Joshua Jaswon Octet

'Polar Waters' Album Launch

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Led by London-born saxophonist and composer Joshua Jaswon, the Berlin-based ensemble features a broad cross-section of exceptional young musicians from Europe's leading jazz scenes. Tonight the octet will be playing music from Polar Waters, their second album with Ubuntu Music, and Jaswon's boldest statement yet. Lucent sound colours are shaped with compelling improvisation, while the octet's myriad range of tonal possibilities melt away expected roles and tired clichés. The compelling compositions are brought to sonic life by the phenomenal Dutch vocalist Anna Serierse and for fans of Metropole Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis and Kenny Wheeler, this is an evening not to be missed. The octet's debut album Silent Sea was selected by BBC Music as one of the best jazz recordings of 2020/21 and received 4- and 5-star reviews across the UK and international media.

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“With his career seemingly pre-ordained by his name, Jaswon is a young alto saxophonist of rare thoughtfulness and poise…makes all the right choices about when to turn up the heat and when to stay cool.”

Jazzwise Magazine

Book tickets for Joshua Jaswon Octet

Following the disastrous consequences of Britain’s 2016 BREXIT referendum vote saxophonist, composer and arranger Joshua Jaswon took the decision to leave London for Berlin and set about establishing himself in Europe’s creative hub and heartbeat. This journey of musical discovery has led to a diverse output of solo, ensemble and arranging work and the formation of the Joshua Jaswon Octet.

Using powerful poems of protest as the basis for its music, the ensemble has been broadcast across the BBC, Jazz FM and Worldwide FM; selected for best track and best album of the year polls in Jazzwise and by Worldwide FM Dj’s; and featured in Spotify Editorial Playlists including Jazz X-Press, Jazz Today, Swinging Singing and Destination: Jazz.

Following their debut release Silent Sea and successful tours in Germany (Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden, Hanover) and the UK (Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford and London) the octet is now touring its second album Polar Waters. Tonight's show will feature music from both critically acclaimed recordings.

As a bandleader and sideman Joshua has made appearances in the London Jazz Festival, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, City of London Festival, Berlin Instrument of the Year Festival, performed at venues such as Ronnie Scotts, LSO St. Luke’s, Kings Place, The Vortex, The Elgar Room, Kunstfabrik Schlot Berlin, Brorson’s Kirken Copenhagen, Dokkhuset Trondheim, Nikolaisaal Potsdam, Berlin Philharmonie, La Gare Paris, and the Barbican Theatre; has been extensively broadcast and performed with orchestras such as Mecklenburgische Staatskapelle Schwerin and as soloist with the Deutsche Filmorchester Babelsberg.

Band Line Up

Anna Serierse (vocals)
Joshua Jaswon (alto and soprano saxophone)
Marc Doffey (tenor and soprano saxophone)
Jan Kaiser (trumpet and flugelhorn)
Andrej Ugoljew (trombone)
Jojo Mann (electric guitar)
Sidney Werner (double bass)
Aarón Castrillo (drums)