Battersea Jazz Festival
at Arches Lane Theatre
12 June 2026, 8:00pm
Rising British stars Emily Masser and Alex Clarke will be presenting an evening of fresh exciting music that draws from jazz’s rich past with a contemporary feel at Arches Lane Theatre. They will be joined by a top class rhythm section of some of London’s most in-demand musicians.​​​​​
Emily Masser is a 21-year-old jazz singer from Wigan. A student at the Guildhall School of Music, Emily’s range, variation and seemingly effortless delivery reflect a confidence and ability which belie her years. Her strengths as an arranger and vocalist have received multiple plaudits, highlighting her scat singing in particular. Besides the superb musical education she received at the famous Chetham’s School of Music, Emily was also given invaluable mentorship by her father, respected saxophonist Dean Masser. Her breakthrough came with the release of her recent album Songs With My Father, a project dedicated to her late mother. In high demand, Emily and her band are performing at numerous leading jazz festivals and clubs this year, including the Buxton International Festival, Swanage Jazz Festival, Scarborough Jazz Festival, and Southport Jazz Festival, further solidifying her reputation as a “new star of British jazz”
​
As a finalist at the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2020, winner of the Rising Star category in the 2019 British Jazz Awards and Jazz Newcomer of the Year nominee in the 2021 & 2022 and 2024 Parliamentary Jazz Awards, Alex Clarke is one of the most in-demand and versatile young reeds players to have emerged on the British jazz scene. Lauded for her extensive repertoire list and intelligent ear for harmony, her sound is steeped in the tradition of bebop and her deep respect for the heritage of the music can be heard in a hard-swinging, melodic approach reminiscent of Scott Hamilton and Lester Young, with strong bop influences of Phil Woods and Cannonball Adderley.


