Shabaka Hutchings

Shabaka is a multi-instrumentalist and composer who came to prominence within the London scene playing bands Sons of Kemet, the Comet is Coming and Shabaka and the Ancestors. At the start of 2024, he announced a hiatus from the saxophone, and since then has been composing material for the various flutes he is engaged in studying. Collaboration and the idea of developmental change being central to artistic practice is the driving force behind Shabaka’s live sets, which are constantly evolving and striving to reflect an up-to-date account of a creative mind in flow.

Kwake Bass

Kwake Bass is from Lewisham South London. He’s been the musical director for both Sampha and Kae Tempest’s tours and has played with the likes of Lianne La Havas, Mica Levi, Joey Bada$$, MF Doom, Shabaka Hutchings and Novelist. As a producer he explores what lives between the cracks of structured programming with live electronic improvisation.
https://kingkwakebass.bandcamp.com/

Photo by Anie Tobin

Zed-U

Taking the raw elements of jazz and incorporating generous use of electronic loops and effects, Zed-U creates what they call a ‘symphony of sound’. This is a conscious decision – the band is after all, a stripped down affair with only bass, drums and reeds – so each instrument effectively doubles up their contribution by adding electronic effects to their instrument, making a much larger sound. One of the most distinctive sounds to come out of this has been dub reggae, largely credited to drummer Tom Skinner, which can be heard lurking in several tracks, although never enough to take over and distract.

"This is a band that knows how to make punchy music without the usual clichés" – The Guardian

"This is music of acute intellectual rigour but also of deep spirit. Damn fine." – thejazzbreakfast