Watford Jazz Festival: Alice Zawadzki presents 'Invented Folklore' @ Watford Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre

Alice Zawadzki presents a unique show and musical collective, curated and assembled for the final concert night of this year's watford Jazz Junction Festival.

Acclaimed violinist, composer and singer Alice Zawadzki presents a unique exploration of musical junctions through the stories of folklore, alongside a bespoke band assembled especially for the final concert night of this year's festival.

Invented Folklore

Who were the ordinary mortals who stoked the imagination of febrile storytellers, from the Frog Prince to Cinderella? Who would those people be in today's world? Would we recognise them? Curated and performed by Alice Zawadzki, Invented Folklore brings us vignettes that re-imagine the world of the fairy tale, crashing into the Pumphouse Theatre for one very special night. Alice invites a stellar line-up of musicians to re-tell our beloved stories and invent new ones, including saxophonist and BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Xhosa Cole, drummer for Go Go Penguin and Mulatu Astatke Jon Scott, and boundary blurring artist Simon Roth, who in the spirit of invention, brings a completely new and unique instrument of his own making, The Magic Box, which has to be heard to be believed.

Support act: Petra Haller and Tom O'Brien

Tap dancer Petra Haller and pianist Tom O’Brien perform jazz standards and free improvisation, where rhythm and melody come together in an engaging and dynamic performance, presenting a 21st century and cutting-edge take on tap dancing. Petra, a London-based tap dancer, musician, and bandleader, has redefined tap as a key element in jazz and improvisational music. Her work transforms the art of tap into a percussive voice, adding a unique layer of rhythm and texture to her collaborations. Tom, a 24-year-old pianist and composer from Leeds, is gaining recognition for his imaginative approach to improvisation and his distinctive style.