Lana-May Hodge

Born and raised in South East London, Lana-May began learning clarinet age 10 with the help of a local council initiative to bring instrumental lessons into schools. She began her musical career aged 19 as a military musician in the Royal Marines, where she received the finest classical training in both clarinet and violin, as well as a degree in Music Performance from the University of Plymouth. Lana-May left the military in 2021, after a 10 year service performing all over the world, to pursue a career in jazz. She has since become one of the most exciting emerging artists in the UK’s hot jazz scene as a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and bandleader, specialising in 1920s style traditional jazz clarinet with a vaudeville gas pipe twist. Her unique and passionate approach to the music of New Orleans and Chicago has gained her an incredible reputation as one of the most vibrant and versatile clarinet players in the style. On the cusp of beginning her career as a jazz artist, she has already had two sold out shows in London’s West End, performed at the EFG London Jazz Festival, gained residencies at some of the UK’s most exclusive private member’s clubs, and entertained audiences across London and the south.