Soweto Kinch

Saxophonist

Composer

Music Arranger

Lyricist

MC / Rap Artist

Educator

Actor



Born in London, England in 1978 to a Barbadian father and British-Jamaican mother, Soweto Kinch is one of the most exciting and versatile young musicians to hit the British jazz scene in recent years.



He first became interested in music at the tender age of eight, playing clarinet at primary school. He quickly developed a fondness for the alto saxophone and was given his first instrument when he was nine. After meeting Wynton Marsalis four years later he discovered and became passionate about jazz, first concentrating on piano and later, in his teens, focusing on alto saxophone.



Soweto's musical influences are as broad as they are diverse. He particularly admires Sonny Rollins for his innovative style and successful appropriation of West Indian music within the jazz canon. Most recently, Soweto has been influenced by baroque and early classical music due to an interest he has in the 17th and 18th century black population of Britain. He is keen to reconstruct the African and classical influences that this community would have had.



As an alto player, Soweto is rapidly developing his own sound which is rich, energetic and dynamic and though he clearly has a strong respect for tradition, he is continually exploring his jazz inheritance. In 2001 he established the Soweto Kinch Trio - with bassist Michael Olatuja and drummer Troy Miller, both exceptional young players - which supported Courtney Pine at the former Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Birmingham and performed at the Royal Festival Hall and Cheltenham International Jazz Festival. His aim with the Trio was to move audiences with the simplicity of his band and to discover the breadth of sounds and dynamics he could achieve with these basic elements.



At the end of 2002, Soweto began work on his début album, extending his band to quartet status with the addition of guitar (Femi Temowo). Working with producer, Jason Yarde also a brilliant alto sax player, composer and arranger, and leader of J-Life he created a stunning album which brings together his love of jazz and hip-hop. On Conversations With The Unseen he brings Charlie Parker and Q-Tip into the zone, combining straightahead jazz with funky hip-hop and rap vocals.



Conversations With The Unseen was released on Dune Records in April 2003 and launched Soweto on his career as a solo artist, winning a Mercury Music Prize for An Album Of The Year 2003, and earning him the MOBO Award for Best Jazz Act 2007 and 2003.



MOBO Award Best Jazz Act 2007



Urban Music Awards Best Jazz Act 2004



BBC Radio Jazz Awards Best Instrumentalist & Best Band 2004



Peter Whittingham Award Jazz Innovation 2004



Mercury Music Prize An Album Of The Year 2003



MOBO Awards Best Jazz Act 2003



BBC Radio Jazz Awards Rising Star 2002



White Foundation International Sax Competition/

Montreux Jazz Festival International Young Saxophonist Of The Year 2002



One of the freshest and most exciting prospects to emerge through British music for years. HIT sheet



'A distinct and commanding way of looking at jazz, at hip hop, and at the whole performance situation. Mr Kinch demonstrates what England has to teach us about narrative hip hop [and] has one of the best sounding new jazz groups Ive heard lately. Dont sleep on Mr Kinch.' The New York Times



If theres anyone who still believes that musicians from other nations dont swing as hard as Americans, this group should convince them otherwise. Soweto Kinch is that good. allaboutjazz.com



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