Performing under the banner of ‘Trading Roots: A Musical Journey Across Borders’, Sunday 6 March sees the historic Hackney Empire resounding with the vital force of two impressively prolific ensembles: the world-class Grand Union Orchestra featuring leading jazz artists and the versatile classical BBC Concert Orchestra. The evening celebrates the enchanting force of musical migrations across continents and through the ages.

This one off performance features jazz soloists with the Grand Union Orchestra, including saxophonist Tony Kofi, multi-reedist Chris Biscoe, Australian tenor saxophonist and flautist Louise Elliott, South African born trumpeter-composer Claude Deppa and trumpeter-flugelist Shanti Paul Jayasinha, playing alongside nearly 100 other classical and world musicians and singers.

The centre-piece of the evening sees a remarkable joining of forces between the two ensembles premiéring ‘The Golden Road, The Unforgiving Sea', a new work by GUO’s composer-director Tony Haynes commissioned especially by BBC Radio 3. Furthermore there is special performance from the BBC Concert Orchestra Fusion Group, an exciting multicultural group of talented young London musicians selected by the BBC Concert Orchestra. The concert will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 at 7.00pm on 8 March. For more information on the line up and tickets, visit www.hackneyempire.co.uk.

- Himali Dave