Pioneering talent development organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors have announced the return of #IAMWARRIOR on Friday October 15 at London’s Jazz Café. The gig will be an unmissable evening, featuring Sheila Maurice-Grey, Rosie Turton, Denys Baptiste, Nathaniel Facey, an incredible line-up of multiple generations of Warriors, alongside the TW Soon Come Ensemble of current Warriors.
#IAMWARRIOR is an annual show at Tomorrow’s Warriors’ spiritual home, the Jazz Cafe, but this year it will be an extra special event during Black History Month (BHM), celebrating Tomorrow’s Warriors 30th anniversary, and premiering new commissions by TW alumni Sheila Maurice-Grey, Rosie Turton, Denys Baptiste, Nathaniel Facey and Ben Burrell, performed by a current crop of Warriors.
For this event, the Soon Come Ensemble will act as house band, and will consist of Joseph Oti (Trumpet), Matt Cooper (Trombone), Allexa Nava (Alto/Soprano Sax), Deji Ijishakin (Tenor Sax), Jonah Grimbly (Keys), Emily Roberts (Guitar), Amy Gadiaga (Bass), Jacob Gryn (Bass), Zoe Pascal (drums) plus Cara Crosby-Irons and Loucin (Vocals), bringing an evening of pure uplifting vibes from the bright future of British jazz. The new commissions are supported by PRS Foundation and there will be an optional extra £2 donation per ticket for the Tomorrow's Warriors Trust charity fund to help keep their acclaimed talent development programme £Free for the next generation of talent, with a focus on musicians from the Black community and girls.
Free access to Tomorrow’s Warriors artistic programme has proved crucial in nurturing the nascent talent and early careers of so many of the most exciting UK artists currently tearing up the international jazz scene including Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Sheila Maurice-Grey, Cassie Kinoshi and Nérija, Femi Koleoso and Ezra Collective , Binker Golding, Shabaka Hutchings and Sons of Kemet, Eska, Denys Baptiste, Soweto Kinch, Zara McFarlane, Camilla George, Cherise, Nathaniel Facey and Empirical, Peter Edwards, Jason Yarde, Robert Mitchell, Byron Wallen...the list goes on.
Gary Crosby OBE, bassist, co-founder & artistic director of Tomorrow’s Warriors said: "We are really proud and delighted to bring I AM WARRIOR back to our original home, the Jazz Café, to celebrate our 30th anniversary in style, and with such a wonderful line-up of Warriors across the generations. Over 30 years it’s been vital for us to keep the scene dynamic, fresh and diverse and we are delighted to premiere these new commissions from Sheila, Denys, Ben, Rosie and Nathaniel, with our current crop of incredible young Warrior talent. Get your tickets for an uplifting evening of the finest of the UK’s scene, while also helping to keep our much needed, free development programme available to the next generation.”
As a black-founded and Black-led organisation, Tomorrow’s Warriors plays a vital role within its community and the wider music industry and over three decades and has been credited with literally changing the face of UK jazz. Based at Southbank Centre in London, Tomorrow’s Warriors offers a pioneering, comprehensive programme of learning and training which, in particular, champions and supports young Black and female talent and those who come from challenging circumstances that would be a barrier to accessing opportunities to pursue a music career.
Since inception, in 1991, Tomorrow’s Warriors has reached over 10,000 young people aged 11-25 through its unique Young Artist Development Programme, providing each musician with between 1,000-5,000 hours of free jazz training and development.
