Jazz Re:fest at Earth Hackney

Jazz Re:fest at EartH Hackney on 29th July 2023.

Jazz re:freshed have been creating performance and recording opportunities for talented upcoming musicians since 2003. They have a particular focus on breaking down barriers for underrepresented musicians especially young, black British and female musicians. The musicians they have worked with include many of the titans of the current UK scene including Shabaka Hutchings, Nubya Garcia, Moses Boyd, Kokoroko, and Ezra Collective.

Their series of regular weekly gigs, at Mau Mau in the early days and more recently at 91 Living Room, are legendary and continue to showcase outstanding upcoming musicians. Since 2013 they have had an annual festival called Jazz Re:fest featuring a mix of established and upcoming artists. The artists this year included:

Steamdown

Steamdown brought their trademark high energy, fierce afro punk positivity to the Jazz Re:fest stage. Founded in 2017 by multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Ahnansé, Steamdown has become a weekly event where musicians from the extended Steamdown family collaborate in creating fiery, uplifting performances.

Musicians include

Saxophone – Ahnansé

Vocals – Afronaut Zu, Shanteh, Germane Marvel, Tinyman

Theon Cross

Theon is one of the key figures in the current UK jazz scene from his work with Sons of Kemet to leading his own bands and collaborations. He has brought an intensity and fire to the tuba that is unmatched and makes fantastic music whether groove-based, freely improvised or in conjunction with electronics.

His current band is:

Theon Cross – tuba

Chelsea Carmichael – saxophone

Nikos Ziarkas – guitar

Patrick Boyle – drums

Check out Theon’s recordings here.

See more photos of Nikos Ziarkas with Valia Calda here.

Other artists at Jazz Re:Fest 2023 included Romarna Campbell, Golden Mean, Sofia Grant, Tyrone Isaac Stuart and Zola Marcelle.