British clarinettist Emma Johnson returns to Rosehill on Sunday 15 April with a programme that traces the roots of traditional American jazz.

In Clarinet Goes to Town, she pays tribute to some of the greatest players of all time – SidneyBechet, Artie Shaw and the “King of Swing” Benny Goodman – with the help of John Lenehan on piano and Paul Clarvis on percussion.

Together, the trio explore some of the elements that fused to create jazz at the beginning of the 20th century, including ragtime, cakewalks and habanera. Emma grew up admiring the recordings of many of the great performers of swing and went on to collaborate many times with the talented jazz duo of Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine, both of whom have appeared at Rosehill themselves. When she won BBC Young Musician of the Year in 1984 at the age of 17, the musical world discovered an artist of unique charm, skill and charisma. She has become one of the UK’s biggest selling classical artists, having sold more than half a million albums worldwide.

Taken by John Batten

Her busy career as a solo performer has taken her to major European, American and Asian venuesas well as to Africa and Australasia.
TV appearances have ranged from a recital for Sky Arts to prime-time chat shows and gala concerts. She featured in a Channel 4 documentary about the late Sir John Dankworth and played
the popular hit theme tune for The Victorian Kitchen Garden on BBC TV, which won a Novello Award. She also arranges music of many styles for the clarinet and was awarded an MBE for services to music in 1996.

Widely regarded as Britain’s favourite clarinettist, she is still one of the most popular figures on the concert scene with an unparalleled ability to speak straight to an audience’s heart.

The concert on Sunday 15 April begins at 3pm. Tickets are £25 (U26 £12), available from thebox office on 01946 692422 or online at http://rosehilltheatre.co.uk.