SPICEJAZZ SOHO
The best of the European Jazz/Soul/Latin scene presented every Thursday in the heart of Soho.
The Blessed Rains: The Music Of TOTO
Wed 17 January
Booking link https://www.wegottickets.com/event/603067
"‘The Blessed Rains; The Music Of TOTO’ is a UK based ensemble dedicated to recreating the music of the Grammy Award Winning Super group, ‘TOTO’.
Formed in 2019 by drummer Max Mills and with a Sell Out Debut show at Ronnie Scott’s in 2022, the band boasts of having some of the finest musicians and vocalists in the country. Every detail of every TOTO song performed is to the note of the records, all meticulously transcribed and arranged by Max, which is why we also boast in having our own horn and percussion sections to give the ultimate Toto experience.
Featuring the classic hits like ‘Africa’, ‘Rosanna’ and ‘Hold The Line’ to the more deeper cuts, you’ll be sure to be grooving to more than a few from Toto’s extensive repertoire.”
Drums/Arrangements/Transcriptions/MD;
Max Mills
Vocals;
Helena Debono (Lead vocals)
Decosta Boyce
James Hudson
Francesca Confortini
Guitars;
Ollie Mason (Solo)
Nick Fitch
Keyboards;
Joe Hill
Chris Eldred
Bass;
Jack Tustin
Percussion;
Alex Temple-Heald
Adam Cracknell
Trumpets;
Tom Walsh
Andy Greenwood
Reeds:
Graeme Blevins
Tom Smith
Trombone;
Nichol Thomson
Youtube Channel; https://www.youtube.com/@theblessedrainsthemusicoft7605
Instagram; https://instagram.com/the_blessed_rains?igshid=YTQwZjQ0NmI0OA==
Phil Mulford - Thunderthumbs
Wed 24 January
Booking link https://www.wegottickets.com/event/603068/
Celebrate the rich funk/soul legacy of George Benson, George Duke and Michael Jackson with “Thunderthumbs”, the 10-piece band led by bassist Phil Mulford. Inspired by the great US bassist Louis Johnson’s work the set runs from Louis’ time with Billy Preston in 1972 through to his own band The Brothers Johnson and the Quincy Jones-produced hits on which he played. Featured are three incredible singers, Jacqui Hicks and Debby Bracknell (Shakatak) & Simon Foster (The Flying Pickets), a deeply grooving rhythm section and powerhouse horns.
Jacqui Hicks, Debby Bracknall, Simon Foster-Vocals
Nico Sabatini-Guitar, Geoff Dunn-Drums, Simon Heeley-Keys,Phil Mulford-Bass.
Andy Greenwood-Trumpet, Phil Todd-Saxes, Pat Hartley-Trombone.
'Love X Love' by George Benson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bucpq614TU&list=RD_Bucpq614TU&start_radio=1
Brothers Johnson instrumental Medley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bW0Du8WXjs
"Hicks…a singer of warmth, poise and intelligence” Yorkshire Post; "Foster… like Joe Cocker in Van Morrison’s hat and James Morrison’s socks. Ace!" Karamel Music Club
BANSANGU ORCHESTRA
Wed 31 January
Booking link https://www.wegottickets.com/event/602363/
“This disc shows off their party-loving spirit and punchy arrangements”
— Jane Cornwell for The Evening Standard ★★★★
““This gloriously feel-good album offers irresistibly catchy hooks, a myriad of musical influences handled with an unruffled ease, plus a communicative power that thrills at every turn” — Peter Quinn for The Arts Desk ★★★★
““The music is alive, vibrant and engaging and offers an aural punch that only a great big band can deliver” — Roger Farbey for All About Jazz ★★★★1/2
““Technical mastery and versatility are very much to the fore in this expansive set of recordings” — Eddie Myer for Jazz Views
Line Up:
SAXES:
PAUL BOOTH (MUSICAL DIRECTOR)
SAMMY MAYNE
JASON YARDE
RICHARD BEESLEY
GEMMA MOORE
TRUMPETS:
RYAN QUIGLEY
KEVIN ROBINSON
ANDY GREENWOOD
SHANTI PAUL JAYASINHA
STEVE FISHWICK
TROMBONES:
TREVOR MIRES
BARNABY DICKINSON
ROBBIE HARVEY
MARTIN GLADDISH
RICHARD HENRY
RHYTHM SECTION:
GIORGIO SERCI - guitar/oud
ALEX WILSON - piano
DAVIDE MANTOVANI - electric bass
SATIN SINGH - percussion
EDWIN SANZ - percussion
ROD YOUNGS - drums
TRISTAN BANKS - drums
GUPO LOKITO
Wed 7 February
Booking link https://clients.wegottickets.com/event.php?tick_id=492901
‘THE CONGO MEETS CUBA IN AN EXUBERANT EXPLOSION OF MUSIC’
Grupo Lokito create a modern-day cocktail of two of the great world music genres. Fusing blistering contemporary Congolese grooves with the fire of Cuban music. The results have had audiences dancing in a haze of energy.
