Byron Wallen Quintet : Remembering Andrew Hill

Event information

Byron Wallen – Trumpet
Danny Piers – Piano
Kobe Heath Ngugi – Double bass
Sacha Harlan – Drums
Dominik Kosztolánszki – Saxophone

A leading light of the UK jazz world over several decades, trumpeter, composer and educator Byron Wallen has had an extraordinary career. His creative mind and constant quest for discovery have seen him work with musicians from around the world, including George Benson, Andrew Hill, Chaka Khan, Ingrid Laubrock, Hugh Masekela, Courtney Pine, Mulatu Astatke, Red Snapper, Lonnie Liston Smith, Style Council, Jack Dejohnette, Jean Toussaint, and King Sunny Ade. These projects have taken him to countries such as Morocco, Nigeria, Indonesia, Syria, South Africa and Lithuania, often inspiring his own compositions. His original scores have been commissioned by a plethora of highly-regarded organisations, from the BBC, Southbank Centre, National Theatre and Science Museum to name just a few, while he’s also worked for Universal Pictures, Warner Bros and Game of Thrones. In 2003, Byron received the BBC’s ‘Innovation in Jazz’ award, and subsequently he’s been nominated for BBC Jazz, MOBO & Parliamentary Jazz Awards while winning the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Award for Artists in 2017.

Currently a lecturer in jazz composition and history of jazz at London’s Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (where he also teaches jazz trumpet), Byron is also on the faculty at the Guildhall and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire as well as working with Julian Joseph Jazz Academy.

This performance is inspired by and dedicated to the brilliant jazz pianist, composer & Blue Note recording artist Andrew Hill. Byron was a member of Hill’s quintet in the last phase of his career, playing with him until his death in 2007. This show will mark the debut of this new programme, and Byron has put together a quintet of the best and brightest of London’s up-and-coming players to join him on the stand: Dominik Kosztolánszki-sax & flute; Daniel Piers-piano; Kobe Heath Ngugi-bass & Sacha Harlan-drums. We are honoured to present this exciting show for the EFG London Jazz Festival.

“One of the most innovative, exciting and original trumpet players alive” Jazzwise; “Wallen’s…performance…was an enthralling celebration”, Resident Advisor; “Trumpeter Byron Wallen, a British Don Cherry for his nomadic world-musical assimilations…” Guardian