Award-winning and critically acclaimed Polish band EABS has an innovative approach to jazz through the blending of soul, funk, hip-hop, and electro. Playing to full houses all over the world, they seek to breathe fire into jazz, ignoring clichés, exploring, and constantly experimenting.  Many may claim what they do is no longer jazz, but sometimes you have to demolish and rebuild to create something completely new. They have been working on the concept of "reconstruction from deconstruction" since 2012, often redefining the classics and mixing them with the latest genres of contemporary urban music, creating a completely new quality and original sound. The uniqueness of EABS, however, is determined not only by the instrumental mastery and topicality of their language of expression but also by hip-hop provenance and socio-political commitment. In 2017, after the critically acclaimed debut album EABS Repetitions (Letters to Krzysztof Komeda), the band decided to keep the momentum and release two more vinyl records. The first (black), recorded live in Katowice, Repetitions (Letters to Krzysztof Komeda) Live at Jazz Club Hipnoza, and the second (pink), recorded on tape and released on the British label 22a Music, entitled Kraksa/SSvantetic, crowning their work with the so-called “Komeda’s triptych." The third (green) studio album received many great reviews in Poland and abroad and was promoted on many radio stations in Poland and around the world, including Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 6 Music), Thris Tian (Worldwide FM), Lefto (Radio Brussels), and Andrew Jervis (Bandcamp). Since the premiere of their debut album, EABS has played in such prestigious Polish venues as Studio S1 in Warsaw, Shakespeare Theatre in Gdańsk, NFM in Wrocław and  the NOSPR hall in Katowice. They have also performed at numerous international festivals and venues such as KOKO and Ronnie Scott's in London, XJAZZ in Berlin and at such showcase festivals as Eurosonic (Groningen) or the BuSH Festival (Budapest). EABS also played several concerts in China (Xiamen, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen) and South Korea (Seoul, Jarasum Festival). Later, the band also appeared in Hungary, Romania, Austria, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, and Montenegro. Collaborations with British musician Tenderlonious for their Slavic Spirits album and Jaubi, a Lahore-band-produced ‘In Search of a Better Tomorrow'—one o of the highest-rated jazz albums of 2023 according to The Guardian, Bandcamp, Downbeat, Pitchfork, and many others heralded a breakthrough year for EABS in many ways. The record provided the opportunity to tour in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and China. It was praised by media outlets such as Le Monde, L'Echo, Politis, Stern, Bandcamp, and Gazeta Wyborcza, while The Guardian included the release in its 'The Best Global Albums of 2023'. EABS' forthcoming sixth album is a return to their roots – literally and figuratively. It is an in-depth study on rhythm, which materialised in the form of the album titled Reflections of the Purple Sun. The back to the roots part manifests itself not only in the lack of guest instrumentalists but also in a renewed focus on the history of Polish jazz.

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Legendary American funk and soul jazz organist Ronnie Foster recorded his much-sampled Blue Note Records in the 1970s and has gained a cult following with the emergence of acid jazz. After moving to New York City, Ronnie performed as a sideman with a wide range of musicians and frequently worked with guitarist George Benson, Grant Green, Grover Washington, Jr., Stanley Turrentine, Roberta Flack, Earl Klugh, Harvey Mason, Jimmy Smith, and Stevie Wonder. The 2022 return of Ronnie Foster to Blue Note Records is an event of synergistic quintessence, completeness, and cool. The organ great’s dynamic new album, Reboot, arrives upon the 50th anniversary of his 1972 Blue Note debut, Two Headed Freap, which is also being reissued this year as part of the label’s Classic Vinyl Series. The first in a run of five stellar early-70s albums, Two Headed Freap featured Foster’s memorable tune “Mystic Brew,” which would later reach the ears of hip-hop fans around the world when A Tribe Called Quest sampled the track as the foundation of “Electric Relaxation” on their 1994 album Midnight Marauders. Listeners the world over have heard Foster’s soulful playing, whether from his standout performance on “Summer Soft” from Stevie Wonder’s 1976 masterwork Songs In The Key Of Life, best-selling George Benson albums including Breezin’, or A Tribe Called Quest’s classic hip-hop track “Electric Relaxation,” which sampled Foster’s “Mystic Brew” from Two Headed Freap. There’s so much synergy in the circuitry surrounding Ronnie’s return to Blue Note. The master recorded over two days at the fabled Capitol Studio in Hollywood, where he first set foot in 1976, recording the multiplatinum-selling Breezin’ LP (to which he contributed the song “Lady”) as a member of George Benson’s band. “Blue Note has always stood for The Art of Jazz,” Foster marvels. “I grew up on Blue Note, listening to all the greats.” Mightily hoisting the Blue Note organ torch, Ronnie Foster is the last of the Mohicans yet, ever the youngest and oldest man in that room, thanks to the musical osmosis that was poured into him by all of the greats that preceded him and his relentless curious spirit that keeps him giant steps ahead perched, head-bowed, before his sleek, custom hummin’ Hammond XK-5. Ronnie will tour the UK and Europe in the autumn of 2024 with his trio, which features his son Chris Foster on drums and guitarist Michael O’Neill.

