PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Having released his 3-track EP ‘Road Fork’ in December 2018 (‘Magnificent’- Chris Philips JazzFM), guitarist and composer Mike De Souza will now be bringing his Trio to PizzaExpress Dean Street to celebrate the release of his debut album 'Slow Burn', which showcases extensive and intricate compositions that are bolstered by energetic improvisations and empathic interactions. The show will infuse sound and structure concepts inspired by alternative-rock bands such as Radiohead and Deerhoof, with the traditional Jazz-Guitar-Trio line-up, as established by jazz greats such as Pat Metheny, John Scofield and Kurt Rosenwinkel. Mike De Souza Trio features two of the most exciting and distinctive rising stars from London’s vibrant jazz scene, drummer Jay Davis and bassist Huw V Williams.

"Fusionesque Pyrotechnics"

Jez Nelson (Jazz FM)

This new trio led by Guitarist Mike De Souza perform all new original music that seeks to infuse the traditional ‘Guitar-led Jazz Trio’ with sound and structure concepts inspired by alternative-rock bands such as Radiohead and Deerhoof, to name but a few influences. Having self-released their debut EP ‘Road Fork’ in December 2018, they have already had multiple plays on Jazz FM’s ‘Somethin’ Else’, being described as ‘Magnificent’ by Chris Philips, and Jez Nelson using ‘Fusionesque Pyrotechnics’ to sum up a live performance at Jazz In The Round.

Mike De Souza trio features two of the most exciting and distinctive rising stars from London’s vibrant jazz scene, drummer Jay Davis and bassist Huw V Williams. Jay and Mike first met as students at Leeds College of Music in 2009, but their musical alliance only began to take shape when they took their studies further on the post-graduate course at the Royal Academy of Music in 2012. After graduating they helped co-found the band ‘Big Bad Wolf’, with whom they released the debut album ‘Pond Life’ to critical acclaim in 2017, ‘One of the best albums I’ve heard this year’ - Mike Flynn (Jazzwise).

Huw and Jay first played together as Yamaha Jazz Scholars in 2012, and since then have gone on to play together as a rhythm section in many different projects. This Trio plays extensive and intricate compositions, that are bolstered by energetic improvisations, empathic interactions and daring explorations.

Band Lineup

Mike De Souza (guitar/compositions)

Huw V Williams (double bass/electric bass)

Jay Davis (drums)