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At the risk of repeating myself, there’s nothing more exciting for me than a jazz musician that pushes the edges of genre and style in order to truthfully express themselves. And it gives me such joy when this is done with courage and confidence, from the first to the last note, by an artist that doesn’t want to be confined in a box and fully sings their heart out loud. Italian singer Irene Serra is one of these artists and her latest release “The Great British Songbook” – featuring guitarist Luca Boscagin – is testament to her freedom of expression.
The album – whose release will be anticipated by a launch gig on Saturday 2nd November at Café Posk in London – is a celebration of some of the most famous British musicians of the last 70 years and is out on Friday 29th of November. Serra – who was longlisted for “Best Jazz Vocalist” at the 2022 Parliamentary Jazz Awards and was a finalist at the Shure Montreux Jazz Competition in 2009 – made a choice not to be artistically restrained by the definition of genres since her debut album with her original project ISQ (which was a ‘Time Out Critics Choice’ in 2015).
The singer started studying jazz at the age of 16 at the Academy of Music in Milan with renowned jazz vocalist Tiziana Ghighlioni; she then moved to London to continue studying music at Goldsmiths College and gained a distinction while completing her master’s in music performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Currently working on her 5th album of original music with ISQ (set to be released in the Autumn of 2025), Serra has worked her way up the UK jazz scene thanks to a “strong stage presence and a compelling vocal tone” (Jazzwise) and “sublime vocals” (Jazz FM), performing in world-class venues, including the Barbican with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Southbank Centre, Ronnie Scott’s and Pizza Express Jazz Club, just to name but a few.
Photo by Tatiana Gorilovsky
It is not by chance that for “The Great British Songbook”, she teamed up with Luca Boscagin: an eclectic guitarist who grew up heavily influenced by rock & jazz and whom, during his career, has played with internationally renowned musicians of the stature of Jim Mullen and Ares Tavolazzi (from Italian prog rock band Area) and has recorded at major studios like Abbey Road and Real World. What do the songs of the Beatles, Sting, Massive Attack and Imogen Heap have to do with jazz? Literally everything in the duo’s arrangements of the tunes. Most importantly, in this meaningful album, there’s a deeper message that goes even beyond music itself. And this makes it even more special and thoughtful.
GSLS: “The Great British Songbook” celebrates some of the most important British singers and songwriters of the last 70 years. Where did this idea come from and how did you reimagine and arrange each song? Where does the inspiration come from?
IS: I’ve always been a huge fan of British music. It’s amazing to think how much groundbreaking music has come from this small island, from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to Pink Floyd, The Sex Pistols, and beyond. The idea for this project sparked from many late-night chats with Luca (my guitarist and long-time collaborator) about the music we love. We’d often play British pop tunes at gigs just for fun, and it clicked—we should build a project around it. So we got together, jammed, and “The Great British Songbook” was born.
Our process was organic. We approached each song with a jazz mindset—taking the basic structure and reimagining it through paraphrasing, reharmonizing, and improvising. We loved blending the freedom of jazz with the familiarity of these British pop/rock tunes. It’s always rewarding to see the audience’s reaction when they recognize a familiar melody reinterpreted with a jazz twist—it bridges the gap between genres. This project was also born in the aftermath of Brexit. For me, it became a love letter to British music—a celebration of everything that made me choose to make the UK my home. I’ve lived here for nearly 25 years, and while Brexit felt like a rejection of that connection, this project is a defiant embrace of the beautiful things that unite us—music being one of the most powerful.
Photo by Tatiana Gorilovsky
GSLS: You’ve been working with guitarist Luca Boscagin for a while now. Tell us about this musical partnership and how did you both pick the songs for ‘The Great British Songbook’.
IS: Luca and I have been playing together for over 15 years. We first met when I needed a guitarist for a Brazilian gig, and it was a serendipitous meeting! Funny enough, I had learned a lot of Brazilian tunes from a band I found on YouTube back in the day, and when we started rehearsing, I realised Luca was the guitarist in that very band! We clicked instantly, and the rest is history. Choosing the repertoire for “The Great British Songbook” was a very democratic process. We both made a list of songs we loved, and it turned out we had a lot in common. We jammed through many of them, experimenting with different ideas until we found arrangements that felt fresh and captured the essence of both British pop and our jazz approach. We wanted a selection that represented a range of emotions and soundscapes, all tied together by our mutual love of improvisation and experimentation.