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Throughout an international career starting in the late 1980’s, Grammy-winning saxophonist Tim Garland has become known as a unique polymath in the UK’s music scene. His first break as a saxophonist was joining Ronnie Scott's band at age 23. Later he was to join Chick Corea as a regular member of several globe-trotting projects over a seventeen-year period including The Vigil. Playing tenor and soprano saxes, bass clarinet, and flute, he also won a Grammy for his symphonic orchestrations on Corea’s “The New Crystal Silence” album from 2007. Garland has fulfilled commissions from several of the world's top orchestras, including a double concerto from the LSO, a piano concerto for Gwilym Simcock from The Royal Northern Sinfonia, with whom he went on to record three CDs, a cello and sax concerto from the CBSO, and a sax concerto from the BBC Concert Orchestra. His concert works continue to celebrate the fertile ground between modern composition and jazz. His creative arranging skills have won much praise from such diverse artists as Jean Luc Ponty, John Patitucci, The Royal Holloway and Westminster Choirs, the Catalan National Cobla Group, the LPO, the London Session Orchestra, NYJO as well as Chick Corea. His work is often inspired by, but not limited to, the jazz idiom, whilst his celebrated virtuosity as a saxophonist maintains his position as one of the UK’s most unique and authentic jazz voices. In 2016 he premiered “Re: Focus” (a reimagining of the Getz /Sauter project of 1962 ‘Focus’) to a full house at London’s Wigmore Hall, which in 2020 has been released for public purchase. “Luca’s Winter”, a 100-minute work for big band, was performed at Manchester’s Royal Northern College Of Music (where he held an international post as a research fellow) in which he acted as conductor and narrator. As a band leader and co-leader, he is responsible for much of the output of the groups; Lammas, The Underground Orchestra, Storms / Nocturnes (feat. Joe Locke and Geoffrey Keezer), Acoustic Triangle, the last few years of Bill Bruford’s Earthworks, and Lighthouse, (feat; Gwilym Simcock and Asaf Sirkis). He has won awards and nominations from The Parliamentary Jazz Awards, The Worshipful Company Of Musicians, BASCA’s British Composer Awards, and won CD of the year in 2016 from Jazzwise for his album ONE.

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London-born, US-based bass player and record producer Janek Gwizdala is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after jazz bassists of our time. Janek has been on the international music scene for over twenty years, touring as a band leader and working as a musical director or sideman with some of the most respected names in the industry. These include Randy Brecker, Mike Stern, Carlos Santana, Hiram Bullock, John Mayer, Airto Moreira, Chuck Loeb, Peter Erskine, Flora Purim, Pat Metheny, Eric Marienthal, Billy Cobham, Chad Wackerman, Bob James, John Patitucci, Rick Margitza, Bob Mintzer, Bob Reynolds, Mitch Forman, Bob Sheppard, Mark Turner, Tosin Abasi, Aaron Parks, Marcus Miller, Jojo Mayer, Paul Shafer, Delta Goodrem, Adam Rogers, Gregoire Maret, Clarence Penn, Gretchen Parlato, Horacio El Negro Hernandez, Donny McCaslin, Lenny Castro, Kazumi Watanabe, Brandon Fields, Mark Guiliana, Ronny Jordan, Luis Conte, Dennis Chambers, Lionel Loueke, Kenny Werner, Eric Harland, Steve Smith, Vital Information, Benny Greb, Kenwood Dennard, and Wayne Krantz. As a recording artist, Janek has released twelve albums as a band leader; as an author, has published thirteen critically acclaimed books; and has toured the world extensively as both a musician and a lecturer & clinician at the world’s leading educational establishments. In addition to live appearances with The Janek Gwizdala Trio, which includes pianist Tom Cawley (Peter Gabriel, Trudy Kerr, Acoustic Ladyland) and drummer Cliff Almond (Patti Labelle, Chris Potter, Michel Camilo, Tito Puente, Wayne Krantz, Eddie Palmieri, Chuck Loeb, Tom Scott, Michael Brecker), Janek will be performing internationally in projects with Bob Reynolds and Steve Smith throughout the rest of 2023. . Janek will undoubtedly have a stellar year in 2023, appearing at the world's leading festivals and clubs, both with his own projects and alongside other celebrated artists. STOP PRESS: The European November 2023 tour will include the launch of the trio’s new album (Working title; TIME & SOUND), which will be recorded in August during their South American Tour in Chile, Montevideo and Buenos Aires. “There is no limit to how epic this project could become between now and the recording sessions. Conceptually I’m writing far more music this time around, and plan to orchestrate elements of the album with two of my big compositional loves: choir and strings” (Janek Gwizdala) Early booking is advised!

