The Latin Mix featuring Omar Puente

★★★★ ‘Next big thing’ Evening Standard

‘Absolutely brilliant’ Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio2

‘One for the jazz dance clubs’ Gilles Peterson, BBC Radio6

‘The outrageously good Emily Saunders. An extraordinary talent’ Chris Philips, JazzFM

Following her sell-out performance in March, Emily Saunders ESB returns to St James bringing special guest Omar Puente for an exciting evening of The Latin Mix – Cuban and Brazilian vibes with a London twist.

Omar Puente’s forthcoming album “Best Foot Forward” represents the second stage of an international musical journey, and continues where the 2009 release “From There to Here” left off, drawing on years of experience playing with musicians like Tito Puente, Eddy Palmieri, Courtney Pine, Rubén González and Wynton Marsalis.

This second instalment continues to draw on musical influences from across the diaspora, and reflects a career living and working with musicians from around the globe. Rooted in Omar’s Afro Cuban heritage, the album fuses musical experiences from Brazil, Africa, the Caribbean and Europe, with a deep understanding of Jazz. This rich mix produces an album of complex and infectious rhythms and original melodies which produces an irresistible urge to join in and dance.

Critically acclaimed, marked as ‘one to look out for’ by The Guardian’s critic John Fordham, Emily Saunders first came to attention with her debut album ‘Cotton Skies’, gaining four star reviews, and extensive press coverage. Exuberant, hip swaying grooves and romantic melodic songs wrapped around Brazilian rhythms alongside musicianship of the highest order established her not only as a rhythmically-inventive vocalist, but a supremely talented composer, songwriter, producer and lyricist; with her music broadcast nationally on BBC Radio 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and commercial radio (inc XFM & JazzFM). Released March 2015, her critically acclaimed album ‘Outsiders Insiders’ is remarkably assured, polished and accomplished. Played on radio stations around the world (eg Australia, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Germany, South Africa, UK to name a few), and charting internationally on iTunes and Amazon – Emily has truly become a global force in the jazz world.

Emily presents dazzling originals and Brazilian Jazz that combine spirited grooves, driving basslines, sultry ballads, reflections of 60’s soul jazz and playful textures that together reflect her love of rhythm. Influences include Chick Corea, Airto Moreira and Portishead.

Her band highlights international trumpeter Byron Wallen, “one of the most innovative, exciting and original trumpet players alive” – Jazzwise Magazine (played with Courtney Pine, Mica Paris, Loose Ends), Steve Pringle, piano (worked with Joss Stone, Michael Kiwanuka, Abram Wilson, Denys Baptiste), Paul Michael, bass (Julian Joseph and Liane Carroll), George Hart, drums (Swing Out Sister, Ivo Neame).