Eliane Correa & En El Aire

Eliane and her latest project return to PizzaExpress Live for a very special intimate show. Powerhouse pianist and composer Eliane Correa relaunches her Afrocuba-centric cinematic jazz project En El Aire, with which her first album, Rumba con Flores (Movimientos Records 2016, Songlines 4*, Jazzwise 4*), earned the critical acclaim of Cubaphiles and jazzheads alike. Eliane is known for her energetic leadership, masterful playing and arranging, and her unwavering centricity in the Latin scene of the UK over the last decade, her original compositions span from classic Cuban son and salsa to the most abstract, spiritual jazz inspired compositions. Her 7 years touring as Hans Zimmer’s piano soloist and experience in composing for the screen have added layers of cinematic richness to her sound. Not to be confused with her renowned 12-piece salsa orchestra La Evolución (or its smaller sibling, Eliane’s Cuban Sextet), En El Aire project falls on the more experimental end of Eliane’s creative range, where jazz meets ancestral afrocuban spirituality and cinematicsynths - but make it danceable. Master drummer Hammadi Valdés (Chucho Valdés, Carlos Acosta) alternates between congas and batá drums (Cuban spiritual drums of Yoruba lineage), backed by heavy grooves by Alley Lloyd (Fleur East, Nectar Woode) and Richie Sweet (Jorja Smith, Oscar Jerome), and a mix of synths, soundscapes and modified pianos at the hands of Eliane. The frontline consists of three of the best horns of London (Sam Warner on trumpet, Rosie Turton on trombone and Allexa Nava on sax) and guest vocals by voice wizard Plumm, frontwoman of Levitation Orchestra. En El Aire had its test drive back after a 10 year hiatus last summer in front of a sold out Ninety One Living Room with an entire new repertoire, including Eliane’s recently released singles Float and Everywhere, and Cold Blooded as a collaboration with Plumm. Expect a raw, heartfelt and powerful set full of danceable moments, with a generous serving of syncopation and irregular metrics, cutting synths, basslines to make you flinch and a healthy dose of world class soloing.