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Exceptional pianist/composer and long-term Kyle Eastwood Band member Andrew McCormack has built a diverse international career with many appearances at major festivals and concert halls all over the globe. His latest trio album, 'Terra Firma,' was released in October 2022, with highly successful follow-up UK and Europe tours in 2023. The first single received a positive response, with over 150k streams in the first month alone, and Jazz FM's Dinner Jazz show naming 'Fragile' their track of the week. A new album entitled 'Luminosity' will be released in Spring 2025.  Andrew has toured, recorded and collaborated with an impressive array of internationally established musicians, including Randy Brecker, Quincy Jones, Jamie Cullum, Jean Toussaint, Jason Yarde and most recently Kyle Eastwood, which has seen him contribute to the scores and orchestrations of several Clint Eastwood films. As a leader, his debut album Telescope in 2005 received universal acclaim and earned him a BBC jazz award for rising star the following year, with the pianist later returning to the trio format with a series of critically acclaimed albums including Live In London in 2012 and First Light in 2014. The latter includes a New York rhythm section as evidence of his three-year stay in the city. The pianist teamed up with composer/saxophonist Jason Yarde to form the McCormack & Yarde Duo with their first album release together, MY DUO in 2009. The duo has since gone on to firmly establish itself with international tours and further album releases that have garnered widespread critical recognition for their developments in the genre. Places And Other Spaces was released in 2011 and they followed up in 2013 to feature the Elysian String Quartet on the eclectic, Juntos. In 2020, he released SOLO to across-the-board 4/5 star reviews, adding another strength to his already diverse portfolio. Using a mixture of originals, standard and not-so-standard repertoire, the pianist demonstrates his compelling ideas, composing, and thrilling performances in the stripped-down intimate setting of solo piano. Andrew McCormack has consistently demonstrated a compelling setting for his musical ideas, a platform for virtuosic improvisation, and a constant revivifying and adaptive embodiment of the jazz tradition. Award-winning UK saxophonist Denys Baptiste joined Andrew's trio as a special guest for a series of live shows in 2023, recapturing some of the magic of Denys' epic "Let Freedom Ring" project and his ‘Be where you are’ album, which won two of the UK music industry's most prestigious awards in 1999: a Mercury Music Prize Award for An Album Of The Year plus the MOBO Award for Best Jazz Act. Andrew will perform a run of shows with his trio in 2024/25 with Kyle Eastwood as special guest and a UK/European tour in 2025 to support his new album entitled Luminosity.

