Emma Rawicz Talks Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2026 Performance And More

Saxophonist Emma Rawicz will perform at Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2026 on Sunday 3rd May 2026 at The Parabola Arts Centre. We spoke to her about her performance:

You will be performing at Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2026 on Sunday 3rd May 2026 at 5.30pm at the Parabola Arts Centre. Have you performed at the festival before or attended it as an audience member?

I have known about this legendary festival for a long time, but have not yet had the pleasure of visiting either as a performer or as an audience member. I’m very excited to be bringing my INKYRA sextet to this fantastic festival for my Cheltenham debut – it should be a highly enjoyable gig!

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

I’m not much of a “gear-head” when it comes to pedals and microphones etc unfortunately – usually it’s just me and my saxophones! However, as a band we have quite a specific soundworld that we like to explore in our concerts, which includes a wide range of colours from the keys: we have a Prophet synthesiser, a Fender Rhodes and piano too! We like to joke that Scottie (our keys player) looks like he’s in a keyboard spaceship every time we go onstage!

Who will be performing with for your set?

I’m bringing my INKYRA project to Cheltenham, which is a sextet featuring some of the finest musicians on the UK’s jazz and improvised music scene – I feel very lucky to work with them! The band includes Gareth Lockrane on various flutes, David Preston on guitar, Scottie Thompson on piano and the aforementioned keyboard/spaceship setup, Kevin Glasgow on electric bass, Jamie Murray on drums and me on the saxes. It’s quite an undertaking touring with so many people, but it makes the performances that much more special!

What music do you enjoy listening to? Do you have any recommendations?

I have always loved listening to a massively wide range of music, and continue to draw inspiration from all kinds of places. In particular, I love Brazilian music, rock, singer-songwriter, classical music and of course jazz of all kinds and times. Right now, I’m loving three albums which are on repeat while I’m on the road, in the gym or at the airport:

Relief Party by Reinier Baas

Ace by Madison Cunningham

Antologia by Egberto Gismonti

What was the story/inspiration behind the track ‘Marshmallow Tree’.

Marshmallow Tree is what I like to call the little “Easter Egg of joy” on the album INKYRA! It draws heavily on my love of Brazilian music, as you may be able to tell, and I liked the idea of hiding it near the end of the album as a sort of celebration piece to surprise the listener after the journey through so many soundworlds that has come before. The title is a bit whimsical – it imagines a world in which marshmallows might actually grow on trees!

Have you been working on any new material for release?

Always! As I write this, I am on the way to the studio to record my next release, which will be a quartet record that should be appearing in one form or another within 2026 – keep your eyes peeled! I am very excited about this recording, as we will be documenting some quartet music that we have been developing on tour all over Europe over more than two years, so it feels like a great time to get into the studio.

What is your earliest musical memory?

That’s a hard one to answer – I’ve always been fascinated by music and remember trying to play various instruments at a very early age (perhaps three or four years old) despite having no real idea what I was doing. I do remember deciding as a probably quite precocious six year old that I would be a composer, and setting out to write my first violin piece! It was likely only about ten bars long, but I think it was an important moment in any case – I remember feeling the type of excitement and delight of writing music that I still feel when I sit down to compose today.

What makes Emma Rawicz happy and what makes you unhappy?

Many things make me happy! I am a lover of books, food, poetry and time in the gym (I am a keen weightlifter!) and of course I am happiest playing music with the beautiful people with whom I get to regularly share the stage. Things that might make me unhappy include social media and tedious travel… but I think that goes for most people!

Feature Image Photo Credit: Gregor Hohenberg

Emma Rawicz will perform at Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2026 on Sunday 3rd May 2026 at 5.30pm (UK Time). The show takes place at The Parabola Arts Centre Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Bayshill Road, Sandford, Montpellier, Cheltenham, GL50 3EP, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom.

Tickets are available here: https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/events/emma-rawicz

Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2026 takes place between 29 April – 4 May 2026.

For more information and tickets visit: https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/whats-on?menu%5BrelatedFestival%5D=Jazz%20Festival

Official Website: https://www.emmarawicz.com/