Nishla Smith Quintet [sunday afternoon jazz]

“Nishla Smith’s original ballads sound like standards from the American Songbook … maudlin moments shoulder ecstatic reveries…” – London Jazz News

Nishla is a singer and songwriter who defies easy categorisation: her live sets include a breath-taking variety of material, from celebrated originals to dark jazz standards and devastating ballads. Her often dreamy and melancholic aura is offset by an energetic and imaginative band of Manchester’s finest young contemporary improvisers.

Downbeat USA said of the release: “While Smith’s singing is an entrancing beauty of its own, the true trump cards are the lyrics and melodies… She creates a darkly gorgeous interior sonic world.”

Nishla Smith Quintet have recently performed at Ronnie Scott’s, Vortex Jazz Club, Manchester and Lancaster Jazz Festivals and are recent alumni of Jazz North’s Northern Line.

Outside of her work with the quintet, Nishla is a prolific composer and collaborator. She’s made work for Opera North, Lancaster Jazz Festival and Manchester Collective. She’s a City Music Foundation Artist and is part of Serious Music’s  2022 Take Five cohort.