With so much negativity, uncertainty and division in the world right now, it’s time to focus our minds on the positive things that unite us – the things we all have in common but we seem to have stopped talking about.
Worcester-based promoter Music Spoken Here is celebrating contemporary, progressive UK music in a series of shows that shine the spotlight on drummers – the ones who, while often in the background, rule from a different kind of “throne” and keep everyone moving forward together. The series, named “Up!Beat”, takes place between January and March at The Marr’s Bar in Worcester and showcases a diverse array of drummers as bandleaders.
Admission to all events in the series is free for Music Spoken Here Club Members and non-members can “pay what you can” on the door (subject to availability). For more information head over to the Music Spoken Here website
Jas Kayser & Chums – Thursday 23rd January
A fiery young 5-piece combining jazz, Afrobeat and Latin rhythms
In 2021, Jas won the Parliamentary Jazz Newcomer of the Year and Jazz FM Breakthrough Act of the Year awards. In 2022 she followed up her 2020 debut EP ‘Unforced Rhythm of Grace’ with ‘5ive from Jas Kayser’ on the Jazz re:freshed label.
She has featured with leading artists including Jorja Smith, Alfa Mist, Nubia Garcia and Shabaka Hutchings, most recently joining Lenny Kravitz on his 2024 Blue Electric Light tour, which will finished it’s South American leg in December, resuming in Europe from February.
Impossible Conversations – Thursday 13th February
The next generation making their mark on the West Midlands jazz continuum
Impossible Conversations are five lads from Birmingham making their mark on the contemporary jazz world. Led by drummer Louis Hamilton-Foad (son of guitarist Paul Foad and grandson of the late saxophonist Andy Hamilton), each of these young musicians bring their unique musical background and a combined love of jazz to create a sound that is both familiar, fresh and truly special with every performance. The band are already getting some great gigs around the West Midlands and played Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival in 2024.
Romarna Campbell’s Chaos Trio – Thursday 27th February
Jazz and hip-hop infused consciousness from an astoundingly creative drummer and her trio
Romarna Campbell is an irrepressible force for good in music and in life. An Olivier Award-winning composer, drummer, and music educator, Romarna hails from Birmingham and is now based in London. In 2020 she self-released “25 Songs For My 25th Birthday” which she co-wrote, co-arranged, and co-performed with Soweto Kinch, Tomeka Reid, Sumi Tonooka, and Lady Sanity, among others. Her single “Inherently Political” is a super-charged sonic assault on racism, released in the same year.
Romarna’s mission is to create music that reflects our current reality with artistic integrity, inspiring the next generation, especially those from diverse socioeconomic, racial, and gender backgrounds, to find opportunities and solutions to follow a similar path.
Lekan Babalola’s Sacred Funk 4tet – Thursday 13th March
Western jazz melodies and structures blended with Ghanaian and Nigerian dance band styles and traditions, embracing a musical culture which dates back centuries
Lekan Babalola is a two-time Grammy Award-winning musician, film director, and conceptual artist with over 40 years in the arts. Awarded his first Grammy in 2006 for performances on the late Ali Farka Toure’s album ‘In the Heart of the Moon’, he was awarded a second at the 49th Grammy awards in 2008 for his work on the American jazz diva Cassandra Wilson’s album ‘Loverly’. Lekan started his career playing in the Yoruba Christian Church owned by his father. As custodians of Yoruba tradition his family taught him first hand Yoruba art and culture and this has influenced all his work. He also received a cultural and political apprenticeship from the late Fela Kuti.