MEET THE MUSIC LEADERS
Leader 1: Ben Burrell
Ben was born and educated in South-East London and started to play the piano and alto saxophone at the age of 10. Taking inspiration from bands such as The Headhunters and Weather Report, Ben studied Jazz at Trinity Laban. Whilst studying he began what would turn out to be a long term affiliation with Tomorrows Warriors. The organisation led by Bassist Gary Crosby OBE and Janine Irons MBE FRSA is responsible for the guidance of many young musicians from the capital and Ben benefitted greatly from their help and support. Ben is now a Music Leader on the Tomorrow’s Warriors’ Programme and plays with Jazz Jamaica, participating in collaborations with great artists like Hugh Masekela, Ernest Ranglin and Myrna Hague. He has also played with Carmen Souza, Aloe Blacc, Abram Wilson and the Jazz Jamaica All Stars featuring Brinsley Forde.
Leader 2: Binker Golding
Binker Golding is a London-based tenor saxophonist, composer, conductor and music leader. A regular on the Tomorrow’s Warriors’ South Bank Centre jazz education programme, Binker leads Tomorrow’s Warriors’ Youth Orchestra and youth ensemble. He makes up half of the group Binker & Moses, who released the album Dem Ones on Gearbox Records in 2015. The album went on to win a MOBO Award, two Jazz FM Awards and a Parliamentary Jazz Award. Binker is also the saxophonist in Zara McFarlane’s band. His current projects include the second Binker & Moses album and an album with his own quartet, heavily inspired by blues and country from the southern states of the USA.
Leader 3: Alex Davis
From a young age, Alex Davis would spend hours transcribing his early musical influences such as bass player ‘Bootsy’ Collins of Parliament/Funkadelic. Aged 11, Alex was selected as the Blue Basement house bass player alongside some of the North’s best blues and RnB musicians, where he stayed for two years. After a period working with musicians such as Gilad Atzmon, Lucky Ranku and Bhupinder Singh Chaggar, and work with Red Ladder TheatreCompany, Alex joined the Nu Civilisation Orchestra in 2010. Alex won a scholarship to study Jazz at the Royal Academy of Music in London and now teaches the development session on Saturdays for Tomorrow’s Warriors at Southbank Centre. He is in demand as a bass player, performing regularly with Rebecca Ferguson, Kansas Smitty and many others.
Leader 4: Dian Gasper
Born in East London, Dian discovered his passion for music at the age of 2, starting on drums and moving onto piano aged 11 under the heavy influence of Stevie Wonder. Dian grew up in a black gospel church background and after studying at Brunel University started playing in the pop scene with musicians such as Tinchy Stryder, DJ Ironik, Jesse J, Omar and Triple O. Dian switched to playing jazz in 2008 and has worked with musicians such as Zara McFarlane, Myrna Hague, and Jazz Jamaica. Dian is a music leader for Tomorrow’s Warriors’ weekend programme at the Southbank Centre, London and works regularly as a session musician, arranger, composer, choir/vocal arranger and accompanist.
Leader 5: Sheila Maurice-Grey
Sheila Maurice-Grey is a London-based trumpeter and visual artist. Sheila took part in Kinetika Bloco and then Tomorrow’s Warriors development programme. She is now a Tomorrow’s Warriors’ Music Leader and a core member of the all-female band, Nérija, which emerged from Tomorrow’s Warriors Female Collective. Nérija was nominated for Jazz FM Breakthrough Act of the year in 2016 and is a band to watch in 2017. Sheila is also bandleader of Afrobeat band KOKOROKO and has performed in rap artist, Kano’s live band on the Jool’s Holland Show and at The Mercury Music Prize ceremony and has featured on Little Simz’s newly released album Stillness In Wonderland.
Leader 6: Cherise Adams-Burnett
Cherise is a London Based Jazz Vocalist. Cherise is already making moves within London’s vibrant jazz scene while studying at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in Greenwich. Born and raised in Luton, Cherise started her journey with music as a member of the Luton Community Gospel Choir at the age of 14. Two years later, she joined Tomorrow’s Warriors. She has been heavily involved in the organisation as a student, and now as an apprentice music leader for workshops and projects helping young people develop their musicianship. In 2016, Cherise participated in the Jazz House Kids Summer Programme in New Jersey, USA run by jazz vocalist, Melissa Walker and bassist Christian McBride. She has performed in many of London’s most acclaimed venues, including the Queen Elizabeth Hall, singing with Jazz Jamaica. She also performed in the West End show, Cafe Society Swing from 2013-2014. Cherise has worked with Gary Crosby OBE, Jason Yarde, Theo Jackson, Peter Edwards and China Moses.
