nishla smith

PizzaExpress Live (Chelsea)

Vocalist and songwriter Nishla Smith has established herself as one of the most distinctive voices in UK jazz – a natural storyteller whose music balances intimacy, imagination and emotional depth. This special concert celebrates the launch of her new album, it’s getting late you’d better go home, released on Whirlwind Recordings in 2026.

Written during a time of personal upheaval, the album explores belonging, absence and the shifting spaces between closeness and distance. Musically, it moves effortlessly from gospel warmth to bossa rhythms, bluesy swagger and Bacharach-style harmony – all anchored by Nishla’s luminous, unmistakable voice.

She is joined by a hand-picked quintet of close collaborators: Tom Harris (piano), Josh Vadiveloo (bass), Kai Chareunsy (drums), and Aaron Wood (trumpet). Expect elegant songwriting, subtle improvisation and the quiet command of an artist at the height of her storytelling powers.