably features trombonist Rosie Turton, Shirley Tetteh on guitar (who also plays in Maisha), drummer Lizy Exell, and SEED Ensemble bassist Rio Kai.

It’s not a coincidence that the seven-piece collective features six female musicians. Formed out of Tomorrow’s Warriors Development program and originally featuring an all female cast (Inga Eichler was original bassist), Nérija was consciously created to help address the imbalance of women instrumentalist in jazz.

Fully re-mixed and remastered, the brilliant self-title EP touches upon some of the same influences that we hear on many of the musicians’ other projects, fusing together jazz, Afrobeat rhythms, and deep South African rooted melodies.

Since the group self-released the five-track EP three years ago, the project has received well-deserved high praise. It’s great to see this remarkable debut get a proper re-release, and make it’s way onto vinyl for the first time.

Nérija — ‘s/t EP’
(Domino)

1. Pinkham V
2. Redamancy
3. The Fisherman
4. For You
5. Valleys

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