Whale Theatre, Greystones
Friday 2nd May, 8.00pm
Tickets: €25

Saxophonist Xhosa Cole has been blazing a trail since he first emerged on the UK jazz scene as the winner of the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year award, in 2018.

A year later he collected the ‘best newcomer’ prize at the prestigious Parliamentary Jazz Awards, and was named Breakthrough Act of the Year by Jazz FM in the UK.

Now aged 28, Xhosa Cole is from Handsworth, and follows in the illustrious footsteps of such great contemporary saxophonists from Birmingham, including Soweto Kinch and Sons of Kemit frontman, Shabaka Hutchings.

His recently released third album ‘On a Modern Genius Vol. 1’, which explores and collages the compositions of pianist Thelonious Monk compositions, breathing new life into tmeless tunes, was named ‘Album of the Month’ by The Guardian, in February of this year. It was also ‘Editor’s Choice’ of the UK’s leading jazz magazine, Jazzwise, a month later.

Xhosa has performed twice at the BBC Proms, Composed music for the Ripieno Players, a Birmingham Based String Orchestra, recorded saxophone for Mahalia’s debut album Love and Compromise, completed a 22 date UK tour, all while he studied at the the UK’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire.

“An erudite young sax master who catches Monk’s wild spirit… and will surprise even the most devout buffs, and hook the most unsuspecting of jazz newbies too.” – The Guardian

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Pianist Nduduzo Makhathini has been a central figure in South Africa’s vibrant jazz scene for over a decade.

One of just a handful of African-based musicians to be signed to the prestigious Blue Note jazz label, he has released three albums on Blue Note, including Modes of Communication: Letters From the Underworlds, which earned a New York Times ‘Best Album of the Year’ ranking in 2020.

But Makhatini is no ordinary jazz pianist. Rather, he’s a warm, engaging performer who is also a healer, shaman and educator who has delved deep into the history and traditions of his ancestors for inspiration.

A charismatic live performer, his concerts are absorbing, his tunes a rich tapestry that can be simple, sparce and lyrical, or dense and hypnotic.  Makhathini imbues his music with distinctive cultural references – Zulu language recitations, trills, treble fill-ins, intimate microphone murmurs and passages studded with impressive tongue-click consonants of the Khoisan languages of his homeland. 

Makhathini is joined in his stellar trio by South African double-bassist Zwelakhe Bell le Pere and Cuban drummer Lukmil Perez, musicians with whom he appears to have a near telepathic understanding. 

“…quite simply magnificent.” – Best of Jazz

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Whale Theatre, Greystones
Friday 2nd May, 8.00pm
Tickets: €25

Parisian born Amy Gadiaga is making waves as a bright young star of contemporary jazz– pushing boundaries while upholding jazz music’s finest traditions.

A bassist, vocalist and band leader who graduated from the prestigious Trinity Labans Conservatoire of Music, she was recently nominated ‘best newcomer of the year’ in the prestigious Parliamentary Jazz Awards, and has just been shortlisted for a MOBO (music of black origin) awards for 2025. Amy Gadiaga’s talent is unquestionable and her influences are broad – ranging from legends such as Wayne Shorter and Betty Carter, to contemporary stars D’Angelo and Stevie Wonder.

Upon moving to London, she received support from both Tomorrow’s Warriors and Jazz Re:Freshed, two organisations that championing the brightest and best in new jazz talent, and has also been championed on radio stations including Jazz FM and BBC Radio London. 

Born to parents of Senegalese, Gambian and Malian descent, Gadiaga grew up on the outskirts of Paris. ‘All Black Everything’ is her breakout release – a recording that is both a celebration of African heritage and an acknowledgement of the complexities of racial identity that have allowed her to transfer her insecurities into a narrative of self-empowerment.

A confident bassist and singer with a voice brimming with power and soul,  Gadiaga earned glowing reviews for her performances at last Summer’s ultra-hip We Out Here festival, and for her appearances at Cheltenham Jazz Festival and at last year’s London Jazz Festival.  

“Gadiaga’s star continues to rise, cementing her status as a significant new voice in contemporary music” – Jazz Messengers

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