Piera Onacko is a pianist, synth player, composer and bandleader. Her work is informed by improvised music within and outside of jazz, and often leans into avant garde; expect hypnotic and textural passages interweaving with spiky grooves.

In recent years, she was a recipient of the Jerwood Jazz Encounters and Sound UK awards, and has been commissioned by organisations such as Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Flatpack Film Festival and B:Music. Piera is working on a debut album with her experimental electronic trio un.procedure, which is funded by PRS Women Make Music, and tours with this band in the UK and Europe.

For this performance, Piera will be honouring the work of legendary pianist and composer Carla Bley, by performing arrangements and interpretations of her extensive back catalogue.

Featuring Amy Coates on bass and Max Tomlinson on drums

She:Music x Women In Jazz takeover

As part of the She:Music project that B:Music are curating for the next few years, we are working with partners from across the industry to share their expertise, collaborate on initiatives, and present performances as part of the overall programme in our venues. For this Free Jazz Friday, we are delighted to be collaborating with Women In Jazz to enable a takeover of the usual Friday evening performance with artists that Women In Jazz have chosen to support across the UK, backed by additional support from B:Music. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear some of the best female musicians in the UK Jazz scene coming to the heart of Birmingham