Spice Jazz Soho Presents: Blues & Roots Ensemble

After 25 years of solid jazz promoting, as founded by Paul Pace, at the Spice of Life Soho, nurturing upcoming talents as well as established masters of the music, the SpiceJazz Team (Tara Minton and Clement Regert) are excited to relocate their acclaimed operation to the well-appointed and stylish music room of Crazy Coqs.

Blues and Roots Ensemble (BARE) was formed in 2016 to share the music of Charles Mingus and other significant jazz protest music composers through performances and education projects. A collective of internationally renowned musicians,  BARE is known for its interactive performances and innovative approaches to music education.

The ensemble has performed sold-out shows at The Jazz Cafe, The Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall, and Pizza Express Soho. 2025 will be the band’s fourth performance for the EFG London Jazz Festival, and it will return with an exciting repertoire of new arrangements and classic compositions.

Line-up:
Ed Babar – Director/Double Bass
Tara Minton – Vocals
George Millard – Sax
Eikel Venegas – Trumpet
David Lalljee – Trombone
Frances Leith – French Horn
Flavio Li Vigni – Drums
Pete Letanka – Piano

“Blues and Roots Ensemble did a service to the larger-than-life legend Charles Mingus…handling the complexities of the bass playing genius with a dapper swagger.”– Jazz Standard.