Radhika de Saram Quartet feat. Zhenya Strigalev
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Radhika de Saram Quartet feat. Zhenya Strigalev
Part of The Verdict Jazz Club’s Global Grooves season
"Her writing is intelligent, multi-faceted and admirably diverse" — The Jazz Mann
"A musician fluent in a wide variety of musical languages" — Jazz Views
Zhenya Strigalev — Saxophone
Igor Yakovenko — Keys
Radhika de Saram — Bass Guitar
Ben Brown — Drums
The Verdict welcomes the Radhika de Saram Quartet for a vibrant evening of contemporary jazz, Sri Lankan folk traditions and global rhythms, as part of our Global Grooves season celebrating the rich musical connections between jazz and cultures from around the world.
Led by London-based bassist, violinist and composer Radhika de Saram, the quartet features internationally acclaimed saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev, pianist and composer Igor Yakovenko, and drummer Ben Brown.
The band performs Radhika’s original compositions from her acclaimed debut album From the Crow’s Nest, alongside brand-new material. Drawing on the traditional folk songs and rhythms of Sri Lanka, jazz, improvisation and the diverse musical influences she has encountered throughout her career, Radhika’s music is rhythmically adventurous, melodic and deeply rooted in cultural identity.
Born in Sri Lanka into a family of classical musicians, Radhika moved to London at the age of five. Alongside her work as a composer and bass guitarist, she is an accomplished violinist who has performed and recorded with ensembles including the London Contemporary Orchestra and Chineke! Orchestra. Her credits span major film soundtracks including All Quiet on the Western Front, Conclave, The Matrix Resurrections, One Battle After Another and Crime 101, as well as collaborations with artists including The National, The Smile, Grace Jones, Alicia Keys, Eric Clapton and Little Simz.
Her debut album From the Crow’s Nest was released in 2023, followed by a UK quartet tour supported by Arts Council England and a 2025 tour across Germany.
Joining her is saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev, renowned for his adventurous approach to contemporary jazz and collaborations with artists including Eric Harland, Ambrose Akinmusire, Tim Lefebvre, Chris “Daddy” Dave, Alex Sipiagin, William Parker and Aaron Parks.
"The whole point of what I do is that I need to surprise myself." — Zhenya Strigalev
Pianist and composer Igor Yakovenko brings together an exceptional classical background with jazz improvisation and contemporary composition, while drummer Ben Brown draws on jazz, hip hop, electronic music and African and Latin American musical traditions. A Royal Academy of Music graduate, Brown has toured internationally with artists including Alfa Mist, Mulatu Astatke, Ashley Henry and Jason Rebello, and leads his own acclaimed project Waaju.
This is Global Grooves at its heart: music that crosses borders, connects traditions and brings together musicians from different cultural and musical backgrounds to create something entirely their own.
Part of The Verdict Jazz Club’s Global Grooves season
"Her writing is intelligent, multi-faceted and admirably diverse" — The Jazz Mann
"A musician fluent in a wide variety of musical languages" — Jazz Views
Zhenya Strigalev — Saxophone
Igor Yakovenko — Keys
Radhika de Saram — Bass Guitar
Ben Brown — Drums
The Verdict welcomes the Radhika de Saram Quartet for a vibrant evening of contemporary jazz, Sri Lankan folk traditions and global rhythms, as part of our Global Grooves season celebrating the rich musical connections between jazz and cultures from around the world.
Led by London-based bassist, violinist and composer Radhika de Saram, the quartet features internationally acclaimed saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev, pianist and composer Igor Yakovenko, and drummer Ben Brown.
The band performs Radhika’s original compositions from her acclaimed debut album From the Crow’s Nest, alongside brand-new material. Drawing on the traditional folk songs and rhythms of Sri Lanka, jazz, improvisation and the diverse musical influences she has encountered throughout her career, Radhika’s music is rhythmically adventurous, melodic and deeply rooted in cultural identity.
Born in Sri Lanka into a family of classical musicians, Radhika moved to London at the age of five. Alongside her work as a composer and bass guitarist, she is an accomplished violinist who has performed and recorded with ensembles including the London Contemporary Orchestra and Chineke! Orchestra. Her credits span major film soundtracks including All Quiet on the Western Front, Conclave, The Matrix Resurrections, One Battle After Another and Crime 101, as well as collaborations with artists including The National, The Smile, Grace Jones, Alicia Keys, Eric Clapton and Little Simz.
Her debut album From the Crow’s Nest was released in 2023, followed by a UK quartet tour supported by Arts Council England and a 2025 tour across Germany.
Joining her is saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev, renowned for his adventurous approach to contemporary jazz and collaborations with artists including Eric Harland, Ambrose Akinmusire, Tim Lefebvre, Chris “Daddy” Dave, Alex Sipiagin, William Parker and Aaron Parks.
"The whole point of what I do is that I need to surprise myself." — Zhenya Strigalev
Pianist and composer Igor Yakovenko brings together an exceptional classical background with jazz improvisation and contemporary composition, while drummer Ben Brown draws on jazz, hip hop, electronic music and African and Latin American musical traditions. A Royal Academy of Music graduate, Brown has toured internationally with artists including Alfa Mist, Mulatu Astatke, Ashley Henry and Jason Rebello, and leads his own acclaimed project Waaju.
This is Global Grooves at its heart: music that crosses borders, connects traditions and brings together musicians from different cultural and musical backgrounds to create something entirely their own.
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Where is it happening?
Verdict Jazz, 159 Edward Street, Brighton, BN2 0JB, United Kingdom
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherVerdict Jazz
