Two leading figures in Black British jazz come together at the New Vic Theatre for a special celebration of John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, one of the defining recordings in twentieth-century jazz.
Acclaimed bassist Gary Crosby OBE, co-founder of Tomorrow’s Warriors, joins MOBO Award-winning saxophonist and Mercury Prize nominee Denys Baptiste to lead an all-star quartet through music inspired by Coltrane’s landmark work. The performance takes place at 7:30pm on Tuesday 6th October.
Originally recorded by Coltrane’s classic quartet in the 1960s, A Love Supreme occupies a unique place within jazz history. Combining extraordinary musicianship with a profound sense of spiritual searching, the suite has continued to influence musicians across jazz and beyond.
For this performance, the music is being approached by artists whose own careers form an important part of the story of Black British jazz.
Gary Crosby has spent decades not only performing but creating opportunities for younger musicians. Through Tomorrow’s Warriors, which he co-founded, he has played an important role in developing new generations of diverse British jazz talent.
Denys Baptiste is similarly recognised as one of Britain’s leading saxophonists, bringing a powerful individual voice to contemporary jazz while drawing upon the music’s African American and diasporic history. The New Vic describes Baptiste as both a MOBO Award winner and Mercury Prize nominee.
Their meeting around Coltrane’s work creates a bridge between African American jazz history and the continuing development of Black jazz culture in Britain.
Taking place during Black History Month, the concert is an opportunity to recognise jazz not only as a musical form but as one of the great artistic achievements of the African American experience — a tradition subsequently reinterpreted by musicians throughout the African diaspora.
For established jazz enthusiasts and audiences discovering Coltrane for the first time, Gary Crosby and Denys Baptiste Present A Love Supreme promises an evening of exceptional musicianship, history and creative exploration.
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Gary Crosby and Denys Baptiste Present John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme
Two leading figures in Black British jazz come together at the New Vic Theatre for a special celebration…