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Legendary multi-Grammy and Emmy award-winning bassist Robert Hurst has a career spanning more than 30 years. He has played a key role in the music of artists including Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, Harry Connick Jr., Terence Blanchard, Tony Williams, Nicholas Payton, Sting, Carl Allen, and the legendary Pharaoh Sanders. Currently on stage with Ravi Coltrane, Orrin Evans, Chris Davis, and Diana Krall, Robert is also a highly respected and well-recognized composer, having produced seven acclaimed albums as a leader as well as composing for and appearing on over 30 major motion film and video soundtracks, including “Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve, and Thirteen” and “Good Night and Good Luck.” You may also recognize Robert Hurst as the inaugural bassist in the house band of “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno for eight seasons, from 1992 to 1999. In late 2024, Robert's 'BeBob' Records will release an archival studio recording of the "This That and the Third" project with Robert, Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, and Jeff "Tain" Watts. To continue this project, 30 years on, Robert returns to the studio to record new music with the quartet, adding renowned pianist Orrin Evans, with the album set for release in early 2025 and touring the USA and Europe soon after. As a recording musician and producer, Robert has contributed as a performer and/or producer on over 250 diverse and critically acclaimed recordings. A select group of these productions have garnered seven GRAMMY® Awards, several RIAA ® certified-Multi-Platinum and Gold recordings, while his own seven recordings as a Bandleader have all generated Top Ten and Five Star recognition around the Globe. In addition to his work as a performer, Robert is also a highly respected and well-recognized composer, having produced seven acclaimed albums as a leader as well as composing the original music scores for several films, including: “The Wood”- MTV/Paramount Productions, “Brown Sugar”- Fox Films. Hurst appears on over 30 Major Motion Film & Video Soundtracks and has featured solos and performances captured on Blockbusters: “Ocean’s Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen,” and “Good Night, and Good Luck,” the soundtrack featuring Dianne Reeves. You may also recognize Robert Hurst as the inaugural bassist in the house band of “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno for eight seasons, from 1992 to 1999. His work in performing, directing, arranging, and composing on the NBC program was highlighted with four EMMY® Awards in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1999. Universally recognized as an authoritative presence in today's industry, Robert's reach of influence has led to his position on the ISIM Advisory Council and since 2002, serving on the Board of Directors for The John and Alice Coltrane Foundation. As an educator, Robert currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Music, with Tenure, and the Director of Small Jazz Ensembles in the Department of Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation at the University of Michigan’s School of Music, Theatre & Dance in Ann Arbor. Keen to maintain agency of his recorded music and with a strong desire to curate music of the next generation, Robert established his own label, BeBob Records, which will be fully launched internationally in 2024. Not only serving as a vehicle for his current recording projects, in the summer of this year, BeBob Records will release a number of archival recordings, including among others, a trio album, featuring Elvin Jones and Kenny Kirkland. Robert also has a number of recordings featuring new music for his current projects in production and set for release over the next 12 months. Robert's current projects include "Black Current Jam," an eclectic project at the intersection of jazz and beyond, a Duo and Trio project featuring pianist Ian Finkelstein and drummer Karriem Riggins, continuing the D3 tradition that featured the late iconic pianist Geri Allen. In late 2024, BeBob Records will release an archival studio recording of the 'This That and the Third' project featuring Branford Marsalis, Kenny Kirkland, and Jeff "Tain" Watts. To continue this project, 30 years on, Robert returns to the studio to record new music with this quartet adding in Orrin Evans with the album set for release in early 2025. This Quartet will be touring the USA and Europe in 2025.

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The Grainger Brothers’ talent and prowess in the world of music and rhythm are unparalleled. Between the two of them, Gary Grainger on bass and Greg on drums have recorded or performed with the likes of Whitney Houston, Earth Wind & Fire, Lonnie Liston Smith, John Schofield, Maysa, Pure Soul, Mike Stern, Bill Evans, Robben Ford, Nancy Wilson, Dennis Chambers, George Duke, Eric Marienthal, Slim Man, Bill Evans and Nelson Rangell to name but a few, which in part explains why they are so damn good! Additionally, Gary created the seminal ‘Pick Hits Live’ and ‘In the Pocket’ video series with Dennis Chambers and together they created the iconic bass and drum grooves from the two albums, Blue Matter and Loud Jazz with John Schofield. There’s a certain musical chemistry that develops between great musicians who play together all the time. The Graingers have been playing together all their lives, and the chemistry they have developed is simply astounding. This is why the Grainger brothers have become one of the most sought after and respected rhythm sections in the world. Growing up in a musical family in Baltimore, MD they have been collaborating and playing together for over four decades, as well as lending their musical talents to numerous world class musicians and building a reputation as the best of the best among both fans and fellow musicians. Their live shows are spectacular, appealing to both audiences who just want to dance the night away and those who appreciate the incredible musicality of the groups they play in. As well as lending their talents to other people’s projects as session musicians, they have also released two highly acclaimed albums, Phase I and Phase II, featuring their signature sound of tight grooves, funky licks and catchy melodies. Following the release of Phase I and Phase II, Grainger has just released Phase III on GBM Records to critical acclaim. The album features guest appearances by Kim Waters and Grammy nominated Jazz pianist Jim Beard, as well as the radio hits “You Never” and “Watch Me Now”. The purpose of their workshop is to demonstrate the key elements of playing together as a rhythm section, with a key focus on the lock between the drummer and bassists. They will demonstrate their approach to different time signatures and various grooves will be demonstrated and explained. Greg and Gary will both explain and discuss the importance of their respective instruments and the role they play in music performance. They will explain in detail how they approach their music and look at the key role and significance of listening to and interacting with other musicians in a group setting. They will also talk about their individual instruments, give a brief history, and explain why they use the brands they currently use. Greg and Gary will then play various songs and have a question-and-answer session with audience members in what is guaranteed to be a lively and entertaining class with two of the US’s most respected performers.

