Music Spoken Here presents Ankora
The Marr’s Bar, 12 Pierpoint Street, Worcester WR1 1TA
Thursday 12th February, 7:30pm doors for 8pm start
Age restriction: 16+ with parent or guardian
An 8-piece, all female jazz ensemble are set to perform in Worcester on Thursday 12th February as part of the popular, progressive “Kind of Jazz” program from Music Spoken Here that has been going for nearly four years at The Marr’s Bar in the city centre.
The band members met through the London-based artist development organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors, where they were each invited to join the organisation’s flagship female ensemble – Tomorrow’s Warriors Frontline, under the musical leadership of Birmingham-born drummer, composer and educator Romarna Campbell.
As Frontline, these young women felt they were ready to move forward as their own entity and became ‘Ankora’, derived from the Latin word for anchor, a symbol of groundedness, hope and a connection to roots. The name also links to an alternative meaning in Italian, ‘again’, marking the momentum of their rebirth as they continue their musical and artistic journey. Their influences range from legends Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter to more contemporary artists Esperanza Spalding, Geri Allen, Jeff ‘Tain’ Watts and Kenny Kirkland.
The lineup, whose average age is just 20, features 2024 BBC Young Jazz Musician finalist Klara Devlin on trumpet and drummer Miranda Radford, who both appeared on the Music Spoken Here program when Radford brought her quartet up in February 2025. Mali Sheard (sax), Keira Chakraborty (flute), Hannah Clifton (trumpet), Tami Adebanjo (guitar) Kezia Abouma (piano) and Holly Reinhardt (bass) complete the line-up of exceptional young players at the start of promising careers in the British jazz scene, many of them already leading their own bands. Doors open at 7:30pm with the band starting at 8pm. Admission is complimentary for Music Spoken Here Club Members, or £15 on the door for non-members. Teenagers of 16 years and over are welcome if accompanied by a parent. For more information visit the Music Spoken Here website.