The Cockpit

Seb Rochford's Finding Ways
Jez Nelson (DJ set)

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Seb Rochford's Finding Ways @sebrochford
In 2003, drummer Sebastian Rochford formed Polar Bear – a contemporary jazz group that, over the next decade, helped define a new era in British music. Their sound was bold, open-hearted, and influential, earning two Mercury Prize nominations and widespread acclaim. Since then, Seb’s distinctive voice has been heard across a broad spectrum of music, collaborating with artists including Patti Smith, Damon Albarn, Grace Jones and Brian Eno. This year he returns as a bandleader with Finding Ways, layering up to three guitars at a time around his drums and bass, the album featuring ten different guitarists. He’s joined by a remarkable set of collaborators and guests including – Tara Cunningham, David Preston, Simon Tong, Leo Abrahams, Matt Hurley, Adrian Utley, John Parish, Seye Adelekan, Anders Christensen and Ruth Goller – each adding something unmistakably their own and it’s this space they’re given to be themselves that defines the sound. This is honest music-making. Nothing is forced. Nothing boxed in. Finding Ways. That’s what Seb is doing—musically, emotionally, personally.

Line up:

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Jez Nelson (DJ set) @nelson.jez

Jez borrowed Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters LP from Bromley library when he was 14 and never looked back. He’s been on radio since the early 80s, firstly on pirates Horizon and Solar and then jazz station K-Jazz that he founded with Chris Philips and Gilles Peterson in 1985. After a period as a radio journalist he was a launch presenter at London’s Jazz FM. He subsequently became a presenter on BBC Radio 5, Radio 4 and, for 20 years, the host of BBC Radio 3’s flagship Jazz On 3 programme. He also presented on TV, travelling the world as a host of Tomorrow’s World. In 1991 he founded the production company Somethin’ Else which he ran until recently. Somethin’ Else became part of Sony Music Entertainment in 2021. Jez has produced and Exec Produced 1000s of radio and TV programmes including documentaries on Sun Ra, Gil Scott-Heron, Robert Wyatt and the UK jazz scene. In 2020 Jez was awarded an MBE for services to radio. Jez has also been an active promoter of live jazz, most notably co-founding Jazz In The Round with The Cockpit Theatre in London. To this day he presents his Somethin’ Else show on Jazz FM and has now co-founded One Jazz with his life-long friend Chris Philips. Jez will present a number of shows on One Jazz. He still loves Herbie Hancock.

 

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