PAT THOMAS & KWASHIBU AREA BAND

The legendary Pat Thomas, master of Ghanaian highlife, 'the Golden Voice of Africa', hits The Crescent with the incredible Kwashibu Area Band, ahead of his new album release on Strut Records this Autumn. Massive massive show! Bring your dancing shoes! For fans of Fela & Femi Kuti, Kokoroko, Ebo Taylor and Dele Sosimi.

RICHARD SPAVEN

As a drummer, composer or artist, Richard Spaven is one of the world’s most exciting and genre-defying. His career has seen him play for many of music’s most innovative artists both on stage and in the studio: Jose James, Flying Lotus, The Cinematic Orchestra, Guru’s Jazzmatazz, Gregory Porter to name but a few.

SARATHY KORWAR

In the last few years, we've been fortunate to see a resurgence, and reimagining, of the polyamorous love affair between hip hop, jazz, and radical politics. In the increasingly nightmarish world we're all inhabiting, work of this nature is integral to keep the resisters dancing, shouting, awake. More Arriving, the latest from UK-based drummer/tablaist and composer Sarathy Korwar, is a confrontational, musically far-reaching addition to the revolution music toolkit.

DENNIS ROLLINS' FUNKY-FUNK!

Following 8 years working with Maceo Parker, funky’bone maestro Dennis Rollins debuts his all-new groove outfit ‘FUNKY-FUNK!’ An award-winning ‘bone player and still at the forefront of jazz worldwide, Dennis brings an electrifying band he guarantees will make you move your body! Exploring infectious grooves with sumptuous funky trombone melodies, this band is a must see!

QUENTIN COLLINS SEXTET

As one of the hardest working and in-demand internationally renowned jazz trumpet players in the business, Quentin Collins, has formed an all-star British band for this tour which celebrates the release of this, his latest album. Brought up around the sounds of jazz by a music-loving father, Quentin is established as one of the UK’s top jazz/commercial trumpeters having performed, toured and recorded with a plethora of internationally acclaimed musicians. Here at the NCEM, Quentin celebrates the release of this new collection 'Road Warrior’, a musical depiction of life as a touring musician, which all of these formidable artists know only too well!

SNAKE DAVIS

Breathtaking skill, warm co-operation and witty anarchic banter. BoP invites its audience into a world of tenderness, virtuosity and human frailty with its unique interpretations of evocative songs from Dylan to Dowland are spell-binding.

CYKADA

In the last few years, London has become the centre of the Jazz Renaissance. A new burst of energy and attitude brought by young musicians, equally inspired by the likes of John Coltrane, Pharaoh Sanders or Sun Ra, as well as Madvillain, J Dilla, Flying Lotus and Floating Points, has brought a welcomed freshness to the London Scene. This exciting new environment brought a group of young musicians together, all with a mutual desire to discover a new form of expression. Together they created Cykada.

CLEVELAND WATKISS

It is well known that Jamaica has a long history of pioneering musical sounds - from Mento, Ska, Reggae, Dub, Roots and way beyond with many of its internationally celebrated musicians spawning from that great musical institution (The Alpha Boys School) under the tutelage of (The Nun) Sister Mary Ignatius Davis.  Cleveland Watkiss and his internationally acclaimed band sing the songs of Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Delroy Wilson, and more.