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Nérija – London’s jazz all-star collective – release debut album ‘Blume’
Nerija features some of the top players in London’s rising jazz scene. Every member of the band has its own side project: Nubya Garcia (Nubiya’s 5ive, Maisha), Sheila Maurice-Grey (Kokoroko), Cassie Kinoshi (SEED Ensemble, Kokoroko), Rosie Turton (Rosie’s 5ive), Shirley Tetteh (Maisha), Lizy Exell (drums) and Rio Kai (SEED Ensemble). Nerija is based on friendship and there is enough room within the band for each musician to demonstrate their skills and musical ideas Some of the tracks have been written collectively, but each member of Nerija brings one own song showing different influences from afrobeat, hip hop to even gospel. Nérija is a collective whose breakneck shifts in tempo and style…
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Seed Ensemble’s debut album ‘Driftglass’ shortlisted for the Mercury Prize Album Of The Year 2019
SEED Ensemble’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘Driftglass’ was few days ago shortlisted for the prestigious 2019 Hyundai Mercury Prize Albums of the Year. Released earlier this year via contemporary music/arts movement and record label jazz re:freshed, the ten-piece collective is led by composer, arranger and alto saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi. On her nomination Kinoshi proudly added, “I am extremely honoured to have been shortlisted for a Mercury Prize. Thank you for your belief in both mine and my bands’ work. It means a lot to have our first release celebrated and share our message with you.” Across ‘Driftglass’, Kinoshi embraces styles both past and present to create something that we can…
