Soweto Kinch + James Morton's Porkchop perform @ Rich Mix London, Saturday 19 February 2011

Jazz and hip-hop from alto-saxophonist Soweto Kinch and old school funk and jazz from James Morton's Porkchop.

Soweto Kinch

"It's a clever and entertaining juxtaposition of idioms that kicks pure Jazz and authentic rap into a brave new world." The Guardian

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

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. In October 2007, he won his second MOBO Award, at the O2 Arena, London where he was announced as the winner in the Best Jazz Act category - fending off stiff competition from the likes of Wynton Marsalis.

His skills as a hip hop MC and producer have also garnered him recognition in the urban music world: having supported the likes of KRS ONE, Dwele and TY, and being championed by the likes of Rodney P and BBC 1-Xtra's Twin B. His last album release, 'A Life in the Day of B19', is a ground-breaking concept album that effortlessly melds the worlds of Jazz and Hip Hop to tell a story of inner city trials and triumphs in Kinch's native Birmingham. Concentrating on the stories of three fictitious characters and featuring narration from veteran BBC newscaster Moira Stuart it was released to much critical acclaim. It has earned him 4 stars in the Guardian and Times, his second MOBO Award and the British Jazz Award for best Alto Saxophonist, and an Urban Music Award nomination in 2007.

Kinch continues to broaden his musical lexicon and has composed scores for a number of high profile theatre productions, including 'Absolute Beginners' at the Hammersmith Lyric, and Kwame Kwei-Armah's 'Statement of Regret' at The National Theatre. 2007 also saw the development of Soweto's first major work as a scriptwriter following more directly in his father Don Kinch's footsteps. 'The Midnight Hop' is an epic piece of musical-theatre, retelling the stories of black musician's in 18th Century England, with a completely unique meeting of classical music, folktales, popular doggerels from the period and modern jazz.

James Morton 'Porkchop'

The debut album from Bristol's James Morton and his band Porkchop is an old skool funky jazzy affair. Leading from the font on alto sax James' latest creation, Porkchop is a collection of the impressive Dan 'Pinstripe' Moore (Hammond organ, Ian Matthews (drums) and Denny Ilett (guitar). Funk, soul-jazz, and gospel are all influences that inform the concept. The intention on this album is to eliminate the introspective and self indulgent elements that some 'jazz' music can often adhere to, and bring the music back to the people and jazz back to the dance floor.

Book tickets now http://www.richmix.org.uk/aandc_sowetoporkchop.htm

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Jazz
• soul
• funk
• Rich Mix
• East London
• live music
• Shoreditch