INKYRA is a thrilling new project from Emma Rawicz which represents another ambitious departure from her previous music. Stylistically, Emma has drawn on her wide range of musical influences and inspirations from genres as varied as rock, fusion, singer-songwriter music all blended with her stylistic home of modern jazz. The result is an entirely unique set of new music, that can flourish in any performance setting, from concert hall to jazz club to multi-genre nightclubs to standing festival stages. The ensemble takes the form of a sextet, featuring UK heavyweights Gareth Lockrane, David Preston, Scottie Thompson, Kevin Glasgow and Jamie Murray (the band occasionally goes out as a quintet without flutes.) The band already has a palpable chemistry with just a handful of shows under its belt, and each musician contributes a huge amount of their own personality and spirit, not least because the music was written specifically for these musicians. The INKYRA music is full of effortlessly singable melodies, with hard-hitting grooves that capture fans of a wide range of genres. Like much of Emma’s music, craft and sophistication are ever present in her writing, but never at the expense of the joyful energy that captures audiences. It features blistering solos and virtuosic improvisation from each member of the band, each musician a highly respected figure on the UK scene. Collective improvisation grows out of infectious grooves, and this band is unafraid to push the boundaries of every genre they draw upon, with the adventurous creative spirit characteristic of all of Emma’s music.
