A captivating, intimate version of Billy Marrows‘ critically acclaimed 12-piece chamber-jazz ensemble, the Grande Família Quartet features the unique instrumentation of Mike Soper (trumpet), Tom Ridout (saxes and recorders), Gustavo Clayton-Marucci (bass clarinet) and Billy Marrows (guitar). 

This gig is the penultimate date of Grande Família’s spring 2025 tour, celebrating the release of their second album ‘The Penelope Album Live’, out on Discus Music on 28th March (https://discus-music.org/). The record captures their emotionally charged 2024 performance at Pizza Express Jazz Club in London, which sold out two months in advance and received a full standing ovation.

Grande Família was formed to record Billy‘s debut album, ‘Penelope’, as a surprise for his mum during her struggle with pancreatic cancer. Released in her memory in early 2024, it has raised over £5,400 for World Child Cancer. This gig will also feature lots of new music, inspired by the likes of Weather Report, Gil Evans and Loose Tubes.

Billy Marrows is an award-winning guitarist and composer, receiving both the small and large ensemble categories of the Dankworth Prize for Jazz Composition. An alumnus of the Royal Academy of Music, he also studied on the Metropole Orkest Arrangers Workshop with Vince Mendoza. The Grande Família Quartet features highly creative outstanding musicians that have worked with artists such as Mark Lockheart, Chelsea Carmichael, Bryan Ferry Orchestra and Jazz at the Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.

Press:
“An exhilaratingly original sound, at once intimate and expansive” ★★★★ Editor’s Choice, Jazzwise

“A triumph…Marrows has created a spectacular new ensemble” Jazz Views

“Melodic and distinctive” ★★★★ All About Jazz

Line-up:
Mike Soper – trumpet
Tom Ridout – saxophones and recorders
Gustavo Clayton Marucci – clarinet and bass clarinet
Billy Marrows – guitar and compositions

The Grande Família Quartet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLaK4DwZcvU