Soweto Kinch

"One of the freshest and most exciting prospects to emerge through British music for years." HIT sheet

"Mr Kinch demonstrates what England has to teach [the USA] about narrative Hip-Hop. Don’t sleep on Mr Kinch." The New York Times

"A clever and entertaining juxtapostion of idioms that kicks pure Jazz and authentic rap into a brave new world." The Guardian

Multi-award winning alto-saxophonist and MC Soweto Kinch is one of the most exciting and versatile young musicians in both the British jazz and hip hop scenes. Undoubtedly, one of the few artists in either genre with a degree in Modern History from Oxford University he has amassed an impressive list of accolades and awards on both sides of the Atlantic – including a Mercury Music Prize nomination, two UMA Awards and a MOBO for best Jazz Act in 2003. In October 2007, he won his second MOBO Award.

Soweto's musical influences are as broad as they are diverse. He particularly admires Sonny Rollins for his innovative style and successful appropriation of West Indian music within the jazz canon. His Hip-Hop references range from modern day greats such as KRS ONE and Pharaoh Monche to Dub poet innovators such as Linton Kwesi Johnson, Mikey Smith and beat poets such as Jean Sheppard. Most recently, Soweto has been influenced by baroque and early classical music due to an interest he has in the 17th and 18th century black population of Britain. He is keen to reconstruct the African and classical influences that this community would have had.

Line up: Soweto Kinch (Saxophone and Vocals), Nick Jurd (Bass), Shaney Forbes (Drums)