TEA Trio

The TEA trio perform compositions and arrangements by Tamir based on music inspired by fairytales and the act of storytelling through music. These include compositions directly inspired by fairytales, such as ‘Dragon Castle’; characters like the ‘The Frog Prince’ and ‘Princess’; and creative jazz trio arrangements of famous Disney tunes.

 

The TEA Trio (Tamir Smith - bass; Ed Wren - piano; and Ananda Brandão - drums) formed at the Royal Academy of Music in 2023 and have performed and played together as a trio and as apart of larger ensembles during the course of their studies. The trio hope to showcase their music to younger audiences and in doing so introduce young people to improvisatory music as a medium for self-expression. 

 

Tamir is a bassist and composer-arranger based in London. He is involved with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra (NYJO), regularly plays in London’s West End, works on cruise ships, teaches, and is continually apart of the London jazz and musical theatre scenes.

 

Ed Wren is a jazz pianist and songwriter known for his soulful and melodic approach to improvisation and composition. He draws on a range of influences from the straight-ahead jazz tradition through to 1960s Motown, Donald Fagen, Brad Mehldau and beyond. He is currently working on a new pop-soul project to air his original songs.

 

Ananda Brandão is a Franco-Brazilian drummer from Paris who has performed in famous Parisian jazz clubs, including Le Duc des Lombards, Le 38 Riv, Le Sunset/Sunside, and more. Ananda has performed frequently with organist Rhoda Scott, who has worked with Ella Fitzgerald among others. Ananda has toured throughout Brazil and France and co-leads her duo ‘Ninanda’ with Israeli pianist Nina Gat. The band brings together originals influenced by modern jazz and folk music, and released 2 singles in January.