SARA McGUINNESS: Keyboard/Vocals
EUGENE MAKUTA vocals
IDDO DONNATELLA vocals
SHYAM SHAH guitar
DAN WALDMAN rhythm guitar
JIMMY MARTINEZ bass
RAPHAEL DELFINO drums
The glorious melodious vocals of Congolese front men Eugene Makuta and Iddo Donnatella blending with soaring guitars courtesy of Kenyan rising star Shama Shah and riding the rhythmic powerhouse team of bassist Jimmy and drummer Ernesto. Since their formation in 2006 the band have gone from strength to strength, completing several UK tours and building a solid following. Their latest release ‘Bomoko’ is out now on vinyl and download.
• Bomoko is a highly accomplished album that gives a great indication of Grupo Lokito's joyous live performance. Martin Sinnock, Songlines April 2023
• ‘Grass roots music played with gusto. Live entertainment at its best.'–Chilli Fiesta
https://grupolokito.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: @grupolokito
Facebook Grupolokito
THE COALMINERS
Mon 14 February
Booking link
Info TBA
SHIRLEY SMART SEXTET
Tuesday 14 November
Booking link:
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CLARA GREEN - Album Launch
Wed 28 February
Booking link
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ALEX SCHEUERER BAND
Wed 6 March
Booking link https://www.wegottickets.com/event/602366/
Line up:
ALEX SCHEUERER: Guitar
NAJWAA EZZAHER: Vocal
MIKE HORNE: Drums
PAUL MICHAEL: Bass
CHRIS JEROME: Piano/Keyboards
GRAEME FLOWERS: Trumpet
CHRIS RAND: Tenor Sax
At the time when neo soul is booming with innovations, guitarist and songwriter Alex Scheuerer is releasing his second album featuring singer Najwa Ezzaher (The Voice). "The French Jukebox", a cover album, pays tribute to the French classics by revisiting them with touches of Neo Soul. A Franco-Swiss musician, Alex Scheuerer was strongly influenced by French chanson, the poetry of which, and evocative nature of its word he particularly appreciates. From Aznavour to Gainsbourg, Johnny and Françoise Hardy, he revisits 10 timeless titles, mixing them with the music he discovered in London, Neo Soul Jazz.
Inspired by artists like jazz pianist Robert Glasper who took similar steps for his album Black Radio or Australian band Hiatus Kaiyote, Alex favoured an ensemble of 7 musicians and recorded the album in the prestigious Eastcote studio where artists like Adèle, Tom Jones, James Arthur, Gossip, or Seal have also recorded.
Revealed to the public in the Voice and the Nouvelle Star, Najwa Ezzaher, masterfully interprets these songs with subtlety and gentleness.
ACT TBC
Wed 13 March
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JIM JAM
Wed 20 March
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JOHN WILLIAMSON QUARTET
Wed 27 March
Booking