Availabilities Spring 2019

Availabilities
Spring 2019

João Bosco
April / May
"Two centuries of his country’s rhythms flow through the fingers of João Bosco, one of Brazil’s most fabled guitarists, singers and composers.
Now 70, he can stir up a whirlwind of speed and agility, breezing through tricky meters, harmonies and beats from all over Brazil...
His virtuosity has made Mr. Bosco a draw in places where Portuguese is not spoken."  - New York Times, April 2017
Website
 
Keyon Harrold
April / May
Keyon Harrold has developed a reputation as one of the world's most sought-after, emotionally electric young trumpeters on the scene.
Of particular note is his role Miles Davis biopic 'Miles Ahead', where he is featured as the trumpet sound of Don Cheadle playing Miles Davis.
"I didn't realise Harrold's sound was that bold, that his jazz chops were that good or that he could stretch out that far. There's so much feeling in his playing,
whether he's crafting mellow lines or hammering out ear-shredding pyrotechnics, you know he means every note..." -JAZZWISE MAGAZINE, APRIL 2018
YouTube     Website    Spotify
 
Quiana Lynell
April / May
The 2017 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition winner, Quiana Lynell infuses her classical training with her gospel upbringing and approaches jazz as a storyteller.
Her mesmerizing performances can only come about because Quiana believes every word that journeys from her soul.
With her debut album soon to be released by Concord Records she is positioned to become one of the longstanding artists of Jazz.
“Paints a picture, shading and coloring the lyrics with strong vocal technique honed through her classical training.” - DOWNBEAT
“Already a vocal presence, a unique but warm comforting voice.” - TERENCE BLANCHARD
Video    Website
 
Matthew Whitaker Trio
Late April & late May/June
17-year old piano prodigy Matthew has delighted audiences this year from the Hollywood Bowl to Newport Jazz Festival, Paris, London, Porto, Ancona,
Bologna, Berlin to mention but a few cities. Also popular with the press as you can see on ‘Ellen’ and ‘The Today Show’.
New album due out in 2019
From the L.A. Times...
At Playboy Jazz Fest, a 17-year-old wonder, an 83-year-old master and tributes to Hef and Miles Davis
The two standouts of Saturday’s performances were born 66 years apart. Keyboardist Matthew Whitaker is likely the first bandleader born in the 21st century to play the festival.
Whitaker is only 17 and blind, but his consciousness of the crowd was stronger than the average jazz bandleader.
Alternating between the two keyboards, Whitaker summoned the ghosts of Larry Young and Oscar Peterson. A two-fisted sermon on the Spiral Staircase hit
“More Today Than Yesterday”  conjured gospel visions, while his original tune “Got a Match” was a straight-swinging burner.
He tackled both keyboards simultaneously with his left hand on the piano and his right on the organ for a Coltrane riff that slowly revealed itself as Earth Wind & Fire’s “September,”
an unapologetic dip into disco that was perfect for 4 p.m. Whitaker’s instrumental trio inspired spontaneous dancing and a standing ovation.
As a student of great piano masters, he has quickly identified the buttons that resonate with a crowd looking for a good time.
YouTube    Facebook    Website
 
The Cookers
June
Billy Harper - Tenor Sax, Eddie Henderson - Trumpet, 
David Weiss - Trumpet, Donald Harrison - Alto Sax, George Cables - Piano, Cecil McBee - Bass, Billy Hart - Drums
"Hard bop is proving to be the most durable of all jazz styles. Succeeding generations come up with new twists, but the Cookers are a band of seven true veterans
who manage to sound fresher and tougher than any of them...Former sidemen, now genuine all-stars." - The Guardian
Website
 
Cyrus Chestnut
May
New album - Kaleidoscope
For this recording Cyrus has arranged 8 compositions by the classical pianists W.A. Mozart, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Eric Satie,
taking the classical themes through a series of rhythmic and harmonic turns and twists and subjecting them to a wildly innovative series of transformations.
Website
 
Mingus Big Band
Spring & Autumn
Under the artistic direction of Sue Mingus, this 14-piece band first performed Thursday nights from 1991 to 2004 at Fez under Time Cafe in NYC.
The band tours extensively in the United States and abroad, and has ten recordings to its credit, seven of which have been nominated for Grammys.
YouTube    Website

 

UK-based artists available all periods

Osibisa @ 50
As their 50th anniversary approaches in 2019, Osibisa will release their first new album in 15 years,
coupled with a new show celebrating the band's achievements and their 'happy music' ideology.

Georgie Fame Family Trio

Tony Momrelle
new album release early Spring

Pee Wee Ellis Funk Assembly
or Jazz Quartet
 

For more information on any of our artists, visit our website or get in touch.