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Tommy Smith, OBE is one of the world’s leading saxophonists.  A presence on the global jazz scene since his teenage years, when he toured internationally with vibes virtuoso Gary Burton’s Whiz Kids quintet, Smith has gone on to record with the definitive jazz label, Blue Note and work with myriad jazz greats, including Chick Corea, Jaco Pastorius, Dame Cleo Laine, John Scofield, Randy Brecker, Jack DeJohnette, Arild Andersen, Dizzy Gillespie and Trilok Gurtu to name but a few. Since leaving Berklee College of Music, an experience that shaped his affirmative approach to jazz, he has recorded over thirty solo albums for Blue Note, Linn, ECM and his own Spartacus Record label, toured 50+ countries and performed with many influential figures in modern twentieth-century jazz.  Tommy’s current live projects include spectacular solo acoustic concerts in churches and cathedrals, where he performs a repertoire of jazz ballads, folk tunes, classical themes and Gregorian chants, combined with lively conversation with the audience. His KARMA project with keyboardist Steve Hamilton, six-string bass guitar sensation Kevin Glasgow and jet-powered drummer Alyn Cosker will be back in action for 2024. His excellent duos with pianists Gwilym Simcock, Pete Johnstone and Makoto Ozone, whom Tommy first met as members of Gary Burton’s quartet in the 1980s, perform at festivals worldwide and his Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) is available for larger festivals and events both at home and abroad. Tommy is also available as part of a trio with Norwegian bassist Arild Andersen and drummer Thomas Strønen, which has performed at a number of international festivals, including the North Sea Jazz Festival. Although he is primarily a jazz composer, noted for assertive large-scale pieces such as Torah, World of the Gods, Spirit of Light and Beauty and the Beast, Smith’s work has frequently taken him into other spheres such as classical composition and poetry. He released his symphonic work Modern Jacobite, recorded in Glasgow with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and worked extensively with Glasgow’s inaugural poet laureate, Edwin Morgan to create 55 works of poetry and music. Tommy is founder of the SNJO and Head of Jazz and Professor at Scotland’s Royal Conservatoire. In 2019, he received an Order of the British Empire from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh and in addition to his BBC Heart of Jazz Award, he received two Parliamentary Jazz Awards, and nine Scottish Jazz Awards.

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Grammy-winning guitar virtuoso Frank Gambale coming soon to Funkgurus.

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Miles Gilderdale is a Grammy nominated writer, Gibson Guitarist of the Year and member of 'Acoustic Alchemy', the multi-million selling, triple Grammy nominated smooth jazz band. Dynamic front man Miles is only truly at home when playing to a crowd and has worked on stage with artists as diverse as Ben E. King, Ronnie Wood and Jools Holland, as well as performing live on Radio One broadcasts and numerous TV shows. In 1996, Miles became a member of Acoustic Alchemy and has collaborated on seven releases, including 2001's Grammy nominated AArt. Additionally Miles is a member of renowned funk band G-FUNK alongside the legendary Gary and Greg Grainger on bass & drums. The Grainger Brothers’ talent and prowess in the world of music and rhythm is unparalleled with their live & studio work connecting them to the likes of Whitney Houston, John Scofield and Earth Wind and Fire to name a few. G-FUNK shows are sell outs at every venue – including their annual Christmas residency at London Soho’s exclusive Pizza Express Jazz Club, which often sees them feature special guests such as Jessy J, Jeff Kashiwa and Chris 'Snake' Davis to name but a few. A seasoned guitarist and performer, Miles first became known in the UK and Europe to audiences in the 1980s as the lead singer and guitarist in UK soul band Zoot and the Roots, which also included the sax player Snake Davis. Gigs with soul legends such as Ben E King and Curtis Mayfield followed. 25 years and several albums later, Miles is still with 'Acoustic Alchemy' and enjoying every minute of it. Over the years Miles and his chums have worked with Acoustic Alchemy, Ben E. King, Ronnie Wood, Jools Holland, Whitney Houston, Earth Wind & Fire, Lonnie Liston Smith, John Schofield, Maysa, Pure Soul, Nancy Wilson, Dennis Chambers, George Duke, Eric Marienthal, Slim Man, and Nelson Rangell to name but a few, which in part explains why they are so damn good! Miles is available for festival & club bookings either as a solo performer, with G*FUNK or with award winning Grammy nominated smooth jazz stars 'Acoustic Alchemy'.

