An immersive experience presented by some of the UK’s finest Jazz musicians featuring vocalists Sabina Desir and Randolph Matthews. Arrangements by Jessica Lauren.
Sabina Desir is one of UK Jazz’s best kept secrets. Her vocal talents have acquired a cult following over the past five years, through her musical projects Freedom Road, Banned, Dear Nina, Love Ray and more. Her creative inspiration and passion have led to powerful productions representing the Black experience through song combined with narrative and visuals. Her Freedom Road toured the UK to extraordinary acclaim, honouring the Black civil rights movements in the US and UK through blues, jazz, soul, reggae and more, accompanied by the powerful photographs of Charlie Phillips, Vanley Burke and Shaïny Vilo. Banned uncovered the hidden history of Black American air crew stationed on the Kent coast during the Cold War years, presented both as a visual art exhibition at the Turner Contemporary Gallery, and as a concert performance.
Afro Blue features a group of UK Jazz luminaries, each notable in their own right. Winston Clifford is the musician’s musician – the singer’s first choice of drummer, a consummately melodic and expressive player, with a CV of the greatest names in 20th and 21st Century Jazz. Jihad Darwish’s deep, resonant double bass provides the bedrock for the group. Jessica Lauren’s piano, organ and electric keys bring a lush palette of colours to the mix, and featured soloist Tamar Osborn is a new star of Jazz, Afrobeats and Contemporary music, playing baritone saxophone, flutes and clarinet with a special lyricism and power. Vocalist Randolph Matthews features as special guest, his charismatic singing and spoken word weaving together with Sabina and the band to make for a moving and joyful evening of song and music.
Image credit: Richard Birch
Sabina Desir Instagram / Jessica Lauren Instagram / Randolph Matthews Instagram
Jason Simpson Instagram / Tamar Osborn Instagram
