The Soul Immigrants Ft. Ciyo Brown

Funk & Soul Explosion!

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Last Show: Tuesday 7 th December 2021

PizzaExpress Live (Holborn)

Hailing from South London, The Soul Immigrants are fine purveyors of energetic Soul, Jazz Funk (& beyond). Masterminded by Nitin Sawhney and singer/guitarist Emrys Baird back in the 90’s. They’ve been plying their trade ever since, releasing the critically acclaimed ‘Bank From The Brink' in 2020 on leading U.K. label Lateralize and 45 singles on their own label. Their last vinyl single featured The JB’s maestro Fred Wesley and was played heavily by Gilles Peterson and Craig Charles. Tonight sees top Jamaican jazz soul guitarist Ciyo Brown join the funk maelstrom with his world class guitar playing. Expect  fireworks!

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"The Soul Immigrants sound leaner and meaner than ever before as they stir up a potent Gumbo stew of funk, soul and jazz with their distinctive British swagger."

Jazzworld.com

Some bands you can always recognise; they produce the same sound, even the same song, year after year. But good musicians and songwriters don’t just keep playing, they constantly evolve. That's true about The Soul Immigrants whose recent slew of singles have been through the gamut of tough funk (Yard Of Hard Ft Fred Wesley) deep soul, with their explosive cover of Barbara Lynne's ('I'm A Good Woman') and the soul jazz gem from their recent 2020 album 'Back From The Brink' (Harder Than You Think).

An album fizzing with funky, life-affirming songs and an infectious, effervescent energy that’s been honed over the course of numerous live performances everywhere from Glastonbury to Ronnie Scott’s, Back From The Brink is the sound of The Soul Immigrants at the very peak of their powers. Recorded in their South London studio with the help of producer, Kraznet Montpelier. It’s their finest album of an illustrious career that stretches back more than 25 years. Having collaborated with a host of pioneering musicians that ranges from Fred Wesley all the way through to Nitin Sawhney, The Soul Immigrants have always been driven by a widescreen musical worldview. This time around, the guest list includes soul queen, Ria Currie, and Trojan legend Freddie Notes. Now, with the hugely received release of Back From The Brink – their debut album for the UK’s finest new jazz label Lateralize Ciyo Brown will be adding the icing on the cake with his stellar guitar work. A musician’s musician who has worked  with Mica Paris, Melba Moore, Shirley Jones, Jean Carne, Omar, Soul II Soul, Jason Rebello, Jazz Warriors,  Rita Marley, Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra, Urban Soul Sly and Robbie, Freddie McGregor, Little Roy, Horace Andy, Steel Pulse and Carleen Anderson. To name but a few. Ciyo has also been appointed as Musical Director for a range of coveted artists which includes the likes of Ronnie Laws, Billy Paul, Hil St Soul, Johnny Clarke, Greg Kofi-Brown of Osibisa fame also. 

He’s the best all round guitarist in the U.K.  for my money says bandleader Emrys his versatility is his power and I’m just glad he likes vibing off our grooves as he brings so much class to the table expect some gunslinging moments from the both of us!

Band Line Up

Emrys Baird (guitar/vocals)

Al Gibson (bass & keys)

Ian Bailey (sax, perc & flute) 

David Bouet (drums) 

Ciyo Brown (guest guitarist)