the MUSICAL JOURNEY SO FAR:
“Azhaar has been a violinist/singer/composer from an early age - she has 9 albums to her name so far! She made her reputation with the popular, internationally acclaimed Brazilian jazz group Sirius B. -Most of her work was the result of a remarkable partnership with long time partner, Joe Cavanagh, co-writer and producer of their prodigious repertoire. Sirius B released 6 albums under “Orions” belt; on (Freestyle Records UK and P-vine/ Bues interactives, Japan. 'Posto Nove' was simultaneously playlisted at no 1 on Jazz FM and in the Japanese Brazilian charts. The last album ‘Casa do Sol’ was remixed by Japanese DJ Sunaga T and the tracks are still out there compilations worldwide!
Azhaar and Joe later released the jazz album 'Out There' (33 Records), launched at London’s 606 Club, Featuring guest perormances from Jason Rebello, Iain Ballamy and Mike Mower. She has been fortunate enough to work with some amazing musicians! Gareth Lockrane, Kevin Figes and Andy Hague who played regularly with Sirius B and her brother Amir Elsaffar, who's phenomenal arabic-jazz trumpet features on many of her albums! Gareth also guests on the latest album ‘Original Love’.And finally and Congeiro / DJ Snowboy who guested on the Sirius B album Ouro Batido and was a huge influencer and supporter of her work. He recently produced the title track of her latest album ‘Original Love!
After parting ways with long time partner, producer, pianist and co-founder of Sirius B, Joe Cavanagh, Azhaar relocated to Central America, where the songs for her next album were written: inspired by jungle exeditions, the waves she surfed, the ‘Pura Vida’ of Costa Rica , the stars over Popoyo El Salvador, her students the fishermen’s kids of Pochote and some amazing international latin jazz sessions in Mexico!
Eventually the river of music led her back to the UK. Her new band Global Wave was formed and the album, Original Love was released in 2018. Inspired by the ‘songlines’ and throwing a wider net on the tropical jazz fusion experience, embracing Latin, Brazilian , African, Arabic and a violin! It features Snowboy's massive production of the title track and flautist Gareth Lockrane’s unbelievable flute playing, Described as an irreverent fusion of jazz, world rhythms and infectious grooves; enhanced by Azhaar's sonorous violin, the album made a big splash on the airwaves worldwide!
Azhaar has performed all over Europe, including international festival as such as Montreux , Mai Jazz, EFG London Jazz Festival, Brecon Jazz festival, Birmingham Jazz Festival, Glastonbury, Larmer Tree, One world, The Green Gathering, the 1st Frome Festivals etc..and has performed in Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica and the USA.
EARLy roots:
I trained as a concert violinist at the Royal Northern College of Music. There I met Joe, who was playing jazz, striclty forbidden in our college! So after all the conservatory training, I spent my time there listening to Miles, Grapelli, Flora Purim, Aeirto Moreira, Jobim, Chick Corea!
So..my first job after graduating was playing and singing jazz in restaurants and writing gypsy music for theatre shows. Music was a much bigger world than I realized and travelling played a crucial role in my education. I discovered jazz in Manchester, pop music in London, rock n roll in Los Angeles, Arabic music in Egypt, bossa nova in Brazil, funk in Brighton, cumbia in Costa Rica , salsa in Mexico. I heard African Music in Mali and I heard the blues on the south side of Chicago.
Joe and I teamed up in London and we had our first big break early on in our careers in Camden with producer Barry Blue! I guess that was our early mystery album on 2 inch tape that may yet see the light of day!
In Brighton we formed the acid jazz group Wildflower. What a wild bunch we were ! We managed to get a French tour agent and record label after claiming to have supported Jamiroquai! And consequently spent the next few years touring Europe in an ex US army bus, to promote our album , 'Looking for a Miracle' (distibuted by Melodie) Ironically, just before the band split up, we really were offered the support slot, but didn't have the £10,000 needed to get on that starry stage!!
In 2000 Joe and myself formed the Brazilian jazz fusion group Sirius B. I took on the role of singer, co-writer and manager. The band released 6 albums ( Freestyle Records U.K.) (Blues Interactive Japan ) and received airplay worldwide. The album “Posto Novo” was voted one of Jazz FM’s top 10 albums of that year. We performed in festivals all over Europe, including the Montreux Jazz festival. We were blessed to work with some great musicians but also to have had the endorsement of Adrian Gibson, Snowboy and Perry Louis based around the Jazz dance scene at London's Jazz Cafe!
I went on to release my jazz album "Out There" on 33 Records. With the violin taking a more prominent role and featuring stunning performances from: Jason Rebello, Ian Ballamy, Mike Mower, Mike Peake, Joe Cavanagh, Dave Goodyer and Scott Hammond. The quartet toured the U.K. with the support of Jazz Services.
Around this time I received funding from the Arts Council to develop " Footprints" -a ‘jazz dance ballet’: a multimedia show featuring a live jazz band, improvised dance and visuals through my original compositions. Sadly the 15 date show could not go ahead as planned due to lack of further funding, just before the London Olympics!
After 10 years, Sirius B reached a natural end. My wonderful journey with Joe Cavanagh reached a fork in the road, we went our separate ways. I took a break from the business side of music and went to explore my nomadic roots in the jungles and oceans of Central America. I became involved in the Sistema Method of teaching music as a way of building communities in Costa Rica. and a new journey began. I met and worked with many inspiring musicians from all over the world, learnt to salsa and learnt to surf!
From my Bohemian wanderings in the Americas, I found the inspiration for my latest project. In Mexico City, thanks to my friend Daniel Loredo, I was given the opportunity to record some of my ideas. And with my friends Javier S Aleman, Joh carrera and Andre Fuentes we made a video of an early version of 'Too Much' , featuring a mariachi hat given to me by a mysterious stranger in plaza Garibaldi! Women don't usually wear mariachi hats!