Nu Civilisation Orchestra
Founded by Gary Crosby OBE and led by Peter Edwards, the Nu Civilisation Orchestra represents an evolution in the contemporary jazz orchestra. The NCO produces diverse and forward-thinking music. Previous commissions include repertoire from Duke Ellington, Joe Harriott, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus; literary and film collaborations with author Lemn Sissay and documentary film director John Okomfrah; media broadcasts on Channel 4 Television and BBC Radio, and live concerts at BFI, Southbank Centre and Rich Mix. Growing from the Tomorrow’s Warriors residency at Southbank Centre, the NCO is also proud to be an Associate Artist at Turner Sims, Southampton.
Nu Civilisation Orchestra website
Peter Edwards
Peter Edwards joined Tomorrow’s Warriors as an intern in 2004 and went on to graduate with a Masters in Jazz from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2009. Participation in the Tomorrowʼs Warriors young artist development programme gave him the opportunity to sharpen his performance and compositional skills under the guidance of Gary Crosby OBE. Peter began recording and touring with the Abram Wilson Quartet and has gone on to work with Rhythmica, Nicola Emmanuelle and Zara McFarlane, the Nu Civilisation Orchestra and his own piano trio which he formed in 2010. Peter released an EP Jazzlotion in 2010, followed by his debut trio album ‘Safe and Sound’ in 2013, to glowing reviews. Peter’s second album ‘A Matter of Instinct’ was released in 2016 and Peter plans to release further singles from that recording session including a remix of his tune Samba City featuring MOBO and Jazz FM award winning singer Zara McFarlane and the London School of Samba bateria.
PARTNERS
Tomorrow’s Warriors
Tomorrow’s Warriors is an award-winning music development and creative producing agency, committed to increasing diversity across the arts through jazz. Working in partnership with leading music industry, arts and education partners, we deliver uniquely engaging and highly innovative learning, performance and development opportunities for young people and musicians of all levels. We also produce an exciting range of concerts and professional jazz events across the UK – including regular appearances at London’s Southbank Centre where we have a residency, and as an Associate Artist of Turner Sims, Southampton. Tomorrow’s Warriors is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England and we are proud to be a truly multicultural company as seen through our artists, our audiences and our team.
Southampton Music Hub
Southampton Music Hub is the leading provider of music education in Southampton. The hub is a partnership of local, regional and national organisations, led by Southampton Music Services, working together to build an ambitious and innovative music programme that reflects the cultural and artistic diversity of our city. Together they are dedicated to delivering life-changing musical experiences that create a lasting legacy of musical engagement to enrich the health and well-being of the community.
Southampton Music Hub’s first-access programme is ensuring that every child in the city has the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. With over 450 members in 16 city ensembles, the hub provides opportunities to perform and progress. Alongside a broad range of events and workshops the hub delivers a multigenerational singing strategy that reaches out in to the community. By supporting teachers and schools with a broad programme of resources, training and events, Southampton Music Hub in ensuring that every child has access to the highest quality musical learning.
Turner Sims
Turner Sims is acknowledged as one of the leading presenters of live music in the South of England. Their 70-concert promoted series features classical music, jazz, world music and folk from artists from the UK, Europe and further afield. The programme encompasses touring work, new commissions, new collaborations and bespoke outreach work.
Presenting new music is integral to TS’s programming with recent highlights including world premieres by Jonathan Dove (a TS commission for clarinettist Emma Johnson and massed recorder players inspired by ‘The Pied Piper’), Sally Beamish (including the 20×12 commission Spinal Chords), John Surman, and Courtney Pine and Zoe Rahman.
ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND
Tomorrow’s Warriors gratefully acknowledges generous support for The Jazz Ticket national programme from Arts Council England’s Strategic Touring Fund, without which this project would not be possible.
PRS FOR MUSIC FOUNDATION
Peter Edward’s commission, A Journey with the Giants of Jazz is generously supported by PRS Foundation’s New Music Biennial. PRS for Music Foundation’s New Music Biennial is generously supported by Hull UK City of Culture, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Arts Council England, BBC Radio 3, Southbank Centre, Arts Council of Wales, Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Cockayne, The John S Cohen Foundation, the Jerwood Charitable Foundation, The Finzi Trust, RVW Trust, The Bliss Trust and NMC Recordings.