Brick Lane Jazz Festival unveils a glittering second wave of artists for its 2024 edition

Theo Croker, Chip Wickman, Esa’s Afro-Synth Band ft. Kamazu, Secret Night Gang, Olive Jones, COLECTIVA, Macwood, Don Glori, Eriksson Kaner, And Is Phi plus more all added to the line up.

26th – 28th April 2024 at The Truman Brewery and beyond, Brick Lane, London.

Ticket link: https://link.dice.fm/BLJF

Renowned for celebrating the artists shaking up the diverse and dynamic London jazz scene, Brick Lane Jazz Festival today announces its second phase line-up. The festival, now in its third year, has cemented itself as one of East London’s pivotal taste-making extravaganzas, uncovering artists from the jazz underground and importing those making waves on the UK scene to perform at some of the capital's most iconic hotspots.

The festival serves as a launchpad for emerging talent, shining a spotlight on new directions in the scene. It celebrates artists who daringly reshape the genre, infusing elements of hip hop, neo-soul, RnB, broken beat, reggae and electronic music.

Joining the already impressive roster is Theo Croker: the standout trumpeter and composer from Florida whose collabs include Jill Scott, Wycliffe Jean and J Cole. Already a Grammy Award nominee, three-time Echo Award nominee, as well as a Theodore Presser Award recipient, Croker is a storyteller who speaks through his trumpet. A creative who refuses boundaries, his sound gallivants through hip hop, swing and African percussion.

Chip Wickham: the multi-instrumentalist recently toured with Matthew Halsall as a special guest player on the latter’s ‘An Ever Changing View’ album launch tour, which included a sell-out show at the Royal Albert Hall. With a penchant for jazz, soul, and electronic soundscapes, Wickham is renowned for his enchanting live performances and work that draws equally on the hard swinging spiritual jazz of Roland Kirk, Yusef Lateef and Sahih Shihab, alongside the music of British jazz legends such as Tubby Hayes and Harold McNair and the more contemporary sounds of Jazzanova, Kyoto Jazz Massive and Robert Glasper. With a new album out in 2024, audiences can look forward to the premiering of new material at his Brick Lane Jazz Festival debut. 

Esa’s Afro-Synth Band ft. Kamazu are a captivating afro-synth ensemble blending African rhythms, soul and electronica, led by the acclaimed South African DJ and producer Esa. The band combines the creative talents of 80s bubblegum star Ntombi Ndaba and young artists Ami Koda and Alexander Burke (aka Forest Law), the latter of whom was mentored by Esa as part of Gilles Peterson’s Future Bubblers platform and later signed by Brownswood Recordings. 

A rising force in the UK music scene, Secret Night Gang are known for their fresh fusion of jazz, hip hop, and soul. Led by Manchester natives and childhood friends Kemani Anderson and Callum Connell, Secret Night Gang spread their uplifting, transcendent and genre-blending street soul sound through dynamic melodies, striking brass accents and jazz inflected soul prowess, refurbishing the musical frontiers of the genre. 

Emerging singer-songwriter Olive Jones is known for her soulful and evocative music as the vocalist and bandleader of Noya Rao. Now branching out as a solo artist, and with a recent single with Gotts Street Park, her distinctive voice and storytelling prowess have quickly gained recognition in jazz circles. 

Hotly tipped sisterhood COLECTIVA return to the festival in 2024, adding their deep Latin grooves to the freedom and excitement of the new wave of jazz. Founded by trombonist Viva Msimang, the group is an all-guns-blazing adventure through the spaces between Afro-Latin music and jazz, with sisterhood and female empowerment at its heart.

Harry Ling, a.k.a. Mackwood, is a London-based jazz improv drummer and producer behind projects such as The Silhouettes Project, Levitation Orchestra, Col3trane and Nardeydey. An emerging alumnus of the acclaimed Tomorrow’s Warriors and Guildhall Jazz programs, he can be found collaborating frequently with the musicians behind Moses Boyd, Steam Down, Yussef Dayes, Arlo Parks and many more.

Don Glori is a pseudonym for Melbourne-based multi-instrumentalist Gordon Li. He leads his band in beautiful and considered compositions that facilitate heavy doses of improvisation. Don Glori’s music reflects a deep fascination in jazz, house and Brazilian music, all fused by an inimitable spirit, immense talent and dedication to making it groove. 

Eriksson Kaner is the moniker of Leif Kaner-Lidström, an experimental jazz pianist and composer from Forest Hill and Member of the Levitation Orchestra. As well as performing in Australia, Vietnam and Europe with classical stars, Jess Gillam and Anne
Sofie Von Otter, Eriksson Kaner’s releases see him firmly rooted in London’s New Jazz scene.

And Is Phi is a multidisciplinary artist from Norway and the Philippines. One half of leftfield eclectic-electronic R&B project Sawa Manga, the vocalist, producer, writer, visual artist and curator has written and performed with the likes of Hector Plimmer, Footshooter, Scrimshire, and Emma-Jean Thackray. Her latest work, debut album ‘Double Pink’, offers a reflective exploration of liminal spaces, metamorphosis, and the multiple faces of love. The project has been tipped by The Guardian’s Contemporary Album of the month section, and is one of Dazed’s 10 albums under the radar 2023.  

Multi-talented artist, rapper and poet whose work defies categorisation, Brother Portrait collaborates widely with other artists rocking the jazz scene.

Legendary Brighton-based label Tru Thoughts bring their “good music is good music” policy to bear on what has become their staple DJ booth takeover featuring talent from their roster. Founded nearly 25 years ago by A&R, DJ and radio presenter Robert Luis and co-owner Paul Jonas, they’ve uncovered and provided a platform for some of the UK’s most innovative talents: Alice Russell, Hot 8 Brass Band, Moonchild, Quantic, Flowdan, Bonobo, Ty, Ebi Soda, Steven Bamidele and WheelUP.

The festival has become a cornerstone of the burgeoning new jazz scene, and returns with an even grander vision: adding two new live stages at Rough Trade East and Rich Mix. A new Main Stage at Village Underground will become the epicenter of the festival's activities in 2024, with live shows taking place day and night, all accessible on the festival wristband.

Once again, Brick Lane Jazz Festival is proud to partner with Tomorrow’s Warriors charity, dedicating a portion of the festival profits to the organisation and featuring emerging talent from their Artist Development Programme performing at Brick Lane Tap Room.

The full list of partnering venues for the festival includes Village Underground, Rough Trade East, Rich Mix, 93 Feet East (2 rooms), Ninety One Living Room, Juju's Bar & Stage, Cafe 1001, and the Brick Lane Tap Room.