PHOTO BY PATRICIA PASCAL
MARIA GRAPSA BIO
Pianist and composer Maria Grapsa is presenting original compositions and a fresh approach in jazz, latin, hip-hop, funk and electronic music. Starting from her studies in environmental engineering and classical piano, Maria was won over by her love for jazz. She is now creating some exciting new music taking influences from numerous genres.
Based in London since 2014, Maria has been participating actively in UK’s music scene with Tomorrow’s Warriors Female Frontline, jazz-latin band Colectiva (Best Alternative Act 2019- LUKAS Awards) and hip-hop artist Shunaji, while she has shared the stage with G. Crosby, Daniel Rollins, James Morton and Tim Berne. She has performed so far in Jazz Cafe London, Southbank Centre, Hootananny Brixton, Canteen Bristol, Eastside Jazz Club Birmingham, Ally Pally, Wilderness Festival and Torstrassen Festival Berlin. She is currently studying towards her Jazz Masters of Music, following a scholarship offer at the Royal Conservatoire of Birmingham. She has been teaching piano and improvisation to young people since 2012, offering music lessons and workshops.
Maria co-founded a Jazz Duo with guitarist Ashley Blasse, the electronic duo Super Models with multi-instrumentalist Joshua Brandler and leads her own Jazz Quintet. Her current focus is on original compositions and the upcoming release of her first EP. The newly formed Maria Grapsa Quintet is influenced by cinematic themes whilst pushes the limits of improvisation within the jazz idiom.
In 2019-20 Maria created the ongoing project ‘Dialogue in’, a series of live studio recordings full of improvisation, spontaneity and musical dialogues. With the cross-disciplinary project, she hopes to open a dialogue in between artists, musicians of all kinds and audience. Her live videos and audio recordings are available across all online platforms.
Maria’s past and present musical tutors and mentors are: Liam Noble, John Turville, Mike Williams, John O’ Gallagher, Percy Pursglove, Tim Berne, Gary Crosby, Peter Edwards, George Kontrafouris, Cecilia Stalin and Sara Colman. She has been participating in workshops of Tomorrow’s Warriors, Barry Harris and Grand Union Youth Orchestra.
PHOTO BY KATARZYNA BOREK
ORIGINAL MUSIC
Maria Grapsa Quintet
Inspiring compositions & energetic improvisers
Maria’s current focus is on original compositions and the upcoming release of her first EP. The newly formed Maria Grapsa Quintet, comprised of the talented Liam Brennan (alto sax), Matthew Kilner (tenor sax), Kai Chareunsy (drums) and Tommy Fuller (d.bass), is influenced by cinematic themes whilst pushes the limits of improvisation within the jazz idiom. Interesting arrangements, groovy tunes and capturing performances by this band.