Saturday 25/10/2025
The Chopin Festival 2025 - Chopin Jazz
Chopin Jazz – as part of the Chopin Festival 2025 - with the appearance of the Steve Ellery Project, made up of the following:
Steve Ellery:
Steve's public appearances began in pizza restaurants and wine bars.
In 1984 he spent months playing on the street and cinema queues all around South America. He has played all major cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as Orvieto, Italy. His sax solos can be heard on recordings by Grzegorz Ciechowski (Tobie Wybaczam), Tamerlane (14th Century Soul), Darek Malejonek (Houk) and others. Steve is famous for playing sax on the Berlin Wall the day it came down and this image was published in international press.
In Jazz festivals in Poland, he has jammed with members of the Miles Davis and Michael Brecker bands.
Another string to his bow is as an orchestral conductor, and guests may remember him conducting a 65 member London Gala Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in a sold-out concert celebrating Poland's return to Independence (2018's Concert "Sto Lat").
In December 2025, he launches a 4 month European tour where he will play, to thousands, on sax, bansuri and guitar. Come see him play before the tour starts!
Felipe Gordillo has toured Latin America for years, playing stadiums as the keyboard played for Garibaldi. He has also accompanied Pepe Aguilar all around Mexico. Felipe is a prolific composer and has performed and recorded his works with the likes of Quinto Elemento and others. Quinto Elemento have been performing together for over 20 years, in concerts and Jazz Festivals. Felipe has just released a CD of his compositions, recorded live in Mexico City with Steve Ellery on sax.
Junior Izalni began playing trumpet in Espirito Santo, Brazil, before coming to the UK. He was a cast member and trumpeter for the acclaimed West End show, Unbelievable, in 2023. He has appeared in TV shows and series such as Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice and The Crown. He has also performed in the UK and internationally with Raye, Maelo Ruiz, Friendly Fires as well as the Urban Soul Orchestra.
Junior Toniato began playing drums in Espiritu Santo, Brazil. Junior has toured the globe, playing on cruise ships for many years. He now resides in London and plays in Jazz Festivals and Brazilian music bars.
Patryk Pilasiewicz, as well as being a creative bass player, is also a big band leader, arranger and composer. He is an expert on the music of Kryzsztof Komeda. For many years, he was a member of the Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra.
Jonathan Heeley is a talented trombonist, composer and arranger. He has recorded for TV shows and has also performed at the Pizza Express in London, accompanied by a Big Band.
