The Emily Francis Trio bring their unique brand of prog-jazz to the Out To Lunch series.

Marking their 10th anniversary, 2024 sees the launch of a brand new EP which captures their melodic, intense, genre-bending style, and immersive, hard-hitting interplay. The group is also celebrating its 10th year with a special vinyl remastered release of its first album, The Absent.

This show will feature material from both the new EP and The Absent, as well as music from the highly regarded album, LUMA.

Led by keyboardist Emily Francis (fresh from touring with Toyah Willcox and King Crimson founder Robert Fripp) and featuring writing collaborator and bass maestro Trevor Boxall, and drum superstar Jamie Murray, the band fuses its own style of high-energy, melodically driven jazz with sounds from the worlds of progressive rock and pop, electronic music, and influences spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s.

Their music was described as “a thing of rare beauty” by Jazzwise‘s Nick Hasted and influences include artists from the current US electro-jazz scene, such as Donny McCaslin, Kneebody and FORQ, prog supremos Pink Floyd, Genesis, and Peter Gabriel, and jazz icons Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, and Avishai Cohen.

As well as these influences, the band combines its collective experience from other original or session work. Jamie‘s outstanding original projects include collaborations with iconic musicians such as bassist Tim Lefebvre and saxophonists Donny McCaslin & David Binney, as well as appearing alongside artists such as Alfa Mist, Camilla George, Brandon Allen, Shez Raja and hosting his own Late Late Show at the famous Ronnie Scott’s.

Trevor makes regular appearances with blues superstar Connor Selby as well as collaborating with the future nodding Origin Quartet, who recently featured saxophonist Paul Booth and supported Dennis Rollins.

As well as her work with Toyah & Robert, Emily is no stranger to the session world. Appearing regularly with soul songstress Jo Harman, other credits include Andrea Bocelli & family, Comedy Game Night (house band), Rumer, Ward Thomas, Julia Jacklin, Soom T and more.

Never wanting to remain still, the band continues to push sonic boundaries, delivering a high-impact show from beginning to end.

“Francis transcends her many influences to create a sound that is very much her own, skilfully blending acoustic and electric elements to create a rich tapestry” (The Jazz Mann)

“A band with a fresh and very alive sound with a keen ear for progressive jazz” (MusicIsMySanctuary.com)

“Luma’s leap forward illustrates the ever-morphing status of the piano trio now […] a very 1980s prog iteration, all post-Vangelis synth-scapes, jazz-funk riffs and gated drums”
(Nick Hasted, Jazzwise)