SEED Ensemble

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SEED Ensemble
OriginLondon, United Kingdom
GenresJazz
Years active2016 (2016)–present
LabelsJazz re:freshed
Associated acts
Websitewww.cassiekinoshi.com/seed-ensemble
MembersCassie Kinoshi
Sheila Maurice-Grey
Shirley Tetteh
Theon Cross
Miguel Gorodi
Chelsea Carmichael
Joe Bristow
Deschanel Gordon
Rio Kai
Patrick Boyle
Past membersJoe Armon-Jones
Sarah Tandy

SEED Ensemble are a 10-piece British jazz ensemble led by Cassie Kinoshi. In 2019, they were nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.

Metro has described them as part of a "new wave of British jazz".[1] SEED Ensemble's trumpet player, Sheila Maurice-Grey also plays with Kinoshi in the groups Kokoroko and . Shirley Tetteh plays guitar for both SEED Ensemble and Nérija, while tuba player Theon Cross also plays with Shabaka Hutchings in Sons of Kemet.[2] Maurice-Grey also collaborates with Little Simz,[3] while former keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones plays with jazz group Ezra Collective.[4] Completing the band are Miguel Gorodi on trumpet, Chelsea Carmichael on tenor saxophone and flute, Joe Bristow on trombone, Deschanel Gordon on piano,[5] Rio Kai on double bass and Patrick Boyle on drums.[6]

SEED Ensemble released their first full album, Driftglass, in 2019 on the Jazz re:freshed label. The album's nomination for the 2019 Mercury Prize led to an 85% increase in sales of their album and a 102% rise in Spotify streams, according to Music Week.[7] Kinoshi stated that the album, for which they were nominated, was a “celebration of what it means to be a young black British person”.[8] The album was named after Samuel R. Delany’s 1971 collection of science-fiction stories.[9]

Driftglass was positively reviewed by The Guardian, who described the style as a fusion of "African, Caribbean, dance grooves and 60s Blue Note".[10] Clash Magazine called the album "a bold record", and Kinoshi "a stellar instrumentalist".[11]

References[]

  1. ^ "Bradley Zero is bringing the new wave of jazz to the Boiler Room Festival". Metro Newspaper UK. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  2. ^ Subscribe. ""I write about what I feel" - Cassie Kinoshi talks SEED Ensemble's debut 'Driftglass'". DIY. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  3. ^ "Cassie Kinoshi on sci-fi, Sun Ra and her Mercury Prize nomination". Evening Standard. 2019-09-18. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  4. ^ "Cassie Kinoshi on sci-fi, Sun Ra and her Mercury Prize nomination". Evening Standard. 2019-09-18. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  5. ^ Pople, Ian (July 2019). "Love Supreme Jazz Festival, reviewed by Ian Pople". themanchesterreview.co.uk.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "Driftglass, by SEED Ensemble". SEED Ensemble. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  7. ^ "Mercury Prize data dump: Which nominees have seen the biggest boost so far?". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  8. ^ Arts, Lanre Bakare; correspondent, culture (2019-09-18). "'Most political in years': critics hail Mercury prize's return to protest music". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  9. ^ "Saxophonist Cassie Kinoshi's SEED Ensemble announces debut album, Driftglass". Retrieved 2019-10-14.
  10. ^ Fordham, John (2019-02-14). "Cassie Kinoshi' SEED Ensemble: Driftglass review – young jazz on song | John Fordham's jazz album of the month". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
  11. ^ "SEED Ensemble's Cassie Kinoshi Explores The Key Role Of Women In Jazz". Clash Magazine. Retrieved 2019-10-07.
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