Ela’s childhood was filled with beautiful music with an accomplished jazz pianist father. She loved the melancholy and rich chord sequences of jazz from the off. She studied music to degree level and then made her career as a jazz and bossa nova singer, taking inspiration from the greats such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, and Brazilian velvet voiced singers such as Joao Gilberto and Elis Regina.

 

Jason Henson is an accomplished jazz guitarist based in Brighton, he has played with many of the world’s finest musicians when running one of Brighton’s longest running jazz nights at the Hand in Hand. He has also played in many jazz clubs all over England, appeared on the BBC and travelled the world performing at festivals, on cruise ships and at many other special events.

 

At Laughton festival Ela and Jason are going to be choosing from Ela’s Brazilian repertoire.