ECHO IN THE BONES
The Shape of Jazz to Come presents: A new suite of music specially created for Black History Month. In collaboration with Bristol Beacon (UK) and Shapeshifter Lab (New York).
Music is our witness, and our ally. The beat is the confession which recognises, changes and conquers time. Then history becomes a garment we can wear and share, not a cloak in which to hide; and time becomes a friend – James Baldwin.
Following on from the success of the Windrush Suite, Echo In The Bones forms the second suite in a trio of compositions written and arranged by Renell Shaw and funded by the Arts Council of England in association with The Shape of Jazz to Come . The pieces take their themes from the routes of ‘Black History’ – the triangular Atlantic trade in African bodies. The lives that were stolen in the enforced exodus from Africa were re-made in transition and upon arrival. New ‘African’ cultures emerged in the Americas (including the Caribbean) Britain and Europe. Music was one joy the dispossessed slaves carried with them wherever they went. Over time, scattered across the Americas & the Caribbean, and Europe, the music morphed in the echo chamber of that new continent with sounds bouncing back and forth to the original continent often remade with different harmonies and styles.
This music is a movement, circulating and innovating as it moves within and between continents but always driven by the echoes of the past.
We present Echo in the Bones, a journey of experiences through time translated by compositions and improvisors searching through the rhythms of the past and future.
Buy the track This Mind Knows on Bandcamp
Line up:
Renell Shaw (Composition, Vocals, Bass, Fender Rhodes)
Songwriter, Composer, and Music Producer Renell Shaw has written collaborated and toured alongside artists such as: Orphy Robinson (MBE), Rudimental, Jess Glynne, Anne-Marie, Skepta, Nitin Sawhney (CBE), Maverick Sabre, Aloe Blacc, Speech Debelle and Carleen Anderson to name a few. Shaw is also one half of the Afro deep electronic production-duo 2fox who have had a successful summer releasing a new song every fortnight and achieving over 300,000 spotify streams over the last 3 months. As his composer and arranger, Shaw also works within the creative worlds of film and theatre as well as for organisations such as Google, Barclays, BBC, and orchestral giants such as London Symphony Orchestra & London Philharmonic Orchestra. When he isn’t touring or writing, Renell’s career experience has allowed him to venture into the worlds of creative consultancy, guest lecture masterclasses and speaking panels for orgenisations such as:Youtube, TED confrences and The Academy of Contemporary Music. Shaw is also the composer of the Windrush Suite.
Orphy Robinson MBE (Vibraphone, Marimba and Percussion)
Orphy Robinson is an award-winning multi-Instrumentalist, Composer, Artist and one of the few UK musicians to have been signed to the legendary Blue Note record label. Winner of the 2017 Jazz fm Awards for “Live Performance of the year’ for his Bobby Hutcherson Songbook project. Robinson is an acclaimed soloist who works across a variety of musical forms – jazz, free jazz, improvisation, jazz fusion, funk and classical music.
Cassie Kinoshi (Saxophone)
Cassie Kinoshi is a Mercury Award nominated and Ivors Academy Award winning (formerly know as BASCA, British Composer Award) London-based composer, arranger and alto-saxophonist. She is currently working in theatre, film, contemporary dance and both the jazz and classical performance worlds. Cassie is best known for her work with her large ensemble SEED alongside bands KOKOROKO and NÉRIJA.
Delycia Belgrave (Tap Dancing, Vocals)
Delycia Belgrave is a successful musical theatre performer and choreographer who has toured and performed on stages around the world and in the West End. Theatre credits include, White Christmas, Guys and Dolls, Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia! and many more. Her style of choreography and performance has been influenced by the work of Debbie Allen, Savion Glover, Eartha Kitt and Alvin Ailey.
Sahra Gure (Vocals)
Winner of the Musicians’ Company Young Jazz Musician Award 2019, Sahra is already pipped by Jazzwise as ‘one to watch in 2020’ Sahra’s versatile approach to singing has seen her work with the likes of Orphy Robinson, Dele Sosimi, Cleveland Watkiss MBE, Ashley Henry, Tori Handsley, Mark Mondesir and Kishon Khan to name a few. Performing London Jazz Festival, Havana Jazz Festival, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Jazz Cafe, Dimensions Festival, WOMAD Festival and many more.
Afronaut Zu (Vocals)
Afronaut Zu is a solo artist based in London, England. Currently, he is the live vocalist for Rudimental, as well as member of hip-hop collective Orphgang, and Afro-Diasporic collective Ancestral Futures. More recently he featured on the Blue Note Re:Imagined album on Steam Down’s version of ‘Etcetera’ and has been regularly performing with Steam Down as part of their touring band. Earlier this year he also featured on a number of notable releases, including Rudimental’s ‘Krazy’, 2 Fox’s ‘Inner Drum’, ‘Tomorrow’ and ‘Problem’ and Tokio Myers’ ‘Rise Up’.
Charlie Laffer (Guitar)
Charlie can be seen on tours internationally with 90’s girl band All Saints and more recently joined the band for american contemporary R&B star Kelis. He has written, produced, recorded and toured with other artists such as.. Akala, Nao, Rebecca Ferguson, Jay Sean, Ward Thomas, Jorja Smith, Maverick Sabre, Daley, Frances Ruffelle, Ruthanne and so many more. As a composer/producer he has written for TV and film, regularly collaborates with songwriters and has appeared on screen in Ridley Scott’s feature film The Counselor.
Mark Crown (Trumpet)
Graduating from Trinity College of Music jazz course Mark has been touring constantly. While coming through the ranks of Tomorrow’s Warriors, tours with internationally recognised ska band The Skatalites & Courtney Pine soon followed. From 2013 Mark has been an integral part of British dance group Rudimental. His producer and playing credits include Mahalia, Plan B, Rita Ora, Jess Glynne, & Ed Sheeran.
Taurean Antoine-Chagar (Saxophone)
Taurean Antoine-Chagar is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and music producer, as well as the co-founder of Football Beyond Borders. Whilst touring and recording with Rudimental, he has also composed music for theatre, TV and film. Most notably writing music for Nikes ‘Real People Do Real Things’ advertising campaign. He is also the saxophonist on Jord’s new LP ‘AAA’ and 2fox’s single ‘Problem ft. Afronaut Zu’.
Samson Jatto (Drums)
Samson Jatto is a versatile drummer with notable Hip-Hop and Soul influences. His experience spans over a decade having been unwittingly introduced to the instrument at the age of 13. He plays and tours with some of the very best mainstream artists including: Maverick Sabre, Jessie Ware and Mahalia.
Coco Shaw (Film footage and visuals)
Filmmaker, Photographer and Media Specialist
Kathianne Hingwan (Producer)
General Manager of the Vortex Jazz Club and creator and Producer of various projects including the The Shape of Jazz to Come, the Windrush Suite and In Conversation With…
BIG ISSUE NORTH
This will be the first of a collaborative relationship between the Vortex and Shapeshifter Lab in New York. The global pandemic has forced many of us – musicians and members of the business to think outside of the box. Watch this space.