HSD Top 10 Albums 2017 - No 10

The Jazz Scene

Number 10 is recognition of London's resurgent jazz scene and three artists and bands in particular:

Jazz drummer and bandleader, Moses Boyd is one of South London's young jazz protagonists and brings his sound straight outta Catford. He won the MOBO award 2017 for best jazz act, to sit alongside the same award from 2015. I saw him drumming as part of the Theon Cross Trio at Pickle Factory at the start of April, alongside saxophonist Nubya Garcia and tuba player, Theon Cross. Who would have guessed the tuba could be so funky!! At the Green Man Festival Moses Boyd Exodus provided the jazzy vibes and it is here that I bought myself a copy of the Binker and Moses album, Journey To The Mountain of Forever, where Moses' syncopation weaves itself around the saxophone loops of Binker Golding. He takes drumming to another level. It is not percussion or background but leads and directs. A really excellent album, available on all formats and Spotify.

Binker & Moses - Trees On Fire

Nubya Garcia was also headlining at that same Pickle Factory evening, as part of the seven member jazz band Nerija, who released their terrific self-titled five track EP. They truly vibe off one another and the EP, available on CD from Bandcamp and Spotify is an accomplished jazz offering as you can see and hear from the video below.

Nerija - The Fisherman

My final jazzy pilgrimage was to see Yussef Kamaal at KOKO in early May. I had already bought myself a copy of their Black Focus album, which brings an electronic and more contemporary jazz sound, with off kilter keys and crashing cymbals. A few days before the gig, the keysman Kamaal Williams and beat master Yussef Dayes went their separate ways and a new drummer stepped into the breach. The gig went ahead and to a packed house, most of the audience were probably unaware of the situation but it would be a shame if the music comes to a halt when it was just setting sail. Perhaps Dayes and Williams could kiss and make up, because they created a very impressive debut, which is available on Spotify and all formats.

Yussef Kamaal - Joint 17