Milena Casado (US) & Adja

With her compelling improvisations and intimate compositions, American trumpet player and composer Milena Casado is breathing new life into jazz. She is rapidly making a name for herself on the international scene, with performances at the Montreal Jazz Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival and Carnegie Hall. Having previously earned praise for her work with jazz greats such as Terri Lyne Carrington, Vijay Iyer and Aaron Parks, she now makes her debut with Reflection Of Another Self, a personal and powerful album that revolves around resilience. The Los Angeles Times calls her “a can’t-miss newcomer” on the jazz scene and hails her debut as “a gorgeous collection that comes from deep within”. Adja Following her acclaimed debut EP and the viral single Told You So, Adja’s first album, Golden Retrieve Her (Sdban Ultra), also made a huge impact. This Brussels-based artist, who studied drama at the LUCA School of Arts, combines neo-soul, jazz, R&B and gospel with a distinctive flair and profound themes. Influences such as D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Hiatus Kaiyote, Lauryn Hill and Lianne La Havas culminate in impressive live shows brimming with emotion, humour and spirituality, carried by a velvety yet powerful voice. Following her victory in the Sound Track competition (2022) and recognition by Flemish newspaper De Morgen as one of the six most promising musicians for 2023, Adja has emerged as a standout voice on the Belgian music scene. Written with guitarist Alexis Nootens, her debut album explores the influence of capitalism on our most intimate moments. The singles A Moment and Sucking on My Emphatitties certainly demonstrate her versatility and boldness. At Leuven Jazz 2023, she won our hearts with a memorable performance, including a stunning cover of Nina Simone’s Wild is the Wind.