Seonaid Aitken Ensemble

Seonaid Aitken is a violinist, vocalist, composer/orchestrator and BBC broadcaster from Scotland. As one of the rare few female improvising violinists in the UK influenced by the great Stephane Grappelli, she performs with her award-winning Gypsy Jazz band Rose Room as well as a guest with the Tim Kliphuis Sextet, Martin Taylor MBE and Swing 2022. She was awarded ‘Best Vocalist’ twice at the Scottish Jazz Awards following her highly acclaimed Ella Fitzgerald show ‘A Night With Ella’ performed across Scotland, and has been commissioned by the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Chasing Sakura

In Japan, the cherry blossom (sakura) is widely celebrated. It is symbolic of rebirth - springtime, hope, optimism - but is also a reminder of the impermanence of life. Seonaid has drawn a parallel with this season to her life now in Scotland. After a serious accident she was able to explore her local surroundings and discover the transformative and healing powers of nature. Through jazz, classical and folk idioms, Seonaid’s musical suite - originally commissioned by Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival - was written for a hand-picked ensemble featuring cross-genre and improvising musicians, and follows the lifespan of the cherry blossom.