As Ian Mann, in his review for the Jazz Mann (August 2025), said:

“Atomic Tour Live is arguably the definitive EFT album. As excellent as the studio recordings are (especially LUMA) this live recording captures the band in their true habitat, the live performance environment. [...] The trio expand upon a series of intelligent, multi-faceted compositions that embrace an impressively broad array of styles, sounds and dynamics. All of the band’s live favourites are here and for anybody who has seen them at a gig this album is an essential souvenir, but it’s a recording that also stands up on its own merits. There’s some terrific writing and playing here.”

Led by keyboardist Emily Francis, and featuring bass maestro Trevor Boxall, and drum superstar Jamie Murray, the trio fuses their own style of high-energy, melodically-driven jazz with sounds from the worlds of progressive rock and pop, electronic music, and influences spanning the 60s, 70s, and 80s. 

The three combine their collective experience from many years of original live and session work. Jamie’s CV includes collaborations with iconic musicians such as bassist Tim Lefebvre, saxophonists Donny McCaslin and David Binney, as well as appearing alongside world class artists such as Robben Ford and Guthrie Govan, and hosting his own Late Late show at the famous Ronnie Scott's. Trevor makes regular appearances with blues superstar Connor Selby as well as collaborating with the future nodding Origin Quartet, who recently featured saxophonist Paul Booth and supported Dennis Rollins. Emily is no stranger to the session world, with credits including Robert Fripp, Toyah Willcox, Andrea Bocelli, Rumer, Ward Thomas, Jo Harman, Julia Jacklin, Soom T and more.

The world of Emily Francis Trio began, however, with the aforementioned 2014 debut release, The Absent. The band’s sound was developed by Francis, Boxall, and (original drummer) Liam Waugh, reflecting primarily the classic piano trio and jazz rock fusion influences. This early momentum was built upon with the follow-up release, the 2016 EP, New Town. 

The joining of Murray, and the release of LP LUMA in 2022, marked a significant shift. The record, described as “a thing of rare beauty” by Jazzwise’s Nick Hasted, expanded the palate with a range of synth and electronic sounds, and incorporated influences from the current US electro-jazz scene, such as Donny McCaslin, Kneebody, and FORQ, as well as prog supremos Pink Floyd, Genesis, and Peter Gabriel, and jazz icons Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau, and Avishai Cohen. The band also brought on board the highly in-demand Atlanta based producer, engineer, and mixer, Jason Kingsland (FORQ, Michael Wollny, Whose Hat Is This?, et al.) to help realise their increasing ambitions in the studio.

In the meantime, the band has built up a loyal UK following among both jazz and prog fans, with several successful UK tours encompassing headline shows at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and The 606 Club (London), Peggy’s Skylight (Nottingham), ParrJazz (Liverpool), The Verdict (Brighton), Scott’s Jazz Club (Belfast), The Blue Lamp (Aberdeen), Marrs Bar (Worcester), as well as festival appearances at Manchester Jazz Festival, Lancaster Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, and others.     

The trio has continued since with the release of the EP Atomic, in 2024, further expanding on the electro-jazz scenes of New York and Scandinavia, whilst also borrowing from vintage TV sci-fi themes and 20th century contemporary classical and film scores. The project saw Francis at her most free-wheeling to date, mixing up complex sound design with tender, melodic piano playing. Boxall’s other-worldy, thunderous bass tones compliment perfectly, especially in the mix with the wildly innovative grooves of Murray. The band reflected:

“Where LUMA was occasionally sprawling, with its share of 7-minute-plus tracks, Atomic takes a more direct approach, placing melody front and centre, employing cinematic-style leitmotif, and propelling the music forward with driving rhythm and groove. The sound palette is more important than ever, playing a vital role in bringing characters within the music to life.”

2024 also saw the trio being invited by famed DJ and label owner Giles Peterson to participate in the Rhodes piano ‘Triology’ series of videos. Their subsequent 2024 tour brings us up to the present, the result of which was the band’s latest full release, Atomic Tour Live, in the spring of 2025. The record features 13 tracks from the group’s touring set list, recorded at several venues including Peggy’s Skylight, Scott’s Jazz Club, The Verdict, Music Spoken Here and The Dorothy Pax. 

In 2026, the band look forward to a new tour, including their first European shows, as well as  releasing new music.

“[Francis’s] embrace of timeless, prog-friendly keyboard sounds is inspired and sincere. The interplay between her, Boxall and top drummer Jamie Murray is natural, banter-laced fun”
Grant Moon, Prog Magazine

“Atomic Tour Live is no retro fusion-fest. Various textures abound. Francis has a melodic bent while the grooves are often mid-tempo. Nor does the trio default to rehashed funk forms. Instead ‘Le Tambour: 2 a.m.’ features blues-edged (electric) piano. ‘Red Shift’ likewise foregrounds piano in its moodiness. And ‘Don’t Forget to Feed the Orchid’ has a poptastic theme”
Andy Robson, Jazzwize

“It’s easy to see why EFT have developed such a devoted following among both the jazz and prog rock camps and one suspects that theirs is a fan base that will continue to grow, especially if they carry on turning in live performances like this. Well done to all concerned for documenting these exceptional performances.”
Ian Mann, The Jazz Mann