Olivia Murphy Jazz Orchestra
Lineup
- Becca Wilkinsvoice
- Rebecka Edlundvoice
- Lucy-Anne Danielsvoice
- Hoda Jahanpourcello
- Lewis Sallowswoodwind
- Tom Sysontrumpet
- Alex Astburytrumpet
- Anna Cartertuba
- Maddie Ashmanvoice
- Jonathan Chungwoodwind
- Charlotte Keeffetrumpet
- Joel Kneetrombone
- Olivia Hughestrombone
- Daniel Kemshellguitar
- Aram Bahmaiebass
- Kai Chareunsydrums
- Olivia Murphyfateful birds & fledgling stories
- Julia Brüsselviolin
- Edie Baileyviola
- George Garfordwoodwind
- Poppy Helmerwoodwind
- Alicia Gardener-Trejowoodwind
- Dave Seartrombone
- Olly Chalkpiano
About the Event
Olivia Murphy and her Orchestra celebrate the release of their sophomore album, performing major recent works by the award-winning composer. The concert will feature selections from Murphy’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘Fateful Birds & Fledgling Stories’, followed by the Orchestra’s first-ever London performance of ‘Siren Cycle’, adding strings and four vocalists alongside the Big Band.
Originally commissioned for Cheltenham Jazz Festival in May 2025 and described as ‘an undoubted triumph’, Siren Cycle is a long-form epic saga. Featuring an eighteen-piece improvising orchestra, the work depicts four sisters lost at sea, going through transformations and troubles in their search to be reunited.
Influenced by myth and folklore, Siren Cycle creates composer Olivia Murphy’s most detailed world-building to date, spread across eight movements, a prologue and an interlude. At the heart of the composition are the spell-binding vocals of Becca Wilkins, Rebecka Edlund, Lucy-Anne Daniels and Maddie Ashman, alongside fourteen brilliant improvising instrumentalists, conducted by Murphy.
Siren Cycle is unbounded by genre, moving through jazz, folk, free improvisation, opera and spoken word, always in metamorphosis. This one-off performance will also celebrate the release of Siren Cycle, Murphy’s sophomore studio album.
The programme will also include works from Murphy’s critically acclaimed debut orchestral album, Fateful Birds & Fledgling Stories, released in May 2026. Featuring a big band of some of the most exciting improvisers from across the UK, the album was awarded 4.5 stars in DownBeat Magazine, an Editor’s Choice accolade in Jazzwise Magazine and featured on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio 3.
This event will last approximately 110 minutes, including an interval.
Reviews
‘a work of extraordinary imagination’ Bebop Spoken Here (on Siren Cycle)
‘Murphy is a true talent both in terms of composition and in leading her orchestra to deliver on her vision’ UK Jazz News
‘nothing short of a revelation’ Jazzwise Magazine