Alicja Śmietana (violin) and James Pearson (piano) play American Classics by Gershwin and others... This creative duo merges together regularly for a special programme presenting Jazz music in a classical context and Classical Music in Jazz.

American Classics
Alicja Smietana (violin) and James Pearson (piano)
This creative duo merges together regularly for a special programme
presenting Jazz music in a classical context and Classical Music in Jazz.
This programme consists of favourite American Classics such as Geroge
Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein and Andre Previn to name a few. All of these
composers has a serioud love affair with Jazz and their compositions
became iconic not just in that world but for most of genres. This
programme presents those compositions that proved to be most flexible
and plastic to accomodate a violin and piano recital. From Summertime to
West Side Story and beautiful jazz experimemts by Andre Previn the duo
takes us on a time travel across America.
Alicja Smietana is a primarily classical violinist with busy career both as a
soloist and chamber musician and an arranger, but being brought up in the
jazz world by her father - the great guitarist Jarek Smietana - it was only a
matter of time before she turned and started experimenting with jazz
herself both playing, writing and arranging for jazz violin.
James Pearson
is a pianist, composer and creative tour de force. He is the Artistic
Director at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club where his trio are the house band.
James is equally at home as a concert pianist which makes this duo really
unique.