Pianist Nick Manz showcases his burgeoning skill-set, which has already seen him dazzling on TV in the notoriously tough BBC Young Jazz Musician final in 2022. With him will be his fast-developing Trio Lígia. Nick attended the Junior Department at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, studying with Percy Pursglove and Mike Williams. After his A Levels he first spent a year at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Here he connected with musicians from around the world and explored different styles. Nick was then offered a scholarship place at the RBC, where he currently studies with John Turville. Present artistic influences include Sullivan Fortner, Kenny Kirkland and Olivier Messiaen. He discovered jazz piano aged 15 inspired by the likes of McCoy Tyner, Esbjörn Svensson and Keith Jarrett.

Also in Lígia is Kai Chareunsy, a drummer and composer currently working in jazz, improvised, and electro-acoustic music. Known for his sensibility to sound and melodic approach to his kit, he is quickly becoming an established member of the UK music scene. As a composer Kai has been commissioned by B:Music, Severn Arts, Lancaster Jazz Festival, and was recently a recipient of the prestigious Sound and Music Composer Award. Kai has also been featured as a composer/performer on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 6.

Ben Love is a Birmingham-based double bassist, currently studying under the tutelage of Orlando Le Fleming and Percy Pursglove. Through performances at various jazz venues across the country, Ben is steadily forging his path within the double-bass realm, drawing inspiration from bassists Charlie Haden, Larry Grenadier, and Thomas Morgan, along with the lyrical influences of singer-songwriters Bob Dylan and Elliott Smith.

Line Up: Nick Manz – piano, Ben Love – bass & Kai Chareunsy – drums