GSLS: What is your personal favourite track from the album and why?
IS: It’s hard to choose, but I’d say “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” by The Police. Sting is one of my favourite songwriters, and this was the first track Luca and I rehearsed for the project. It came together so effortlessly and set the tone for the rest of the repertoire. The joy we had and the groove we found in performing it gave us a strong sense of direction for the album.
GSLS: As an eclectic singer who is well affirmed and respected in the jazz scene, releasing an album that’s a tribute to pop tunes is a brave – wonderful! – choice (…and kudos to you for this!). Not all singers feel free to do so, worrying about what others could think. How do you deal with music preconceptions of genre and style? Which advice would you give to someone who worries about these kind of stereotypes?
IS: I try not to let genre preconceptions define me. I made a decision early on not to limit myself artistically. My first album with ISQ was an original project, which wasn’t the norm for vocalists at the time—most were expected to release a standards album. But I felt strongly about creating something that was true to my voice. Sure, it may not have been the easiest path, but I firmly believe you should follow your instincts. If you stay true to yourself, the outcomes—whether good or bad—are easier to navigate because they’re your’s. My advice to anyone struggling with stereotypes is to remember that only you know what you want artistically, so don’t shrink to fit into someone else’s box.
GSLS: Who inspired you the most at the beginning of your career and which lessons would you share with someone who wants to undertake a musical path as a professional?
IS: My mom was my first inspiration. She wasn’t a professional singer, but she had a beautiful natural voice and would sing Frank Sinatra and Mina around the house. Tiziana Ghiglioni, my jazz tutor during my teenage years in Italy, was another big influence. She’s an incredible jazz vocalist and a true free spirit. She encouraged me to connect with my creativity above all else and was the one who pushed me to move to London, as building a full-time career as a jazz musician in Italy was tough. The biggest lesson I’d share with aspiring musicians is that “talent” really comes down to dedication and hard work. That’s what will give you longevity in this business.
GSLS: You’ve been performing around Italy and the UK form many years now. What is the gig or recording session that you cherish the most and why?
IS: Probably the first ISQ recording session for my debut album. Hearing songs I had written come to life with brilliant musicians was pure magic. It’s one of those moments that stays with you— when the music in your head turns into something tangible and even better than you imagined. There is a particular joy and magic to hearing tunes that you have written coming to life.
GSLS: The music industry is constantly changing and musicians have more and more duties that go from promoting gigs to selling albums but also dealing with social media and content creation. What do you think are the biggest issues nowadays for an artist and how do you cope with these?
IS: One of the biggest challenges is the sheer volume of work that falls outside of making music. We’re not just artists anymore; we’re also our own managers, content creators, promoters, and more. It can be overwhelming. I’m grateful to have my partner help with a lot of the admin side, but finding balance is always a challenge. Scheduling everything in my calendar, including practice and writing time, is key for me. While social media can be a powerful tool for connecting with fans, I’m not sure the positives outweigh the negatives. I’m glad I grew up without it, as it gave me the time to focus purely on my craft at the beginning of my career. I’m really lucky that my partner helps me out with a lot of the admin that comes with being a musician as I would never be able to sustain three different music projects without him. I try to use my time well and schedule all the things I have do that week in my calendar, including practise/writing, which takes priority. As I said, really not easy to find the balance but organisation definitely helps!
GSLS: What’s on your “bucket list”, what are your dreams in this very moment and what are your next steps after this release?
IS: Well, for my “bucket list” the sky’s the limit but I would love a headline gig at Ronnie Scotts to happen soon. I’ve been performing on the London jazz scene for almost twenty years so now I think it would be good timing! Next steps after the release is lining up dates with this project in the UK and Europe and recording the 5th ISQ album next year. No rest for the wicked, that’s for sure.
You can find out more about Irene’s work at the following links: www.ireneserra.com
Buy and stream “The Great British Songbook” by Irene Serra & Luca Boscagin: Follow this link
Tickets and Info for “The Great British Songbook” album launch Saturday 2nd November @ Cafe Posk, London; for info and tickets click HERE
All photography by Tatiana Gorilovsky
Last modified: October 29, 2024
