Grappelli Ella

Kindly come prepared with your own snacks and beverages for this casual, cafe-like gathering. Renowned violinist and BBC presenter Seonaid Aitken honors the legacy of her idol, the French Jazz violin maestro Stéphane Grappelli. Having collaborated with Martin Taylor MBE, a former guitarist for Grappelli, Seonaid now teaches at the Grappelli-Django Camp in The Netherlands and frequently performs with her group, Rose Room. Dubbed the ‘fiery violinist,’ Seonaid, together with leading Scottish jazz guitarist Conor Smith (also from Rose Room), will commemorate Grappelli’s illustrious career with lively tracks from his solo catalog, such as ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ and ‘Ol’ Man River.’ This includes selections from his time with the Quintette du Hot Club de France and his iconic collaborations with Classical legend Yehudi Menuhin.

In the latter part of the performance, Seonaid turns her focus to her beloved jazz singer, the ‘First Lady of Song,’ Ella Fitzgerald. With Conor Smith on guitar, she will delve into some of Ella’s most memorable recordings from her Songbook collection and popular singles released by Decca Records. After her widely praised 2017 big band tribute to Ella Fitzgerald marking the jazz icon’s centennial, Seonaid earned the ‘Best Vocalist’ title twice at the Scottish Jazz Awards and remains dedicated to honoring one of jazz history’s greatest vocalists.

“Exceptional gypsy jazz talent” – THE SCOTSMAN
“Probably the closest you’ll get to hearing Stéphane Grappelli’s style in Scotland” – BBC RADIO SCOTLAND
“Her voice shifts from sparkling high tones to a smooth, velvety depth” – ACOUSTIC MAGAZINE
“Seonaid Aitken’s vibrant singing and effortless skill are a true delight” – HERALD SCOTLAND

Please note that this is a ticketed event.