Image credit: Richard Birch. Image credit: John Lyon. Graphics: Jake Davis Designs
Afro Blue - Listening In Colour
Foyle Rooms
A joyful expression of the powerful, visionary and cathartic legacy of Black music accompanied by abstract visuals. An immersive experience presented by some of the UK's finest Jazz musicians featuring vocalists Sabina Desir and Randolph Matthews with arrangements by Jessica Lauren.
From the Creators of Freedom Road Re-Imagined Sabina Desir and Jessica Lauren
Produced by Sabina Desir and Jessica Lauren, the creators of Freedom Road Re-Imagined, Turner Contemporary is delighted to premier this show ahead of it being featured in this year’s London Jazz Festival.
Afro Blue features a group of UK Jazz luminaries, each notable in their own right. Winston Clifford is the musician’s musician – the singer’s first choice of drummer, a consummately melodic and expressive player, with a CV of the greatest names in 20th and 21st Century Jazz. Jihad Dawlish’s deep, resonant double bass has accompanied artists such as Sting and Imelda May, provides the bedrock for the group. Jessica Lauren’s piano, organ and electric keys bring a lush palette of colours to the mix, and featured soloist Tamar Osborn is a new star of Jazz, Afrobeats and Contemporary music, playing baritone saxophone, flutes and clarinet with a special lyricism and power. Vocalist Randolph Matthews features as special guest, his charismatic singing and spoken word weaving together with Sabina and the band to make for a moving and joyful evening of song and music.
Expect to hear:
- Little Sunflower – Freddie Hubbard
- Home Is Where The Hatred – Esther Phillips
- Here Comes The Sun – Nina Simone Arrangement
Book tickets
The Creators
Sabina Desir – Vocalist
Since relocating from London to Ramsgate, Sabina has established herself within the East Kent Arts community working as a vocalist and establishing The Jazz Sessions at Gulbenkian Theatre to bring outstanding Jazz artists to the South East of England. The Jazz sessions welcomed players spanning the genre including Jean Toussaint, The Steve Williamson Experience, Led Bib and Camilla George, to name a few. She is also Artistic Director of Freedom Road Project, which toured the live show Freedom Road Re-Imagined 2022 and produced the hugely successful Turner Contemporary exhibition Banned in 2023. As a vocalist Sabina has formed a partnership with the hugely talented keyboard player/composer Jessica Lauren and they have presented a wide range of enthusiastically received projects over the last five years
Jessica Lauren – Musical Director
London-born pianist, keyboard player and composer Jessica Lauren has been a cult figure on the UK’s soul-jazz scene since the early 1990s. Drawing on a wide range of influences, she has forged her own distinctive sound and musical personality, releasing four albums under her own name, as well as appearing on countless other recordings, spanning jazz, soul, blues, funk, rock, broken beat, dance and analog electronica.
She has played alongside rare-groove icons Jean Carne, Tom Browne, Dexter Wansel, Kleeer, and James Mason; jazz giants Archie Shepp, The Art Ensemble Of Chicago, and Marshall Allen, Knoel Scott and Ahmed Abdullah of the Sun Ra Arkestra; contemporary artists such as Shabaka Hutchings, Arun Ghosh, and The Heliocentrics; and as a core member of Nick Woodmansey’s space jazz co-operative Emanative for over a decade.
Since moving to Margate over five years ago, she has proudly worked with Sabina Desir as accompanist, musical director, and co-creator of multiple projects.
The Music
The music is a soundscape of Black innovation and legacy with the emphasis intentionally being one of joy and celebration. It is the band’s wish to share music that has influenced them as both musicians and individuals. The audience can expect an uplifting journey through Blues, Soul, Jazz, Neo-Soul and Afrofuturist styles and Reggae. Music heavily associated with both the US and UK has been arranged with sensitivity, passion and joy! The band features some of the UK’s finest Jazz players, and two featured vocalists, Randolph Matthews and Sabina Desir.
The Band
Jessica and Sabina have a strong relationship with many Jazz musicians from the London Jazz Scene. The following have been the mainstay of all projects over the last 5 years and are confirmed to feature in Afro Blue – Listening In Colour:
Randolph Matthews
Randolph Matthews is a composer, musical director and vocalist who performs both solo and collaboratively through live performances and writing.
Jessica Lauren
Jessica’s keyboard skills have augmented the live performances and studio recordings of world-renowned artists such as Jean Carne, Tom Browne, Dexter Wansel and James Mason, Japan’s United Future Organisation and UK soul diva Juliet Roberts.
Sabina Desir
Freedom Road project founder, multidisciplinary artist, artistic director and producer, Sabina Desir is fast becoming the UK’s leading jazz instrumentalists’ vocalist of choice.
Jihad Darwish
Jihad Darwish is a musician, singer and producer from London working within all genres of music. Although focusing mainly on his own music he continues to play with and produce other artists.
Tamar ‘Collocutor’ Osborn
Tamar ‘Collocutor’ Osborn is a saxophonist and multi-woodwind player who has performed with Kelis, Van Morrison, Billy Ocean, tabla maestro Tanmoy Bose, contemporary dance giant Akram Khan, the acclaimed production of Fela! at the National Theatre and Sadler’s Wells, and Africa Express.
