Written by 
Saxophonist and composer Nichola Pope is bringing ‘Herstory’ to the stage for the first time, premiering at the EFG London Jazz Festival, Nov 14th at Karamel Club.
Saxophonist, arranger, musical director, educator and advocate for humanitarian causes Nichola Pope is about to kick up a storm. She tours internationally, playing and recording as a sought-after session musician and has appeared at major UK festivals including Glastonbury, BST Hyde Park, Isle of Wight Festival, Latitude, and prestigious venues such as Royal Festival Hall and The O2 along with renowned jazz venues including Ronnie Scott’s, the 606 Club, the Jazz Cafe, and the Vortex Jazz Club. She is also an Yanagisawa artist. Her portfolio is considerable, but this is the first time she is stepping into the role of composer and leading on her own – and very personal – project: Herstory.
‘Herstory’ offers a deeply personal and emotionally resonant experience through music and chronicles pivotal points in her life that have shaped and contributed to who she is today and gives us all glimpse into how she views life.
How have you found the experience of working on your own material for the first time?
I’d always harboured the ambition to create my own original compositions but had never allowed myself the time to do this until Women in Jazz Media offered me the opportunity to do a show as part of this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival. It was incredibly exciting though equally daunting to start the writing process, and when I came up with the concept for Herstory the project took on a whole new deeply personal resonance.
Photo by Monika S Jakubowska
You spent some of your early years in the Middle East and this has played a role in shaping your music. How have these experiences impacted on your compositions?
The pieces relating to this time in my life reflect the duality of growing up in what was a very restrictive but evocative environment. The fears I felt as a child associated with being a westerner in the region at a time of great international tension, were juxtaposed with the beauty of the desert landscape, all whilst living in a culture where at the time the opportunity for me to learn, play or even listen to music didn’t exist.
Can you talk us through your compositional process?
Having initially sketched out a number of working titles for the stories I wished to tell in Herstory, inspiration for each associated piece often came to me when walking through the countryside with Fred, my beautiful 14 year old black labrador. In a quiet and contemplative environment like that I was able to imagine the style and melodies etc. for each theme, but I only managed to carve out 3 actual days from my schedule as a busy working musician to sit at the piano with pencil and manuscript to get down on paper the parts that were swirling around my head. As I did not have the luxury of extended rehearsal time, I worked with Nick Trepka to put recorded skeletons together of each of the tracks to realise the conceptions and more easily convey my intentions to the musicians that would be playing them.
With Carl Hudson (keys and analogue synth) Mirko Scarcia (electric and double bass) and Jamie Murray (drums) the line up for the premier is fantastic. What led you to working with these musicians?
This project is authentic to who I am both as a musician and my life experiences, therefore I approached musicians who I had previously worked with and who also brought their personality, musicianship and artistry to best reflect what I wish to hear. The project features keyboardist Carl Hudson who I call ‘The Wizard’. We met in a field at a festival – the rest is history (maybe I should say ourstory!). I met drummer Jamie ‘Drumcat’ Murray at one of London’s session blow bands, and he introduced me to bassist Mirko Scarcia, when ‘The Pope met The Italian’.
Photo by Murray Clarke
This will be the debut of this material, what can the audience expect?
Pieces authentic to who I am and my experiences, reflecting my Middle Eastern influences, journeying through to coming to the UK, being a part of the dance scene of the 90s and writing pieces that are authentically my voice.
This will be a very special night and I am beyond thrilled to see Nichola move into a space of her own and share her artistry with us all.
Women in Jazz Media present: Nichola Pope, Herstory
Friday November 14th, Karamel Club, London, EFG London Jazz Festival
Cover photo by Murray Clarke
Last modified: November 11, 2025
