AYRA
AYRA is a powerhouse of deep, soulful music that amplifies and expresses what it is to be a woman in the 21st Century. The blend of influences, Janette’s deep sophisticated musicality and Juliet’s expressive voice combine to create an unforgettable experience for audiences who value quality and honesty as well as moving to the slickest, funkiest grooves in the business.
Pianist/composer Janette Mason and singer/songwriter Juliet Roberts are two musical warriors, both rich with the accumulated experience of long and successful careers spanning across the genres of pop, jazz, dance and soul. When Janette first started working with Juliet, she immediately saw the potential for a deep and fruitful collaboration, and the pair soon started meeting and writing regularly together. AYRA is the result – a unique female fronted project purveying heartfelt original material drenched in the heritage of soul, spiced with the rhythms of funk and R&B, always delivered straight from the heart. Together they’ve assembled a band of some of the very best in the business. UK session legend Yolanda Charles, veteran of the bands of Hans Zimmer and Paul Weller among many others,was the natural choice on bass, and her regular drum partner Nicolas Py supplied the necessary deep, creative groove making. To round out the ensemble, Janette called on the unique talents of Shanti on cello, trumpet and percussion.
Band Line Up:
Yolanda Charles – Bass (Hans Zimmer, Paul Weller, Laura Mvula)
Nicolas Py – Drums (Gia Ford, Tony Momrelle)
Shanti – Trumpet, cello and percussion (Courtney Pine, Brand New Heavies)
AYRA’S Buddhist meaning is spiritual warrior and these two have definitely been musical warriors in their respective fields of music.
Janette Mason – Keyboards – Composer
Janette is a pianist, composer, arranger, producer and performer.
She toured extensively throughout the 90s with artists such as Oasis, Pulp and Robert Wyatt and was musical director for Jonathan Ross.
She is a sought after arranger and producer and has contributed tracks to Ian Shaw’s Drawn To All Things, and Lea DeLaria’s, The Live Smoke Sessions, which reached the Grammy Ballot.
Juliet Roberts – Vocals – Composer
Blessed with a beautiful and powerful voice, Juliet Roberts is undoubtedly one of the world’s most highly regarded R’n’B and jazz singer songwriters. Widely remembered for her work in the late 80s as lead vocalist with the hugely successful soul-jazz band Working Week, she has been a radio and TV presenter and had a string of top ten hits and has toured word wide with award winning Denys Baptists and Jazz Jamaica All Stars.
Yolanda Charles – Bass
Yolanda started her career playing for Jimmy Sommerville ( The Communards) and quickly became the bass foundation of various groups in the burgeoning ‘acid’ jazz scene of the early 90s including Raw Stylus and Urban Species, swiftly securing her reputation as the ‘ go to’ bass player resulting in a remarkable career as a session musician for the next 30 year.
Nicolas Py – Drums
Hailing from a remote town in northeast France, Nicolas Py began drumming professionally from age 14. He spanned the genres : funk, metal, jazz. Nicolas drums for indie-rock band Spector, pop angel Gia Ford, bass legend Yolanda Charles, soul singer Tony Momrelle, and blues musicians Lachy Doley and Felix Rabin. He is also an original member of funk-rock band Second Brain.
Shanti – Trumpet, cello and percussion
Shanti is a versatile multi-instrumentalist and composer.
His professional career took off whilst attending the Guildhall School of Music and Drama when he was the featured soloist with Kenny Wheeler on the CD ‘Walk Softly’. He has played for such bands as Alex Wilson, Tim Garland, Monica Vasconcelos, Snowboy, John Etheridge’s Zappatistas, the Brand New Heavies, Friendly Fires, Courtney Pine and Salsa Celtica.
