“I don’t like to say I’m a jazz singer,” says Swedish-born Emilia Martensson, now based in London. “People think of Broadway,” she says, miming jazz hands, “but jazz can mean a lot of things.” For Martensson, 29, the genre encompasses folk songs and pop as well as jazz standards. Her beguiling interpretations of all three can be found on her debut album, And So it Goes, made with the pianist Barry Green Photograph: Andy Hall
L-R: Jasper Hoiby, Adam Waldmann and Ivo Neame (minus drummer)
Kairos 4tet was brought together by Waldmann, now 29, in 2009 and their self-funded debut album, Kairos Moment, was quickly heralded as having the crossover potential to bring jazz to a new crowd. Success has not come easily, however. “It certainly doesn’t feel that quick,” says Waldmann. “We’ve all been going all over the place the last couple of years playing in any venue, anywhere!” Photograph: Andy Hall
Before releasing her debut solo album, Martensson appeared on Kairos 4tet's own debut Kairos Moment, "I like the London jazz scene a lot", says Martensson. "It is a great community, really supportive. And everyone knows each other." Photograph: Andy Hall
L-R: Lewis Wright, Shaney Forbes, Tom Farmer and Nathaniel Facey
Reluctant to be "the So-and-So Quartet, the Whoever Show", these four musicians have performed under the name Empirical since about four years ago. It seemed fitting, says drummer Forbes, 27, "because of the way we make our music." Double-bassist Farmer, 27, elaborates: "Lots of observation, experimentation" Photograph: Andy Hall
Saxophonist Jason Yarde (left) and pianist Jason Yarde (right) are often told that they make an odd couple. “I don’t know if I’m the funny man,” says the 41-year-old Yarde, "historically though, I’m coming from a freer side of things. But it’s where we marry those ideas up that’s interesting for both of us. It’s nice having that musical contrast to push you in a different direction” Photograph: Andy Hall
Though they are getting glowing reviews as a duo, McCormack and Yarde are also well-known for their solo work. Yarde started out with Courtney Pine's jazz warriors before going on to lead the group J-Life Photograph: Andy Hall
Before joining forces with Jason Yarde, in 2006 McCormack won the rising star award at the BBC jazz awards. He has also contributed to the scores of Clint Eastwood films Flags of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima Photograph: Andy Hall
