�Double MOBO Award-winning saxophonist YolanDa Brown returns to her east London roots to present a thrilling night of jazz at the Queen’s Theatre.

The Barking-born beauty and UK’s hottest rising jazz star will be presenting a fantastic evening of music at the theatre in Billet Lane, Hornchurch on Monday September 17 at 7.30pm.

She may be young, but YolanDa has packed a wealth of experience into her years, winning no less than two MOBO Awards for Best Jazz while her debut album released this year, April Showers, May Flowers, smashed the iTunes and Amazon Jazz Charts to reach Number 1.

Her glittering haul also includes accolades for Best Jazz in the Urban Music Awards, Best Musician in the Women in Entertainment and Arts Awards and Best Performer at the prestigious Marlborough Jazz Festival.

Doctorate

This super-talented saxophonist and singer-songwriter has toured with The Temptations, Errol Brown, Diana Krall and Courtney Pine, collaborated with Mica Paris and played with Jools Holland’s orchestra.

Recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by the University of East London, YolanDa was invited to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

She has played at the Princes’ Trust Rock Gala alongside Boy George and Joss Stone in the Royal Albert Hall, and performed for the presidents of Russia and Jamaica.

She is also an ambassador for the Prince of Wales and his Prince’s Trust and is a patron of the Mayor of London’s Fund for Young Musicians.

As a little girl, YolanDa was something of a musical prodigy, playing the piano, violin, drums, oboe and recorder before finally settling for the sax at 13, which she taught herself to play.

She juggled music with a high-flying academic career, gaining three degrees and pursuing a PhD.

She spent several years performing on jazz circuits in London and then internationally.

And after putting her studies on hold, she released April Showers, May Flowers, melodies inspired by love and life in a wonderful mixture of jazz, soul and R&B.

n Tickets are �17.50 from 01708 443333 or www.queens-theatre.co.uk. For more information, visit www.yolandabrown.co.uk