8 Tracks: Of Jazz, Soul, Afrobeat And More To Look Out For At Field Day 2018

Ezra Collective:

Ezra Collective’s superhuman musicianship nods to a background of tireless jazz study, whilst collectively repainting these influences in the service of something encompassing afrobeat, hip hop and more. Described by Boiler Room as “pioneering the new-wave of U.K. jazz” and winning Best Jazz Album at Gilles Peterson’s esteemed Worldwide awards in January 2018 for ‘Juan Pablo: The Philosopher’, their Friday night set will for some serve as Field Day’s most essential offering for jazz fans. Whilst not strictly a track, their Boiler Room session deftly demonstrates what all the fuss is about.

The Comet Is Coming:

Previously described by Ransom Note as “Sun Ra’s current representatives on Earth”, The Comet Is Coming grace Brockwell Park on Field Day’s Friday night. Frankly, though, even that comparison doesn’t quite illustrate the breadth of what the trio are capable of. It’s jazz with the psychedelia and the drone ramped up to 11, matched only be the ferocity of its grooves. Rather than pride themselves on the gentle push and pull of rhythm section and soloist, The Comet Is Coming compete between synth, sax and drums for the spotlight, whilst inexplicably coordinating perfectly.

Moses Boyd Exodus:

After winning The John Peel Play More Jazz Award from the 2016 Gilles Peterson Worldwide Awards, the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Jazz Newcomer of the Year 2016, a MOBO award for best jazz act 2015, two Jazz FM awards and the Worshipful Company of Musicians’ Young Jazz Musician award in 2014, drummer Moses Boyd needs next to no introduction by this point. With his talent matched only by his demand, he’s been part of London’s new jazz movement since the very beginning, being called upon by an ever-expanding list of players – some of whom also feature on this list – in need of an impeccable rhythmic foundation. His Friday night set with his band Exodus is an essential. Catch him while you can.

Nubya Garcia:

Steadily cementing herself as one of the small handful of key players in the Brownswood-championed jazz scene bubbling in South London currently, Garcia will play the MOTH Club/It’s Nice That stage on Field Day’s Friday. Performing with everyone from Congo Natty to the Outlook Orchestra and boasting an undying penchant for collaboration, her skill on the saxophone was recently exhibited in ‘Once’ – her contribution Brownswood’s ‘We Out Here’ compilation – to a seemingly endless stream of plaudits from The Vinyl Factory to The Guardian.

Wu-Lu:

The Brixton-based producer calls upon a cross-pollination of influences when concocting his singular blend of beats, neo-soul and lo-fi psychedelia. Away from home, the also gifted bassist’s production credits are far-reaching and impressive, and go further in establishing what he’s all about, boasting work for and with Brainfeeder’s Ras G, Andrew Ashong and Ego Ella-May. The Friday night’s live performance will provide a rare insight into the fertile mind of this elusive talent.

Tomorrow’s Warriors Female Frontline:

The utterly vital Tomorrow’s Warriors describe themselves as “a London-based non-profit organisation established in 1991 to address the lack of racial, cultural and gender diversity in the UK music mainstream, make it more reflective of the society in which we live and, as far as possible, level the playing field.” They’ve helped kickstart the careers Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Zara McFarlane and those are just other artists who feature on this list. The Female Frontline is one of their flagship ensembles, led by saxophonist Aleksandra Topczewska under the tutelage of Gary Crosby OBE, expect a far-reaching assortment of standards, funk and contemporary takes on classics, all delivered impeccably on the Friday night.

Zara McFarlane:

Described by Boiler Room as “Brownswood’s Jazz Queen”, her soaring voice speaks for itself as it guides a sound that transcends genre while drawing from jazz and the sounds of Jamaica: reggae, cumina and calypso. Following the release of her Moses Boyd-produced third album ‘Arise’, McFarlane won Jazz FM’s Vocalist of the Year Award at the start of 2018, which further guarantees that her Friday performance on the MOTH Club/It’s Nice That stage will be a festival highlight.

Yazmin Lacey:

After initially turning heads via the Brownswood Future Bubblers project, Yazmin Lacey has come miles since her years on Nottingham’s open mic and acoustic circuit. With a style that hints at a love of jazz as strong as her love of soul, and bolstered by a formidable band, she single-handedly provides evidence that Britain’s ever-expanding flock of young jazz-centric upstarts are by no means confined to London. Catch her on the MOTH Club/It’s Nice That stage on the Friday.