Geoff travels to Acton in West London to meet the visionary alto saxophonist, bandleader and composer Camilla George.

Born in Nigeria before moving to the UK, Camilla's musical foundation was built on Sunday afternoons spent with her jazz-enthusiast father, listening to his extensive vinyl collection featuring legends like Sonny Rollins and Sonny Stitt.

What emerges throughout the conversation is how powerfully Camilla's Nigerian heritage influences her artistic expression. Her third studio album ‘Ibio-Ibio’ celebrates the culture of the people from her birthplace in Eket (now Akwa Ibom State), with compositions reflecting creation myths and cultural touchstones. When she describes transforming African folk tales from her childhood into jazz compositions we glimpse how story becomes sound in her creative process.

Her journey through transcription began with Dexter Gordon before tackling Charlie Parker, with Kenny Garrett emerging as a significant influence on both her playing and compositional approach. Camilla’s rendition of Horace Silver’s 1950s standard ‘Peace’ also demonstrates her warm, expressive alto saxophone tone.

The conversation takes us through career highlights, including sitting in with bass virtuoso Marcus Miller at London's Festival Hall—what was meant to be one song expanded to four when Miller invited her to stay on stage. Yet even with such achievements, Camilla remains refreshingly candid about the challenges musicians face, sharing a recent experience with performance anxiety during a big band rehearsal.

Whether you're a musician seeking inspiration or a listener curious about the creative process, Camilla's thoughtful reflections offer valuable insights into crafting an authentic voice in contemporary jazz. Subscribe to hear more conversations with today's most compelling jazz artists, and explore the Quartet app to take your own jazz journey further.

Presenter: Geoff Gascoyne
Series Producer: Paul Sissons
Production Manager: Martin Sissons
The Quartet Jazz Standards Podcast is a UK Music Apps production.