Camilla George
Visionary Saxophonist, Composer, Bandleader and Innovator
Her music is a hypnotising blend of Afrofuturism, hip hop and jazz, with a politically minded subtext that has a powerful connection to her Nigerian identity, lineage and heritage, reflecting African history, culture and slavery.
Born in Eket, Nigeria, Camilla has been interested in music from an early age and particularly in the fusion of African and Western music. She grew up listening to Fela Kuti, as well as Jackie McLean and Charlie Parker. She began playing the saxophone aged 11 years old, when she won a music contest where the prize awarded her saxophone lessons.
Camilla went on to study with many jazz greats such as saxophone giant, Jean Toussaint (of Art Blakey fame), Julian Siegal and Martin Speake at Trinity College of Music where she gained a Masters in Jazz Performance, as well as being awarded The Archer Scholarship for Outstanding Performance in 2011.
In 2009, she joined award-winning band Jazz Jamaica and performed with special guest, Ernest Ranglin at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club. In 2013 Jazz Jamaica was nominated for a MOBO award for Jazz Performance. They continue to perform extensively all over the world.
In 2014, Camilla formed her own critically acclaimed project showcasing the stars of the new UK Jazz Scene. Dubbed “The Golden Girl of Jazz” by The Evening Standard, Camilla’s debut album, ‘Isang’ (pronounced E-SANG which means ‘journey’ in Ibibio her native language) received huge critical acclaim.
Her most recent album, ‘Ibio Ibio’, is a tribute to her tribe the Ibibio people of South Eastern Coastal Nigeria. The album features an incredible lineup, including Daniel Casimir, Sarah Tandy, Winton Clifford, Renato Paris, Sheila Maurice-Grey, Rosie Turton, Shirley Tetteh, hip hop drummer, Daru Jones, Birmingham based rapper, Lady Sanity and Sam Jones.
Ibio-Ibio was well-received by the press, with Mojo Magazine’s 4 star review stating “George is the undoubted star, delivering criss-crossing solos with a ‘50s hard-bop bent.” Other media coverage included a feature in Jazzwise Magazine.
Camilla was nominated for a Jazz FM award for Best Instrumentalist 2019, and in 2023 won ‘Best Jazz Act’ at the Urban Music Awards. She performed in the Jazz Re:freshed showcase for SXSW, which was filmed at Abbey Road studios in 2021, as well as the Jazzahead showcase in 2021 and reached the final in the DC Jazz Prix in 2021.
In 2023 Camilla was asked to star in a promotional video for Henri Selmer Saxophones Paris.
Recent notable performances include North Sea Jazz Festival, where Camilla performed with both her own group and as a featured artist in the ‘Diaspora Suite’ performance; Jazz a Vienne, where Camilla also sat in for a guest spot with Marcus Miller; EFG London Jazz Festival, Jazz In The Park Romania, Brosella and Jazz Onze Lausanne.