Kosovo-born, London-based singer-songwriter, composer and multi-instrumentalist AJO returns to the EFG London Jazz Festival with the launch of her long-awaited debut album, Gërshetat (“Braids”).
Following sold-out performances at the Royal Albert Hall, Rich Mix and the EFG London Jazz Festival, AJO has established herself as one of the leading contemporary voices bringing Albanian musical heritage to international audiences. With Gërshetat, she presents her most ambitious work to date – a collection of eleven songs that weave together the traditions, memories and stories of Albania and Kosovo through contemporary jazz, world music and original composition.
Inspired by the symbolism of braids passed down through generations of Albanian women, Gërshetat intertwines stories of love, motherhood, identity, freedom, resilience and belonging. The album brings together beloved traditional songs alongside AJO’s original compositions, creating a dialogue between ancestral memory and modern artistic expression.
The evening is presented by Arts Canteen in collaboration with Grand Junction, as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival 2026.