Jazz In The Round: June

Monthly Sounds In The Round

30 Jun

£15 (incl booking fee) | Half price for students / MU members
Monday 30 June 8pm
The Cockpit

MARK KAVUMA QUARTET
JOHN EDWARDS 
JAMIE PYE



  

MARK KAVUMA QUARTET

Named Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year (Jazz FM Awards, 2025), Mark Kavuma has earned a reputation as a leading figure in British jazz. Equally adept at performing on the cutting edge of London’s vibrant nu-jazz scene as mentoring emerging talent, he balances community engagement with his artistic pursuits. Celebrated for his distinctive trumpet sound, blending lyricism, soulful tone, and graceful technique, his performances exude joy and inspire deep connection between artist and audience. His compositional style, rich in colour, texture, and harmony, immerses bandmates and listeners alike in a vibrant, contemporary musical landscape.
 
Kavuma has released eight albums featuring his original compositions including Kavuma (2018, Ubuntu), which was named one of the year’s best albums by DownBeat magazine. Beyond his work as a bandleader, Kavuma’s creative reach extends into other media. In 2024, he composed original music for Penhaligon’s Presents: The Dandy, an EP inspired by the luxury fragrance brand’s new scent. He also appeared as himself in a BBC Agatha Christie drama. Through the Banger Factory collective and its associated record label (Banger Factory Records), Kavuma is establishing a platform that empowers emergent talent to flourish creatively and reach their full potential while shaping the future of music beyond traditional boundaries of genre, gender, and geography.
 
Kavuma is a dedicated educator and creative mentor. He serves as an associate music leader for Tomorrow’s Warriors, contributing to professional ensembles such as the Nu Civilisation Orchestra, Jazz Jamaica Small Band, and Jazz Jamaica All Stars. In addition, he is a brass tutor and leader with Kinetika Bloco, a London-based carnival band. Under his guidance, Kinetika Bloco released their debut album Legacy (2022) on Banger Factory Records. Mark Kavuma’s multifaceted career reflects his commitment to innovation, education, and the ongoing evolution of music, cementing his status as a significant force in contemporary jazz.
 
JOHN EDWARDS
John Edwards is a true virtuoso whose staggering range of techniques and boundless musical imagination have redefined the possibility of the double bass and dramatically expanded its role, whether playing solo or with others. Perpetually in demand, he has played with Evan Parker, Sunny Murray, Derek Bailey, Joe McPhee, Lol Coxhill, Peter Brötzmann, Mulatu Astatke and many others.

JAMIE PYE
Jamie Pye is a London-based jazz guitarist and composer with roots in both Australia and New Zealand. As a composer, Jamie creates music with the intention of honest storytelling and narrative. His compositions are complex and harmonically rich, while remaining musically accessible to all ears. Drawing influence from all music and art and traditions, he pays particular attention towards the work of composers and bandleaders Brian Blade, Kendrick Scott, Petros Klampanis, Aaron Parks, Mike Moreno and Gilad Hekselman.

**Half price tickets for students and Musicians' Union members**

All acts are subject to contract and may sometimes change.