Athens born, London based since 2014; Maria Grapsa leads a quintet of young exciting players from the thriving UK scene and is set to release her debut album later this year. Her music is influenced by cinematic themes; pushing the limits of improvisation within the jazz idiom and beyond.  Maria’s classical music background, Greek origins and world, folk, middle-East and Latin influences, all meet the jazz tradition in a unique way. 

She has been spotted in numerous projects of the London scene including NU Civilisation Orchestra,  Tomorrow’s Warriors Female Frontline, Suede Jazz Collective, Grand Union Youth Orchestra and with hip-hop artist Shunaji, while she has co-founded the ongoing electronic duo project Supermodels. She won Alternative Act for LUKAS AWARDS 2019, with her bandmates at the time Colectiva, while they released her composition Under The with Movimientos Record Label. She has performed in prestigious venues and festivals such as Southbank Centre, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Jazz Café, Wilderness, Norwich, Cheltenham and Marsden Jazz Festivals. She has shared the stage with Gary Crosby OBE, Daniel Rollins and Tim Berne.  Her Quintet is already making an impact in significant venues such as Soho’s Pizza Express Live, Birmingham Symphony Hall, Jazz at the Crypt, Karamel and Birmingham Jazz Festival.

Maria is a Scholarship Jazz Masters alumna of Royal Conservatoire of Birmingham and a recipient of the Help Musicians Transmission Fund 2021.