Pete Letanka Trio [Jazz]

“A tour de force performance. Congratulations to Zephyr Records for putting that talent on wax” –  Humphrey Lyttelton, BBC Radio 2 “Best of Jazz”

Pete Letanka is a jazz pianist, composer, educator and presenter. He studied Jazz and contemporary music at Leeds Conservatoire, where he won a scholarship to spend a year studying under (Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition winner) Mark Polishook at the University of Maine, USA. He graduated with a 1st class BA (hons) and the Leeds University Armes award for the highest mark in the year.

The Pete Letanka Trio has performed regularly at leading jazz venues across the UK, including Ronnie Scott’s, the Purcell Room and the Queen Elizabeth Hall. His debut album “Afrostocracy” was release by the award-winning jazz label, Zephyr Records.

His work as an educator has led to collaborations with Jazz at Lincoln Centre, Royal Opera House, English National Opera, London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and National Youth Jazz Orchestra. He has worked in schools and prisons across the UK, inspiring vulnerable young people to find new confidence through composition and improvisation. He has led international cross-arts projects in South Africa, India, Lebanon, Spain and Portugal. He spent five years as a music director of Glyndebourne Youth Opera and three years as the artistic director of Aldeburgh Music’s Group A.

His composition commissions include “Return to History” which was recorded by the BBC Symphony Orchestra and broadcast on BBC Radio 3. “Hope and Glory”, a large-scale work for symphony orchestra, jazz big band and massed choir concluded a Prom at the Royal Albert Hall.

He contributed to the soundtrack to “Morlaix”, a film from Spanish auteur Jaime Rosales, which premiered at the London Film Festival last year.

“Everyone who hears Pete Letanka for the first time is amazed!” –  Dave Gelly, The Observer

Line up:
Pete Letanka – Piano
Sam Burgess – Bass
George Double – Drums

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