PHOTO BY PATRICIA PASCAL
MARIA GRAPSA BIO
Piano song, improvisation and modern jazz writing are the means that Maria Grapsa portrays her journey through the interior. As a classically trained, explorative jazz musician, she empowers her sextet to flow free form through original compositions; steam hard in tenor jazz and intricate, emotionally-charged cinematic ballads. Maria’s Greek roots and folk, middle-East, Latin influences, all meet the jazz tradition in a unique way. Each performance unites a band at the edge of unfolding discoveries and projects shapes that are round and together – as a unit they defy dynamics from pin drop knife edge solo performances from the horns to roars from the rhythm section. Maria’s band has already been making an impact in sold-out prestigious UK venues (Birmingham Symphony Hall, Soho’s Pizza Express, Jazz at the Crypt, Woolwich Works, London and Birmingham Jazz Festival).
In addition to her ensemble’s performances, Maria has been involved in numerous projects across the London music scene, including collaborations with the NU Civilisation Orchestra, Tomorrow’s Warriors Female Frontline, Suede Jazz Collective, Grand Union Orchestra, and the All Day Breakfast Café. She has performed alongside prominent artists such as Tim Berne, ESKA, Gary Crosby OBE, Denis Baptiste, Jelly Cleaver, and Emma Rawicz. Maria has performed at prestigious venues like the Southbank Centre, Jazz Café, Union Chapel, and the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, as well as at major festivals such as Wilderness, Norwich, Cheltenham, Marsden Jazz, and the Torstrassen Festival in Berlin.
Maria’s recent debut album, LIFE, has garnered over 25 glowing reviews from around the world and has received extensive radio play and DJ support from notable figures such as Jamie Cullum, Soweto Kinch (BBC3), Drake Yolanda, China Moses, Cerys Matthews, Huey Morgan, Jamz Supernova (BBC6), Jazz FM’s Chris Philips and Tim Garcia, as well as Toshiro Matsuura and Papaoul on Worldwide FM. Ian Patterson and Neil Duggan of All About Jazz praise Maria Grapsa’s debut album, LIFE, as “a highly impressive debut.” Backseat Mafia adds, “The Maria Grapsa Sextet have written an excellent first chapter in a story that looks set to run and run”. Numerous other press outlets worldwide are echoing these accolades, outlining her exceptional work.
Originally from Athens and based in London since 2014, Maria is a Jazz Masters Scholarship alumna (2022) of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Her work has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the and LUKAS Alternative Act Award 2019, the Help Musicians Transmission Fund (2021) and the Help Musicians Record & Release Music Award (2023).
Maria’s mentors include Liam Noble, Ross Stanley, Ed Puddick, Mike Williams, John O’ Gallagher, Percy Pursglove, Peter Edwards, Cecilia Stalin, and Sara Colman. She has been participating in workshops with Tomorrow’s Warriors, Barry Harris, and the Grand Union Orchestra. While her passion for music has been the driving force in her career, Maria’s academic background also includes a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering.
In addition to her vibrant performing career, she has been successfully teaching piano and improvisation to young people since 2016, offering lessons and workshops.
Maria has recently begun hosting her own radio show, East of the Sun, on One Jazz FM.