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Cédric Hanriot is a pianist, composer, arranger, sound designer and music producer. Winner of prestigious scholarships and international awards, Cédric is known worldwide for his collaborations with Herbie Hancock, Terri Lyne Carrington, Donny McClaslin, and other prominent names in the jazz world. He served as pianist and sound designer on Dianne Reeves’s album Beautiful Life alongside Robert Glasper and Esperanza Spalding, which won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album in 2015 and is currently Grammy nominated for his work in 2023 with Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-nominated vocalist and composer Maria Mendes, with whom he has played for 5 years, touring alongside John Beasley and the Metropole Orchestra. In 2022 Cedric released Time is Color, a surprisingly powerful hip-hop/jazz album, which he toured at concerts in France (Jazz à Vienne, Jazz in Marciac, Marly Jazz Festival, Festival Puy En Velay, la Gare/le Gore, Sunside, Conservatoire de Malakoff, les Trinitaires, Lavoir Théâtre, le Solar), Eastern Europe (Poland, Macedonia, Romania, Greece) and across Europe (England, Scotland, Germany, Luxembourg) as well as a tour in Mexico. Further tours are planned for 2024 in China, South America, Africa, India and the UK to launch Time is Color Volume 2. With Time is Color, the second album under his own name, Cédric Hanriot engaged in a living creation that is resolutely personal - a powerful mixture of jazz, hip-hop, and urban music which has been the subject of several glowing reviews (Le Monde, Blues and Soul Magazine, The Jazz Shows with Jamie Cullum, among others). The album was quickly voted CHOC by Jazz Magazine, '5-stars' by BBC Magazine, and ranked among the 'ten best albums of the year 2022' by the English magazine MOJO. Cédric Hanriot aims to consider and approach crossovers differently because he is curious, drawn to surprising combinations, and fond of new openings. To breathe freshness into his creations, he draws inspiration from great classical composers (Fauré, Ravel, Messiaen, Chopin), but he also draws equally from electronic music, hip-hop (Common, Kendrick Lamar), neo-soul (Angelo, Erykah Badu), and pop, all while linking it to his profound jazz identity (Bud Powell, Errol Garner, George Duke, Brad Mehldau). Cedric also performs his French Stories album with John Patitucci and Terri Lyne Carrington - acoustic jazz performing songs from Chanson Française, and a tribute to Gabriel Fauré with Jimmie Herrod. This project is a classical jazz crossover of piano and voice, performing songs from Gabriel Fauré and will tour in the US in early April. Funkgurus are delighted to represent Cédric Hanriot internationally for 2024/25 with very special guest Soweto Kinch.

