Becca Toft

Becca Toft is a trumpeter/singer/composer/arranger originally from Essex and now based in London. She is about to launch her debut album as bandleader, entitled Searching.

She describes Searching as “a concept album (…) about the search of love, friendship and happiness. It is inspired by the love songs from the jazz standards of the 20th century (…) I have created a set of songs that carry soaring horn arranging as well as tell beautiful stories.”.

The songs were all written in the winter/ spring of 2015/16, which was what gave her the spur for putting the album together. She writes both the music and the lyrics, and has been writing songs since the age of 12. Toft attended the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music, and undergraduate studies at Guildhall School, with principal study classical trumpet.  A decisive moment was attending Malcolm Edmonstone’s arranging classes at Guildhall, where she was also involved in his album recreations of Nightfly and Messiah  – A Soulful Celebration (REVIEWED/ MENTIONED)

The new album consists of eight numbers for vocals, trumpet, rhythm section and three horns. Becca Toft sings and plays trumpet on the album. Her trumpet part – as a section member, and as soloist on What is it I’m looking for ? will be taken on the gigs by Mike Soper.

Searching will be released on January 27th, followed by performances at The Vortex Jazz Club (30th Jan) and Brentwood Theatre (3rd Feb).

Joining Becca are many top names from the young London jazz scene, including pianist Will Barry (Jasper Hoiby’s Fellow Creatures), Emma Bassett (trombone) and Daisy George (bass).

LINKS:

Live gigs homepage on Becca Toft’s website
30th January – Vortex (BOOKINGS) 
3rd February – Brentwood Theatre (BOOKINGS)