The City of Birmingham Choir, together with Lichfield Cathedral Young Voices and the Young Phoenix Singers are delighted to bring to the Elgar Hall two exciting and uplifting pieces of modern choral music. 'Mass in Blue’ combines British composer Will Todd’s twin backgrounds of jazz and church music. Since its premier in 2003 it has been capturing the imagination of choirs and audiences worldwide with its unique setting of the liturgical Mass in jazz and 12 bar blues.
'Freedom! The Power of Song' is the fifth in the popular series of choral works from Alexander L’Estrange. This powerful and emotive work celebrates the vital role communal singing has played throughout history, bringing people together in solidarity at times of upheaval, struggle and change.
Highlighting the ones to watch in 2020 for Future Soul & Jazz showcasing some of the UKs finest emerging talent in particular with a focus on Birmingham Artists.
Birmingham Talent
Reuben James
Reuben James is a singer, songwriter and pianist, best known for his ongoing collaborations with Sam Smith. Reuben co-wrote the title track from Smith’s most recent album “The Thrill of it All” and “Him”. Reuben was recruited to join Sam Smith’s band for his world tour while performing at Ronnie Scott’s, where he now hosts his own night. Reuben signed with Warner/Chappell in 2018 and has since been working on his own material, collaborating with artists such as Honne, Empire of the Sun, Tom Misch, Bruno Major, Callum Scott, Disclosure, Col3trane, Hiraku Utada and Tori Kelly. In 2019 Reuben performed his first solo live shows, supporting Alicia Keys at the Dubai Jazz Festival and Kamasi Washington on his UK tour as well as a home town headline show at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.
Vincent Darby
A graduate of the acclaimed Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA). He has been singing from the age of 5 always a YouTube video of Vincent singing Fallin’ by Alicia Keys caught the eyes of a Record Producer leading to him opening a Flo Rida’s concert at the Birmingham O2 Academy at age 9! He has performed for many high-profiled shows including the Opening Ceremony of The Sainsburys Games in 2015 and the Youth Sport Trust 2016 Conference Awards. His rich and distinctive sound is mature beyond his years. He is currently touring the USA before his ‘home coming’ appearance at the Global Soul Showcase.
Namiwa Jazz
She uniquely combines many aspects of black music – reggae, funk, RnB, African jazz, even gospel, British soul, trip-hop and hip-hop infused vibes. She defines such an explosive and personal mix of genres, encompassed in her outstanding live performances, as Afrotwang. However, there’s more to her than music eclecticism (and incredible skills as a performer), since her songwriting is simply honest and soulful, straight to the point yet poetic, alternating joy to melancholy and fierceness. She has enjoyed support from BBC WM and receiving plays from DJ Trevor Nelson and Hugh Stevens,. She has supported the likes of Jimmy Cliff, Public Enemy, Steel Pulse, Teedra Moses, Jacob Banks, Ameriee and Lee Fields in numerous festivals and venues all over UK and Europe. A rising star in the new flourishing RnB, hip hop and trap Birmingham scene.
London Guests
Kadeem Tyrell
Raised in the church community his Mother and Aunts were Gospel singers and his father a DJ he has had a rich musical upbringing. In 2015, Kadeem debuted his vocals by featuring on a track with East London producer Nat Brown ‘Memories’ championed by DJ EZ it became big on Garage scene. In 2016, Kadeem teamed up with Chelmsford Garage producer RYN and released a smooth 5 track EP titled ‘Fooled’, full of what has been described as ‘Feel Good Music’. He turned his hand to R&B and Neo Soul to great effect releasing the ‘Feels’ EP in 2018 and collaborating with Minni Manchester. In 2019 he released his ‘Elements’ EP which has resulted in a string of headline live performances across the UK.
Emiko
Music is the channel for Emiko’s shyness – through the art of expression. A voice heavily nurtured by genres such as R’n’B and Soul, Emiko possesses an infectious energy that he spreads through his music and equally his character. He has released a number of singles building him a strong reputation for vocal ability most notably his feature on Despecialist – One Chance which received huge radio and DJ support across the UK in 2019.
Ajia
Singer Songwriter AJIA has released two EPs “Touching The Surface” and “Visions”. A mixture of 90’s rnb and neo soul grooves the single “Sentimental Easing” was radio 1xtra’s record of the week and received heavy airplay from most major rnb/soul Radio stations and Djs across the World in 2019. It also reached No1 in the Global Soul Chart.
Kimichi Symphony Orchestra presents another evening of excellence with Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Stravinsky’s Firebird. Following their 5* production of Rite of Spring “In nearly fifty years of reviewing I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed an experience quite like this event....truly remarkable....precision, colour and visceral excitement” Christopher Morley, and their 5* performance of Verdi’s Requiem, KSO are back with an exciting programme to whet all appetites.
Scheherazade is to be followed by Stravinsky’s Firebird, semi-staged with dancers providing yet more colour and excitement. With Keith Slade conducting and Charlotte Moseley leading, you can be guaranteed an evening of superb music making and wonderful story telling through dance.
VIP tickets available with Prosecco reception and Conductor’s talk.
