Sofi catches up NYJO Emerging Professional Olivia Cuttill: trumpeter, composer and a key figure in UK Jazz today. Since graduating from Leeds Conservatoire in 2023, Olivia has already released two fabulous albums: ‘The Whole Damn Plan’ in 2024 and then, in 2025, : ‘…And Writing And Singing And Tunes To Be Swingin.’ As ever she is touring the UK with her quintet, comprised of fellow NYJO EPs Issey Chivers, (vocals) Miles Pillinger (drums) as well as Tom Harris, (piano) and Josh Vadiveloo (bass).
Late last year, Olivia put together a special programme to celebrate NYJOs 60th year anniversary. The big band project, which coincided with EFG Jazz Fest, paid homage to Nina Simone’s 1982 album Fodder On My Wings. Read on to find out more about Olivia’s reflections and where you can catch her play next!
Other than performance skills; tell us about some of the professional development opportunities you have enjoyed during your time as a NYJO Emerging Professional?
With NYJO, I’ve had the opportunity to play at amazing venues including Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Milton Court, We Out Here Festival and many more. I’ve had the chance to play with legends of the UK jazz scene such as Nikki Yeoh, Cleveland Watkiss, Toni Kofi and more. I have had countless opportunities to meet inspiring creatives, industry professionals and have learnt so much.
Imagine you have just signed up to work on an NYJO EP project; how might you describe a typical week in the life of a NYJO Emerging Professional?
Every week is different. Sometimes a project will span over a number of weeks/months. This might include biweekly rehearsals, but some other projects might be one intense week with 2 full day rehearsals and a gig in the span of 7 days. Alongside the work with NYJO, a usual week of mine will include a 2 or 3 gigs with other projects, such as my original music, standards bands or sometimes a function.
Did you find these experiences different when you acted as Musical Director? How did you find the transition from being a band-member to a band-leader in the run up to EFG Jazz Fest?
As a band member, all you need to prepare is yourself. So getting ready for a rehearsal can be pretty straight forward, and it would usually creep up on me. Whereas as a band leader, the rehearsals were a big stamp in my calendar. Between rehearsals I always had a long list of things to do to make sure everyone’s charts are up to date and ready for the next rehearsal. It was also something I would look forward to so so much. Having spent hours on end on my laptop making these charts, when I finally get to hear it live it’s , pardon the pun, music to my ears!
‘Fodder’ is by no means your first time leading a Jazz ensemble; you have led The Olivia Cuttill Quintet since graduating from Leeds in 2023. What skills were needed to lead a big band rather than a five-piece?
I feel very grateful for my experience leading my band. The skills I gained from that, translated well. The main difference is that with a big band, everything is more! I needed to be more organised, more structure and more prepared than with a smaller band.
Nina Simone’s ‘Fodder on my Wings’ was the stimulus for this arrangement project; how has your relationship to the music changed from first hearing the album to ultimately creating a collaborative performance out of the concept at EFG Jazz Fest?
I loved the album from the very first time I heard it. Now that I have studied it and know most of the times inside out, I’m happy to say that when I listen to it now I feel feel that same excitement and buzz that I did the first time I heard it. It’s such a special album!
What upcoming shows do you have in the diary for 2026; where can we hear you play next?
I’ll be playing a number of shows with my quintet, including:
April 15th – Downstairs at the Vortex
May 28th – Pizza Express Live Soho
June 6th – Ciltheroe Weekend Jazz Festival
July 5th – Love Supreme Festival – New Generation Jazz Stage
July 11th – Swanage Jazz Festival
July 16th – Digbeth Jazz – Birmingham
August 2nd – Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club
August 8th – Brecon Jazz Festival
August 18th – Annie’s Jazz – Southend
October 25th – Durham Jazz Festival