Grand Union

Musicians

Over 30 musicians from all parts of the world regularly perform with the Grand Union Orchestra. All are leading exponents of their particular musical art and internationally-known in their own fields.

Our musicians appear in various ensembles to suit different occasions or venues.

Our bands

Our musicians are drawn upon to form ensembles as our programme requires:

The Grand Union Orchestra has a core of our rhythm section, brass/reeds ensemble and jazz soloists and other artists as the situation demands.
The Grand Union Band is very flexible! For example we use Caribbean, Latin and African musicians for Carnival-type programmes or Indian and Bangladeshi musicians for melas.

We also run our own world music Youth Orchestra.

Our musicians

Our core of musicians chanegs as we discover new talent and respond to new commissions and artistic demands:

Wei Li

China | voice

Lucy Rahman

Bangladesh | voice, harmonium

Davina Wright

Caribbean English | voice

Sadjo Djolô

Guinea Bissau | voice, kora

Richard Scott

England | voice, tenor saxophone

Vladimir Vega

Chile | voice, panpipes, charango

Stephen Douse

England | voice, piano

Akash Sultan

Bangladesh | voice

Baluji Shrivastav

Baluji Shrivastav

India | sitar, dilruba

Yousuf Ali Khan

Bangladesh | tabla, dholak

Cheng Yu

China | pipa, gu zheng

Emmanuel Tagoe

Ghana | African drums

Ken Johnson

Trinidad | steel pan, bongos

Tony Kofi

Ghana | alto/baritone saxophones

Chris Biscoe

England | soprano/alto saxophones

Louise Elliot

Australia | tenor saxophone, flute

Claude Deppa

South Africa | trumpet, percussion

Paul Jayasinha

Sri Lanka/Scotland | sopranotrumpet, flugelhorn, cello

Byron Wallen

England | trumpet, flugelhorn

Tim Smart

England | trombone, tenor horn

Ros Davies

Wales | trombone, piccolo

Tony Haynes

England | trombone, piano, dijeridu

Alice Kinloch

England | tuba, bass trombone

Gerry Hunt

England | guitar, saxophones

Mingo Rangel

Mozambique | guitar, voice

Andres Lafone

Uruguay | bass guitar

Rui Junior

Portugal | percussion

Brian Abrahams

South Africa | drums, voice

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Quote from ALl About Jazz

Latest news

GUO in the East End’s most atmospheric venue

Details announced of Spirits of Cable Street at Wilton’s Music Hall June 7th.

Why Europe is a good thing!

Grand Union has been awarded a substantial European Union Culture Fund grant to continue its collaborative work in Portugal and France.

Trading Roots

Grand Union launches new national touring project.

2013 programme

Dates so far confirmed for the first six months.

Bengal to Bethnal Green

New season of Grand Union’s monthly event at Rich Mix directed by Yousuf Ali Khan.

European Cultural Foundation

Dates in Portugal and France announced.

Happy New Year!

Tony Haynes celebrates the launch of Trading Roots in his composition blog.

For regular updates of Gathering, Travelling – Grand Union’s ECF-funded project in collaboration with partners in Portugal and France – please click here.