Julian Joseph, one of the most influential figures in British jazz, celebrates his 60th birthday with Atmospheres in Audio Theatre 60 – an ambitious, immersive sound experience that pushes the boundaries of live performance. Bringing together an outstanding ensemble including Alok Verma (tabla), Kiadi Akinnibi (saxophone), Benet McClean (violin), James Wade Sired (trombone) and Anjelo Disons Ntege (autonomous soundscape influencer), this groundbreaking project blends acoustic virtuosity with innovative digital processing to create a concert unlike anything audiences have heard at Kings Place before.
This special programme features newly composed music written specifically for Joseph’s 60th year, alongside imaginative reinterpretations of repertoire spanning Paganini, Mozart, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and other iconic creators. Rather than simply revisiting classics, Joseph uses the source material as a starting point for sonic transformation. Real-time digital processing allows melodies to twist, refract and multiply in space, placing listeners inside an evolving “audio theatre” that shifts between intimacy and vastness, stillness and propulsion, tradition and experiment.
Described by Joseph as “a revolution in how we perceive sound,” Atmospheres in Audio Theatre 60 fuses the spontaneity of jazz with the world-building potential of modern technology. Acoustic instruments trigger electronic responses; live improvisations become layered textures; and the ensemble moves seamlessly between structured passages and open, exploratory soundscapes. The result is a performance that feels part-concert, part-installation, part-ritual – an invitation to listen in new ways and to experience music as a living environment.
Julian Joseph’s artistry and leadership are at the centre of the evening. Over a 35-year career he has become one of Britain’s most respected jazz pianists, composers and cultural ambassadors. A pioneer of British jazz on the international stage, Joseph has premiered works for symphony orchestra, opera and chamber ensembles; headlined landmark performances at the BBC Proms and Wigmore Hall; and collaborated with some of the world’s leading musicians across jazz, classical and contemporary traditions. His educational work – particularly through the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy – has nurtured a new generation of British talent, while his broadcasting, writing and advocacy have contributed significantly to the visibility of jazz across the UK.
The ensemble joining Joseph brings together a vibrant cross-section of the UK’s contemporary music scene. Tabla virtuoso Alok Verma adds rhythmic drive and global colour; saxophonist Kiadi Akinnibi brings fluidity and emotional warmth; Benet McClean’s violin opens new harmonic possibilities; and James Wade Sired’s trombone adds rich, vocal-like resonance. Meanwhile, Anjelo Disons Ntege guides the electronic dimension of the performance, shaping and sculpting the digital atmospheres that surround the acoustic players.
As Joseph marks a lifetime of creativity, exploration and cultural leadership, this concert stands as both a celebration and a bold artistic statement. It honours his contributions to British music while embracing new directions and technologies that point towards the future. For long-time followers and new listeners alike, Atmospheres in Audio Theatre 60 offers a rare chance to experience one of the UK’s foremost musical innovators at a defining moment in his artistic journey.
This event will last approximately 90 minutes, including an interval.
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