“Tonight!” – The Music of Leonard Bernstein re-imagined, featuring Emma Smith [Jazz]

★★★★★ – “This is classic piano trio jazz at its best” – Barry Withderden – BBC Music Magazine 

★★★★★ – “Everything about this album is almost perfect” – Alan Musson – UK Vibe 

Tonight – The Music of Leonard Bernstein reimagined featuring Emma Smith.

Rob Barron is a mainstay of the London jazz and studio scene. Constantly in demand, he is a first call pianist highly regarded for his improvisational flair, innate musicality and deft touch and highly regarded original arranger of popular songs. This has led him to work with Claire Martin on her latest release as pianist and arranger and also many visiting American artists such as Al Jarreau, Marlena Shaw and Grant Stewart. Rob also spends his time as professor of jazz piano at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Emma Smith is one of the most established jazz vocalists in the UK. For 15 years, her genre spanning, accessible performance style has enthralled existing jazz audiences and introduced myriad concert goers to the iconic jazz repertoire that has influenced contemporary music for generations. One third of vocal harmony group The Puppini Sisters, she has sung with Michael Bublé, Robbie Williams, Bobby McFerrin, Goldie and Seal. Emma is a proud member of the Ronnie Scotts All Stars and a band leader in her own right, performing at iconic jazz clubs and festivals across the globe for the last decade, doing much to bring jazz music into the mainstream whilst maintaining tradition and artistic integrity. Emma won the Worshipful Company of Musicians Young Jazz Musicians Of The Year in 2013, the Rising Star Award at the London Music Awards in 2023 and won Jazz Vocalist of the Year in the 2024 Parliamentary Jazz Awards

Leonard Bernstein was one of the titans of music making in the 20th century. His timeless compositions for choirs, soloists and orchestras remain essential parts of the musical canon along with the many great songs he wrote that have now become jazz standards. Among his most memorable creations are his extensive musical theatre compositions of which West Side Story is the most famous.

Giving voice to this wide collection, in his original and most creative manner comes Rob Barron with his trio, a creative jazz pianist, who recognises that Bernstein’s imaginative creations give themselves generously to an updated and improvised interpretation.

Rob devotes the first half to West Side Story, whilst the second half captures a wide range of music from Bernstein’s Candide, On The Town, Wonderful Town, A Quiet Place and more.

Award winning jazz vocalist Emma Smith has been making a name for herself as one of as of the finest vocalists to emerge on the London Jazz scene.

★★★★ –  “The Sound of Masters at Work” – Sussex Jazz Magazine

“One of the most creative and imaginative pianists of his generation” – Jazzwise Magazine

Line up
Rob Barron – piano
Tom Farmer – double bass
Matt Skelton – drums
Emma Smith – guest vocalist