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Linn recording artist Claire Martin has to worldwide critical acclaim, established herself as a tour de force on the UK jazz scene gaining many awards, including winning the British Jazz Awards eight times during her career which spans over three decades. In 2018 she was the proud recipient of the BASCA Gold Badge Award for her contribution to jazz. Claire became a professional singer at 19 and two years later realised her dream of singing at Ronnie Scott’s legendary jazz club in London Soho. Signed to the prestigious Glasgow based Linn Records in 1990, Claire has since released 18 CDs with the label, collaborating with musical luminaries including Martin Taylor, John Martyn, Stephane Grappelli, Kenny Barron, Richard Rodney Bennett and Jim Mullen on many of these recordings. Claire has performed worldwide with her trio and, until his death in 2012, worked extensively with the celebrated composer and pianist Sir Richard Rodney Bennett in a cabaret duo setting both in England and the US where they played to sell-out houses at venues including the prestigious Algonquin Hotel in New York City. Claire will release her new album ‘I Watch You Sleep’ which is a collaboration with the American conductor and pianist Scott Dunn and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in March 2023. On this they pay homage to their dear friend Sir Richard by recording his songs alongside songs that Richard loved to perform. Claire will also be performing with her trio of Rob Barron on piano, Jeremy Brown on bass and Mark Taylor on drums recreating the songs from the album and touring the UK throughout the year. Claire appears as a featured soloist with the Halle Orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the RTE Concert Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, the BBC Big Band and the BBC Concert Orchestra. Claire co-presented BBC Radio 3’s flagship jazz program ‘Jazz Line Up’ from 2000 to 2017 and interviewed many of her musical heroes such as Pat Metheny and the late Michael Brecker. At the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2011 Claire was delighted to be awarded an OBE for her Services to Jazz. Claire was thrilled to win both the 2009 and 2010 ‘Best Vocalist’ category at the British Jazz Awards and toured extensively throughout the UK, Scandinavia, Russia and China, appearing with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and her world-class trio. Claire’s live projects for 2025 include;- The continuation of her 2024 tour of Europe with her accomplished Swedish trio, led by the exceptional pianist and arranger Martin Sjöstedt, for their latest collaborative endeavor - 'Almost in Your Arms' (Stunt Records). Uppsala-born pianist/arranger Martin Sjöstedt leads the trio comprising bassist Niklas Fernqvist and drummer Daniel Fredriksson. Sjöstedt, one of Sweden’s most gifted and talked about jazz musicians, has created imaginative new arrangements of contemporary material exclusively for this exciting project. iG4 is a new intergenerational band of four of the UK's finest jazz talent sharing their love of great songs and composers. Vocalist Claire Martin OBE joins multi-award-winning pianist and composer Nikki Iles, much-in-demand saxophonist Karen Sharp, and rising star bassist Ewan Hastie, who won the BBC's Young Jazz Musician of the Year in 2022. Brand new arrangements written for this project by Nikki will shine a light on classic repertoire from Tom Waits to Burch Bacharach, Anthony Newly, and Joni Mitchell, as well as stylish reworkings from the great writers of the American songbook, including Cole Porter and Johnny Mandel. Claire also continues to team up with the legendary Scottish guitarist Jim Mullen for an intimate night of great American songbook classics and other lesser-known gems. Joined by in-demand bassist Adam King offering a swinging and soulful night of classic songs celebrating songwriters from Cole Porter to Donald Fagan. Claire's Duo with Ian Shaw - 'A Century Of Song' brings these two award-winning jazz singers together after their initial meeting over 25 years ago. Alongside their highly successful solo careers, they have forged a musical partnership that has performed from New York to Vietnam and celebrates a hundred years of popular song - from the songs of hope written during The First World War to the American Songbook and Beatles, Bowie and Joni Mitchell. With just Ian's piano as accompaniment, this will be a musical evening to be remembered for a long time.

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Ex-Brand New Heavies soul singer Dawn Joseph is a celebrated and consummate performer, songwriter, and producer. Dawn is known to festival audiences across the world from her time as the lead vocalist for incredible soul-funk stars The Brand New Heavies and more recently with her own super-soulful and stylish band, which features some of the best musicians from across Denmark. They have recently released a single, ‘Free to Love’ with the follow-up EP 'Imitation Love' going straight into the 'UK Official Soul Chart' at No1. Since signing her first publishing deal in 2000 with Sony, Dawn has gone on to write several songs for well-established pop acts and has been increasingly in demand as a session musician, bass player, and guitarist. Her work as a backing singer has placed her on stage with Phil Collins, Michael McDonald, Kylie Minogue, and Craig David, to name but a few artists. Her recent projects have seen her work with Ellie Goulding, Cee Lo Green, and Spandau Ballet. Dawn has shared the stage with many great singers, such as Michael McDonald, Bette Midler, Rod Stewart, and, for the last 10 years, Rick Astley. She continues to be inspired, discovering new and old music and never fails to entertain with her vibrant personality and fabulously funky sound. Dawn's' solo project band performs a mix of her original music and a tribute to the greatest soul-funk-Motown musicians, like Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, and Donna Summer, to mention a few, making it ideal for fun-loving festival audiences and live music venues. "Delightfully contagious," Dawn Joseph is available for international bookings of her solo projects through Funkgurus Artist Management. Main photograph courtesy of Johnny Ekelund Jensen - Jj_foto_vejle_music

