Led by Portuguese vocalist Mila, The Mila Quartet was formed when guitarist Eirik Svela joined Trio Nu-Azul, in the summer months of 2006. The new quartet quickly fused to create a fusion of jazz, soul, latin-lounge and sensitively executed improvisation, whilst maintaining high energy levels and expressive interaction between all four musicians.
The quartet brings to the music something of their own. Inspired by musicians as varied as Betty Carter, Sheila Jordan, Miles Davis, Wayne Krantz & The Brian Blade Fellowship, among others, The M.D. Quartet deliver a dim lit but inspiring array of specifically arranged standards and compositions.
Recently the band has been working hard in the recording studio, playing in venues around the U.K., and recently toured Portugal in September 2008.
Band members
Ali is a Drummer / Percussionist based in Leeds, U.K. He is currently performing with a number of projects, playing styles of music as varied as jazz, soul, house & Latin, as well as freelance recording sessions. He also works as a club percussionist in some of the leading nightclubs and bars, performing all over the U.K.
Ali also teaches a number of students on both drums & World percussion and accompanies dancers in both world and contemporary dance environments.
He has toured with various music ensembles and groups to Brazil, The Bahamas, Germany, Belgium, Portugal and around the UK. He has also appeared on BBC2, ITV, C4, Cool FM & BBC Radio2 & Radio 4 with various artists.
Born in Oslo, Norway in 1985, Eirik (guitar), picked up the guitar at an early age with no significant result until enrolling at Leeds College of Music. Currently based in Leeds working as a guitarist, guitar teacher and composer/arranger.
Mila (voice) began studying music at the age of six having studied studied classical piano and classical singing.
Since 2000 she has been studying Jazz, Blues, Contemporary Classical music, extended vocal techniques and Northen Indian Classical Music and Improvisation.
She graduated from the Leeds College of Music Jazz (BA Hons) degree and has been teaching singing for several years.
Over the years she studied under the mentoring of Omar Puente, Jamil Sheriff, Matthew Bourne, Christophe de Bezenac, Anita Wardell, Norma Winstone, Rus Pearson, Joel Purnell, Kari Bleivik, Lianne Carroll, Ian Shaw, Simon Purcell and Martin Speake.
Mila is also an experienced performer having toured around Portugal, Spain and the U.K.
Sam is a bass guitarist based in Leeds. Originally from Cornwall, Sam is now in Leeds where he is studying with Zoltan Dekany as well as a number of distinguished jazz artists like Jamil Sheriff and Joel Purnell. He features in a number of leeds based bands involving himself in a number of genres. These bands include The Average Height Band - a 6 piece funk/soul outfit playing at a number of venues around Leeds including The Warddrobe. Tasq - a contemporary jazz quartet taking influences from a nmber of genres including rock and reggae. As well as The Mila Quartet - an edgy, moody ensemble performing their own twist on standard jazz tunes.
