Laura Jurd

The quintet with which the bandleader will present the album at the Jazzfest Berlin 2026 includes Simon Jermyn on bass and Corrie Dick on drums, who create exhilarating, supple rhythms that give the material room to breathe and evolve.

On the front line, the trumpeter is supported by Irish folk fiddler Ultan O’Brien on violin and viola, as well as the remarkable young guitarist Tara Cunningham.

Jurd first made a name for herself as the leader of the acclaimed band Dinosaur and has continually reinvented her musical expression over the past few years. Most recently, she has moved from London to the more rural surroundings of Somerset. Improvisation and the inherent dynamics of small ensembles continue to shape her music, yet the band breaks down any boundaries between the various styles. Because most folk traditions typically rely heavily on improvisation, this new collaboration feels less like a hybridisation and more like a dual expansion in both directions. Indeed, in their interpretation, the classic blues track ‘St. James’ Infirmary’ feels like an integral part of the British folk canon and, thanks to the explosive work of the rhythm section, fully showcases the fiery intensity of Jurd’s rousing solo. Many musicians engage with folk, and quite a few put down roots in the genre. Very few jazz artists, however, manage to achieve such a sophisticated synthesis as Jurd is able to develop with remarkable ease.

Line-up

• Laura Jurd – trumpet
• Ultan O’Brien – viola
• Tara Cunningham – guitar
• Simon Jermyn – electric bass
• Corrie Dick – drums