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Critically acclaimed jazz/funk ensemble OUTPUT / INPUT was born when Chaka Khan Alumni joined forces with Triple H Horns. Since then, the group has called on the services of some incredible musicians from across the globe. The band plays a superb selection of soul and funk classics and features some of the industry’s best-known vocalists, such as Audrey Wheeler-Downing, Tower of Power lead vocalist Brent Carter and legendary Average White Band frontman Hamish Stuart. With a steady stream of high-quality studio recordings, including "Here We Go Again," recorded for their new label Expansion Records and currently #1 on the UK soul chart and Amazon R&B charts, and "Soul Deep," an original release featuring Hamish Stuart, Output / Input are now ready to showcase their superb musicianship to live audiences. Output/Input was formed during lockdown by Melvin Lee Davis, a Californian native and a skilled master bassist, composer, producer, and educator who is in high demand and is also Music Director for the "Queen of Funk," Chaka Khan. He has worked with, toured with, and recorded with some of the music industry’s most distinguished artists, including Lee Ritenour, George Duke, Gerald Albright, David Benoit, The Russ Freeman Project, Jeff Kashiwa, Diane Schurr, Will Downing, Lalah Hathaway, Patti Austin, Ledisi, and Angie Stone. Davis is also one of two writers of "Soul Train’s A Comin’ for Don Cornelius’ weekly television show "Soul Train". Nick Mead (trumpet), Jacob Shaw (saxophone) and Patrick Hayes (trombone), are also founding members, known as Triple H Horns which is in demand as a horn section for artists, composers and producers worldwide: They have worked with Chaka Khan, Christina Aguilera, Chromeo, Disciples, A-Trak, Dave Taylor, Switch, Sarah Ruba, FKJ, Sir Tom Jones, James Arthur, John Newman, JP Cooper, Tyler Bates, Joe Hertz, Jamie Woon, V Festival, Netflix, ITV Studios, BBC TV, BBC Radio Live Lounge, Channel 4, and many other artists and companies. The ensemble is completed by members Jay Williams on drums (Dave Koz, Chaka Khan, Marcus Miller), Adam Kovacs on percussion (Anastacia, Beverley Knight, Ladysmith Black Mambazo), Kanghyun Bu on guitar, Daeun Kim on keyboards and Jesse Milliner on keyboards (Dave Grusin, Lee Ritenour, Chaka Khan). Funkgurus are delighted to represent Output / Input to bookers looking for flawless musicianship and crowd-pleasing live music delivered by consummate professionals.

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Junius Bervine is a platinum-selling producer - currently MD for Pharrell and COMMON and a born and bred Philly artist who has traveled the world with some of the industry’s biggest artists spreading his talent and love for music along the way. June has worked with Prince, P Diddy, Snoop Dog, Lauryn Hill, Gerald Levert, Common, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Jill Scott, D’Angelo, to name a few, and remains one of the most sought after producer/performers in the industry. Kicking off 2024 with his amazing new band, solo projects and projects with Lauren Hill for her upcoming tour of The Middle East, June is truly a world-class musician in every sense. As a solo performer at the grand piano, he will take you on a journey through the best, Jazz, Soul and RnB music ever produced – some of which he did! Funky classic RnB loops and grooves sit comfortably underneath his tasteful piano playing. 2021 saw the release of June’s album Logical Concepts, with the track Fire in the Streets featuring both US rap stars @common and @robynhoodmusic. His new band features tasteful female vocals over cool grooves, slick sounds and mixes all MOBO styles together in one delicious package, perfect for jazz clubs and festivals across the globe. June's production services are also available for international projects so you too can give your music a 'Philly' twist and gain a head start on your promotion. Anyone he doesn't know in this genre in Philadelphia is probably not worth knowing and he can assist in finding suitable guest performers for your records. On his most recent album, he collaborated with COMMON, Robyn Hood, and James Poyser (Roots). He was in D'Angelo's band with Questlove, and his current bandmates from Pharrell Williams, COMMON, LL Cool J, and others are all available for sessions if that's the road you end up choosing. Please use the inquiry form below to tell us more about your project Altogether, outstanding performances from a true giant of the US RnB scene. It really doesn’t get any better than this.

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