In 2002, Anna appeared in the Jerwood ‘Rising Stars’ Series at Cheltenham International Jazz Festival and was commissioned to write new pieces which were premiered at the event. She has since played at numerous jazz festivals including Montreux and Brecon, where she was spotted by Red Kite Records and subsequently signed to their label. She has also supported Greg Osby and has recently completed a nationwide tour with the help of Jazz Services.
Anna’s debut album ‘My Time’ which was re-released in 2005 has received critical acclaim, both for the quality of the playing and for Anna’s fresh, original compositions.
The quintet features some of Britain’s finest young up-and-coming jazz musicians and their unique sound is brilliantly captured by the highly praised engineer / producer Martin Levan.
Anna’s musical career to date has been rich and diverse. As well as her jazz ensemble and big band experience, her playing also covers pop, rock, Motown, soul, and indo-jazz.
She has, for example, been a member of John Mayer’s ‘Indo Jazz Fusions’, the Walsall Jazz Orchestra and glam rocker Roy Wood’s ‘Big Band’.
Anna’s reputation as a skilled composer has earned her commissions for television and film. Her most recent commission was for a suite for jazz septet commissioned by the Arts Council which was performed at Leasowes Bank in July 2004.
Anna studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire, gaining a first-class honours degree and is now one of the college’s saxophone tutors. In spite of her age, she has been playing the saxophone for almost twenty years and during this time she has developed a unique rich and lyrical sound and a highly polished technique which sets her apart from many other players. Among her influences are Joshua Redman, Kenny Garrett and Michael Brecker.
