Tuba player Theon Cross makes his presence felt here on Marcus Joseph's 'Arrival of the Giants' new this week from the Leicester alto saxophonist. Streaming ahead of Beyond the Dome to be released tomorrow via Jazz Re:Freshed the track is an impressive introduction to a player who has been around a while but will be unfamiliar still to most. Joining Joseph, also a spoken word and funk artist, are recent luminaries of the new generation of bandleaders on the UK jazz scene of the last 5-10 years including the aforementioned Cross. However, on 'Challenge Day' there is a featured spot from an earlier generation, the revered saxophonist-leader from the 1990s Gary Crosby Nu-Troop scene Tony Kofi and one of the biggest UK touring draws pre-Pandemic on the popular hard bop scene. Sheila Maurice-Grey from Kokoroko is also among the line-up as too is fine singer Randolph Matthews whose approach is reminiscent of Bobby McFerrin's. Randolph guests on 'What If'. The album's drummer is Eddie Hicks, last heard by this blog playing a club date with Juliet Kelly, and who followed on from Seb Rochford to join Sons of Kemet. Beyond the Dome is also available to order on 12-inch vinyl.
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