Lana-May Hodge

Born and raised in South East London, Lana-May is one of the UK’s emerging traditional jazz artists. A multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and bandleader, she specialises in 1920s-style traditional jazz clarinet, bringing a distinctive vaudeville influence to the music of New Orleans and Chicago. Her passionate and versatile approach has earned her a growing reputation within the UK jazz scene.

Lana-May spent 10 years performing internationally as a military musician with the Royal Marines. Since pursuing a career in jazz, she has performed at the EFG London Jazz Festival, played two sold-out shows in London’s West End, and entertained audiences across London and the South. She has also held residencies at some of the UK’s most exclusive private members’ clubs.

Lana-May began learning clarinet at the age of 10 through a local council initiative bringing instrumental lessons into schools. At 19, she joined the Royal Marines as a military musician, where she received classical training in both clarinet and violin. She also holds a degree in Music Performance from the University of Plymouth.

Clarinet — specialising in 1920s-style traditional jazz, with a particular focus on the musical traditions of New Orleans and Chicago.