Maya Bovill

Co-Director

Maya is a musician, composer and music facilitator, playing in a number of wide-ranging projects: performing under her moody moniker Sylvie Grey, fronting Greg Sterland’s 11-piece jazz orchestra, touring with indie-electronica group Meadow Meadow acclaimed by Clash Magazine, Line of Best Fit, and opening for End of the Road Festival. Having graduated from The BRIT School and Goldsmiths University, she founded BBC featured Music with Maya and the Rendezblues Jazz Ensemble, widely known for creating magical musical moments for all ages in Bristol & beyond.

Sam Slater

Co-Director

Sam is a musician, composer and producer, working mainly with guitars and the Arabic oud across jazz, world-roots music and dance projects. His performances have taken him to all sorts of places - from the Royal Opera House and WOMAD, to live sessions on BBC Radio 2 and 3, the mountains of Bulgaria, and the car parks of southern Serbia.

Alongside his work as a performer, Sam directs Mubu Music, curating and producing concerts, festivals and creative programmes across jazz, folk, world-roots, classical, experimental and contemporary music.

A large part of Sam’s work focuses on music for families, children and communities. Through projects including the long-running Musical Picnic, he has developed a way of programming for children and families that is playful but never patronising, imaginative but rooted in excellent musicianship, and based on the idea that children can be curious, adventurous listeners when given the chance.

Sam produces programmes for venues and festivals including Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Warwick Arts Centre and the University of Birmingham, as well as community-driven music projects across the Midlands. He also runs the Birmingham-based label Stoney Lane Records, releasing music by jazz-inspired artists, and recently launched the international concert series Stoney Lane Live, which opened with US guitarist Bill Frisell.