Tim Armacost Quintet ft. Gabrielle Stravelli

Together they explore the American Songbook, original compositions, and adventurous arrangements that surprise and delight. Bringing their celebrated quintet to PizzaExpress Live for the first time, this is a London jazz night not to miss.

When a great voice and a great horn player find each other, something special happens — and that's exactly what occurred when vocalist Gabrielle Stravelli and tenor saxophonist Tim Armacost first shared a stage. Their musical partnership is rooted in spontaneity and trust, the kind that makes a night of live jazz feel both intimate and electric. Now they bring that chemistry to one of London's most beloved jazz rooms, backed by three of the finest rhythm section players working today.

Tim Armacost is a Grammy-nominated tenor saxophonist and leader who has built a formidable reputation on both sides of the Atlantic. His playing is rooted in the bebop tradition while reaching forward with a searching, lyrical intelligence. Whether navigating a burning up-tempo swinger or laying bare the emotional core of a ballad, Armacost plays with passion and authority. Together with Stravelli, the interplay between voice and saxophone feels as natural as a conversation — an unfolding musical dialogue.

Gabrielle Stravelli has established herself as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary jazz. The New York Times has praised her for her emotional intelligence and a voice she wields with "easygoing confidence and impeccable taste." A rising star on the international jazz scene, she has brought her artistry to audiences across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South America, and has performed with luminaries including Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Her deep connection to the Great American Songbook — its wit, poetry, and swing — is at the heart of everything she does. She is not merely an interpreter; she is a storyteller.

London-based Hungarian jazz pianist, Matyas Gayer is one of the leaders of his generation. The award-winning young musician is successfully forging his own distinctive style and musical voice out of the greatness of the jazz piano tradition.
The two-time Montreux Jazz Piano Competition finalist is a regular performer on the London and European jazz scene. Matyas has collaborated with the greats of jazz including Eddie Henderson, Ralph Moore, Scott Hamilton, Rick Margitza, Don Menza, Jim Rotondi, Luis Bonilla, Jesse Davis, Deborah Brown, Carla Cook and many more and appeared in the most illustrious jazz clubs around Europe.

Anchoring the group is New York bassist Pat O'Leary, a musician whose deep, warm tone and impeccable timing have made him a first-call player for some of jazz's greatest names, including Diana Krall, James Moody, Joe Lovano, and the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. During his tenure with Hampton, he recorded the Grammy-nominated Sentimental Journey. His foundation is as solid as it is soulful. O’Leary’s genius for creating surprising and original arrangements anchors the band’s unique sound.

On drums is London’s own Mark Taylor, a musician who has spent decades as one of the most in-demand jazz drummers on the international scene. He has performed on more than sixty albums, working with George Coleman, Monty Alexander, Mose Allison, Lew Tabackin, and Toshiko Akiyoshi, among many others. Lew Tabackin once said of him, "There isn't another drummer since Billy Higgins who can adapt to all acoustic situations and create intensity at any dynamic level." Taylor brings a driving pulse and a master's touch to this great quintet.