Jam Session Feat. Rob Luft

Were excited to welcome Rob Luft to the Highams Park Jazz Club for the first time as guest artist at our jam session on 21st June. Recently crowned Instrumentalist of the Year at the 2025 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, Rob is undeniably one of the most exciting jazz guitarists in Europe of his generation. Hailing from London, this award-winning virtuoso has garnered consistent comparisons to legends such as Bill Frisell, John McLaughlin and Pat Metheny.His debut album, Riser, released in 2017 on Edition Records, made an enormous impact on the domestic and international jazz scenes, and was selected by Downbeat Magazine as one of the finest albums of 2017. Winning the prestigious Kenny Wheeler Jazz Prize at Royal Academy of Music propelled Luft's career, and at just 23 years old, he presented a collection of originals showcasing a remarkable instrumental sound and compositional voice that reflected his individuality.His highly-anticipated follow up album, Dahab Days, showcased continuous artistic growth and musical exploration. Released on Edition Records in October 2023, the album marked another significant milestone in his career. Around this time, Luft's selection as a BBC New Generation Artist culminated with him being commissioned to compose a guitar concerto for performance at the EFG London Jazz Festival with the BBC Symphony Orchestra.Recent collaborations with John Surman, Manu Katché and Elina Duni on ECM Records have further solidified his reputation and expanded his reach throughout continental Europe.Other accolades include the Silver Prize in The 2016 Montreux Jazz Festival Guitar Competition, adjudicated by guitar great John McLaughlin, as well as winning the Presto Music Jazz Recording of the Year 2024 for his trio album As Time Passes with famed Norwegian bassist Arild Andersen.Line up:- Soner Ersen: piano
- Dave Manington: bass
- Eric Ford: drums