LIJF 2025: Emma Rawicz
Emma Rawicz - Saxophone
Jonny Mansfield - Vibraphone
Niklas Lukassen - Bass
Asaf Sirkis - Drums
Emma Rawicz is a young saxophonist, bandleader and composer with an astonishing musical maturity. At just 22 years of age, Rawicz has achieved a huge amount, including the release of two critically acclaimed albums Incantation and Chroma, extensive headline tours across 15 countries, appearances in high profile festivals and venues including concerts featuring as a soloist with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and with the German SWR Radio Big Band at a sold out Berlin Philharmonie. She was the youngest ever Artist in Residence at Cambridge Jazz Festival and has received a number of awards and nominations recognising her achievements.
Rawicz’s signing to the major jazz label ACT represented a big step forward in her international career, particularly with the 2023 release of her label debut album Chroma, which received an extremely positive response from both jazz lovers and critics alike.
June 2024 saw Rawicz finish her studies at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music. Alongside her studies she has developed a remarkably broad range of projects: from her regularly touring quartet featuring stars of the UK jazz scene, to duo concerts with acclaimed pianist Gwilym Simcock, through to her 20-piece Jazz Orchestra which has already performed her exciting original music at important London venues.
“With ‘Chroma’ young British jazz star Emma Rawicz is taking admirable risks and continuing her warp-speed evolution ****”. - The Guardian
“What an extraordinary artist reaching such heights at such a young age!!” and "an astonishing talent"
- Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio 2
"One of the UK’s most interesting musicians - highly gifted and exceptionally creative” - Jazz Thing
“Emma Rawicz’s solos …… show a poise far beyond her years” - Mojo
"An astonishing talent and a force to be reckoned with" – Jazzwise