RCI London proudly presents acclaimed pianist and composer Sorin Zlat and his Changing Times project at the 2025 edition of the London Jazz Festival. This is a dynamic, genre-spanning performance that reflects the universality of music and the innovative spirit of Romanian jazz, presented alongside regulars of the major jazz festivals: Michele Montolli on bass and Andy Trim on drums.
Launched in 2024, Changing Timesfeatures original compositions and blends a wide range of influences, from cool jazz and post-bop to Latin, flamenco, funk and avant-garde. Performed by an ensemble of musicians from different generations and artistic backgrounds, the project exemplifies jazz as a shared language of creativity and freedom.
We are returning to the EFG London Jazz Festival – the UK’s largest and most prestigious jazz celebration – marking the return of Romanian presence to this major cultural event that reflects our long-term commitment to promoting exceptional Romanian artistry on leading international stages.
Recognised as the UK’s foremost jazz celebration and hailed by “The Guardian” as one of the best jazz festivals on the planet, the EFG London Jazz Festival stands as a landmark event on the global music calendar. Taking place each year in mid-November – this year from 14 to 23 November 2025 – the Festival brings together over 2,000 artists from more than 40 countries, performing in over 60 venues throughout London, from iconic concert halls to intimate club settings. The event showcases leading jazz musicians from across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia, making it a true celebration of global musical excellence.
Sorin Zlat is a Romanian pianist, clarinettist, and composer, recognised as one of the leading jazz musicians of his generation. A multi-award-winning artist, he made history in 2015 by becoming the first non-American to win the Grand Prix at the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, USA. Other notable accolades include the Grand Prix at the Monaco Jazz Competition (2013), the Montreux Jazz Competition (2015), the Best Band and Public Prize at Getxo (Spain, 2012), and being named Best Jazz Musician twice in his home country. He has performed at prestigious venues and festivals, including Ronnie Scott’s, Blue Note, Birdland, the Montreux Jazz Festival, and the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, where he has shared the stage with artists such as Chick Corea and Gregory Porter. In 2019, Sorin became a Yamaha Artist, representing the brand at major international events including the NAMM Show and Superbooth Berlin. He currently tours across Europe and North America with his trio or quartet, appearing in renowned clubs such as Smalls, Music Village and Jazz Station (Brussels), Vortex, Pizza Express, Ronnie Scott’s, Kings Place (London), Nardis (Istanbul), Montreux Jazz Café, and B-Flat (Berlin), and at festivals including Izmir, Brussels, Pera Fest, Getxo, Enter Enea, EUNIC Berlin, Monaco, and others.
Michele Montolli – Bass (IT) studied violin from the age of seven before later switching to electric bass. By the age of seventeen, he had taken up classical double bass at the Verona Conservatory, followed by a degree in Jazz Double Bass obtained in 2009 in Graz, Austria. Michele joined the London jazz scene in 2010 and has since toured the world, performing at various music festivals across Europe, as well as in New York, Tokyo, and the Balkan Peninsula. His portfolio includes performances and recordings with renowned artists such as Knoel Scott and Marshall Allen (Sun Ra Arkestra), Julie Dexter, Don Menza, Vladimir Kostadinovic, Seeds of Creation, Amira Kheir, Pataruco, and Charlie Stacey, as well as recordings and appearances for London’s National Television and BBC Television.
Andy Trim – Drums (UK) has played alongside legendary jazz figures such as Humphrey Lyttelton, Danny Moss, and Brian Lemon since his teenage years. Once admitted to the London jazz scene, he performed at renowned venues including Pizza Express and the 100 Club with artists like Charles McPherson, Nathan Davis, and Gene “Mighty Flea” Connors. In Italy, he met Avishai Cohen, one of the world’s most influential double bass players, who invited Andy to New York to study with Jeff Ballard, Eric McPherson, and Mark Guiliana. Regarded as one of London’s most respected drummers, Andy has developed a unique style of interpreting 21st-century jazz, bringing a fresh, neo perspective that jazz enthusiasts widely appreciate.
Book your tickets for this event HERE.
When: 18 Nov 2025, 7:30 – 9:00PM
Where: World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens, 3 Ponton Rd, Nine Elms, London SW11 7BD, UK
