Vocalist, violinist, songwriter/composer and improviser Alice Zawadzki is a “distinctive and individual presence” on the creative music scene in London and beyond. Her music draws together influences from her early exposure to New Orleans soul and gospel, a classical training and an exploration of world and improvised music, with storytelling always at the heart of her performances and compositions.

Alice’s journey into jazz started at age twelve after hearing New Orleans vocalist Lillian Boutté, who was to later become her mentor and took her on tour as a backing vocalist by the time she was 15. Since then, she has played at most of the major venues and festivals in the UK, with her own band and as a collaborator in some of the UKs brightest creative ensembles working in new & improvised music.

A recent graduate from the Royal Academy of Music where she gained an MA in jazz voice and composition, she also holds a BMus(hons) from the Royal Northern College of Music as a violinist. She has won scholarships from Musicians Benevolent Fund, The Hilda Collens Award and was granted the Emerging Artists Residency at Cove Park funded by the Scottish Arts Council and the Jerwood Foundation. During these years she studied with Norma Winstone, Nia Lynn, Pete Churchill, Steven Wilkie and many other inspiring and world class musicians and practitioners.

Alice’s debut album China Lane is released on Whirlwind Recordings on June 16th 2014 and features a who’s who of contemporary guiding lights from the European scene in guitarist Alex Roth, bassist Andreas Lang, Hammond organ from Kit Downes, and drummer Jon Scott.